People's Democracy

Successful Struggle in Rajasthan

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on New Delhi, September 9.

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) congratulates the peasantry of Rajasthan for their victory in the heroic struggle against the anti-peasant, anti-people policies of the BJP government. The PB commends the Kisan Sabha and the state unit of the Party for their active role in the movement.

Braving brutal attacks of the Rajasthan government, the peasantry and the other toiling sections of the people stood firm on their genuine demands and culminating in the massive “padhav” (sit-in) in Jaipur. Finally, the government agreed to suspend the hike in electricity charges till a cabinet committee studies the issue and submits its report, not to collect penalties for non-payment of electricity charges, to supply eight hours of power during the next crop season, to convert all farm connections to a uniform common category and to implement the agreement on water between the government and the peasantry of December 2004.

The government also released all those who were arrested and gave an assurance that all cases will be withdrawn.