[Marxistindia] report on jathas

[news from the cpi(m)]

UPA-II Govt Lying
About Railway Fares

Southern Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha leader and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member S
Ramachandran Pillai attacked the Railway Budget as being anti-people and
an exercise in deceit.

Addressing a media conference in Ernakulam today, he charged the central
government of making farcical claim that there was no increase in
passenger fares. The fares were hiked just recently. And now with fares
linked to fuel prices through the new Fuel Adjustment Component, the fares
will be dynamic and change according to increases in fuel prices.
Moreover, the freight charges and online reservation charges have been
increased substantially he said. He condemned the moves to privatize
railways and corporatise it through the PPP model.

Pillai explained the Jatha programme, its objectives and the main demands
on which CPI(M) will unite the masses. He said the Party will take the
message of struggle to the people across the country and unite the
broadest possible sections to ensure that pro-people alternative policies
are implemented and a progressive Left political alternative is
strengthened.


State Level Jathas Begin
Journey in Tamilnadu

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Tamil Nadu organised state level
jathas in conjunction with the main Sangarsh Sandesh jatha which had
started from Kanniyakumari on February 24.

Five campaign teams started off from five different centers in the state.
The first jatha led by Party state secretary led by G Ramakrishnan, was
flagged off from Gudalur in Theni district. The second one led by Party
central committee member U Vasuki began from Sivaganga. The third one
started its one week journey from Thottiyam in Trichy district led by
central committee member K Balakrishnan. The fourth team led by another
central committee member and MLA A Soundararajan began its campaign from
Thiruvallur. Party state secretariat member K Kanagaraj led the fifth one
from Pudhucherry.

All the five jathas witnessed enthusiastic receptions and the public
meetings were well attended. Campaigning on the main demands of Sangarsh
Sandesh Jatha of the Party, these state level jathas in Tamilnadu are
reaching the people through lakhs of booklets detailing the demands and
alternative policies of the party.


Odisha Sub-Jatha

The sub-Jatha flagged off on 24th February from Parlakhemundi reached
Bhubaneswar, on its third day. During these three days the jatha has
covered a distance of about 350 kilometres covering three districts –
Gajapati, Ganjam and Khurdha.
On the third day, the Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha started from Berhampur in
Ganjam district and on its way to Bhubaneswar, was greeted by large number
of people at Chotabasa, Poirasi, Khandadeuli, Santoshpur, Humma, Rambha,
Tangi and Khurdha. Rural women were in majority among those who had
greeted and listened to the Jatha. Janardan Pati, Secretary of CPI (M)
Odisha state committe and state secretariat members Ali Kishor Patnaik and
Jaganath Misro addressed the meetings. The speakers highlighted the CPI
(M)'s alternative policies on food, land and employment issues.
Hundreds of people including adivasis with their traditional drums from
suburban areas of Bhubaneswar, students, youth, employees greeted the
Jatha leaders. Here too women were in a good number. A well attended
public meeting was held at Jayadev Vihar square of Bhubaneswar.
A district level Jatha from Puri district under the leadership of Bhima
Swain, Secretary Puri district committee of CPI(M) joined the state level
Jathha at Bhubaneswar. The Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha will reach Cuttack City
on its way to Balasore tomorrow.