The second plenary meeting of the All India Council of the Lok Raj Sangathan was held on January 13, 2008 at Rajendra Bhavan in New Delhi. A vivid political and organisational report, excellent presentations followed by lively discussions, a clear plan for future tasks and a general atmosphere of seriousness of purpose characterised the meeting. AIC members had come from all parts of India, braving the biting cold, to participate in the deliberations. The meeting was chaired by the President of the Lok Raj Sangathan, Shri Raghavan.

The report

The Convenor of Lok Raj Sangathan, Shri Prakash Rao, presented the report summing up the work of the organization since the Third Convention held in November 2007, and the political and organizational issues facing Lok Raj Sangathan at this time.

The Report of the Convenor covered several current political developments. With respect to the recently held Gujarat elections, the report pointed out how Narendra Modi was chosen as the best bet by the ruling circles at the present juncture to push ahead with their reforms, and how the media echoed the will of the ruling class in Gujarat. The Gujarat elections once again proved that the present political process completely marginalizes the people and that there is a pressing need for a fundamental renewal of the political process.

The Report hailed the victory of the people of Goa against the setting up of SEZs as a shot in the arm for the struggle being waged against SEZs in many parts of India. It reiterated the principle that the government and the big industrialists have no right to deprive the people of their land and livelihood.

The Report strongly condemned the recent pronouncement of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, branding all those opposing the reforms, the liberalisation and privatisation program and the setting up of SEZ’s as “naxalites”. The government is planning to deploy brute force to push through the economic policy reforms on an unwilling people and the people resisting will be declared as “naxalites” and “terrorists” and suppressed mercilessly.

The Report presented the activities of the organisation since the Convention, which centred around the decisions taken at the Convention, such as building and further strengthening of the organisation at various levels, engaging other political forces in mobilising people around various issues, working closely with various groups for intervening forcefully in the coming elections, organising meetings and rallies on the International Human Rights day and consistently defending the livelihood and rights of the people.

In the past two months the regional councils of LRS in different regions of the country have carried out activities on various fronts such as against the SEZs and the Nandigram massacre, for the provision of basic amenities, for the rights of unorganised sector workers, in support of the release of political prisoners, etc. LRS has worked among workers, peasants, women and youth to bring them around to struggle unitedly on issues affecting them.

The Report pointed out that in the coming period LRS has to continue to build the organisation and deepen the work among the workers and peasantry.

The Report also summed up the work of the Ghadar Jari Hai campaign. It assessed positively the response to the campaign in different parts of the country.

The AIC members saw a brief video film on the 4th All India Convention in November 2007, as well as on various recent activities of the LRS.

The Quarterly Report of the LRS in English and Hindi was tabled in the meeting. Vigorous discussion took place on the need for using this printed progress report as a vehicle for informing activists about the work of the LRS and for mobilising new members.

Several members further enriched the Report by recounting their experiences in building the organisation in their areas and leading the struggles of the people. The Report was then adopted.

Discussion on the role and work of the AIC of the LRS

The 2nd Plenary meeting of the AIC discussed at length the importance of building and strengthening the AIC as the leading body of the LRS.

The AIC has the responsibility to provide political leadership to the entire organisation, as well as to the broad masses of people who are waging valiant struggles in diverse fronts and different regions, for their empowerment. It has the responsibility of ensuring the establishment and strengthening of regional councils of LRS in different regions of the country.

The AIC must pay attention to the organising of workers, peasants, women and youth. The AIC also has the responsibility of working closely with the movements of the different nations and peoples constituting India, including the tribal peoples, against state terrorism and for their inalienable national rights. The AIC also must organise in defence of the victims of caste oppression, and in defence of religious minorities who are target of state organised violence and persecution.

Key issues confronting the LRS and the peoples movement

There were presentations and discussions on some key issues confronting LRS at this time.

In the context of the declaration of the government that it does not need the ratification of international treaties by parliament, let alone by the people of India, there was a presentation which explained the state of affairs on this question in India as well as internationally. It was pointed out that the legislature had powers under the present Constitution to pass a law which would make it mandatory for the government to demand its approval by 2/3rd majority for any international treaty. However, India’s parliament and in fact all parliamentary parties had handed over this right to the executive. The country wide debate on the 123 agreement and the role played by LRS and some others has made it clear that parliament has powers and we must force parliament to pass such a law. We could at the same time also raise the demand for a referendum amongst the people, all the more so because parliament itself is showing its incapability to exercise its powers. The AIC decided that the discussion on this important question should be further developed within the organisation as well as in the movement at large.

A detailed and thought provoking presentation on the problems faced by the people of Uttarakhand summed up the struggle against the greed of monopolies to enrich themselves by depriving the people of their natural resources, at great cost to the environment.

A presentation on the question of organising the peasantry of Rajasthan argued that the peasants have fought unitedly using their traditional forms of organisation and involving all the political forces. It presented possibilities for taking the work of LRS forward in this situation.

The presentation on the struggle of peasants and agricultural workers in Punjab followed. The government as well as various political forces are trying to pit the agricultural workers against the peasants and liquidate their common struggle.

The ever-widening struggles of the people against SEZs in all parts of India and the inviolable rights of peasants to their land and livelihood was succinctly put forward through another presentation.

The presentation on the struggles of the unorganised sector workers pointed out that the ruling class has been creating a division among workers, labelling them as organised and unorganised, and playing one against the other and justifying that all workers do not have equal rights. It argued that all workers, whether in the organised or unorganised sector, have rights as workers and it is the state which has to guarantee these rights.

Plan of Action

The AIC resolved to enthusiastically celebrate International Women’s Day, using appropriate forms, in all the areas where LRS is active.

The AIC resolved that in the year 2008, a special effort will be made to organise the working class for its rights.

The AIC discussed the important role that Ghadar Jari Hai campaign is playing in awakening and organising the people. It decided that in the coming months, the campaign must be stepped up and taken to ever wider sections of Indian people and to newer regions.

The AIC decided to continue the important work of organising people in the work of building local samitis, questioning and holding accountable the elected representatives as well as preparing for the coming elections at the end of the year.

The next meeting of the AIC of LRS will be on April 20, 2008.

The meeting of the AIC ended with an appeal to members from the President, S Raghavan, to focus all their energies in the building and strengthening of the organisation – its Regional Councils and Samitis – and stepping up the membership campaign. The coming period is pregnant with opportunities for the advancement of the movement for the empowerment of people and Lok Raj Sangathan has to be prepared to seize these opportunities.