Tulasidas
THE political campaign launched by CPI(M) and CPI in Andhra Pradesh from April 14 to May 4 was successful in exposing the disastrous policies of the BJP central government. The campaign aimed to highlight the corporate-communal nexus in power at the centre, which has been cheating the people and favouring the wealthy by using public funds. The message of the campaign resonated well with the people, and it succeeded in raising awareness about the corrupt practices of the BJP. The campaign effectively showcased the collusion of the ruling YCP and the opposition TDP and Janasena parties with the BJP central government. The participation of national, state, district, and local leaders from both parties in public meetings contributed to the campaign's success.
On May 4th, Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), delivered a powerful address at a mass rally and public meeting held in Chinturu, Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The meeting was presided over by Boppena Kiran, the district secretary of CPI(M). Karat demanded that both the central and state governments implement the rehabilitation and resettlement, R&R Act (2013) for the Polavaram project-affected people. She emphasised the need for the government to provide housing, land, and all necessary amenities in the R&R colonies. Karat lamented the Modi government's failure to release grants for the Polavaram national project, particularly the R&R expenditure, and accused it of favouring corporations and handing over public properties to them. She also criticised the YSRCP government for implementing policies dictated by the Modi government. The meeting began with Karat garlanding the statues of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Komuram Bheem, Gantam Dora, and other heroes of tribal struggles. Other speakers at the meeting included Ravula Venkayya, CPI state secretariat member, and Mantena Sitaram and Y Venkateswarlu, both CPI(M) state secretariat members.
On May 1st, MA Baby, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), addressed a large rally and public meeting at Nellore. During the meeting, which was presided over by Mulam Ramesh and Dama Ankayya, district secretaries of CPI(M) and CPI respectively, Baby criticised the corporate-communal nexus rule of the Modi government and its attempts to divide people on communal, regional, and linguistic lines through hate speeches.
MA Baby also spoke about the Modi government's attempts to reverse labour laws and replace them with four codes. He mentioned the recent attempt by the Tamil Nadu government to introduce a 12-hour working day and praised the working class for pressuring the government to revert the move. CPI national secretary K Narayana also expressed disappointment with the policies of the YSRCP government in AP during the meeting. Other leaders, including V Srinivasa Rao, CPI(M) state secretary also addressed the rally.
BV Raghavulu, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), addressing the people at Gannavaram, Mangalagiri, Araku, and Visakhapatnam warned them about the central government's attempts to dilute laws that protect people and grab tribal rights. He urged the workers to continue their struggle to retain the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in the public sector and criticised the central government's conspiracy to privatise it.
