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[email protected] Today's topics: * Hunger strike in support of Bhopalis - 1 messages, 1 author http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion/browse_thread/thread/3f5d14ea03276f85?hl=en * Protest Rally for reduction in PMP bus fares - 1 messages, 1 author http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion/browse_thread/thread/10589f6a3113d2e2?hl=en ============================================================================== TOPIC: Hunger strike in support of Bhopalis http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion/browse_thread/thread/3f5d14ea03276f85?hl=en ============================================================================== == 1 of 1 == Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 11:28 pm From: "अभिजित Abhijit" ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lokayat Pune <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 5:53 AM Subject: Hunger strike in support of Bhopalis To: Dear Friend, *ONE DAY HUNGER STRIKE IN PUNE* *IN SUPPORT OF * *BHOPALIS ON INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE IN DELHI* *Date: * June 28, Saturday *Venue:* Balgandharva Chowk (still to be confirmed), Pune *Progressive Organisations of Pune*, Do send volunteers to join this hunger strike. *Progressive Intellectuals of Pune,* Do volunteer to join us or at least come down to the venue, join us in singing songs and shouting slogans, and sign the petition to the Prime Minister. As you are aware, the epic 23 year long struggle of the Bhopalis has reached a crucial stage. Nine Bhopalis are on an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi. Earlier, they had walked 800 kms from Bhopal to Delhi and then had sat down on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, but despite the gruelling 38 day walk and 74 day dharna, the Prime Minister refused to meet their just demands, and gave only vague promises. Finally, left with no choice, the Bhopalis began an indefinite hunger strike till their just demands are met. Today, June 24, is the 15th day of the hunger strike. It is shameful that the Prime Minister has not yet seen it fit to yield to the just demands of the heroic Bhopalis. The struggle of the Bhopalis is a part of the countrywide struggle against corporate globalisation, it is a part of the struggle by people all over the country to fight the sellout of our land, water, forests, mineral resources to Foreign MNCs and big private Indian corporates in the name of development. As Arundhati Roy stated on May 23 in support of the Bhopalis, By refusing to meet the people of Bhopal who have suffered for decades after the Union Carbide/Dow Chemicals gas leak Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is at the forefront of the Corporatization of India's Economic Policies, is sending out a clear message to the Corporate World: In India you are free to poison, rob and kill our people. The Government will protect you. You will never be brought to book. The struggle of the Bhopalis is our struggle too. The Bhopalis have given a call to organise a global day of hunger strikes on June 28, Saturday. In support of their call, we of LOKAYAT have decided to join this global day of protest. On this day, *at least 15 of us* from Lokayat will be sitting on a day-long hunger strike in Pune, the venue tentatively is Balgandharva Chowk. We are hoping to get other organisations to join us, and are hoping that the number of people fasting will increase to at least 25. The pamphlet is attached. Download it and distribute it to your friends, or forward it to as many as possible In solidarity, Abhijit K ============================================================================== TOPIC: Protest Rally for reduction in PMP bus fares http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion/browse_thread/thread/10589f6a3113d2e2?hl=en ============================================================================== == 1 of 1 == Date: Fri, Jul 18 2008 3:54 am From: "अभिजित Abhijit" Please circulate the mail among all your pune based contacts: *Protest Rally against PMP bus fare rise* *From: Dandekar Pool (Majoor Adda) to PMP Office, Swargate* *On: Saturday 19th July 2008, at 3 PM* PMPML has announced YET another fare hike recently. The minimum fare is going to be 4rs, while overall the fare hike would be from 1 Rupee to 6 Rupee. This is going to be a heavy burden on the pockets of the low income groups, who are already being crushed under the increasing inflation. In around 20 cities in the world public transport has been totally free for a long time. With rising fuel prices, the demand for a heavily subsidized public transport is gaining momentum worldwide. Obviously, because that is the right solution. It reduces the oil bill and is a just solution to help the poor meet their mobility demands. Everyone has equal right to mobility, so it is not only apt for but a duty of the government to subsidize public transport, so that the poorest of the poor can avail it. PMPML already has fares which are highest in India. Against Minimum of Rs 2 and Maximum of Rs 7 (for distance as much as 45 km!) in Chennai, the fares in Pune were 3 Rs and upto 25 Rs. Now they are going to be increased even further. All cries of PMP running in loss, were anyways foul, because most of their losses were due to corruption and inefficiency rather than lack of passengers. With fares so high, and buses spilling over with commuters, it is a wonder how PMP can be running in loss ! In any case, giving subsidy to the tune of even 100 Crores should not be difficult for PMC and PCMC which flaunt budgets of thousands of crores. It is another sad fact, that most of these thousands of crores are actually being spent in promoting private vehicles by building more over bridges and subways and cement roads ! This is clearly a step towards further destruction of the public transport in this city, and an extension of the anti-people policies that the PMC and PCMC have been following for years. This will only promote further private transport, congest the city more, pollute it more and make it unlivable ! WE HAVE DECIDED TO STOP THIS. WE'll BE PROTESTING DEMANDING NOT ONLY STOPPING THE FARE HIKE, BUT REDUCING EXISTING FARES ! * **Demands:* *Minimum fare 2 Rs, Maximum fare 10 Rs* *Monthly pass 350 Rs* *70% discount for students* *For senior citizens: Monthly pass 150 Rs* * *The rally is being organized under the banner of "Pune Bus Pravasee Sangh" (पुणे बस प्रवासी संघ) by Lokayat, Pune Shahar Molakareen SangaTana, Shramik Mahilaa morcha, and Pune Mahanagarpaalikaa kaamagaar Union (लोकायत, पुणे शहर मोलकरीण संघटना , पुणे मनपा कामगार यूनियन, श्रमिक महिला मोर्चा ). This is going to be the first among a series of protests that we'll be organizing to protest against the unjust fare hike and to demand improvement in the PMP service. We'll be forming branches of Pune Bus Pravasee Sangh in various Vastees of the city demanding a convenient, available, cheap public transport for all the people ! *We appeal you all to turn in large numbers !* In Solidarity, Abhijit K, Lokayat, Pune. अभिजित Abhijit K Phone: +91 9422308125 ============================================================================== You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "BM_discussion" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] or visit http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion?hl=en To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change the way you get mail from this group, visit: http://groups.google.com/group/BM_discussion/subscribe?hl=en To report abuse, send email explaining the problem to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================================== Google Groups: http://groups.google.com?hl=en
