Kerala Comes Out To Greet
Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha
The Southern Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha reached Attingal from Thiruvananthapuram by 4.30 PM. The last stretch of two kilometers took over half an hour for the Jatha vehicle as thousands of people - women, children and youth were milling around both sides of the road waving enthusiastically at the Jatha and jostling to come closer expressing their resolve to be part of the struggle. The Jatha cavalcade was led by a cultural team and was followed by vehicles with Polit Bureau member and Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and the Kerala coordinator of the Jatha A.K.Balan and hundreds of activists and red volunteers.
The Jatha was received by the traditional Chendamelam and bursting of crackers and unending slogans as well as “Lal Salaams” to the leaders taking forward the Party’s message of struggles.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M A Baby and Sudha Sundaraman who had come in advance had concluded their speeches as the Jatha leader arrived to a rousing welcome. V S Achutanandan and other leaders rich with the experience of struggles were there to greet the Jatha. Hundreds of representatives of different area committees and local committees felicitated the Jatha leader and other members. More than half a lakh people braved the sweltering heat to listen to their beloved leaders.
SRP addressing the gathering said that it was for the first time that the Communist Party had embarked on an All India Jatha which would together traverse over 10,000 km and take the message of struggles to millions of Indians. He said the response so far was indicative of the resonance of the message of building an alternative to the ruling class pro-rich policies and for intensified struggles against all forms of exploitation.
He enumerated the six main issues and main demands of the Jatha and emphasized the need to build the broadest unity of struggling masses to usher in a progressive alternative against communalism, casteism, corruption and discrimination. Land for the landless and homes for the homeless and food security for all is a central demand of the Jatha. He said that CPI(M) will take forward the call of the 20th Party Congress to build struggles against indiscriminate land acquisition, caste oppression, violence against women, for better health and education facilities and employment for all.
The masses can only escape from the extreme distress, poverty and exploitation through a complete overhaul of the political and economic system and by ushering in a radical alternative which the CPI(M) and the Left are fighting for he said. He called for strengthening of an alliance of struggling people and uniting them to channelise their anger and intensify struggles for ushering in a pro-people radical alternative.