People's Democracy

 MASSIVE RALLY IN TRIPURA

 Women Must Intensify Struggle To Steer

The UPA Govt In Right Track

 Haripada Das

WOMEN folk must take to the streets to compel the central government to stick to pro-people track. In the changed national situation history bestowed this great duty on the women of the country, who comprise half of the population, to exert themselves in the struggle for realisation of their legitimate demands and for betterment of the people of the country as well.

This was the call of the mammoth open rally at B K I playground at Belonia town on the eve of the 14th state conference of the AIDWA, Tripura state committee held on September 25, 2004.

The rally was presided over by Anjali Debbarma and addressed by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and chief minister of the state, Manik Sarkar, AIDWA general secretary, Brinada Karat, vice president Shyamali Gupta, state finance minister Badal Chowdhury and Tripura state secretary of AIDWA  Rama Das.

Belonia town witnessed one of the biggest rally of women on the occasion of the AIDWA’s 14th state conference. Ultimately, when the women from local areas approached the rally site, the ground seemed to be too inadequate to accommodate the rallyists. Paying deep homage to the martyrdom, sacrifice and heroic battle of the Belonia people, Brinda Karat said the qurbani (sacrifice) of Belonia people will be inscribed in golden letters not only in the history of democratic battles in Tripura, but also in the national sphere. Glories of the democratic movement of Tripura, particularly, the women of Tripura are highly respected by the democratic people of the whole country and they inspire them, observed Brinda Karat. Explaining the new situation in which the UPA government led by the Congress has come into being at the centre with the outside support of the Left, she made it clear that the basis of the Left support is the Common Minimum Programme. “But the Congress has so far not shown any intention of abandoning their anti-people policies pursued so long. We demanded that they must ensure some minimum relief for the impoverished sections so that starvation deaths and suicides of distressed farmers are eliminated from the country. We demanded for continuance of pension for about three crore widows of the country. But the attitude of the government does not reflect a good sign. Thus throwing away all illusions, the people must take to the streets for realising their just demands”, called upon Brinda Karat. 

Referring to the inclusion of foreigners in the country’s Planning Commission, Shyamli Gupta warned that the Leftists would strongly protest and resist such sell out of the country to the imperialists. Women of the country will share this resistance movement in a befitting manner, she said.

Addressing the huge congregation amidst drizzling weather, Manik Sarkar called upon the mothers and sisters not to be gripped in complacency. “There are vast masses including the women folk, still sided with the enemy camp. We must behave with them like friends, embrace them and win them over,” he said. Referring to the performance of the Left Front government, Manik Sarkar said the government’s strategy of selecting some priority sectors with an aim to make the state stand on its own feet has yielded results. “Now we are enlightened as well as emboldened to see some signs of successes. We expect that the women of the state, who comprises the greater part of the democratic movement, would help us to attain self-sufficiency and over all progress of the state,” said Manik Sarkar.

Elaborating the gradual gains of strength of the organisation, AIDWA state secretary Rama Das appealed to the masses to take a sustained effort to further consolidate the organisation. The state finance and PWD minister Badal Chowdhury explained how the economic policies pursued by the earlier central governments created a dangerous fall out to states like Tripura, which is languishing with a huge burden of loan of about Rs 3000 crore. In spite of such liabilities, the state under the LF government was registering progress with its own resources and manpower. He appealed to the women to be co-architects of this advancement of the state.

Earlier, before the mass rally started, the conference flag was hoisted by the Brinda Karat and then the martyrs were remembered and paid homage with due solemnity through floral wreaths at the martyrs’ column by the leaders and delegates of the conference at the lawn of the Belonia town Hall which was nicely decorated as the venue of the conference. (INN)