Land of Punnapra Vayalar And A Thousand Struggles Welcome the Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha

Alappuzha, the land of the historic Punnapra Vayalar and innumerable struggles against feudal landlordism and imperialism, was all decked up to receive the Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha on its third day. Alappuzha was home to historic struggles of various sections of the working class and peasantry, which have been a mainstay of the advance of Communist Movement in Kerala. It is due to these struggles that land to the landless becomes a reality. Tens of thousands of comrades thronged the route of the Jatha to welcome it with the same revolutionary fervour.

As the Jatha entered into Alappuzha District, district leaders along with a huge gathering greeted the Jatha and felicitated the Jatha leader and team members. A procession of vehicles with hundreds of red volunteers on bikes led the way and people lined on both sides of the roads welcomed with slogans, flowers, salutes and the traditional vedikkettu (fireworks). Nearly a lakh people braved the hot sun and humid weather enthusiastically cheering the Jatha leaders and listened to the leaders in rapt attention.

The meeting was addressed by Polibureau member, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M.A.Baby, Sudha Sundaraman, Vaikkom Viswam, LDF Convenor, Thomas Isaac and others. Veteran communist leader and hero of Punnapra Vayalar struggle P.K.Chandranandan felicitated the Jatha leaders. S. Ramachandran Pillai garlanded him and greeted him warmly.

G.Sudhakaran, MLA welcomed the gathering. Addressing the gathering S. Ramachandran Pillai hit out at the ruling classes and charged that the policies of the current union government are being drafted and guided by the USA. The India-US CEO Forum set up in 2005 and the Indo-US Knowledge Initiative in agriculture have been dictating economic policies and agricultural policy of our country he said. He pointed to the interefence of the corporates, influencing even who should become Ministers. He criticised the government for mortagaging the sovereignty of our country.

Pointing out that due to the new economic policies pursued during the last 20 years, the troubles of common masses have multiplied manifold, he said the ruling classes have completely failed. “Their only concern is corporate interests. Lack of housing, health facilities, education, employment opportunities, and social security are some of the ills that are plaguing our country. The economic policies of Congress and the BJP and other parties aren’t aimed at helping the struggling majority of Indians”.

This Jatha is spreading the message of struggle and seeking to build the broadest possible unity against the anti-people policies, divisive forces and against caste oppression, corruption and gender discrimination. “With a positive agenda of change, demanding a solution to the problems of the common people of our country, the Jatha will move forward”. He called upon people to join the struggle for alternatives in large numbers.

Rail Budget: More Burdens on People

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The railway budget has added more burdens on the people traveling in trains. The railway minister has made the false claim that railway fares are not being increased. After increasing passenger fares by 20 per cent just two months before the railway budget, the present budget provisions will definitely increase the fares further. A fuel surcharge has been imposed which will result in raising the fares twice a year. There has been an increase in the reservation, cancellation and tatkal charges and fares of superfast trains.

The five per cent increase in freight charges across the board will have a cascading effect on inflation.

The budget has proposed to have an independent Rail Tariff Authority (RTA) which will decide on freight and tariff structure in the future. This will open the way for continuous increase in freight and passenger fares.

The railway budget has made no serious effort to overcome the financial crisis affecting the Indian railways. The criss was deliberately created in the past three years by enhancing the number of projects, spending on advertisements, foundation laying ceremonies and other activities. The railway minister has scaled down targets for the new lines, gauge conversion, allocation and acquisition of railway stock in order to reduce the operating ratio. The annual plan target was not achievable as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) has been a failure. Not a single investment has been there from the PPP model in the railways. The target for freight has been increased but the target for acquisition of wagons has been reduced by 2000, making it difficult to achieve the freight target. This has been clearly done to reduce the operating ratio. 

Though there has been a serious increase in the train accidents, there are no proposals to make rail travel accident free and safe in the future.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the increase in fares through various means and the rise in freight charges be rescinded.

Left Parties submit Four Crore Signatures Submitted to PM

Leaders of the Left parties, the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB & RSP met the Prime Minister today and submitted a memorandum urging the government to take immediate measures to bring a food security legislation in this budget session of parliament, which would provide for a universal public distribution system; ensure 35 kgs of food grains at not more than Rs. 2 per kg and ending the cash transfer scheme for the PDS.

The Left parties had conducted a signature campaign throughout the country and had collected over four crore signatures. Papers carrying these signatures were also delivered at the PM’s office. Those who met the Prime Minister were Prakash Karat, S. Sudhakar Reddy, Debabrata Biswas, T J Chandrachoodan, General Secretaries of the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB and RSP, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, Members of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, D Raja, leader of the CPI group in the Rajya Sabha and Abani Roy, leader, RSP.

The full text of the memorandum signed by the General Secretaries of the four Left parties is given below:

“All over the country, people are suffering from acute price rise especially of food items. At this juncture the issue of food security has assumed critical importance. The Left parties have been conducting a campaign for the past one year for an effective food security law based on a universal public distribution system.

“In this connection, the Left parties have conducted a mass signature campaign all over the country on the following three demands:

• A Food Security law providing for a universal public distribution system without dividing the people into BPL and APL.
• 35 kgs of foodgrains should be supplied at not more than Rs. 2 per kg.
• No Cash transfer scheme in the public distribution system

“Till February 20, 2013 we have received 4,01,00,273 (four crore, one lakh, two hundred and seventy three) signatures. We are herewith submitting these signatures to you which embodies the popular expectations of the people for an effective food security law. 

“We hope your government will take immediate measures to bring the food security legislation on the above lines in this budget session of parliament.”