TAKING a wow to defeat the unholy and anti-people alliance of AIADMK-BJP in Tamil Nadu, the CPI(M) state committee has made elaborate arrangements to take this message across the people of the state. As part of its plan, the Party has organised a series of public meetings and hall meetings in various centres across the state. CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau Members, Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat participated in these meetings which were held from February 21 to March 6.

Sitaram Yechury toured the state in two spells, firstly from February 21-22 and then from March 4 to 6 in which he has addressed many public meetings at Tirupur, Coimbatore, Salem, Dharmapuri and Chennai Districts.

While addressing the public, Yechury said that the people are often asking us a question. You are always criticising others, then, what are your policies to solve those problems being faced by us? In answer to them, I would like to say that there is no dearth of resources in our country. The policy of allowing the corporates to gobble up these natural resources should be stopped. While the Modi government refused to accept the demands of the peasants for a withdrawal of farm loans, it has showered its affection towards corporates by writing off their loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crores during the last six years.

Instead of providing such largesse to corporates, we say that if that amount is utilised to develop infrastructure of the country, to build canals etc., by increasing the public investments, it will provide employment to our youths. With their income, the purchasing power of the people will also increase. When people spend their money on their daily needs, it will create demand in the market. In such a situation only, the factories in places like Tiruppur and Coimbatore, which are now closed due to lack of demand in the market will be able to resume their operations. Only such a situation will allow people of all walks of life to live peacefully and create a real ‘new India’.

Yechury also said that only by strengthening the Left, secular and democratic forces, we can safeguard India as well as Tamil Nadu and in turn, we will be able to secure a bright future for our next generations. To achieve this, he exhorted the people of Tamil Nadu to fulfil their historic duty by defeating the opportunistic alliance of AIADMK – BJP in the ensuing assembly election. He said that he has a strong feeling that all of them will fulfil this historic mission without fail.

Prakash Karat toured the state from February 26 to 27 during which he has addressed public meetings at Chidambaram, Nagappattinam, Dindigul, Theni and Madurai districts. While addressing the public meetings he pointed out that the ensuing assembly election in Tamil Nadu will be a crucial one in the context of the state’s rights and safeguarding its distinct culture. On the one side, BJP and RSS are working in tandem to develop a unitary culture by destroying the diverse culture prevalent in the country. It is also destroying federal structure through various methods. It’s a subservient ally in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK has become a tool in its hand to the passage of draconian acts brought out by the centre such as three farms laws and four labour codes, which will invariably destroy the lives of peasants and workers of this country.

In such a situation, Prakash Karat exhorted the people of Tamil Nadu to restore the pride of ancient Tamil culture by defeating this unholy alliance of AIADMK-BJP and make the DMK-led front victorious. Only its victory will ensure a state government that will fight for its rights and preserve its civilization, culture and language. Such a change will also preserve secularism and safeguard the rights of the state. He reminded the people that in Assam, AGP was the forerunner in spreading the pride of Assam, its language and culture allied with BJP. Now the same AGP, once a ruling party of Assam, became a junior partner of BJP and lost its identity over the years. The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu will also face such a destiny in the near future if BJP is allowed to step into the state, he warned.

Brinda Karat toured the state from February 27-28 in which she has addressed public meetings at Pudukkottai, Trichy, Nellai and Nagercoil districts. While addressing the public meetings, Brinda Karat pointed out that the BJP-led central government is acting in vengeance on the livelihoods of the working people of the country. It has passed three farm laws in a most undemocratic manner to allow the corporate sector to take hold of the agriculture sector within the country. Similarly, the central government has reduced the funds for the MNGREA scheme by 34.5 per cent which will further reduce the income of rural people.

Brinda karat said that it is utter shame on the part of AIADMK and its legacy to support these farm laws and labour codes which will destroy the lives of crores and crores of working people of this country. With such a subservient attitude of AIADMK, Tamil Nadu is losing its rights, its language and culture. Hence, she appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to ensure the defeat of this anti-people alliance of AIADMK-BJP in the ensuing assembly election and bring in a government that will fight for the rights of the state and its people.