People's Democracy

State Level Jathas Begin Journey in Tamilnadu

 

S P Rajendran

 

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) organised state level jathas in in Tamilnadu in conjunction with the main Sangarsh Sandesh jatha which had started from Kanniyakumari on February 24.

 

Five campaign teams started off from five different centers in the state. The first jatha led by Party state secretary led by G Ramakrishnan, was flagged off from Gudalur in Theni district. The second one led by Party central committee member U Vasuki began from Sivaganga. The third one started its one week journey from Thottiyam in Trichy district led by central committee member K Balakrishnan. The fourth team led by another central committee member and MLA A Soundararajan began its campaign from Thiruvallur. Party state secretariat member K Kanagaraj led the fifth one from Pudhucherry.

 

All the five jathas witnessed enthusiastic receptions and the public meetings were well attended. Campaigning on the main demands of Sangarsh Sandesh Jatha of the Party, these state level jathas in Tamilnadu are reaching the people through lakhs of booklets detailing the demands and alternative policies of the party.

 

Addressing a public meeting at Theni, G Ramakrishnan said that the centre’s direct cash transfer scheme would destroy the existing Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country. The move to give the subsidy directly in cash would not help as the beneficiaries may spend the money for other purposes, he said. The government should continue to distribute essentials through fair price shops at subsidised rates, he demanded.

 

The CPI(M) was firmly opposed to the neo-liberal economic policies being pursued by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party which benefited the rich and foreign companies at the cost of the poor.

 

The Party has decided to raise issues crucial to the welfare of the common people, including the right to food, the right to education and employment, the right to health facilities and cheap medicines, the right to shelter and the right to a life free of discrimination on the basis of caste, community and gender, he said.