For Rule of Law Peoples Rights Campaign

For Rule of Law

Peoples Rights Campaign

Supported by Communist Party of India (Marxist), Rashtriya Ulama Council, Socialist Party( India ), Rashtravadi Communist Party and other left and democratic forces

Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, National Convener, All India Peoples' Front (AIPF)

On 10 day fast from June 10 to June 19, 2013

Time: 1 PM, June 10, 2013

                                   Venue: In front of Vidhan Sabha Bhavan, Lucknow

Agenda for Peoples Rights Campaign

1-     Law and order situation is in extremely bad shape in UP, the state is in the clutches of mafia-police-goonda raj. There ought to be rule of law. Safety and security as well as democratic rights of all citizens, including women, minorities, tribals and dalits must be guaranteed.

2-     (a) The decision of Akhilesh govt. to table Justice RD Nimesh Commission Report along with Action Taken Report (ATR), as per its recommendations is delayed. Now, the government must ensure CBI investigation into arrest and custodial death of Khalid Mujahid, as per its declaration.

       (b) The cases against Muslim youth in the name of terrorism must be decided within stipulated time-frame through special courts. Those who are innocent must be released at the earliest and their rehabilitation must be guaranteed.

       (c) Twenty seven riots have taken place within just one year of Akhilesh regime. Indian Press Council too has held  the administration responsible for faizabad-Ayodhya riots. UP government must order judicial inquiry into these riots and the responsible police and officials must be brought to book.

       (d) It is sad that the case in Tees Hazari Court, New Delhi into the killing of Muslims by police-PAC in Hashimpura, Meerut in 1986 has not yet been finalized even after 27 years. UP government must ensure speedy trial of the case and must provide just compensation to the victim families.

3-     The government decision to raise electricity rates must be withdrawn Efforts for privatization of power distribution must be stopped. As a matter of fact, the acute power crisis in the state is result of corruption. Today, if the highest power producing public sector units of Anpara-Obera, are not giving optimum production, it is essentially because of corruption and contract system. Contract System must be abolished, contract labour must be regularized, public sector power stations must be strengthened and extended further.

4-     As promised in its election manifesto, Akhilesh government must declare before sowing period the support price for various crops adding a minimum margin of 50% to the input cost and guarantee procurement of the grains from peasant households. The government must immediately constitute a Commission to determine input cost for various crops. There must be prompt repayment for the procured paddy, wheat and sugarcane and those responsible for non-payment must be punished.

5-     Akhilesh govt. has sent a proposal to the Central govt. recommending inclusion of 17 Most Backward Castes (MBCs) in the SC category. It must refrain from pitting MBCs against dalits and carve out a separate quota for MBCs out of the 27% OBC quota. Similarly quota for backward Muslims must be separated from OBC quota, as per recommendations of Sachhar Committee and Rang Nath Mishra Commission. Scrapping Article 341, dalit Muslims and dalit Christians should be included in the SC category, Akhilesh government should ensure that a resolution to this effect is passed in UP Assembly and sent to the Central government. Tribal communities like Kol must be accorded ST status. For Gond, Kharvar like communities who were accorded ST status by the Supreme Court order, seats must be reserved in the elections.

6-     In the Smarak(Monuments for Dalit-Bahujan icons) scam, worth more than Rs. 1400 crores, the Lokayukta recommended on May 20, 2013 that, “the matter should be investigated by CBI or SIT.” The government must accept this recommendation immediately and FIRs should be lodged against all involved including the then ministers and theyall must be punished. In this respect, it is also noteworthy that in UP, illegal mining is continuing unabated at a large scale. Order of the Supreme Court must be respected and  the illegal mining without environmental clearance must  stop immediately and it should be thoroughly investigated by CBI

7- UP government engaged in sabotaging and failing MNREGA, must stop its anti-labour, anti-poor acts. This Act meant for benefiting the peasants and workers must be implemented in right earnest and 100 days employment and payment within 15 days must be guaranteed.  In those districts where 100 days job is not ensured, DM must be held accountable and hence must be duly punished. Work days under MNREGA must be increased, minimum wages should be linked with price index and the scheme should be extended to urban areas.

8-  UP is state of small and middle peasants. Akhilesh government must not, in any condition, grant permission for contract farming, instead it must ensure with immediate effect to provide special assistance to small and middle peasants for cooperative farming. Unless and until a holistic land use policy is framed by a Land Use Commission which must be constituted by the Central govt., there must be complete moratorium on the purchase of peasant land. A resolution to this effect must be passed in UP Assembly and sent to the Central govt.

9- As there are already national highways, there is absolutely no need of Lucknow-Agra Expressway or Ganga Expressway like plans. They must be scrapped because the purpose behind such plans is not to solve the transportation problem but to snatch the fertile land from farmers and hand it over to builders and corporate houses who would then earn hefty profits by building townships and farm-houses.

10- Forest Rights Act must be implemented sincerely. Tribals and forest-dependent people should not be displaced from the lands in their possession and through a vigorous campaign, they should be granted ownership rights of such land. Agreements with those displaced because of industrial development must be implemented in letter and spirit.

11- Unemployment allowance can`t solve unemployment problem. So what is required is that the Right to Work is made part of Fundamental Rights instead of Directive Principles. Akhilesh government must ensure that resolution to this effect is passed in the Assembly and sent to the Central govt. To create jobs, public expenditure must be enhanced and ban on new recruitments must be lifted. Closed public sector units must be revived and enabled to work with optimum production. There must be high level inquiry into the sale of public sector units  and the guilty must be punished.

12- Maoist impact in Mizapur-Sonbhadra-Chandauli districts is almost extinct. Tribals and the poor who once went under Maoist influence because of frustration and utter alienation from the system, gradually returned back to the mainstream politics, thanks to sustained democratic movement in the region Still, in the name of combating Maoism, repression on the poor continues unabated. Such acts of repression by police administration must stop. The government must ensure that cases of Gangster and Goonda Act in the name of being Maoist are withdrawn and those languishing in jails, including large number of women are granted bail and rehabilitated. It is noteworthy that Basmati Kol, an ex- Maoist and now member of Samajwadi Party is appointed member of State Women Commission.

13- Food scam is continuing unabated in the state. It must be stopped and those who are accountable for it must be punished. There should be time-bound inquiry in all scams including NRHM scam. Those responsible must be punished and the looted money should be recovered from their property.

14- Scrapping APL-BPL categories, there should be provision of 50 kg. Food grain/ ration at the rate of Rs 2 per kg , for every citizen

15- Loan waiver should be declared for the weavers, they should be provided free electricity and BPL cards on the basis of rapid survey.

16- In the state, workers engaged in Anganbadi, Asha, Midday meal scheme, Shiksha Mitra, self- financed teachers and contract workers are undergoing a serious crisis of livelihood. They should be accorded the status of state employees. Till then, they must be provided monthly minimum wage of Rs 10000.

17- Land reforms must be implemented. And there should be guaranteed provision of housing for all poor families.

18- Privatisation of education and health services must stop. Public investment must be increased. Affordable and quality education as well as health services must be made available to the people.