To protect democracy and secularism, demanding employment
LAKHS of youth joined the 'Freedom Street' event organised by DYFI Kerala at various district centres on independence day. DYFI organised ‘Freedom Streets’ across the state under the slogan 'My India - Where is my job, where is democracy - safeguard secularism'.
DYFI central executive committee had given a call for conducting prolonged campaigns and movements within different states against unemployment, one of the major threats India's youth is facing today. The Freedom Street event was part of such a campaign.
WHERE IS MY JOB CAMPAIGN
At a time when all the employment providing centres are disappearing, the question of 'where is my job' is becoming relevant. Contract work was implemented through Agnipath even in the army, which provides employment to tens of thousands of youth. Railways, public banks and other such public sector undertakings are not being able to generate new job opportunities. The BJP government, which came with the promise of providing employment to the youth, on the contrary is eliminating all the public sector undertakings, which are the major employment providing institutions in the country.
Youth across the country protested against Agnipath because of the flawed policies of the central government in dealing with the problem of unemployment in the country. The North Indian states are witnessing the slaughter of democracy by misuse of power. The slogan 'Where is democracy' is also becoming more important in these days when democracy is being destroyed by keeping the Parliament in the dark. The office-bearers had said that the youth gatherings will express the voice of the youth against such attacks.
Month-long vehicle rallies were organised in different parts of the state as part of the campaign. The South Kerala rally was led by V K Sanoj, secretary DYFI Kerala and the North Kerala rally was led by V Vaseef, president. These rallies which extended from July 28 to August 9, were stopped in between due to heavy rainfall in the state and state leadership urged the members to be part of volunteer works to assist people who were in crisis.
FREEDOM STREET
Freedom Street gathering at Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. Inaugurating the event, he applauded the crucial work DYFI is carrying out in stopping the strengthening of communal forces in the state. He reminded the gathering that federalism is a fundamental principle which must be strengthened. V K Sanoj, CPI(M) district secretary, Anavoor Nagappan, education and labour minister, V Shivankutty, film director, Shaji N Karun, actor, Premkumar and many other notable public leaders also participated in the event. Pinarayi Vijayan paid homage to the freedom fighters . He said the rights we enjoy today are a result of their sacrifices. We must defend the values of democracy and secularism.
Freedom Street at Calicut was inaugurated by Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau Member of CPI(M). The event which took place at Calicut beach witnessed the participation of thousands of young people. Prakash Karat called for protecting the principles of secularism, democracy and federalism. The huge gathering of youth took a pledge to defend these principles. Karat said the threat to democracy and secularism comes from the same forces who had distanced themselves from the freedom struggle as they wanted a Hindu Rashtra. Prakash Karat lauded the LDF government of Kerala for defending the basic tenets of the Constitution. DYFI state treasurer, Arun Babu also addressed the gathering.
Freedom Street public meeting at Kochi was inaugurated by CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Brinda Karat. Other speakers were V Vaseef, district president and secretary, Aneesh Matthew and A R Ranjeeth. CPI(M) district secretary, C N Mohanan was also present. Giving examples on the role of the communists in the freedom struggle, Brinda Karat challenged the RSS to name a single leader belonging to them who contributed towards the struggle. She said it was an insult to the martyrs that the prime minister in his speech named Savarkar in the same breath and sentence that he named Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Babasaheb Ambedkar. She gave details of the present unemployment and price rise and said after 75 years of independence, we see a twin assault on people's livelihoods and people's unity through outright State promoted communalism and pro-corporate policies and called for sharpening struggles for justice. A pledge to defend secularism, democracy and to fight for alternative policies was taken by thousands of youngsters who had gathered there.
Gathering at Palakkad was inaugurated by M A Baby, former all-India president of DYFI and Polit Bureau Member of CPI(M). Chintha Jerome, DYFI CEC member also addressed the gathering.
Organised under the leadership of the DYFI Alappuzha district committee, Freedom Street was inaugurated by A Vijayaraghavan, Polit Bureau Member of CPI(M). A M Arif, Lok Sabha MP and R Rahul, DYFI CEC member also addressed the event.
Freedom Street at Kottayam was inaugurated by P Rajeev, minister of industries.
Gathering held at Kanhangad was inaugurated by M V Govindan Master, minister of local self-government and excise department. DYFI central secretariat member, Jake C Thomas addressed the gathering.
Freedom Street organised by the DYFI Idukki district committee was inaugurated by CPI(M) Central Committee Member P K Shrimati Teacher. DYFI CEC member, M Shajar also addressed the event.
The youth gathering at Pathanamthitta was inaugurated by E P Jayarajan, CPI(M) Central Committee Member. The former health minister of Kerala, K K Shailaja inaugurated the Freedom Street Event held at Thrissur.
The youth gathering at Kollam was inaugurated by A A Rahim, all-India president of DYFI and Rajya Sabha MP. He reminded that unemployment is the biggest threat Indian youth have in front of them. The unemployment rates are increasing month by month. The labour participation rate in the country is plunging. Amidst such crises, the central government is employing young people on a contract basis for the remaining jobs in the public sector. He reaffirmed that DYFI will lead the struggle throughout the country against the threat of unemployment.
The gathering at Malappuram was inaugurated by M Swaraj, former DYFI Kerala state secretary. Various artists and cultural figures also attended the event. Gathering organised at Kannur witnessed a gathering of one lakh youngsters. The event was inaugurated by P A Muhammad Riyas, minister and former DYFI all-India president. The gathering organised by DYFI Wayanad district committee was inaugurated by A N Shamseer, MLA.
DELHI CHALO ON NOVEMBER 3
DYFI has given a call for an all-India march against unemployment raising the slogan: "Where Is My Job?" on November 3, in the national capital. The Freedom Street event and the rallies conducted ensuring popular participation of youth around the state will contribute to the larger movement of youth in the country against Unemployment and anti-youth policies of the central government and sanghparivar attempts to destroy democratic values.
