People's Democracy

TRIPURA DYFI STATE CONFERENCE

Youth Must Play A Prominent Role In The Struggle For Pro-People Governance

Haripada Das

Yechury addressing the huge youth rally at Ambassa, Tripura

UTILISING the changed political situation in the country, we must intensify our struggle for bringing about a  reverse to the policy direction of the UPA government in favour of workers, agricultural labourers and the peasantry. DYFI, the biggest youth organisation of the country must exert an effective role in this struggle.

This was the call of the speakers, including CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and Manik Sarkar, while addressing a huge youth rally on September 24 at Chandraipara H S School, Ambassa, Dhalai district on the occasion of the 12th Tripura state conference of Democratic Youth Federation of India held over September 23-25, 2005.

Ambassa, once a small trade centre on the Assam Agartala Road, and now a district headquarters of Dhalai was overwhelmed with the display of spirit of youth on September 24. Chandraipara School ground turned out to be quite  inadequate to accommodate even a part of the gathering when the three youth brigades from different directions congregated in the rally site. The youth brigades were named after the three leading youth leaders who courted their martyrdom at the hands of the enemies of the communal harmony and secessionist extremists. The long march of 'Goutam Datta brigade’ started from Bishalgarh on  September 21 and traversed a longest track of about 100 kilometers carrying the DYFI flag, which was  handed over to them by the mother of one of the martyr. On September 22 'Tapan Chakr-aborty brigade’ from Kalaynpur of Khowai Sub-Division joined with the former at Teliamura and both the brigades approached Ambassa spiraling through the Atharomura Hills. Another 'Dilip Debbarma brigade' reached the rally ground from Mendi of the same sub-division, not very far off from the conference site. The marchers were overwhelmed by massive greetings of the people waiting on either side of the road. Ambassa was decorated with several arches and gates, flags and festoon welcoming the marching brigades and youth delegates, coming from different sub-divisions of the state.

Addressing the rally, Sitaram Yechury hailed the youth of Tripura for their unique contribution in raising the wall of resistance against the extremists and their help to ensure steady growth of the state, which is an dazzling example in the whole country. Explaining the class character of the Congress party, Sitaram Yechury said the Congress      represented the big bourgeoisie and landlords and was habituated to serve the interests of those few. With the tremendous pressure of popular struggle we must reverse the policy directions of the Congress. He stressed the importance of September 29 countrywide strike in this context. Referring to the detraction from the independent foreign policy so far adopted by the country, Sitaram Yechury strongly criticised the UPA government for adopting policies of shameful subservience to the US imperialism. Referring to the Mitrokhin scandals, he said it must be seen in the context of imperialist forces not being able to digest the growing importance of the Left parties in the national political arena. So they are resorting to malicious,     unfounded campaign against respected communist leaders of the country.

Addressing the spirited rally, state chief minister, Manik Sarkar said India despite having such a vast treasure of rich resources and an unparalleled huge manpower, still has a huge section of population living below poverty line after 58 years of Independence. In fact, the number of people of our country living below poverty line is more than the total population of USA,  the number of unemployed youths in the country equals to population of entire Europe and the number of illiterates is a staggering 35 crore. But this was neither aspired for nor destined. At the cost of hunger, unemployment, illiteracy, poverty of crores of people, the capital of a microscopic few bourgeoisie and landlords accumulated thousands of times during the post-independence period. This is the outcome of the capitalist system, which we have been striving to reverse. Youth of the country must have prominent role in this struggle, said Manik Sarkar.

Referring to the problem of extremism in the north east    region, the chief minister said that uneven development and threats against preserving ethnic identity, cultural and linguistic entity etc. are the tools by which the imperialists could misguide a section of the youths to take up arms. In Tripura, the extremists are totally alienated and they are now on their heels, thanks to the effective combat of the security personnel and sincere cooperation of the people. If anybody desires to return to the mainstream, declared the chief minister,  our doors are open. He ended his speech with the assertion that the extremists would be fought ideologically, politically, and militarily.

DYFI all India general secretary, Tapas Sinha said  the history of DYFI is the history of sacrifice and martyrdom of youth for the cause of national integration, communal harmony and for progress. And Tripura topped the list in this regard. He paid homage to the martyrs of Tripura who had given and are still giving their lives for the cause of national integration. He emphasised the need to wage bigger struggles for achieving the fundamental demands of the youth i.e. right to work, right to education and right to have medical care.

DYFI Tripura state secretary, Tapas Datta, state president Ratan Das, and vice president Naresh Jamatia also addressed the meeting.

Earlier, the DYFI flag was hoisted by Tapas Sinha at the conference venue which was befittingly decorated and floral wreaths were offered to the martyrs column by the delegates present.