THE 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) notes the growing discontent among the working class and other sections of the toiling people including the peasants and agricultural workers against the policies being implemented by the BJP led government at the centre. This is reflected in the surging struggles of the working class and the peasants in different parts of the country.

The working class, under the leadership of the joint trade union movement, went on two massive country wide general strikes and an unprecedented three days’ ‘mahapadav’ near parliament on their 12-point charter of demands. In addition hundreds of thousands of workers from almost all sectors have been participating in struggles on their sectoral demands. The steel workers, coal workers, the BSNL employees, electricity, transport, bank, insurance, central and state government employees, medical representatives, the scheme workers and many others have gone on struggle including strikes against privatisation and attacks on their hard won rights.

Peasants in many states have also taken up the struggle path demanding remunerative prices, public procurement, loan waiver, and against displacement from their land. The struggles of the peasants in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh braving severe repression and police firing, and the ‘long march’ of the peasants in Maharashtra have compelled the BJP led governments in these states to concede  their demands. These struggles have inspired the entire nation.

The agricultural workers also have been demanding comprehensive legislation, social security and effective implementation of MGNREGA etc.

It is heartening to note that the working class, peasantry and agricultural workers have now decided to come together and jointly fight the neoliberal onslaught of the BJP led government on their working and living conditions. They have decided not only to oppose the anti-worker, anti-peasant and anti-people policies, but also mobilise the workers and peasants to fight for pro-worker, pro-peasant and pro-people alternatives.

The 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) welcomes their decision to organise a massive ‘Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh rally’ near parliament on September 5. It expresses confidence that such united struggles of workers and peasants will pave the way for the defeat of the neoliberal and divisive BJP regime and liberate the people from its disastrous policies.

The 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) calls upon all its members and cadres to fully support the ‘Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh rally’ in all possible ways.