FOUR Left Parties – CPI, CPI(M), CPM (Punjab) and CPI(ML)-Liberation – organised a big convention at Barnala in Malwa Region of Punjab on August 10, 2015 to seek suggestions for deciding the future form of struggle on the 15 points charter of demands.

State secretaries of these parties while addressing the convention have strongly condemned the callous and adamant attitude of the Punjab chief minister towards the genuine and just demands of the working people of the state. About the terrorist attack in Dinanagar, they said that it was aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony in the state which had already been a victim of terrorism for more than a decade. This makes it incumbent on the part of the central and state governments to find political solution to the Punjab problem without any delay – transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, just solution to the river waters dispute and territorial claims and counter claims. The settlement of these issues alone can bring durable peace in Punjab and protect the unity and integrity of our country.

The Left leaders held the central and state governments equally responsible for the agrarian crisis in a state like Punjab which is resulting in increased suicides by the peasants.  There are on an average daily two suicides in Punjab by the peasants. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations to ease the burden on peasantry.

The convention, the first of the three conventions planned to be held in Malwa, Doaba and Majha regions of the state has suggested that there should be  massive direct action in the form of  ‘Maha padao’ or ‘Satyagraha’ as was conducted against ‘Khushasiyati Tax’ in 1959. The convention resolved to support and make successful the September 2, 2015 general strike called by the central trade unions and other federations.