---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kavita Krishnan <[email protected]> Date: 9 February 2014 11:20 Subject: Fwd: Invitation for Public Meeting on Political Challenges and Possibilities Today, GPF, Feb 10, 5 pm
*You are cordially invited to attend a* *Public Meeting* *on* *Political Challenges, New Possibilities, and Role of People's Movements* *Gandhi Peace Foundation (GPF)* *February 10* *5 pm onwards* *Speakers* Prof Manoranjan Mohanty Praful Bidwai, journalist Swapan Mukherjee, CPIML Manindra Thakur, JNU Urmilesh, journalist Sunilam, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti Anand Pradhan, journalist Albeena Shakil, Left Collective Kavita Krishnan, CPIML And other activists and concerned citizens Friends The political situation now has testing challenges, and also exciting possibilities, for people's movements and progressive political forces. The corruption and unbridled repressiveness and arrogance of the Congress have created fertile ground for the assertion of the fascist Narendra Modi. Modi is projecting himself on a plank of national 'unity' and stability, that is a euphemism for communal fascism. His economic vision and track-record promise to perpetuate the cronyism and corporate plunder, that have been the hallmark of the UPA regime at the Centre as well. The President's address on the eve of Republic Day offers no vision that is at odds with Modi's. He too, chose to chastise voters for electing 'unstable' coalitions, remind that the Armed forces are capable of fighting 'internal enemies,' and warn that 'mavericks' who question AFSPA or the Army's impunity would not be allowed in 'public life.' If Modi stands for aggressive, in-your-face communal politics, even the so-called 'secular' parties have time and again colluded in communal violence, have betrayed the cause of justice to the victims of such violence, and have fully supported the State's policy of witch-hunt of Muslim youth on the pretext of fighting terrorism. The Indian electorate has also, in recent times, strongly asserted its quest for an alternative to the Congress-BJP duo, and has demanded a politics that would reflect its concerns of anti-corruption measures and rights of peasants and workers to participate in policy decisions that affect their lives. The rise of the AAP reflects this quest. Since the election of the new Delhi Government, we have seen increased assertion of contract workers demanding urgent fulfilment of their promises of regularisation, and enforcement of minimum wage laws. Recent people's movements strongly asserted the battle cry of women's freedom, and protests against the law that criminalises certain sexual orientations and identities. The driving ideas behind such movements are yet to find a political home in those bidding to rule the country. The question of rights and dignity for dalits and adivasis, including the rights over natural resources and justice in the case of massacres and acts of state repression, also has few champions in the political spectrum. How do we contend with the threat of a fascist assertion, represented by Narendra Modi's becoming Prime Minister? With the political climate being friendly and open to new possibilities, how can we assert the concerns of people's movements more strongly? What should be the role of the revolutionary Left and the people's movements? To consider these and other questions, we invite you to attend a public meeting on ' *Political Challenges, New Possibilities, and Role of People's Movements' at GPF, 5 pm, February 10th. * *Ravi Rai, * *for CPI(ML), Delhi State Committee* *Contact: 9868661628, 9560756628 * -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
