Second Day of Left Parties Dharna on Food Security

The second day of the Left parties dharna on 31st July demanding immediate legislation on food security again witnessed the participation of thousands of people from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana. The people expressed their anger against the government and their strong resolve and determination by sitting in dharna, braving the incessant rain throughout the day.The Central leaders of the Left parties who spoke in the dharna highlighted the apathy of the government towards the poor. They criticised the UPA government that was unwilling to spend even a meagre 1 percent of the GDP for ensuring food security to the people and stated that this shows its real concern for aam aadmi. The government, instead of supplying foodgrains to the hungry and malnourished people of our country, is keen on exporting foodgrains where it is used to feed cattle.They also criticised the government for its failure to provide ration cards to all the needy and its intent on dismantling the entire Public Distribution System (PDS). More than 50 percent of our agricultural labourers, 61 percent of the dalits and 55 percent of the adivasis do not have either the BPL or the Antyodaya cards. This itself means that the majority of the poor in our society are denied access even to that nominal PDS that exists in our country. Instead of strengthening the PDS, the government is bent upon wiping out even the existing structure. This exposes the true character of the Congress party and the UPA government. They called upon the people to join hands and further intensify the struggle for 35 kgs of foodgrains at not more than Rs 2 per family.Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M), Amarjeet Kaur, National Secretary of the CPI, Premachandran, former minister of Kerala and leader of the RSP, Narahari Mahato, Member of Parliament, AIFB addressed the protesters along with the state leaders of the four Left parties. The central leadership of the four Left parties – CPI (M), CPI, AIFB and RSP – were joined by many prominent personalities working in the field of food security. Eminent economist Jean Dreeze, Civil rights activist Binayak Sen and other Right to Food activists extended their support to the protest and addressed the people.

Left cadres protest against price rice across the country

Cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged demonstrations at different places in Tamilnadu on Monday urging the Central government to bring about changes in the Food Security Bill and take steps to implement the demands put forth by the Left parties with respect to public distribution system. The demonstrations were held at places including Tiruverumbur, Manachanallur, Thuraiyur, Lalgudi, Uppiliapuram, Musiri, Thottiyam and Manikandam. The demonstrators urged the Centre not to stop the benefits given under the public distribution system to several States including Tamil Nadu under the garb of food security.

They also demanded the Centre not to reduce the quota of essential commodities such as rice and kerosene given through ration shops and ensure distribution of LPG cylinders without any delay. Payment of reasonable procurement price for agricultural products as prescribed by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee; distribution of 35 kilograms of rice under public distribution system; issue of ration cards to all families and firm action against smuggling of rice were part of the demand.

Hundreds of workers and supporters of Left parties CPI(M), CPI and Forward Bloc were arrested by the police during a rally in front of the Orissa State Assembly on Monday while they were demanding food security for all the citizens of the country.

More than a thousand of supporters and members of the State committees of these parties staged the rally after taking out a procession from the Master Canteen Square to the Lower PMG Square to demand right to food through a universal public distribution system (PDS).

The Left parties would also stage another rally on Tuesday demanding food security, said CPI Bhubaneswar zone secretary Sura Jena.

In their five-point charter of demands, the Left parties urged the Government for adopting a universal PDS by scrapping the present classification under the BPL and APL systems. Blaming the ‘highly dubious’ poverty estimates of the Planning Commission, leaders of the parties said the Government should discard such wrong estimates. They also demanded that the Government implement the Swaminathan Committees’ recommendations to protest farmers and to take steps on war footing to control the price rise.

CPI(M) politburo member and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suryakant Mishra, Odisha CPI(M) secretary Janardan Pati, CPI State secretary Dibakar Nayak, Forward Bloc State secretary Santosh Mitra, Jagatsinghpur CPI MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Chhatrapur CPI MLA Adikand Sethi and veteran CPI(M) leader Sivaji Patnaik led the rally.

Safety of Indian Railways

The tragic death of 30 passengers in a sleeper coach in the Tamilnadu Express due to an electric short circuit once again highlights the absence of adequate safety measures in the Indian Railways. It is shocking that there are no mechanisms in place to deal with such an occurrence leading to the spread of the fire which engulfed the whole compartment while the passengers were asleep. The upkeep of the trains and safety checks and monitoring seem to be the least priority for the present incumbent of the Railway Ministry.

Earlier also the CPI(M) had demanded that the Prime Minister look into the affairs of the Indian Railways and the way it is being mismanaged. This now brooks no delay.

The CPI(M) conveys its condolences to the families of those killed and injured and demands that full compensation be paid.

Left parties begin sit-in protest for universal PDS

The Left parties began its five-day sit-in protest in national capital against price rise and to demand the right to food through a universal public distribution system (PDS).

Addressing the participants, who had come from Haryana and Delhi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the government’s thrust should be on giving people access to cheap foodgrain.

“At a time when 8.2 crore tonnes of foodgrain is stored, it is grave injustice to deny people access to food,” he said, adding that the food security system should be based on universal PDS instead of targeted population. “The entire concept of above and below poverty line population needs to be scrapped,” he said. Prakash Karat charged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Planning Commission with catering only to the elite and corporate houses.

Communist Party of India general secretary Sudhakar Reddy also demanded a proper food security system keeping in mind the high levels of malnutrition in the country. He claimed that the protests in support of a universal PDS were drawing a huge response.

T.J. Chandrachoodan of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Debabrata Biswas of the All India Forward Bloc also expressed similar sentiments.

The Left parties have been demanding halt to export of foodgrain at subsidised rates. “This foodgrain is being used for making feed for livestock,” Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat told.  “The government is subsidising feed for livestock instead of giving subsidised food to its people,” she pointed out. 

Taking a dig at NDA and UPA for failing to tackle poverty while they were in power, CPI National Secretary D Raja said, "The nation-wide agitation is aimed at achieving food security. People living Above Poverty Line and Below Poverty Line should have access to food and the bogus poverty estimates of the Planning Commission should be scrapped."

Supply of 35 kg of foodgrain at a maximum rate of Rs. 2 a kg per family each month and distribution of over 8 crore foodgrain stocks by increasing allocations immediately are being demanded by the Left parties.

They also want the government to scrap the Planning Commission’s “highly dubious” poverty estimates and ensure that these are not used as basis for welfare allocations.

Rallies will be held in State capitals during the sit-in. The Left parties have said that the utter failure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to control prices is shown even in the latest official data. With the grave situation arising out of the imminent drought in many States, the government must be forced to reverse “these disastrous anti-people policies.” Among others present at the dharna were Communist Party of India leader A.B. Bardhan and food expert Utsa Patnaik.

  

Villagers across different states, political leaders and members from the four left parties - CPI (M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc - are in Delhi to attend five-day nation-wide agitation here at Jantar Mantar.

SFI Kerala State Conference begins

The 31st State Conference of the Largest students organization in the State, Students Federation of India,  officially began with the hoisting of flag at the public meeting venue, Fort Maithanam rechristened in the name of the great martyr Com. K V Sudheesh in Palakkad Town. The conferece will be from 26th to 29th July.  Reception committee chairman Com. M B Rajesh MP hoisted the flag.  

Students federation of India (SFI) is the largest student movement in the state having a membership of around twelve lakhs. SFI which formed in the year 1970, in its march forward under the banner of independence Democracy, socialism for the past forty years was able to withstand stiff resistance offered by enemies of the people. In the battle for a better future several of my comrades were killed tortured and academically victimized. The organization has outlived all this and become a leading force in uniting the students basis of martyrdom and glorious sacrifies of the rank and file of the organization. I welcome all students to join SFI the true inheritors of the glorious traditions of the pre-independence student movement to march forward for the well wish of student community in the state and to join hands with struggle of the exploited sections of our society for a social transformation.

SFI State president K.V. Sumesh, and secretary P. Biju said a rally, in which 25,000 students would participate, would be taken out from the Government Victoria College ground to Fort Maidan at 3 p.m. on Thursday. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate a public meeting to be held after the rally. Book Exhibition, Seminars, Short Film Festival, Arts Competitions etc were conducted as part of the conference which attracted a large section of the students.

The delegates session of the  conference  will be inaugurated by famous Atomic Scientist Subhiman Sen on Friday 27th July. The Delegate session will be held in the Town hall named after the martyr com. Aneesh Rajan.

Left parties Chalo Secretariat Protest against AP electricity tariff ‎

Leaders and activists of the Left parties were arrested by police when they tried to storm the State Secretariat on Wednesday morning. 

The Left parties have given a call for “Chalo Secretariat”in protest against the recent hike in power tariff in the name of fuel surcharge adjustment. Tension prevailed in the area for sometime as the Left leaders including CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, his CPI counterpart K. Narayana, former CPI (M) MP P. Madhu, party’s State secretariat member Y.V. Rao and AP Ryotu Sangham leader K. Ramakrishna resisted the attempts to arrest them.

The leaders jostled with the policemen who were firm on foiling their moves to reach the Secretariat. While Mr. Raghavulu was arrested at the busy Liberty cross roads, police chased Dr. Narayana as he ran towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue situated on the road leading to the seat of State administration and arrested him.

"Congress gave an assurance before elections that people won't be burdened over electricity tariff. We are asking them to absorb the burden without troubling people as per their promise. Instead, the government is acting against us," CPI State Secretary K Narayana said. Raghavulu alleged that the state government was only suppressing opposition parties who wanted the people to be spared of the burden over electricity tariff. Recalling that an agitation led by Left parties over electricity issues during the Telugu Desam regime had an enormous impact against the government, he warned the Congress government that a similar fate would befall it.

Mr. Ramakrishna, who managed to give a slip to police, could reach the main entrance of the Secretariat where he along with some of the activists were taken into custody. Elaborate arrangements were made in view of the Left parties’ call with several companies of police posted at vantage points leading to the Secretariat besides regulating traffic movement on the major roads around the Secretariat.

The Left parties leaders and activists were later moved to different police stations even as the police pickets continued to be posted as the parties appeared firm on staging their protest after release.

Violence in Assam

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its grave concern at the escalating violence in Assam which is taking a communal turn and is spreading from the Bodo Territorial Administered District and Kokhrajar to neighbouring districts and areas. It is indeed deeply disturbing that over 35 people have lost their lives, several are untraced, over 50 villages have been burnt, thousands have been forced to flee from their homes. Tragically the insecurity is so high among all communities that even those in relief camps do not feel safe.

This is a monumental failure of the Congress led Government in Assam which refused to take timely action allowing the tensions to increase from the first incident on July 6th. Even earlier the warning signs of distrust and tensions among different communities was ignored. The Central Government must explain why it too delayed its response to the violence. 

The CPI(M) also strongly condemns the motivated propaganda that seeks to justify the violence against the minority community in the name of illegal migration from Bangladesh. This is a total fabrication since the large majority of people in these areas are Indian citizens who have been living in the area for decades having been displaced from their own areas due to the erosion of their land by the Brahmaputra and other rivers. It is the tragedy of Assam, a state which has multi-lingual, multi-religious and different communities that the dominant political parties should practice a politics which divide and weaken people’s unity leading to repeated bouts of violence.

It demands that the Government take immediate steps to restore law and order. All those who are directly involved in the violence must be identified and punished severely. The Government must give full compensation to the families whose members have been killed.It must give compensation to those injured. Proper arrangements must be made for relief in the camps where security must be ensured. The CPI(M) appeals to the people to restore peace and to put an end to this fratricidal violence, isolating the trouble makers.

A delegation of MPs from the CPI(M) will be visiting Assam shortly.

CC Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on July 21-22, 2012. It has issued the following statement:

The Central Committee considered a report submitted by the Polit Bureau on the prevailing situation in Kerala and Party related matters there.

The Central Committee noted that Com. V.S. Achuthanandan, Member of the Central Committee had made certain statements publicly criticizing the state leadership of the Party and taken some steps which have provided opportunities for the political opponents to attack the Party. After the discussion, Com. V.S self-critically told the Central Committee that some of his remarks and actions were incorrect and could have been avoided.

On this basis, the Central Committee decided to publicly censure Com. V.S. Achuthanandan for his wrong remarks and for violation of the basic norms of the Party. The Central Committee expects Com. V.S., the senior most leader of the Party in Kerala, to act in such a manner which will help the Party to unitedly face the current situation.

The Central Committee noted that the brutal murder of T.P. Chandrasekaran is being utilised to conduct a concerted campaign against the Party. The Central Committee condemned the efforts of the UDF government which has directed the police to falsely implicate Party leaders and cadres in this case. The Party has already declared that it is not involved in the murder of Chandrasekaran and had strongly condemned it. The Party does not believe in the elimination of political opponents.

The Party will conduct an enquiry into the matter to ascertain if there is any involvement of anyone associated with the Party in this incident. As stated earlier, firm action will be taken if anybody is found to be involved from the Party and any wrong trend if it exists in the Party will be put down firmly.

The Central Committee asked the Kerala State Committee to take appropriate action in the matter concerning M.M. Mani, former Secretary of the Idukki District Committee of the Party.

Capt Lakshmi Sahgal - Condolence Resolution

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Capt Lakshmi Sahgal, inspiring and courageous freedom fighter, dedicated and compassionate doctor in the service of the poor, fighter for women’s rights and a senior and greatly respected member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). She passed away at the age of 98 in Kanpur. At the time of her death she was a patron of the All India Democratic Women’s Association which she had helped to found.

Capt Lakshmi who was born into an illustrious family from Kerala. was brought up in Madras where she excelled in her studies as a brilliant student. Her parents were freedom fighters dedicated to the nation, her father a brilliant lawyer and her mother a social worker and campaigner for women’s rights. From her childhood, Capt Lakshmi was brought up with values which cherished India’s freedom. This dedication remained with her through her life. Her parents marriage was inter caste one and Lakshmi as a young student fought against caste prejudice often clashing with the ideas held by her contemporaries in school and college. She completed her MBBS degree in 1938 and then in 1940 decided to travel to Singapore. It was while she was working there as a doctor that she became actively involved in the work of the India Independence League which contributed greatly to India’s freedom struggle. She was introduced to Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943 and was invited by him to set up the Rani of Jhansi women’s brigade under his overall command. She became the leader of this legendary brigade and was inducted by him into the provisional cabinet of Azad Hind as the only woman member. She played a heroic role and saved many lives by her courage as leader of the INA. She was captured by the British and brought to India in 1946 where he was given a heroine’s welcome.

She married Prem Sehgal who was also a leader of the INA working with Subhash Chandra Bose.

After independence, Capt Lakshmi set up her practice in Kanpur. She became the beloved health saviour of lakhs of poor women of Kanpur whom she would provide medical services without any charge. She was devoted to her patients and there was hardly a day when she did not work in her modest clinic. Even on the day before her heart attack, regardless of her frail health she was at the clinic meeting patients, such was her dedication.

In 1971 when huge numbers of refugees came from what was then East Pakistan, the Peoples relief Committee in West Bengal gave a call for doctors to help. Com. Jyoti Basu also issued a call. Capt Lakshmi answered his appeal and spent several months working with the refugees providing them medical relief.

It was after this experience that Capt Lakshmi decided to join the CPI(M). She became a member of the Kanpur and later the UP State Committee of the Party. She was a champion for women’s rights and shouldered the responsibility along with other great communist women leaders of mobilizing women for their rights. She was a founder member of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, travelling the length and breadth of the country as the organisation’s Vice-President.

She believed strongly in the need for a Socialist revolution and she lived her ideals. She was extremely modest about her many achievements, always encouraging young people into leadership roles. She was the beloved role model of young people throughout country.

The CPI(M) pays its deep homage and dips the red flag in honour of Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, courageous and dedicated communist leader and freedom fighter. Her life and work will continue to inspire generations of young people.

The Party extends its condolences to her daughters Subhashini Ali and Anisa Puri, and her grandchildren and other family members.

Long Live Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal.

Capt Lakshmi Sahgal : A Revolutionary Life Of Struggle & Sacrifice

Lakshmi Sahgal was born Lakshmi Swaminadhan on 24.10.l914 in what was then still called Madras. Her father was Dr. S. Swaminadhan, a brilliant and leading lawyer practising criminal law at the Madras High Court. Her mother was A.V. Ammukutty, a social worker, freedom fighter and tireless campaigner for women's rights who successfully contested elections to the Madras Municipal Corporation, the Constituent Assembly, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. She also served as National President of the All India Women's Conference.

As a young girl, Lakshmi participated enthusiastically in nationalist programmes of burning of foreign goods, including her own clothes and toys and picketting of liquor-vends. She decided to study medicine not from the point of view of embarking upon a successful career but because she wanted to be of service to the poor, especially to poor women. As a result, she received the MBBS degree from Madras Medical College in l938. A year later, she received her diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics.

In l940, Lakshmi left Madras for Singapore. Here she quickly established a clinic where the poorest of the poor, especially migrant Indian labour, could receive medical treatment. Not only did she establish herself as a successful, compassionate and extremely competent doctor, but she played an active role in the India Independence League which contributed greatly to the freedom movement in India.

In l942 came the historic surrender of Singapore by the British colonial power to the Japanese. Lakshmi was kept extremely busy tending to the many casualties and injuries that resulted from skirmishes. She also came in contact with many of the India POWs who were deliberating over the Japanese proposal to form an Indian army of liberation. She was extremely enthusiastic about this possibility and argued strongly in its favour. As a result, she was very much part of the deliberations that finally resulted in the formation of the INA under Gen. Mohan Singh.

Events moved very fast with the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore on 2nd July, l943. In the next few days, at all his public meetings, Netaji, as he was popularly known as, spoke of his determination to raise a women’s regiment, the Rani of Jhansi regiment, which would also fight for Indian independence and make it complete. On the 5th of July he spoke to Shri Yellappa, and enquired whether there was any Indian woman in Singapore who would be suitable for the task of leading such a regiment. Shri Menon immediately suggested Lakshmi’s name. Netaji insisted on meeting her immediately and she was brought to meet him quite late the same night. As soon as he put his proposal to her, she accepted it without a moment’s hesitation and, the very next day, she closed her clinic and began preparations for the formation of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the INA.

These preparations were underway very soon and, in a short time, a well-trained fighting force of women recruits took shape. On 21st October, l943, when the Provisional Government of Azad Hind was announced, Lakshmi was the sole woman member of its Cabinet.

The Rani of Jhansi Regiment saw active duty on the front. Lakshmi who was given the rank of Colonel, although in the popular imagination she remained ‘Captain Lakshmi’ was active both militarily and on the medical front. She played a heroic role not only in the fighting but during the terrible days that INA personnel were hunted by the victorious British troops and saved many lives because of her courage and devotion. She was finally captured and brought to India on 4th March, l946 when she received a heroine’s welcome. The British authorities realised that keeping her a prisoner would be counter-productive and she was released.

After her release, Capt. Lakshmi campaigned tirelessly for the release and rehabilitation of imprisoned and de-mobbed INA personnel and for the freedom of India. She travelled the length and breadth of the country and was able to collect huge funds for the INA soldiers and also mobilise people against the colonial power.

After the release of the prisoners, including Col. Prem Kumar Sahgal, from the Red Fort the campaign for freedom continued. In March 1947, Col. Sahgal and Capt. Lakshmi were married in Lahore (Col. Sahgal was the son of Justice Achhru Ram Sahgal, a member of the Punjab High Court Bench who was one of the judges in the Gandhi Murder Case). After their marriage, they settled down in Kanpur.

In Kanpur, Lakshmi plunged into her medical work almost immediately because the influx of refugees started even before August, l947 when it became a flood. She worked tirelessly among them for several years. Later on she established a small maternity home in a hired premise where it continues till today. Her compassion and service to the poor have become legendary in the city.

In l971, when huge numbers of refugees came from what was East Pakistan into West Bengal, Lakshmi worked at a camp in Bongaon for several months.

After this, she became very active in left politics and in, first, the trade union and, then, the women's movement although she never neglected her medical work. When the All India Democratic Women's Association was formed in l981, she became Vice-President of the largest women's organisation in the country and has been actively involved in its activities, campaigns and struggles ever since.

In October, l984, when anti-Sikh riots broke out in the city in the wake of Smt. Indira Gandhi’s assassination, she came out on the streets in defence of Sikh families and shops near her clinic and did not allow any of them to be harmed.

In l998, she was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the President of India

Even during her last days, she used to leave for her maternity home at 9.00 every morning, seven days a week and works till late in the afternoon. Adulation and awards mean very little to her. Her unassuming manners and modesty are a source of amazement and inspiration. Her untiring and undying commitment to humanity and its service were truly exceptional.

DYFI takes out rally to Kannur SP Office against Police atoricities

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) took out a massive youth march to the office of the Superintendent of Police, Kannur District on Friday 19th July, in protest against ‘police excesses’ on protesting students and youth. Thousands of youth across the district participated in the march.

The police deployment was heavy. Hundreds of DYFI workers, who took part in the march, were stopped at by the police near the traffic circle in front of the Civil Station at 11 a.m. The police barricaded the road to the SP office. An Executive Magistrate was also present. The protestors then staged a sit-in on the road. The protestors dispersed after they were addressed by DYFI leaders.The police officials created unwanted tension in the city and surroundings by huge deployment of police force with modern equipments and granades to disperse the youth. The deployment was such that, the scene was of a war.

Inaugurating the march, DYFI State president M. Swaraj said the police should not be under the impression that they could induce fear in DYFI workers. If the government decided to jail all the DYFI workers, existing prisons in the State would be inadequate, he added. DYFI leaders A.N. Shamseer, P. Santhosh, and P.P. Divya were among those who led the march. The Kannur Town police have registered a case against Mr Shamseer for threatening police officials under section 117 E of the Kerala Police Act and section 506 (1) of the Indian Penal Code. A police case has also been registered against 1000 DYFI activists, including Mr Swaraj for blocking the road.

SFI members lathicharged by police in Bangalore

Students Federation of India (SFI) protest march in Bangalore on Thursday 20th July seeking overhaul of the diploma education system was lathicharged by the police after they refused to allow the students to go to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar’s residence. The march began at the Town Hall, but they protesters were stopped by the police in front of Ulsoor Gate police station.

The agitated students started shouting slogans and sat on the road demanding permission for the march. When they refused to budge, the police resorted to lathi-charge. The nine protesters, who were arrested, were released later. The police, however, said that cases were not booked against them. Students from 15 colleges in Bangalore, Tumkur, Hassan, Mysore, Koppal, Mandya, Davangere, Dharwad, Chickballapur and Mangalore participated in the protest.

The protest was organised in the wake of the results of various diploma courses by the Directorate of Technical Education in which more than 60 per cent of the students had failed, said SFI’s Bangalore district president Muniraju M. The demands included that the students of diploma courses be given the option to “carryover” subjects as in degree courses, replace the “tough” syllabus with an easier one, regular classes for at least four months, reduction in number of examinations, bring down fees collected for re-evaluation and issue of photocopies, an admission process free of donation, besides setting up proper infrastructure such as library and laboratory in colleges.

They urged the Directorate of Technical Education to take steps against commercialisation of education, stopping certification of private polytechnics and setting up polytechnic institutions by the government wherever there is a need. “We want a degree system and a change in the present diploma system. People who join diploma courses come from poor backgrounds and they are forced to pay a huge amount as supplementary examination fees,” said, Jeeva J., SFI district joint secretary.

CITU Karnataka State study camp from August 9

State-level study camp of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will be held at Karmikara Bhavan at Kundapur in Udupi district from August 9 to 13. 300 delegates from across the State would attend the camp. General secretary of CITU and MP Tapan Sen would inaugurate the camp. President of the State unit of CITU V.J.K. Nair and general secretary S. Prasanna Kumar would deliver lectures.

CITU wins Pepsico poll

CITU Trade union leader Ch Ramulu participating in a rally before pesico company after winning the elections at sangareddy in Medak district.

 Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has won the elections for the recognised trade union held at the bottling unit of Pepsi Company (Aradhana Foods Private Limited) located near Sangareddy in Andhra Pradesh. This was the second win for the CITU against TMS trade union arm of  the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) . The defeat was an hard to digest for the TRS leaders, particularly the candidates and party district convener Raghunandan Rao and TRS legislator T. Harish Rao, who addressed a gate meeting of the workers recently. The defeat was registered even after TRS leaders gave a call to the workers of the factory to vote in the name of regional sentiment.

Out of the 240 votes in the factory, 239 were polled and CITU panel led by Chukka Ramulu won 162 votes against the 75 votes polled for the TMS panel led by Mr. Raghunandan Rao. Two votes were rejected. The majority for the CITU was more than the votes polled for the TMS. One of the CITU leader B. Mallesh claimed that the Pepsico unit was the biggest in South Asia for the company. According to sources, local Congress legislator T. Jayaprakash Reddy reportedly played his role and extended tacit support to the CITU.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)