Lok Sangharsh Morcha organized a state convention of tribal communities of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. The convention pledged that the struggle for land and democratic rights in Gujarat will continue

Recently on 19^th August, 2007 the State Tribal Convention of Lok Sangharsh Morcha was held in Ahmedabad centered on the topic “People’s Rights and The Question of Democracy in Gujarat”. Thousands of tribal leaders and representatives of 25 organizations from all over the state participated in the Convention.

The Convention was held in the Heerak Jyanti Hall of Gujarat Vidyapeeth. The Convention started at11 A.M. and continued till 6 P.M. It was addressed by Com. A.B. Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI; Veteran Gandhian Thinker and Parliamentarian, Nirmala Deshpandey; National President of Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Ambarish Rai; Senior Lawyer in Supreme Court, Colin Gonsalvis; journalist and social activist, Subhash Gatade,  General Secretary of LSM, Pratibha Shinde; President of LSM, Gujarat, Suman Basava, Yamuna Bai Padvi, Yashda Ben, Amarath Bhai, Mitra Ranjan, LSM, Delhi, writer and theater activist, Sarup Dhruv and Heeren Gandhi, Gandhian Chunnibhai Vaid, Trade Union Leader, Dushyant Trivedi, senior lawyer, Deepak Bhai Chudhary, Inesh Basava, LSM Gujarat and many other speakers. The Convetion was presided over by senior lawyer in Ahemedabad Highcourt, Girish Bhai Patel.

The first session started with revolutionary songs by cultural team Samvedan and activists of Lok Sangharsh Morcha. Opening the discussion National President of LSM Ambarish Rai told that this struggle is not merely for the rights over Jal-Jangal-Jameen. In fact, through the struggle for people’s right over Natural resources instead of handing over it to foreign companies and corporates, we are fighting for building a new country where the common man could not be deprived from their democratic rights and livelihood. It is an effort to change the anti-people face of the country. He told that we have come here to oppose the government’s move to implement the neo-liberal policies on the dictate of World Bank and IMF. Natural resources are being snatched from tribals and farmers in the name of developmental schemes. Commenting on the election-speeches of Narendra Modi comrade Rai told that he is creating illusions among the tribals by false announcements. He reminded that the migration of the lakhs of people from south Gujarat and the increasing numbers of hunger deaths has now become permanent phenomena, while the unused crores of rupees of NREGA funds are being returned back to the centre.

He asked about the fake encounters of Muslims done by Modi government, which is the black spot on the democratic India. It is shameful that Opposition has also kept itself aloof from any resistance weakening the norms of democracy. He demanded for implementation of newly enacted Forest Act, 2006 immediately. He told that the government machinery, contractors and the corporate are destroying forest and natural resources for making money in the name of protecting it. He emphasized on the fact that the tribals were residing in these forests since centuries without making any harm. Discussing about GDP growth rate crossing the figure of 9 % he wondered that it seems ridiculous for a country where more than 77% of people are compelled to live under sever poverty having no accessibility to education, health facilities, employment and other basic requirements. This pathetic situation is explaining the real picture of our developmental discourses showing who the real beneficiaries are after so-called GDP growth. He told that we have to explore new paths for our progress; we have to fight for our real Independence, for our social and political recognition. He criticized the government of India kneeing down before the American Imperialism. He announced that LSM is trying to co-ordinate all struggles going on in the different part of the country like Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, while convening the mass struggle in its own areas.

The tribal leader of Gujarat and member of the Central Committee of LSM, Yamuna Bai Padvi told that the whole development of Gujarat till now has been done at the cost of depriving the tribals from their natural rights. She told that this development model is meant for the progress of capitalist, brokers and MNCs completely denying the aspirations of tribals, dalits, workers and marginalized segments of the society. She warned Modi Government saying that now tribals are awakened and committed to lead the movement all over the state against the autocracy of the State to get their democratic rights.

Veteran Gandhian leader and parliamentarian Nirmala Deshpandey told that today whole Gujarat is facing new challenges of anti-people fascist forces led by Modi Government. So it has become more crucial to remember and follow the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in such conditions. She told that once Gandhiji had said that “Hindu and Muslims were their two eyes” but this government has perhaps forgotten the lesson completely implementing the fascist policies. In his regime a chain of riots has taken place; the minorities and the tribal are continuously facing state-sponsored atrocities. She reminded the very speech of Gandhiji on 15th August, 1947 while he had said that we have got only political Independence and we have to struggle for economic-social Independence which is more tough. Today, even after 60 years of our Independence it is true while the whole country is groping in the darkness of poverty, unemployment and inequality and the struggle to overcome these problems is continuing. She told that the people and the organizations leading the struggle would certainly get victory and fulfill the dreams of Gandhiji. She expressed her solidarity with the struggle of Lok Sangharsh Morcha seeking democratic rights for marginal section of society.

The senior lawyer of Supreme Court and the activist of Human Rights Law Network, Colin Gonsalvis told that the politicians like Narendra Modi are coward. He is not courageous like our tribal people who are facing all the problems in day to day life. He told that it may seem that Modi government with the help of his bureaucratic structure, his police and securities can crush the people’s movement for some time but the final victory is destined in the favour of the people fighting for justice, for their democratic rights. He told that this struggle is going on everywhere in the country like UP, Maharashtra, Gujarat , Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand. He expressed his belief that LSM would be able to coordinate these struggles to organize a big movement. 

Com. A. B. Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI addressing the convention told that the purpose of this event is embedded in the revolutionary song presented by tribal leader Yamuna Bai Padvi, Gaon Gaon Se Uttho, Basti-Basti Se Uttho, Is Desh Ki Surat Badlne Ke Liye Uttho. He told that the struggle for Jal-Jangal-Jameen is not a struggle of tribals only but it is the struggle for keeping the sovereignty and dignity of the country unified. It is the struggle to establish the rule of the working class over the country. It is the political struggle. He told that in the name of developing the economy of the country,   the lands of the farmers and tribals is being grabbed for distribution among corporate and MNCs. He told that from kalingnagar of Orissa to Khammam of Andhra Pradesh the same story is being repeated where the tribals struggling for their rights were killed by state-machinery and police forces. He expressed anguish over the government policies giving green signals to SEZ ignoring the common man’s rights. He told that if 16% tribals, 9% muslims and 7% dalits residing in the state come together on a platform, there would be no doubt in the defeat of Modi Government. He told that Lok sangharsh Morcha has taken a bold initiative against the khaki brigade of Modi and it should make an effort to unite the workers, peasants, tribals and dalits to organise the movement. He told that the necessity of a strong political alternative is being felt within Gujarat which can represent the aspirations of the common people. Therefore, Lok Sangharsh Morcha as a people’s organization with radical forces must think in this direction deciding its political goals and developing the organizational structure fulfilling this vacuum.

The journalist and social activist Subhash Gatade told that during the riots in Gujarat in the last years the tribals were provoked and used against the minorities by the State-machinery but now the situation is different. Now the tribals, dalits and minorities of the state are united against the autocracy of the Modi Government. He told that today thousands of tribal people have marched in Ahmedabad, raising voices against the fascist policies of the government which is an indication of the making of a big movement. He told that Lok Sangharsh Morcha has done a hard work uniting the radical forces within the state in such adverse conditions. He also suggested that LSM should explore the opportunities to unite with communist parties to lead the struggle.

The writer and theatre-activist Sarup Dhruv expressing her thoughts on the current scenario of Gujarat read a poem which clearly depicted the anti-people stand taken by the state government.

The General Secretary of Maha Gujarat Bank Employees Association, Dushyant Trivedi told that the condition is worsening day by day all over the state where no citizen can exercise even their democratic rights freely. He expressed hopes that the people gathered in the convention coming from distant parts of Gujarat would take new resolution to defeat fascist Modi Government and establish pro-people rule over the state.

The General Secretary of Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Pratibha Shinde told that we have just celebrated the 60^th anniversary of Independence . But still now more than half of the population of the country is compelled to live in the shadows of poverty, unemployment, lack of education and livelihood. She told that Modi is doing politics of votes while announcing false promises in his election-meetings. She told that Modi is promising to seek approval from the centre to give land rights to tribals but the fact is that tribals in the state are not permitted to use their own land. She told that Suman Bhai Basava, a tribal leader and President of LSM, Gujarat was arrested last year on the occasion of centenary celebrations of Shaheed Bhagat Singh under the false allegation of PASA and again this year another tribal leader Bhikhu Bhai Tadvi has been issued a show cause notice by Narmada Collector asking for his externment from four districts. Recently police firing occurred in Halgampadi. She told that now the people of Gujarat are aware of the real character of Modi Government where democratic norms are violated by the state machinery itself. Discussing about the controversial Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 Ms. Shinde told that there are numerous incidents all over the state revealing the misuse of the bill for torturous activities on the minority. So it should be quashed immediately. She told that Lok Sangharsh Morcha is keen to unite tribals, dalits, muslims, peasants,workers to make a radical political alternative within Gujarat .

Resolution Declared by the Convention

The Convention demanded to implement Forest Act, 2006 immediately, to stop land-grabbing from the tribals and farmers in the name of making SEZ, to spend 16% of state budget in the development of tribals and to stop the expenditure of the sanctioned amount in other areas, to stop the police atrocity on tribals and to nullify the controversial Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005. A delegation in the leadership of Parliamentarian Ms. Nirmala Deshpandey met the Governor to give the resolution.

Reporting by Mitra  Ranjan, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Delhi