People's Democracy

Kerala: DYFI Shuts Down Secretariat

SCORES of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) volunteers descended on the Kerala government secretariat on October 19 seeking jobs and an immediate halt to commercialisation of education and virtually shut it down. The DYFI earlier took out campaign jathas, conducted satyagrahas before the collectorates etc on their demands in the run up to this “siege of secretariat” programme.

The DYFI was mainly protesting over the delay and betrayal of the Congress(I)-led UDF government of its promise of providing 15 lakh jobs in its election manifesto. The DYFI wanted the government to review its policy of promoting commercialisation of higher and professional education. The DYFI was also protesting over the police policy of attacking all mass actions of protest and dissent.

The volunteers of DYFI, coming from all the districts, went in jathas to the various gates of secretariat, right from 7 a m. They sat at the gates preventing anyone from entering the secretariat. But the police raised barricades at a number of junctions leading to the secretariat, causing much inconvenience to the public.  The police also refused the public to move along the lanes leading to the secretariat causing inconvenience to them.

In his address, V S Achuthanandan, leader of opposition and member of CPI(M) Polit Bureau attacked the Congress(I)-led UDF for completely ignoring its promise of providing 15 lakh jobs despite completing three years in office.  He pointed out how the new chief minister was keeping mum on this promise. He said the government was also heavily reducing employment in government services.  Achutanandan lambasted the educational policy of the government and called upon the youth and students to force the government to resign if immediate corrective measures are not taken by it.

The state police attacked DYFI volunteers at several places in the city and arrested over seventy people.  Even the media persons were  not spared. The police pushed a woman press reporter to the ground and the TV cameramen who were filming the scene were also attacked.  However, the siege of the secretariat with enthusiastic participation of thousands of volunteers was very successful in highlighting the issues facing the youth. (INN)