An opportunity to advance the movement for people’s empowerment

In the run up to the elections to the 15th Lok Sabha, there have been a number of initiatives from different organisations of the people to utilise the elections to advance the movement for people’s empowerment.

Within this context, the Lok Raj Sangathan has initiated a wide ranging All India campaign. As part of this campaign, the LRS organised a public discussion on March 24, involving activists from various political parties and groups, mass organizations, RWAs and other people’s organizations, on how the campaign for the 15th Lok Sabha elections could be turned into an opportunity to advance the movement for people’s empowerment.

Activists of CGPI, Jamaat Islami e Hind, CPI, Jamiat Ulema e Hind, Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Akhil Bharatiya Jan Chetna Manch, activists of RWAs and Lok Raj Samitis of various localities, several independent candidates of the MCD elections 2007 and Delhi Assembly elections 2008 were among those who participated in the discussion.

Welcoming the participants, member of the AIC of LRS Sucharita pointed out that the LRS is working to unite all people and organisations who want the empowerment of people on a common platform. People are increasingly disillusioned with the present situation where they are mere vote banks and have no real power. LRS is organising the people to change the situation in their favour. LRS welcomes all initiatives that contribute to empowering people. The aim of the meeting was to facilitate all such initiatives in Delhi to work together and use the occasion of the coming elections to take their message far and wide among the people.

Birju Nayak, secretary of Lok Raj Sangathan, Delhi read out a statement that has been issued by Lok Raj Sangathan on the eve of the 15th Lok Sabha elections, entitled – ‘Advance the movement for people’s empowerment, to change the course of India!’ Exposing the current political system and process, the statement appeals to citizens to “wrest supreme decision making powers from the hands of a tiny self serving minority” and to “develop, establish and protect a brand new system of State structure based on a new Fundamental Law or Constitution”. It boldly puts forward the demand that “A new system of direct democracy and political process must replace the present talk shop parliament with bodies that combine executive and legislative functions. It must ensure the right of every citizen to elect, be elected, right to recall their representatives if found unsuitable and the right to legislate”. The statement calls on citizens to utilise the election campaign to escalate the struggle for such a system.

Prakash Rao, spokesperson of CGPI and national convenor of Lok Raj Sangathan, elaborated on the causes of the present economic crisis and how the government is going all out to safeguard the profits of the big monopoly capitalist houses, while shifting the burden of the crisis on to the backs of the working people. He explained how terrorism and state terrorism as well as state organised communal violence are used to divide the people and crush their struggles. He put forward the alternative proposed by LRS, that the people in each residential area and workplace, organised in their committees, field candidates selected from amongst themselves and fight for mechanisms to hold the elected representatives accountable before the electorate, to recall candidates if found unsuitable and for the right to initiate legislation in the people’s interests. Only Lok Raj can give a new orientation to the economy, so that fulfilling the people needs becomes the primary aim, not satisfying the greed of the big corporate houses. The role of a political party, he explained, should be that of empowering people to rule themselves, not to grab power for itself, as is the case today.

Comrade Santosh, who contested the Delhi Assembly elections 2008 from Okhla constituency as a people's candidate, called upon the youth to uphold the legacy of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades and give a fitting reply to the political parties that serve the vested interests, by fielding our own candidates and fighting for political power in the hands of the workers and all the oppressed. He pointed out that his experience was that there was lot of enthusiasm amongst the working people to put forth a candidate from amongst their midst, a candidate who would fight to implement the peoples manifesto, a candidate who was ready to render accounts to the people, a candidate who actually wanted to contribute to building Lok Raj Samitis as instruments of empowerment of the people. 

Comrade Lokesh Kumar, who contested the Delhi Corporation elections of 2007 as a people's candidate from Harkesh Nagar ward affirmed that people are looking forward eagerly for an alternative. Amidst much applause, he proposed the name of Birju Nayak as candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi Parliamentary constituency.

Sajid, representative of Jamat Islami e Hind, criticised the present political system and called for unity in action of all the people’s forces. He supported the proposal of Lok Raj Sangathan, of fielding candidates selected by the people. Atibal, independent candidate for the Delhi Assembly elections 2008, from the Tughlakabad constituency, spoke up against the corruption inherent in the electoral process and the need to step up the struggle against it.

The speaker from the Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha declared that his organisation was organising the youth to fight for political power, to end this poverty and exploitation and build a new society.

Social activist Prof. Jagpal stressed the need to keep our struggle focused on the main enemy, the present political system and process which deprives people of power, and work to transform it. He put forward proposals for ensuring the democratic right of all people to elect and be elected.

Renu of Purogami Mahila Sangathan held the present system squarely responsible for the exploitation and insecurity that women face. Only when the masses of working women and men have political power can we give a fitting punishment to those who violate the rights and dignity of women but today go unpunished, she said. She enthusiastically supported the call for participation in the elections and the struggle for Lok Raj.

People’s activist Md. Idris congratulated LRS for its bold and correct stand. He called for mass mobilisation, for taking these ideas widely among the people. Fateh Singh, a candidate from Trilokpuri in the 2008 Delhi Assembly polls, promised his support for the election campaign. Activists of Akhil Bharatiya Jan Chetna Manch elaborated their program of organising voters’ councils to ensure free and fair elections.

The meeting ended on a positive note, with activists of all the participating organisations eagerly making various plans for bringing forward the people’s agenda in the coming elections and organising joint meetings and actions to carry on the work.