CPI(ML) organized a state level campaign demanding resignation of the communal, corrupt, pro-rich and anti-people BJP government in Karnataka. Many padayatras and local level street corner preceded the campaign from 18-25 November 2009.
The campaign culminated in a massive rally and Rasta Roko at Gangavati on 25 November. The rallyists also demanded flood relief to the neglected people in the taluk, particularly in some wards from where hundreds of people have joined CPI(ML). The rally was led by J Bharadwaj, CPI(ML) state leading team member and was addressed by comrades Uma Shankar, Ismail and Lingan Gowda.
The rally at HD Kote was also very impressive where hundreds of people gheraoed the taluk office and shouted slogans against the administration. Comrade C Javaraiah, state leading team member of the party led the rally and demonstration. Comrades Rati Rao, all-India VP of AIPWA, Ramesh, AISA, Thimmaiah and Nanjunda of AIALA addressed the demonstration along with Mallamma, Shivamma and others.
Demonstration at HP Halli
A demonstration was organised in front of HP Halli taluk office on 15 December against the growing political grip of the mining mafia over the government.
The demonstrators began in front of taluk panchayat office demanding disbursal of NREGA wages, job cards and jobs for the needy. It went on until the officials were forced to give a written undertaking to solve the problems in a time-bound manner. The demonstrators led by E Ramappa, State Secretary then marched to the taluk office to submit a memorandum. J Bharadwaj, state president of AIALA also addressed the gathering along with Chowdappa, Parasuram, Lingan Gowda, Sharanappa and others.
6 December Rally at Gangavati
CPI(ML) observed December 6 as a black day and organized a rally from APMC yard to the Bus stand at Gangavati. Some 2000 people including a large number of Muslims participated. The rally was led by CPI(ML) and its state leading team member J Bharadwaj. Comrades D Chowdappa, state secretary of AIALA and Parasuram of Harappanahalli also participated in the rally.
Basavaraj Soolibavi of Karnataka Souharada Vedike, Basavaraj Selaventer, Koppal District President of AITUC, Lecturer Peer Basha, Advocate Ashamuddin also addressed the rally along with Gangavati taluk secretary of CPI(ML) Uma Shankar, AIALA taluk secretary Lingan Gowda and AICCTU state committee member Ismail.
Bangalore RMC Workers Donate Flood Relief
The entire state industry and humanists have donated generously to the state government to tackle the flood related problems of the affected people. But, the state administration is spending the money not to the people actually affected but to the BJP members and to the sympathizers of the Sangh Parivar. The government completely neglected people of some wards in Gangavati town, from where the affected people joined AICCTU, dissatisfied with the government. CPI(ML) and its mass organizations have been agitating continuously in various forms, including gherao of local MLA and Tahsildar on different dates, demanding justice to the affected people.
Workers of RMC Readymix (India) Pvt Ltd branch of Karnataka General Labour Union, an affiliate of AICCTU contributed one day’s salary towards flood relief. Workers refused to donate the amount to the government kitty, most of which is involved in scams and scandals. Rather, workers chose to send their leaders to Gangavati to directly undertake distribution of flood relief materials purchased out of workers’ salary. On December 4, a flood relief distribution programme was organized at Gangavati by AICCTU. Workers’ leaders from Bangalore visited the spot and distributed the flood relief materials to the actually affected people directly. Comrade G Somu, president of RMC unit of KGLU, Bangalore addressed the affected people along with Comrades J Bharadwaj, Ismail and others.
The workers’ delegation from Bangalore included G Somu, President, M Narayana Swamy, Vice-President, M S Thomas, Secretary, Kishore Sethy, Organising Secretary, Mani, Treasurer and Raghavendra, committee member.
Gangavati Bar Council also donated clothes to the affected people, distributed by its president Kanakaraya, secretary Sharanappa and advocate Ashamuddin in the same programme organized by AICCTU.
AISA Spreading its wings to Jagalur and HPHalli
AISA began its journey in the State from Davanagere in Karnataka with a convention on 24 September against anti-student policies and educational reforms of the central and state governments. Then, it spread its wings to taluk centres in the district. Taluk committees were formed at Jagalur and Harappanahalli.
Jagalur taluk unit of AISA organised an impressive students’ convention on 14 December that was attended by hundreds of students, including women students. The convention was against the anti-student policies of the BJP government in the state and against increasing dominance of money and muscle power by the mining and real estate mafia. The convention passed resolutions against communalisation of education and anti-women attitude of the state and also against highly biased welfare measures to favour BJP supporters to the neglect of general students. Basic issues like timely disbursal of scholarship for the needy, building government hostels to accommodate all students from outside, free monthly passes and increasing the frequency of government buses also figured in the resolutions. More than two hundred and fifty members were recruited on the spot. The convention also decided to undertake membership campaign and to participate in the all-India conference in February.
The convention was presided by Madhusudan, taluk President and was conducted by Hanumanthappa, one of the state convenors. Rajan Pandey, member of NEC, AISA elaborated on the basic tenets of the organisation and also the ongoing students’ struggles all over the country led by AISA.
J Bharadwaj, SLT member of CPI(ML) inaugurated the convention. D M Prasad, state convenor of AISA, Chowdappa, state secretary of AIALA, C Javaraiah, state secretary of AICCTU also delivered speeches along with others. Taluk secretary A Nagabushan welcomed the gathering while taluk VP Ravi Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.
Students Strike in Solidarity with Farmers
AISA students led by Hanumanthappa, one of the state convenors, organised a total strike in three colleges at Davanagere on 21 December against the police atrocities on farmers led by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) at Chamarajanagara and Davanagere around a week back. The farmers were demonstrating against the government, demanding uninterrupted power supply and reduction in electricity tariff. Instead of fulfilling the genuine demands of farmers, BJP government lathicharged them.
Activists’ Study Circle at Harappanahalli
In order to ideologically equip activists, the Harapanahalli unit of the party has launched a study circle to discuss various political, ideological issues concerning the party. The circle is running successfully every Sunday for the last 6 weeks. The activists have started reading important pieces from Mao’s writings. Comrade Ramappa is leading the study circle. The size of the circle keeps growing every week with increased interest from all areas of the party in the taluk.
New AIALA Units in HD Kote
As a part of the decision to form new branches of at least 300 members in 10 panchayats of each taluk, HD Kote in Mysore has taken the lead. One new branch was formed in Hirehalli panchayat on December 5 and also another new branch was formed at Mcthalalu panchayat on December 8. This has followed formation of new branches in 3 pancahayats in the past two months. Significantly, women are being enrolled in large numbers in all these branches. The joint functioning of AIALA and AIPWA has also been initiated in all these branch areas. Comrade Javaraiah, district secretary of the party, Thimmaiah, state joint secretary of AIALA and Ramesh, DLTM are taking the lead in forming new branches. Gandhimathi, state secretary of AIPWA inaugurated the branch at Hirehalli.