December 16-31, 2006

“We shall fight, we shall win!”, “Let us build our own sangharsh samitis (committees of struggle)”, “Onward with the struggle for the right to shelter!” – slogans such as these reverberated throughout Transit Camp, near Kalkaji in South Delhi, on the afternoon of December 3. This is the same colony where, in May this year, thousands of residents came together in a rare show of determination, blocked the main highway for four days and sat on hunger strike as well. That was how they faced the bulldozers of the DDA which had come to evict them from their homes, the homes in which they had been re-settled by the same DDA nearly 20 years ago. This valiant struggle, among others, had forced the Delhi government to declare a moratorium on evictions for a year, but the threat of being rendered homeless at a moment’s notice still looms large before these people. The Supreme Court has recently issued strict orders to implement the Delhi Master Plan. Delhi is already going through the intensified drive of sealing of shops and establishments of small shopkeepers and traders, amidst much opposition from the affected people. Colonies such as Transit Camp may well be the next target.

The stage at the Ram Lila Maidan in Transit Camp was decorated with gaily coloured banners bearing the names of the organizers of the program, Lok Raj Sangathan and Transit Camp Bachao Sangharsh Samiti. There were also banners highlighting the slogans of the movement going on there, such as “Let us build our own sangharsh samitis”, “A Master Plan imposed from above is not acceptable to us!”, etc. By 2 p.m. people had started to arrive and soon more than 200 residents and other supporters had gathered to participate in the program.

Activists from various organizations, who have been in the forefront of the struggle against eviction of residents from their colonies in different parts of Delhi, were present at the meeting and addressed the participants.

Addressing the participants on behalf of the Communist Ghadar Party of India, comrade Sucharita congratulated the Lok Raj Sangathan and Transit Camp Bachao Sangharsh Samiti for providing leadership to the struggle there and then went on to emphasize some of the important lessons that have been learnt from the struggle. The first lesson we have learnt, she said, is that by building our own sangharsh samiti and uniting under its leadership, we have been able to face the most difficult of situations and continue our struggle. The second lesson is that we cannot put our faith on the politicians of the big political parties, who make tall promises to garner our votes at election time, but are nowhere to be seen when we are in trouble. Where were these big leaders belonging to the various political parties, when the bulldozers were at our doors? We succeeded in foiling the government’s plan and resisted our eviction, only because we relied on our own united strength, she declared amidst thunderous applause.

On the basis of these lessons, the comrade of the CGPI addressed the issue of how to take the struggle forward. We have to strengthen our unity, strengthen our sangharsh samiti and every resident here has to come forward to play an active role in making decisions and carrying them out. This is the only way to resist the attacks on our livelihood and rights, she said.

Instead of relying on the politicians of the big political parties, who have again and again stabbed us in the back, why don’t we select militant activists from our midst and put them up as candidates in the coming MCD elections, she asked. The party candidates are selected by the party high command and not by the people, so they owe their allegiance to the party and not to the people they claim to represent, she explained. If we select our own candidate, then this person will be answerable to us and we can also call him back if he betrays our interests. This would enable us to put forward the concerns of the workers and working people, she emphasised.

Referring to the anti-poor and anti-working people nature of the Delhi Master Plan, which several other speakers had elaborated on, she said that this plan is meant to serve the interests of the biggest capitalist monopolies. We can never accept such a plan. Delhi is our city, we have built it with our sweat and toil and we shall decide how it should be reorganized to serve our interests, the interests of all the working people, she said in conclusion.

The Convenor of Lok Raj Sangathan emphasized on the need to build sangharsh samitis and to participate actively in the coming MCD elections by putting up candidates from among the working people. He called upon the representatives of all the groups and organizations active in the struggle in defence of the rights of the poor, to put up candidates on a common platform that will highlight the struggle and demands of the working people of Delhi.

Representatives of Transit Camp Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Ashray Adhikar Manch, Forum for unorganized workers, National Alliance of People’s Movements, Sanjay Colony Niwasi Sangharsh Samiti and other organizations also addressed the meeting. Academicians, journalists and social activists concerned about defending the rights of the poor also participated in the program and gave their views.

Through a host of examples, the speakers exposed the real aim of the Delhi Master Plan, i.e. to build a “world class” city that will serve only the interests of the biggest capitalist monopolies, while brutally negating the rights of the poor and all the working people. The right of the working people to decide how their city should be planned was emphasized. Representatives of all the participating organizations welcomed the proposal to put up people’s candidates on a common platform, for the coming civic elections. Several speakers hailed the valiant struggle of the people of Transit Camp and spoke of how it has inspired people in other affected colonies to fight for their rights.

The program concluded with an extremely moving street play, performed by the youth artistes of the Rangbhoomi Natya Manch. Driven by the devastation of the countryside, to eke out a living in the cities, the miseries that working people have to face, how they have no stable livelihood or shelter and no rights whatsoever, how they are duped by the politicians and political parties and how they finally organize and take up the path of struggle to defend their interests – all these were beautifully brought out in the play, which deeply touched all those present.