People's Democracy

TRIPURA

Women Resolve To Establish Sixth Left Front Government

Haripada Das

BISHALGARH, a sub-divisional town, not far away from capital town Agartala, witnessed an ever biggest mammoth rally of spirited women on the occasion of the open session of the 15th state conference of Ganatrantrik Nari Samity (GNS), an affiliate of AIDWA on September 2, 2007. Thousands of women, young and aged, students, house-wives, working women, Jhumias and office-goers, cutting across caste, creed and religion, thronged into Jangalia H S school ground at Bishalgarh in scorching sun. All roads leading to Bishalgarh from various directions such as Sonamura, Agartala, Udaipur Takarjala, Boxanagar etc., were filled with the democratic-minded enlightened women folk. The women’s rally was presided over by a presidium comprising Rama Das and Anjali Debbarma, working president and president of GNS respectively. The rally was addressed among others by Manik Sarkar, Polit Bureau member and chief minister of the state, Polit Bureau member and all India vice president of AIDWA, Brinda Karat, AIDWA president Subhashini Ali and state GNS secretary Krishna Rakshit.

The women masses of the state resolved to work for the establishment of Left Front government for the sixth time in the ensuing Assembly elections, with larger number of votes and seats and at the same time warned the people against the imminent danger of India becoming a junior partner to US imperialism through the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Hailing the huge rally, Brinda Karat highly admired the glorious tradition of the Tripura women in developing the democratic movement, which stands as an inspiration before the country. In the recent years, the heroic Tripura women have attained another success in defeating the anti-national extremists alongside helping in the implementation of the alternative developmental programmes undertaken by the Left Front government. Where, the other Congress ruled north eastern states are reeling under extremist onslaught, Brinda karat pointed out that in Tripura, a major national party is patronising extremists either overtly or covertly only to attain narrow political gains for assuming power. She urged upon the Tripura women to carry forward the struggle against extremism till the enemies are completely eliminated. Elaborating on the Indo-US nuclear deal, she urged that the government should not be allowed to turn our country into a junior partner of the most hated US imperialism, deviating from our traditional non-aligned foreign policy which attaches great importance on friendly relations with the neighbouring countries.

Calling the rally as a flood of women, AIDWA president Subhashini Ali praised the heroic battle waged by Tripura women against extremist outfits and paid deep respect to the martyrs. In tackling extremism, Tripura is a model before the country, she said. Severely criticising the Congress for their deceitful role towards women’s reservation bill, Subhashini Ali said, Congress leaders who are mostly power-mongers are not in favour of passage of the bill. She also reminded the semi-fascist terror let loose on the women of the state by the Congress anti-social elements during the dark regime of Congress-TUJS coalition in 1988-93. In the next Assembly elections, the united toiling people shall foil all conspiracies against the Left Front government and repose their faith on the Left Front for the sixth term, she said with confidence.

Manik Sarkar in his address said that the pro-bourgeoisie Congress Party is trying to protect the interests of the bourgeoisie-landlords at the cost of toiling masses. They are keen to ally with the US, compromising the national interests, selling out country’s own nuclear rights and above all deviating from our accepted traditional foreign policy.

Manik Sarkar said the Ganatantrik Nari Samity (GNS) emerged as the biggest women’s organisation in the state through relentless movement not only on issues related to women’s concerns, but also on varied issues like maintenance of ethnic and communal harmony, raising resistance to the extremists, alerting the people about imperialist threat against sovereignty and national integrity apart from the economic issues of various social sections. This consciousness of the women must be upgraded to higher political-ideological level and class awareness, he urged.

Referring to the so called high rate of incidents of torture against women in the state, Manik Sarkar pointed out, unlike any other states, Tripura women have high sense of self-right. So they don’t hesitate to lodge complaint whenever any injustice is meted out to them whereas in other states, they seldom come out to lodge complaint. He said those who drumbeat with the figures of incidents of torture on women in the state, cannot wash their hands off the stains of blood of Chimte Halam, a carrying mother who was gunned down for the ‘fault’ of demanding food in hunger.

In conclusion, Manik Sarkar suggested that such a big organisation enrolling one-fourth of total women of the state, should discharge social responsibilities such as launching literacy movements, drawing every woman to anganwadi centres and formation of as many as possible women’s self-help groups for their economic self-reliance. We must be prepared for bigger political struggle in the days to come, Manik Sarkar urged.

The organisation donated Rs. 25,000 to the chief minister’s relief fund, saved by being austere in controlling expenses for conducting 15 divisional conferences.

Rama Das formally inaugurated the conference by hoisting the AIDWA flag before the conference venue and paying homage to the martyrs’ column. AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundaraman opened the delegates’ session attended by 518 delegates. Banani Biswas released the souvenir of the conference. GNS secretary Krishna Rakshit presented the political-organisational report followed by the presentation of another report on performance of self-help groups by Maya Paul. All India leaders Brinda Karat, Sudha Sundararaman, Subhashini Ali, Shyamali Gupta, Banani Biswas, Rekha Goswami and GMP leader Niranjan Debbarma were present on the dais. All the leaders while greeting the conference expressed that they were overwhelmed to share the invaluable experiences of struggle that the Tripura women have been waging. This high political consciousness of the women will certainly be reflected in the ensuing Assembly elections and the state Congress leaders who dare to make derogatory remarks to dishonour the women in general, shall get the befitting reply in the election, they said.

Deliberations on the report were held on September 3, 2007. Altogether 35 delegates put forth their valuable experiences of conducting movement and strengthening the organisation. They also presented important suggestions for the future course of movement. Most of them opined that it was under the Left Front government that women felt most secure. Women are well represented in all elected bodies. Left Front government is trying its utmost to raise the level of social security and economic self-reliance of women, they felt.

Altogether seven resolutions- against Indo-US nuclear deal, to intensify anti-imperialist movement, demanding passage of women’s reservation bill, against price rise and revitalisation of PDS, condemning the incidents of bride-killing, torture on women and dowry system, on augmentation of performance of self-help groups and a resolution with a call to establish Left Front government for the sixth term in the ensuing elections were passed in the conference.

In the concluding session, an 82-member state committee and 24-member state secretariat were elected with a provision to co-opt one member in both the committees subsequently. The newly elected state committee unanimously re-elected Rama Das and Krishna Rakshit as working president and secretary respectively and Sabitri Debbarma as new president.

On behalf of the preparatory committee Motilal Sarkar and Bhanulal Saha greeted the conference and gratefully acknowledged the generous assistance they received from the people, both in cash and in kind to make this conference a great success.