SERIES of public meetings and rallies were conducted throughout Andhra Pradesh in the second fortnight of September in response to the call of CPI(M) Central committee. The corporate communal nexus of BJP rule that has been destroying the livelihoods of people was thoroughly exposed and the need to defeat them was explained as also the silence of YSRCP state government and of the main opposition TDP in opposing the BJP central government which is harmful to the interests of the state. The political campaign was named as Desa Rakshana Bheri (campaign to protect the country) and carried out through various methods like distributing pamphlets, meeting people door-to-door, street corner meetings, bike rallies and jeep jathas in all the 27 districts. Lakhs of pamphlets were distributed and thousands of posters were pasted. Padayatras (foot marches) were organised in hundreds of villages and municipal wards. An exclusive CD/ digital audio was released for the campaign. As part of this campaign, huge public meetings were held in Vijayawada, Puttaparthy, Visakhapatnam, Kunavaram which were addressed by all India leaders.

Addressing a public meeting in Vijayawada on September 24, Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the economy is in a shambles for the last seven years and there are no signs of its recovery largely because of the policies of the Modi government, notably demonetisation and the introduction of GST, and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He said bank loans taken by the corporate sector to the tune of Rs 11 lakh crore were waived off by the Modi government, which also gave tax sops. Unemployment was so rampant that people stopped searching for jobs while the centre was not filling 10 lakh and odd vacancies in various departments. A huge number of industries, especially small enterprises, had to be shut down due to Covid-19 and on the other hand, the steep rise in prices has made people’s lives miserable. In stark contrast, Gautam Adani could become the world’s second richest person only after Modi came to power and a subsidy of Rs 80,000 crore was given to Vedanta Group for mining business in Gujarat.

Yechury said the BJP was able to form governments in several states in spite of losing the elections, either by luring or intimidating the MLAs. Raids by the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate were part of BJPs’ political game. This sort of power grabbing happened in Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and some north eastern states. There were relentless attacks on Muslims and Christians and the number of heinous crimes against women increased by an alarming 20 per cent. The constitution itself was under attack, Yechury said. He demanded that Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to make it clear whether he intended to join the secular forces in the fight against the autocratic BJP regime at the centre or extend tacit support to the BJP-led ruling coalition. Also, the Andhra Pradesh CM should fight for the state’s legitimate claim to Special Category Status which had been promised on the floor of the parliament and for implementation of the AP Re-organisation Act, 2014 in letter and spirit, he said.              

V Srinivasarao, Party state secretary and Party Central committee member MA Gafoor and other leaders addressed the gathering. They condemned the decisions of YSRCP state government which burden the people like fixing meters to agricultural pump-sets, imposing ‘garbage’ tax, abnormal increase in property tax etc. Thousands of people attentively heard the speeches even in hot sun.

Party Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat participated in a huge rally and public meeting at Puttaparthy on September 23. She thoroughly exposed the misrule of Modi government and appealed the people to oppose its divisive politics. She demanded the state chief minister to come out boldly against the BJP central government that failed to implement the Re-organisation Act and also failed to fulfil the promises made to Andhra Pradesh. Such a huge gathering with red flags was not seen in the recent past in Puttaparthy town.

Party Polit Bureau member BV Raghavulu addressed public meetings at Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram on September 27. He explained the privatisation policies of BJP government and appealed the people to defeat it. He congratulated the working class of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and the united movement against its privatisation. Raghavulu cautioned the people about the BJP’s rule that is detrimental to the constitutional values and is an attack on secularism, democracy and social justice. He appealed the YSRCP and the TDP to come out openly opposing the BJP central government that is damaging the interests of the state.

DELHI

On September 24, despite heavy rains hundreds of people participated in the protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against rising inflation, unemployment, privatisation and communalism, at the call of CPI(M) Delhi state committee. Apart from Delhi, a large number of people also participated from Ghaziabad, Loni and Noida. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat addressing the protesters, said the policies of the Modi government is leading to the ever-increasing inflation. She explained the contrast where while Adani has become the second richest person in the world, the suicides of daily wage labourers and youth have gone up to 31 and 10 per cent respectively. Condemning the Modi model, she also raised questions on Kejriwal's model. In Delhi, ration cards are not being made for years and people are not getting ration, she said. Referring to the Kerala model, she called on Party ranks to explain this alternative model to the masses. 

KM Tiwari, Delhi state secretary of the Party presided over the meeting. State secretariat members Brajesh, Asha, Rajeev and Sehba also addressed the gathering.

PUNJAB

CPI(M) Punjab state committee conducted a campaign throughout the state from September 14-23, on peoples issues and demands. Jatha marches were taken out in the villages. The campaign got a good response from people. On the last day of the campaign, a massive rally was organised in Jalanadhar at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall. A procession was organised from Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall to great freedom fighter Pandit Kishori Lal Chowk demanding control on unabated price rise, scrapping of tax on eatable items, rollback of increase in LPG and petrol/diesel prices,  provision of affordable education and health services, 200 days work for MNREGA workers in a year with Rs 600 as daily wage, increase budget allocations for MNREGA and extend it to urban areas, regularise contract workers, withdraw anti-worker labour codes, withdraw the New Education Policy, halt to attacks on constitution, constitutional Institutions and democratic rights. Pro-people policies like those implemented by the LDF Kerala government were highlighted.

Bhup Chand Channo presided over the rally. Party Polit Bureau member Nilotpal Basu while addressing the rally said that Modi government is controlled by communal/fascist RSS and by the corporate nexus which is dangerous for all sectors. Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, Party state secretary demanded implementation of electoral promises made by the Punjab government.

(R L Moudgil)