People's Democracy

MAHARASHTRA

Food Security Movement

Conducted Widely

THE Maharashtra state committee of the CPI(M) at its meeting held on  July 7-8, had given a call to all district committees to plan various forms of struggle actions during July 30 to August 3, as part of the countrywide food security movement of the four Left parties. Accordingly, struggle actions, which included holding of conventions, conducting morchas and demonstrations etc, were held in 20 districts of the state. Around 40,000 persons participated in these actions. Except for the programmes held in Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur, Kolhapur, Nanded, Aurangabad, Sangli and Jalgaon, the rest of the state witnessed independent actions by the CPI(M). In the above mentioned places, they were joint programmes. Along with the demands formulated at the national level by the Left parties, some local-level demands related to food security were also highlighted during the campaign.

In Mumbai, CPI(M) and CPI jointly staged a dharna at Azad Maidan on July 31. Hundreds of people participated in the programme despite heavy rains. A delegation later submitted a memorandum to Rationing Controller. Prominent among those who participated in the action include CPI(M) central committee member K L Bajaj, CPI(M) Mumbai secretary, Mahendra Singh, CPI Mumbai secretary Sukumar Damle, CPI(M) leaders Kishore Theckedath, Sayeed Ahmed, Vivek Monterio, S K Rege, Shailendra Kamble and Sonia Gill. Earlier, from July  24 to 30, leaflet distribution programmes and street-corner demonstrations were held at many places in the city and suburbs. Around 30,000 leaflets were distributed and nearly 1000 persons participated in the democstrations.

In Thane district, morchas and demonstrations were staged in front of Tahasildar offices at Talasari, Vikramgad, Jawhar, Dahanu, Shahapur, Wada, Mokhada, and at Ulhasnagar on August 3. Around 8000 persons participated in these programmes. At Dahanu, demonstrators gheraoed Tahasildar’s office for two hours. In this district also 30,000 leaflets were distributed and 4 trucks diverting PDS foodgrains to black market were intercepted. AIDWA and DYFI activists played a prominent role in these actions. CPI(M) state secretary Dr Ashok Dhawale, CPI(M) Thane district secretary and state secretariat member, Rajaram Ozare, CPI(M) state secretariat member Mariam Dhawale, state committee members Lahanu Kom, Barkya Mangat, Edward Vartha, Hemlata Kom, Ratan Budhar and others were among the participants.

In Nasik district, demonstrations were held in front of Tahasildar offices at Kalwan, Surgana, Dindori, Chandwad, Igatpuri Trimbak on August 3. These demonstrations saw participation of about 5000 persons. In Nasik city, a rally of 3500 strong was taken out to district collector’s office on August 4. In the above programmes, among the particpants included CPI(M) state secretariat members J P Gavit, Dr D L Karad and state committee members Kisan Gujar, Sitaram Thombre, Irfan Pathan, Hemant Vaghere and others.

In Solapur, a 3000 strong demonstration was held in front of district collector’s office on August 1 and among the participants included CPI(M) state committee members M H Shaikh, Siddhappa Kalshetty, Nasima Shaikh and other district committee members. In Nanded district, demonstrations were held in front of district collector’s office and Tahasildar’s offices at Kinwat, Mahur, Mukhed and Diloli. Overall 3400 persons participated in these programmes. CPI(M) state secretariat member Vijay Gabhane, district secretary Arjun Aade and others were among the participants.

In Kolhapur, CPI(M), CPI and PWP unitedly organised a 4000 strong morcha, braving heavy rains, to district collector’s office. Promient participants included veteran CPI and PWP leaders, Govind Pansare and N D Patil respectively and CPI(M) district secretary Subhash Jadhav. A 3000 strong dharna was held in front of SDM office at Taloda for 3 hours on August 1. CPI(M) state secretariat member Nathu Salve and state committee members, Kumar Shiralkar and Jaisingh Mali led the protest.

In Beed district, the CPI(M) staged a rally to district collector’s office in which over 1500 persons participated.  It was led by CPI(M) district secretary P S Ghatge and others. In Ahmednagar district, conventions were organised at Rajur, Katel, Shendi, Sangamner during July 22 to 25 in which over 1000 persons participated. Memorandums were submitted to Tahasildars at Akole and Sangamner on August 3. In Yavatmal, CPI(M) organised a 1000 strong rally to district collector’s office led by Party district secretary Shankarrao Danav on August 3.

In Nagpur, it was a joint activity along with CPI, Forward Block and Bolshevik Party. A demonstration was held in front of district collector’s office on August 3. It was led by CPI(M) state secretariat member Manohar Mulley and others.

Similarly actions were held at Amravati, Aurangabad, Sangli, Jalgaon, Jalna,  Buldhana and other parts of the state.

(INN)