Thousands of CPI(ML)-New Democracy activists marched from Charbagh Railway Station to Dharna Sthal, Vidhan Sabha and presented a memorandum of demands addressed to the Chief Minister.

The processionists carried colourful banners highlighting their demands viz,

 “Land to the tiller”,

“Conduct land consolidation, Identify surplus land and distribute it to marginal farmers”,

 “Implement minimum wages of Rs 65 per day”,

“Waive all farmers’ and workers’ loans for those owning upto 5 acres of land”,

“Provide free electricity in agriculture for use upto 5 hp motors”,

“Implement labour laws, send inspectors to big industry”,

 “Quit World Trade Organisation”,

“Withdraw POTA”,

“Stop illegal money extraction by greedy policemen”,

“Stop fake encounter killings” etc.

 There were also a large number of red flags and banners with shining sickles and hammers prominently displayed. All along the route the processionists shouted slogans and the atmosphere on Lucknow streets was enthusiastic.

At the Dharna Sthal a mass meeting was held in which Secretary of  Punjab Committee of CPI(ML) ND Com. Darshan Singh Khatkar was the main speaker. He congratulated the comrades for organising the protest in the state capital after a gap of many years. Explaining that imperialists and their compradors wish to solve their crises by repressing the people through draconian measures like POTA and dividing peoples’ unity through communal riots and caste politics, he exhorted the activists to unite the working people and wage a relentless and militant mass struggle against landlord goonda police alliance in rural areas. He said that this alliance is the main base of imperialist loot.

UP state Secretary of the party, Com. Ashish Mital, explained the problem of rapidly rising agrarian crises due to rising costs, diminishing returns and MNC monopoly over rural markets and he highlighted the problem of forceful occupation of agricultural land of the poor by the powerful landlords, forest department, Govt. acquisition in name of industry as in case of NEPA mill in Moradabad, in name of religious institutions and now in name of World Bank sponsored projects.

Com. Subhash highlighted the problem of decreasing wages in era of liberalisation and that decreasing purchasing power of people is leading to rising market inventories and industrial closures. Com. Sant Ram spoke of rising corruption and the need to resist it through united effort. Com. Suresh spoke about rise in cases of atrocities on dalits and crime on the poor by antisocial elements who are on the pay roll of landlords and enjoy protection of local police. Com. Ram Naresh highlighted how big MNCs are exploiting cheap labour through contractor system. Com. Dhanpati Devi of AIKMS, Allahabad, Com. K.K. Shukla of Parivahan Shramik Sanghathan, Lucknow and Com. Kamal Singh from Unnao also addressed the gathering.

Com. Heeralal read out the memorandum which explained all the demands including those for regularisation of teachers and teaching in govt. schools in rural areas, regularisation of govt. medical facilities in rural areas, reduction of costs of agricultural inputs including irrigation and diesel and guaranteeing minimum support price to farmers, provision of unemployment survival allowance, granting ST status to Kol tribals, implementation of food for work programmes in drought affected areas and open declaration of the schemes, public display of the  beneficiaries of the red and white ration cards meant for the extremely  poor and poor sections. The memorandum was received by the ADM city, Lucknow, on behalf of the UP govt.

Com. Munna Rahi and others presented revolutionary songs. Prof. Raghuvansh Tyagi presided over the proceedings and he exhorted the comrades to continue to work ahead with more vigour to face the challenges of the present system.