People's Democracy

All India Students Strike on February 24

THE clarion call to have an All India students strike on February 24, to strive for the defeat of the BJP led NDA in the coming polls and to oppose tooth and nail the so called model act for universities and encroachments on students democratic rights along with the government backed RSS, VHP sponsored attacks on education were some of the highlights of the special conference held at Guwahati.

At a press conference in Delhi by the Central Executive Committee it was announced that the historic special conference of the SFI concluded successfully with the unanimous adoption of the updated draft programme and constitution. The meeting at Guwahati from February 7 to 10 adopted the draft programme and constitution which had been adopted for further discussion at the 11th All India conference held from February 14-18, 2003, at Kozhikoke, Kerala.

After a thorough democratic discussion at every level of the organisation culminating in the special conference, here all the amendments, and suggestions sent through various committees, were discussed threadbare. In all, as many as 297 amendments were received from the various committees in the course of the year. In this conference alone 94 amendments were received. 13 amendments were moved by the CEC and 28 were moved by the Steering Committee. At the end of the discussions 85 amendments were accepted and the programme was adopted unanimously.

The conference also deliberated on the present international and national political situation and the experience of the student movement over the past year. The conference gave a call to the students and youth of the country to ensure the defeat of the fascistic RSS-BJP and its allies in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

The conference decided to organise an All India strike on February 24, in support of the general strike call given by the trade unions. The conference felt that the policies pursued by the BJP led NDA government are leading to the deprivation of all sections of the people. The attack on the democratic rights of both the workers and students also increased in the same period. The special conference felt that joint struggles should be strengthened and appealed to all students to join this strike call.

Resolutions were passed on the following issues: The call to defeat the BJP and its allies in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, in support of the February 24 general strike call given by the trade unions, on SFI’s demand regarding Northeast region, opposition to UGC’s proposed model act for Universities, against imperialist aggression and war, in defence of our democratic rights and to bring education under the state list. (INN)