Four Left Parties called upon the people to build mass resistance in defence of land and for food and employment at all places in Punjab. The call was given by a massive convention of Left Parties – CPI, CPI(M), CPM Punjab & CPI(ML) Liberation organized in Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Complex at Jalandhar. The convention was presided over by Comrades Baldev Singh Nihalgarh (CPI), Raghunath Singh ( CPI(M) ), Kulwant singh Sandhu (CPM Punjab), and Ruldu Singh Mansa ( CPI(ML) Liberation.
The communist leaders addressing the convention said that the ,Land Acquisition Amendment’ Bill introduced in parliament by the Modi government is more dangerous than the Bill passed by the UPA government and anti peasants and anti workers. They alleged that the Modi led BJP government wants to grab the land of peasants forcibly at cheap rates for corporate houses. They cautioned the people that the Modi government ministers and RSS and BJP spokespersons are inciting the homeless and landless people against the peasantry in a clandestine manner. The left leaders exposed their designs through which they are propagating that the land acquired by the government from peasants would be used for constructing houses for the homeless people. They stated that the state of the art houses which are slated to be constructed in Smart Cities will be beyond the reach of common man. The leaders apprehended that if the cultivable land is acquired for corporate houses, the food security will be in danger and the peasants and agricultural workers dependent upon agriculture will be ruined. The left leaders criticized the Modi government for its anti peasantry and pro corporate policies. They demanded withdrawal of the proposed bill with immediate effect.
Commenting upon the MGNREGA Scheme, the left leaders said that this scheme was introduced after long struggles by the left parties which is being diluted by the Modi led BJP government. They alleged that the funds for this scheme are being reduced and the MGNREGA workers are not being paid for the work done by them. They demanded round the year work for MGNREGA workers and also extend it to urban areas also. They wanted the government to increase the daily wage to Rs 500 per day and ensure regular and timely payment to the workers.
The left leaders said that the Modi government is pursuing the neo-liberal policies of imperialism more vigorously as compared to the UPA government. They further told that efforts are being made to dismantle the FCI on the dictates of WTO and other Multinational corporations though it was required to be strengthened to ensure proper price to peasants for their produce and for providing food grains on affordable prices to common people through Public Distribution System. The leaders demanded that FCI should be further strengthened so that it can procure the agricultural produce of the peasants at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and people can get essential commodities at affordable rates through Public Distribution System.
The Left Parties called upon the people to organize rallies and demonstrations all over Punjab against the anti people policies of the central and state governments and mobilize maximum people for the ‘March To Punjab Assembly’ to make it a grand success.
The convention was addressed by comrades Bhupinder Singh Sambher, Baldev Singh Nihalgarh from CPI, Charan Singh Virdi, Raghunath Singh from CPI(M), Mangat Ram Pasla, Raghubir Singh Pakiwa, Gurnam Singh Daud from CPM Punjab, Gurmit Singh Bakhtupura and Rajwinder Singh Rana from CPI(ML) Liberation.
The participants marched through the main bazars of the city after the convention, holding red flags and raising anti government slogans.