Chandigarh, July7, 2018. In a press conference here today Comrade Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon state Secretary of CPI(M) Punjab has announced that CPI(M) is launching JAGO PUNJAB campaign on burning issues of the people of Punjab from August 1, 2018. In the first phase of this mobilization campaign more than 500 mass rallies will be held in all districts.
Comrade Sekhon expressed concern that both the Governments, BJP Modi Government at the Centre and Captain Amrinder Government in Punjab has broken their promises made in the elections with impunity. The authoritarian communal regime of Modi has not fulfilled the promise of creating two crores of jobs per year but has killed the lacs of jobs through demonetization mercilessly. The prices of essential commodities has shooted to the sky because of the continuous hike in the prices of Petrol and Diesel. Loan waivers are cruelly denied to the peasantry who is reeling under huge debt burden and committing suicides, whereas about 6 lac crores of NPA’s of corporates have been written off. Modi Government is implementing the RSS agenda of communal polarization has increased the attacks on Muslims, Christians and Dalits and thereby threatening the unity and integrity of India. It has also taken many steps to scuttle the parliamentary democratic institutions. Modi Government is implementing Neoliberal policies with aggressiveness creating serious problems of livelihood for the people.
Commenting on the issue of MSP announced for the khrif crops by Modi Government keeping an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Com. Sekhon said that it is joke with the peasantry since the MSP announced for paddy, cotton and many other crops is far short of Swaminathan Commission recommendations AND ARE TOTALLY UNREMUNERATIVE. Giving an illustration he said increase of paddy by announced MSP is Rupees 660 per quintal short of the Swaminathan recommendations of C-2 cost plus 50% formula.
Commenting on the poor performance and breaking of all election promises by Amrinder Government, Comrade Sekhon particularly took the issue of havoc created by sand-bajri Mafia and drug mafia in Punjab. He said Amrinder Singh and his ministers lack political will to control the drug mafia. The political gimmicks likw dope test and recommending death sentence for smugglers etc. won’t yield any results. The NDPC Act like law is already stringent but will is lacking to implement. Com. Sekhon vehemently observed that to control drug menace youth shall have to be given jobs. The sand prices have sky rocketed despite claims of taking steps for controlling sand mafia. He said all these drug and sand mafia are operating with the connivance of political bigwigs, police and administrative bureaucracy. Loan waver scheme of Amrinder Government has also proved a mere eye wash.
Condemning the anti-working class attitude of Amrinder Government Comrade Sekhon said that minimum wages of the workers are not being revised which are due since long.
Comrade Sekhon said that by taking burning issues and problems of the people of Punjab e.g. drug menace, sand mafia loot, impoverty, health and education system particularly in villages, supply of safe drinking water, issues of peasantry, agricultural labourers, industrial workers and employment for youth, CPI(M) Punjab will launch a JAGO PUNJAB campaign in the month of August 2018 and hold more than 500 mass rallies in all districts as it first phase. Comrade Charan Singh Virdi and Raghunath Singh both state committee members were also present in the press conference.
