People's Democracy

Gujarat Convention Pledges Support To May 21 Strike

AS many as 23 organisations in Gujarat --- central trade union organisations, NGOs, and organisations of journalists, kisans, youth, students and other sections --- held a state level convention at the Municipal Corporation’s Town Hall in Ahmedabad, April 26. These organisations, taken together, represented a membership of more than 15 lakh. The convention was attended by 635 delegates and addressed by 35 leaders from various organisations.

The main resolution, calling for a Gujarat bandh in support of the May 21 all-India general strike, was moved by the CITU’s state president Subodh Mehta. It was unanimously carried after all the 35 speakers had endorsed it.

Speaking at the convention on the challenge the American imperialists are posing to the working masses all over the world, renowned journalist Batuk Vora said the challenge is deeper, as imperialism is out to wipe out all trade union and mass activity on the earth. He said Iraq and Afghanistan are just a few experiments towards the neo-fascist drive to subjugate the working masses. That is why there is need to make the general strike on May 21 total and victorious, he said.

Another renowned journalist, Digant Oza, moved a special resolution on the ongoing water crisis of Gujarat, castigating the riot-busy chief minister Narendra Modi as the main culprit for it.

Well known Sarvodayite, Khet Mazdoor Union leader, organiser of Jan Path and editor of journal Naya Marg, Indukumar Jani said the number of landless labourers has gone on increasing in the state, and that the Modi regime has taken the state to the third position in the nation in this regard. He assured that his organisation would rise to one man in support of the proposed strike.

Gujarat recently saw a total statewide struggle of electricity workers, said a representative of the United Struggle Committee of Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) Union. He then added, “We have been well grooved in the recent struggle and shall stand like a wall during this strike.”

Dushyant Trivedi, a leader of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), said his organisation would not allow this NDA-BJP coterie to disrupt a singe bank. He offered total resistance on the day.

LIC leaders Rami, H I Bhatt and B C Shah narrated their struggles, rousing confidence. So did leaders of the COC, AICCTU, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Gujarat Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat, organisations of the income tax employees, central government employees, account and audit employees, state government employees and of the postal union. 

AITUC secretary Sachdeva, its state president Rajkumar Singh and state CPI secretary A A Sheikh also expressed warm solidarity.

K G Karnik, president of the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF), and its general secretary Sukomal Sen also made an impact on the convention’s proceedings. 

Raghunath Chhara, a leader of Gujarat lawyers, and Altaf Hussain of the Goldsmiths Association also addressed the convention.

State HMKP president Chidambaram who is also Ahmedabad district president on NCP, his colleague Jayant Panchal, and youth leader Mahendra Mehta also pledged to work for the success of the strike. Noteworthy was the presence of rebel INTUC leader Manubhai Brahmin.

Led by Gujarat Kisan Sabha president Pragjibhai Bhambhi and AIKS leader Kuberbhai Bhambhi, a considerable number of peasants from Sabarkantha district gave a certain freshness to the convention. Leaders of students and youth organisations also pledged support to the strike.

The event witnessed enthusiastic response from the North Gujarat districts, Rajkot, Surat and some other districts.

The resolution on price rise was moved by J K Parmar and supported by Naginbhai Patel, a CITU leader from Baroda.

Devtadin Yadav proposed the vote of thanks amid loud applause while CITU state secretary Arun Mehta conducted the proceedings.