Workers pledge to unite and continue the fight against capitalism and capitalist reforms

May Day 2007 was marked by demonstrations, rallies and gate meetings of workers in different parts of Delhi.

May Day flag hoisting at the Central Party Office, in Okhla

Early in the morning of May 1, comrades and supporters of the Communist Ghadar Party of India hoisted the red flag, symbol of the struggle, sacrifice and unity of the working class, at the ground in front of the Central Party Office in Okhla, Delhi.

Comrades had come from all parts of the city for this function. A large number of workers from the area were also present to mark the solemnity of the occassion. Comrade Bijju Nayak, Spokesperson of the Delhi Regional Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India, called on the workers to pledge, this May Day, to unite and take forward the struggle to put an end to this capitalist system, which is attacking us in different ways everyday and provides no hope for our future generations. The goal of the working class is to establish the rule of the workers and peasants, which alone can ensure sukh and suraksha for all of us, he asserted. He then called upon Prakash Rao, Spokesperson of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India to unfurl the flag and address the gathering. Comrade Prakash Rao then made a brief but powerful address to the comrades and supporters gathered for the occassion.

May Day Committee organises militant rally in Okhla

Workers in Okhla marked May Day 2007 with a massive demonstration, starting from Kalkaji Bus Depot in the afternoon. Amidst a sea of red flags, hundreds of men, women, youth and children marched militantly, holding aloft bright red banners of the participating organizations, braving the mid-day heat. Slogans such as -- “Down with the attacks on our livelihood and rights!”, “Basic amenities are our right!”, “We will not tolerate amendment of labour laws in favour of the capitalists!”, “No to the SEZ policy of the government!”, “Onward to the rule of the workers and peasants!”, “Workers of all countries unite!”, “Inquilab Zindabad!” -- reflecting the main demands and aspirations of the workers, reverberated through the streets and lanes of the Okhla Industrial Area, as the demonstration made its way past the factories and culminated in a huge rally in a slum colony in Tehkhand area.

The demonstation and rally were organized by the May Day Committee consisting of the Mazdoor Ekta Committee, Delhi General Mazdoor Front, Delhi Leather Karigar Sangathan, Delhi Hosiery workers union, Democratic Students Union, Naari Mukti Sangh, Gatividhi, Jaatiya Shoshan Virudh Sangharsh Samiti, Krantikari Yuva Manch, Sangharshrath Naujawan Sangathan, Vikalp Sanskritik Sangathan, Nepali Janadhikar Suraksha Samiti (Bharat) and others. The rally began with members of the participating organizations paying floral tribute to the martyrs to the cause of the working class, following which the entire audience observed a minute’s silence to pay homage to the martyrs. Representatives of the participating organizations then addressed the rally. They unanimously denounced the growing attacks on the livelihood and rights of the working class by the ruling capitalist class, the SEZ policy and land acquisition facilitated by the state in the interests of the biggest Indian and foreign monopoly capitalists, the demolition of homes and sealing of small shops and commercial establishments, the steps of the government to facilitate corporate take-over of the retail business, the ruination of the peasantry by the big capitalist monopolies, the soaring defence expenditure and the growing threat of war in the region.

Comrade Prakash Rao, General Secretary of the Mazdoor Ekta Committee, highlighted the many fronts on which the working class in India and internationally is locked in deadly combat with the capitalists and imperialist powers. He explained that the main roadblock to the working class overthrowing the rule of the capitalist class and establishing its own dictatorship is the presence within the working class movement of those who spread illusions about this system of parliamentary democracy and about one section of the ruling bourgeoisie being “less evil” than another. They thus keep the working class tailing behind one or another section of the ruling bourgeoisie and completely chained to this much discredited political system and process, instead of boldly leading the working class with its own independent program of establishing the rule of the workers, peasants and all the oppressed. He called upon all the workers to unite and get rid of this roadblock, so that we may march towards a future where political power will be in our hands and we will be free of exploitation and poverty.

The representative of the Nepali Janadhikar Suraksha Samiti (Bharat) spoke passionately about the struggle and sacrifice of the workers and oppressed in Nepal, which had dealt a resounding blow to the monarchy and opened the door towards democracy for the working people. He explained that the popular demand for a Constituent Assembly to decide the future course of the Nepali people is under threat from various forces inimical to the interests of the workers and the struggle for this must go on without let-up.

Members of the Vikalp Sanskritik Sangathan and Krantikari Yuva Manch entertained the audience with spirited revolutionary songs and skits, while a group of Nepali youth had the audience visibly moved by their militant rendition of a song highlighting the struggle and sacrifice of the Nepali people.

Workers March to Town Hall

Thousands of workers came together in the traditional joint May Day demonstration and rally from the Ram Lila maidan to the Town Hall, Chandni Chowk. At the Ram Lila Maidan, where the workers congregated, youth artistes of the Rangbhoomi Natya Samooh performed a street play “Faisla aapke haath mein” which showed how the working class has to establish its control over the political system and process, in order to secure the rights of all the oppressed.

The demonstration, with red flags and banners of all the participating organizations, wound its way through the by-lanes of the walled city, raising slogans against the anti-working class policies of the government and in defence of the rights of the workers and oppressed.

The rally at the Town hall was conducted by a presidium consisting of representatives of the participating organizations, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, AICCTU, AITUC, CITU, TUCC, UTUC, UTUC(LS), AIBEA, BEFI, GIEAIA, NRMU and NZIEA. Speakers criticized the anti-labour practices of the government, including the SEZ policy, the huge concessions being given to the big Indian and foreign monopolies and the moves of corporate houses to control retail trade. They called on the workers to step up the struggle against price rise, unemployment and in particular, against the attacks on the workers in the form of expansion of contract labour, amendment of labour laws in the interest of the super profits of the big Indian and foreign monopolies and denial of job security.

Mazdoor Ekta Lehar vigorously disseminated

Comrades and activists of the Delhi Regional Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India participated militantly in both the demonstrations and rallies. Hundreds of copies of the party organ, Mazdoor Ekta Lehar were sold amongst the workers and often led to enthusiastic discussion on the way forward for the working class.

The May Day actions in Delhi revealed that the workers of Delhi like their comrades in the rest of the country and the world are challenging the capitalist system and asserting their role in freeing humanity from capitalist plunder and war.