People's Democracy

Eastern Jatha Reaches Delhi

AFTER traversing nearly 2650 kilometers, Eastern Jatha of the Sangharsh Sandesh, completed its journey when it reached Delhi on 14th evening. This jatha, led by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat started from Kolkata on March 1. On its way, the jatha crossed West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, through numerous towns and villages, addressing thousands of people, calling upon them to unite for the fight for alternative policies.

The jatha spent two days in West Bengal, two days in Jharkhand, five days in Bihar and four days in UP. On its way, 33 public meetings were held – eight in West Bengal, five in Jharkhand, 14 in Bihar, six in UP. Many roadside smaller meetings too were held. In more than 125 places, jatha was received by people, raising slogans and garlanding leaders. One of the most important features was that many organisations submitted memorandums and people brought their problems to the notice of the leaders.

People from all walks of the society were present in the meetings. While steel and coal workers received the jatha in Raniganj and Durgpur in West Bengal, the last point of such felicitation was Ferozabad in UP, where glass workers, bangle makers were present. Peasants and agricultural workers were of course the majority in these gatherings. ASHA and scheme workers in their uniforms were enthusiastic in almost every area, as they have found in CPI(M) their only friend among all political parties.

On March 14, there was one public meeting in Etawah. The peasants of Etawah are fighting a grim battle against forcible land acquisition for a dedicated freight corridor of railways. Nearly 500 acres of land will be acquired, the notification for which has been issued. Peasants are offered very low compensation. CPI(M) is in the forefront demanding justice for the peasants. Already many forms of resistance movements have been organised. Peasants from this area came to attend the meeting in Kachari – the district court area. Lawyers gathered in good numbers in the meeting and welcomed the leaders. It was also reported to CPI(M) leaders that despite being the home district of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his chief minister son, in Etawah hundreds of people, particularly from minorities do not have even a ration card. Many Muslim women came to the meeting and submitted their grievances in writing.

Prakash Karat, while addressing the rally, said until and unless a powerful movement for alternative policies could be built, there would be no change in the lives of the poor and dispossessed.

JATHA IN

DELHI

The jatha was received in Mayur Vihar by the Delhi state committee of the CPI(M). Prakash Karat addressed the gathering. After that, a convoy of vehicles accompanied the jatha to the Party Central Committee headquarters, AKG Bhavan. A K Padmanabhan, Polit Bureau member, Basudeb Acharia, Tapan Sen, V Srinivas Rao and Hari Singh Kang, members of the Central Committee led the members of the CC units in welcoming the leaders at the AKG Bhavan.