THOUSANDS OF CPI(M) WORKERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DHARNAS IN SUPPORT OF THE DEMANDS OF PEASANTS AND WORKERS ON 12TH OCTOBER, 2015
The CPI(M) Punjab State Committee has called for maximum participation of people in the dharnas to be held at all district headquarters in Punjab on 12th October, 2015, in support of burning problems of peasants and agricultural workers.
This was one of the key decisions taken at a meeting of the State Committee held at Chandigarh on 7 October 2015.Com. S Ramachandran Pillai, Polit Bureau Member and Com. Nilotpal Basu, Central Secretariat Member attended the meeting which was presided over by Com.Ranbir Singh Virk.
Com.Pillaii and Com.Basu, while reporting on the current national situation in the country said that it is necessary to strengthen the CPI(M) and Left Front to protect the democratic secular fabric of the country which is under serious threat from the Modi led BJP government and the Sangh Parivar. They said that during the last one year, the Modi government has on the one hand given tax rebates and subsidies freely to the corporate sector and MNCs on the other hand the budget provisions for social welfare schemes are being reduced. As a consequence prices of essential commodities, particularly pulses and onions, are constantly increasing. There is a spurt in the attacks on minorities and the right wing forces are provoking communal polarization to realize their obnoxious goal of Hindu Rashtra.
While giving details of the decisions taken in the meeting, Com.Charan Singh Virdi, Secretary, Punjab State Committee, CPI(M) said that thousands of CPI(M) workers will participate in the district level dharnas being organized by the Four Left Parties – CPI, CPI(M), CPM Punjab & CPI(M-L ) Liberation all over Punjab in support of the burning demands of the peasants and agricultural workers particularly cotton, Basmati and sugar cane growers. He said that the Left parties have demanded compensation of Rs.30,000 per acre to the peasants whose cotton crop has been destroyed by white fly and Rs.20,000 per family to agricultural workers. He further said that arrangements should be made for the purchase of Basmati and minimum purchase price should be Rs.3500 per quintal.
Commenting on the sale of sub standard and spurious pesticides in Punjab, Com.Virdi demanded that after proper investigation, the culprits should be punished. He said that the state committee was of the view that in this environment of crony capitalism this scam could not have taken place without the involvement of the agriculture minister and top bureaucrats of the government along with the traders involved in supply and sale of the pesticides.
The meeting also demanded filling up of vacant posts in government departments, minimum wage rate of Rs15,000 per month for workers, regularization of contract workers and minimum old age /widow pension as Rs 3000 thousand per month, etc.