All India Peoples Front (Radical)
Constitution and Policy Objectives
PREFACE
The National Campaign
Committee (NCC) met on 22-23 November 2012. It reviewed the political situation
taking into account the latest developments on the political, economic and
social fronts. The Committee was convinced that the political challenges had to
be met politically and that time had come to set up a distinct political
formation for the purpose. The following
decision was taken at that meeting:
“While the NCC would continue in its present form and
functions with all its members, a new political formation distinct from the
National Campaign Committee be brought into being. It would provide a common
political space and identity to various units /formations currently operating
as distinct political formations such as Jan Sangharsh Morcha, Krantikari
Samata Party, Jan Sangram Parishad and which are at present affiliated to the
NCC as constituent units. It will be up
to the individual members of the NCC to decide whether to join the new
political formation. ”
Following this decision, steps were taken to register with
the Union Election Commission the political entity with the name “All India
Peoples Front (Radical): AIPF ( R)” and draw up its Constitution. Now it is
duly registered body.
At a subsequent meeting held on 30 .09.2013, the draft
constitution was discussed. It was unanimously decided that the Constitution
should have a succinct Preamble and contain the declaratory statement as
required by the Election Commission, besides the usual provisions on the
organizational structure, powers and functioning. It was also decided that
there should be a distinct section titled “Policy Objectives” as an integral
part of the Constitution. The draft has been finalized and adopted by the representatives
of AIPF(R) present in the meeting in the light of the discussions and various
suggestions that were received from members and other well wishers and with the
approval of all concerned.
I have the pleasure to introduce the booklet “Constitution and
Policy Objectives of AIPF (R).”
Dated: 21. 11.2013
Akhilendra Pratap Singh
Convener AIPF(R)
All India Peoples Front
(Radical) Constitution
Preamble
All
India Peoples Front (Radical) is a mass political platform dedicated to the goal of ushering in a humane society free
of exploitation and alienation. It stands committed to end the
present exploitative and unjust social and economic order. It envisions the establishment of a social and economic
order which is people- centric and eco-friendly; which is inspired by
the principles of equality
and solidarity; and which ensures a life of dignity for all.
The ruling class has made common
cause with the global oligarchy of corporate capital and speculative finance capital. It is
blindly going in for greater and deeper
integration with these global forces even as the neo-liberal economic
order is facing its deepest crisis in the very hub of the global capital.
AIPF(R) believes that the present conjuncture which is
marked by this sinister collaboration has rendered the task of
striving for the goal more
urgent.
The ravages inflicted by the two decades of neo-liberal policies on the broad masses of people
have further exacerbated the long standing deprivation and disparity in the
society. The small and
marginal peasantry, landless labour, craftsmen, workers in the organized, unorganized
and informal sectors, women workers
and the so-called ‘self- employed’ have borne the brunt while a miniscule number in the
upper most echelons
have earned wealth and income as never before. The middle classes
who were enamoured of the neo-liberal policies until recently are progressively getting disillusioned and will be
compelled by the circumstances, sooner rather than later, to decide on
whose side they stand: the ruling
class or working people.
To
divert attention from the main challenge facing the people, systematic attempts
are being made by the ruling class to foment dissension and division
and even engineer
conflicts among common people. Another aspect of this cynical project
is instigation of chauvinist and jingoist stance towards the important neighbouring countries. Which,
besides serving as a diversionary tactic, fits in with the
strategic design of the global superpower, the home of the global
capital?
At the same time, in the name of enforcing “law and
order”, the space for democratic dissent and mobilization is being
drastically curtailed. What
is worse, under the camouflage of uncritical and superficial slogans
of “development” and “governance”, fascistic tendencies are emerging with the encouragement and support of the
corporate capital intent on acquiring complete control of the state
apparatus.
AIPF(R) believes that the need of the hour is to form a broad democratic platform for
pursuing Radical and Inclusive Politics: Politics which will deepen
democratization of polity and
society, which will strengthen modern values of equality, secularism,
solidarity and which will ensure freedom and dignity for all. Politics which will eradicate the age-old curse
of social inequality and injustice. Politics which will
frontally meet the challenge
of neo-liberalism and reinvent the Idea of India which has been
bequeathed to us by our long struggle against colonialism.
In a word, we have to redeem our tryst with destiny.
AIPF (R) is committed to this task
and wishes to join hands with all like-minded political formations, groups,
activists and individuals to further the struggle to move towards the goal.
Constitutional
Declaration
AIPF(R) bears true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, as by law established
and to the principles of socialism,
secularism and democracy and will uphold sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
Articles
1- Name: The name of the political party is: All India Peoples Front (Radical):
AIPF(R)
2- Flag: It consists of three equal horizontal strips of red,
yellow and green colour, in that order. Its shape is rectangular in the ratio
3:2.
3- Membership: Any adult Indian citizen who
accepts the Constitution of AIPF (R)
including its Preamble and Constitutional Declaration and subscribes to its
Policy Objectives, Policies and Programmes may become its Member.
4- Constituent Organisations:
a- Organizations agreeing
with the goal and approach contained in the Preamble to AIPF(R) Constitution
and its Constitutional Declaration and Policy Objectives may directly join as
constituent organisational members of AIPF(R) at different levels. AIPF(R)
shall not interfere with their independent functioning.
b- A high
level functionary to be nominated by the constituent organizational member
shall be ex-officio member of national and state level committees of AIPF(R).
c- Members of other like-minded organizations may become members of
AIPF(R), provided they fulfill the criterion laid down in Article 3 above and provided
further that their membership of their original organisation does not oblige
them to indulge in activities that are not in harmony with the aims and
objectives of AIPF(R) or run counter to the approach and policies of AIPF(R).
5- Functioning and area of operation: Consistent with
its evolution and the process of formation, its philosophy and its structure,
AIPF(R) will function, to the maximum extent possible, on the basis
of consensus and take decisions through mutual discussion. Where such consensus
is not reached, the decisions will be taken by the majority vote of members
present and casting vote. If the level of majority is not specifically
laid down in the relevant Article of the Constitution, the majority will mean
simple majority.
The area of AIPF(R)’s operation will be the whole country
and its organizational structures will function at national, state,
district, block and local levels.
6- Organisational Structures:
AIPF
(R)’s organisational structure will consist of five tiers starting from the
village/ward level and reaching up to the national level:
a- Village/Ward Front Committee
b-(1) Block/City Front Committee
(2) Block/City Working
Committee
c-
(1) District Front Committee
(2) District Working
Committee
d-(1) State Front Committee ( SFC)
(2) State Working Committee (SWC)
e-(1) All India Front Committee
( AIFC)
(2) Central Working Committee: (CWC)
All India Front Committee shall decide the general policies of AIPF(R) on
national issues and determine the orientation of national initiatives and
organizational campaigns.The Central Working Committee shall formulate
AIPF(R)’s stand on specific national issues and will be responsible for
implementation of its policies and programmes.
In States, the State Front and Working Committees shall play a similar
role in the respective State, within the framework of the policies, programmes
and initiatives decided upon by the National Level Committees.
District/Block /City Front and Working Committees
and Village/Ward Front Committee shall not only implement various
national and state level programmes and initiatives within their respective
areas of functioning, but more importantly, shall function as living centres of
consistent grassroot work so that the policies and spirit behind them may take
practical shape in accordance with the local circumstances.
Ad-hoc
committees may be constituted at different levels other than national level
with the consent of higher level Committees, if conditions for the formation of
full-fledged committees are not fulfilled.
7- National Conference: National conference shall be organized every 3 years. If necessary CWC may make adjustments in the timing, which will have to be ratified in due course by AIFC. All members of state front committees, presidents and secretaries of district committees and presidents of block committees shall be delegates for the national conference. President, in consultation with the CWC, may nominate delegates for the conference other than the ex-officio delegates. The number of such nominated delegates shall not exceed five percent of the latter. National Conference shall elect All India Front Committee.
8- Central Working Committee (CWC): CWC shall be elected by the AIFC.
9-
National President: The National President shall
be elected by the All India Front Committee. The President shall preside
over the national level
committee meetings. For conducting national political affairs, National
President may nominate National Convener and Co-Conveners, as
necessary. National President, National
Convener and Co-Conveners shall be
ex-officio members of the CWC. The President may nominate some members to the
CWC. The total number of such nominated members shall in no case exceed
ten percent of the total number of elected CWC members.
10- Vice-President: The Central Working
Committee shall elect
Vice-Presidents. The President shall nominate the Senior Vice-President from amongst the elected Vice
Presidents. In the absence of President, the Senior Vice-President shall preside over the national level committee
meetings.
11- General Secretary and
Secretaries: The General
Secretaries and Secretaries shall be elected in the meeting of the
Central Working Committee. The CWC shall elect Organisational General
Secretary from amongst the General Secretaries. The Organisational General Secretary
shall convene the national level committee meetings, prepare the documentation
and keep necessary record of the meetings. Secretaries will assist the General
Secretaries in their functions. Organisational General Secretary may be
authorized by the CWC to enter into legal and financial transactions in the name
of AIPF (R).
12-
Office Secretary: The Office Secretary shall
be nominated by the President. He/she will conduct the affairs of the
office. He/ She shall be
responsible for fulfilling the legal requirements and obligations on behalf of AIPF (R).
13-
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be
nominated by the President from amongst the members of the Central Working
Committee. He/She shall maintain the records of income and
expenditure and shall look after the financial affairs of AIPF(R). He/ She shall open an account in a scheduled
bank in the name of All India
Peoples Front (Radical). The account will
be operated jointly by Treasurer and one other high level functionary to be
nominated by President. Treasurer will be responsible for fulfilling such obligations
as the law of the land prescribes in respect of the financial operations of
AIPF (R) e.g. Audit, Income Tax, Service Tax etc.
14- Functionaries of other than national
level committees: The Committees other than
those at the national level will elect their office- bearers at their biennial
Front Committee meetings. The Village/Ward level committees will elect
their functionaries at their annual meeting.
15-
Advisory Councils: The Presidents may constitute Advisory Councils
at National and State levels as necessary. Members and office bearers of
the Advisory Councils may or may not be members of AIPF (R). Advisory Councils
will perform an important advisory role in formulating policies, programmes and
activities of AIPF(R). Members of the Advisory Council may take part in the
meetings of AIFC / SFC at the invitation of the President. The President may
invite them to Central/ State level Working Committee Meetings. Such members of
the Advisory Councils as are not the members of the AIPF (R) will not
participate in voting.
16- Parliamentary Boards: The National President and the State President
shall respectively nominate the National and the State level Parliamentary Boards from the members of All India Front Committee
and State Front Committee.
The decisions of State Parliamentary Boards regarding candidates and other
important matters of elections will require the approval of CWC. Constituent
Organisational Members will nominate a high level functionary to the
Parilamentary Boards.
17- State, District and Block /City/Local level Conferences: Such Conferences will be held every two years. The respective State, District and Block/City level Working Committees may decide the timing and venue. The Village /Ward level Committees will meet annually, the time and venue being decided by the respective Presidents. The delegates at such conferences will be elected/chosen/ nominated on the same pattern as that for the national level committees but the field of choice will be limited to the area of operation of the respective committee. These conferences shall elect committees for respective levels. Below state level, there will be no post of General Secretary among the office-bearers. These decisions shall have to be approved by the respective next higher level committees.
18- Village/Ward Front Committee: It is the primary/basic unit of the Front which will consist of all
members of AIPF (R) at the Village / ward level. It shall elect
its President and other office-bearers.
Its tenure shall be one year.
19- Special Provision: There shall be mandatory representation from
women, dalits, adivasis, religious minorities, OBCs and most and extremely
backward castes in all committees and
the office-bearers. The Presidents of respective committees will have the right to nomination for this purpose.
20-
Constitutional Amendment: Amendment to the Constitution
may be introduced in the Central Working Committee which will consider it carefully
and, on approval by a two- thirds majority of its members present and casting
vote, will recommend it to the All India Front Committee. All India Front
Committee may, with such further modification as it deems appropriate, approve
of it by a two-thirds majority of its members present and casting vote.
The amendment shall come into effect immediately thereafter.
21- Special Session: The President may convene a special session of Central Working Committee
for deliberation of an urgent issue/s. Central working Committee may convene a
special session of AIFC for consideration of an important and urgent issue/s.
22- Disciplinary Action: Disciplinary action shall be taken by the concerned Front Committee against
those engaged in anti-Front activities
.It shall include warning, suspension and expulsion. Due notice and opportunity
to submit his/her version/defence will be given to the concerned member before taking disciplinary action
and every decision of disciplinary action shall have to be
approved by the next higher committee. The right to expel any member engaged in anti-social activity is reserved with the
President of the concerned Committee but it has to be approved by the
respective Front Committee.
In emergency, the National President can dissolve any committee
or take disciplinary action against any member or office-bearer but he/she has to get this decision
approved by the Central Working Committee as soon as possible. Against
the disciplinary action by any committee,
the affected member has the right to appeal before the next higher Committee,
and in case such decision is taken by the highest committee, namely, AIFC, the
affected member shall have the right to ask for review/reconsideration by that body. The decision of the appellate/ review body, reached after
reconsideration of the matter, will be final and binding.
23-
Financial Provisions: AIPF (R) shall present
annual financial details as required to the Election Commission within 60
days of the end of financial year. AIPF (R)’s accounts shall be audited by the
auditor empanelled by the CAG.
Funds of AIPF (R) shall be used only for political purposes. AIPF(R),
in maintenance of its financial documents, shall comply with the directives issued from time to time by the
Election Commission.
23 A- AIPF(R) will raise resources
from membership fees, donations from members, sympathizers and like minded
individuals and organizations. It shall not accept any funding from any foreign
source whatsoever. The moneys so raised any other receipts will be kept in an
account opened in the name of All
India Peoples Front (Radical) with a scheduled
bank.
24- Merger and Dissolution: Decisions regarding merger with any other
political formation and dissolution
shall be taken in the Central Working Committee on the basis of a 2/3rd majority
of members present and casting vote. Such decision will be final only after it
is approved by AIFC by a two-thirds majority of its members present and casting
vote.
25-
Miscellaneous:
(a) In convening the meetings of different bodies, due notice will be given
to all members concerned.
(b)
Membership
fee shall be decided by CWC.
(c) Where no specific provision
is available in the Constitution and a decision needs to be taken urgently,
the CWC will have the powers to take an appropriate decision as
necessary with the approval of two thirds majority of its members present and
casting vote. Further such decision shall have to be approved by AIFC by a
similar simple majority of its members present and casting vote. Such a
decision shall have to be consistent with the Preamble, the Constitutional
Declaration and the extant provisions of the Constitution and the underlying
spirit of the Constitution.
Priority Policy Objectives
List of the Policy
Objectives:
* Defeating the attack on democratic rights and freedoms and working for repeal of all special laws including the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act which restricts the democratic space guaranteed under the Indian Constitution and enable the State to abuse its monopoly of use of force.
* Defeating corporate takeover of
agriculture; resisting corporatization of land, water and seed, forest and
minerals; promotion of cooperatives and moving
towards socialization of ownership and working of these basic resources.
* Defeating the corporate encroachment
and appropriation of commons, particularly the forest and adivasi habitations
and lands; protecting adivasi community rights and livelihoods; promoting community
ownership and managementating the policy regime that facilitates the Corporate
loot of mineral resources and spells devastation of Adivasi’ life, livelihood and
habitat.
* Defeating the WTO (World Trade
Organisation/AoA(Agreement on Agriculture) paradigm on agriculture;
striving for a peasant- centric alternative through South-South cooperation in agricultural production and
trade.
* Alternative development policies which will not only repudiate the mainstream strategy of “globalizing growth” but also promote self-reliance; inter-personal, inter-class (in the sense of educationally and socially backward and advanced classes), and inter-regional equity; and conservation of environment. It will imply reorientation of direction and pattern of industrialization. It will mean a break from the present obsession with “globally competitive” industries and a shift in favour of employment –intensive technology based and mass consumption oriented industries.
* Alternative development policies which will not only repudiate the mainstream strategy of “globalizing growth” but also promote self-reliance; inter-personal, inter-class (in the sense of educationally and socially backward and advanced classes), and inter-regional equity; and conservation of environment. It will imply reorientation of direction and pattern of industrialization. It will mean a break from the present obsession with “globally competitive” industries and a shift in favour of employment –intensive technology based and mass consumption oriented industries.
* Ending the process of
rapid commodification of
health, education and access to food and other articles of necessity; replacing the prevailing mercenary,
discriminatory, unaffordable and limited- reach regimes and establishing comprehensive,
egalitarian, affordable public system
for provision of health, education and food and other necessities.
* A national wages and incomes policy
severely limiting the disparity across the sectors and classes.
* Assuring right to employment and a
decent living standard through legal means and appropriate economic policy initiatives.
*Providing legally
guaranteed preferential opportunity in education and employment, in private as
well as state sectors, for the socially disadvantaged classes and communities.
*
A thoroughgoing electoral reform including introduction of proportional representation and elimination of
the rampant influence of money and muscle power in order to cleanse and deepen
the process of democratisation.
* People’s control and supervision over the administrative machinery,
particularly at the cutting edge level.
* Fighting and defeating the communal and
fascistic forces that are challenging the very Idea of India which is the
product of a long struggle against colonialism and imperialism.
* Complete separation of religion, on
the one hand, and the state and politics, on the other. Religion to be confined to private domain
where it belongs.
* Support to struggles of
sub-nationalities and borderline states for preserving their cultural and
political identity as has historically emerged and support to their aspiration
for fuller autonomy within the Indian Union.
*Strengthening the autonomy of the Indian
financial system and protecting it from the fragility and rapacity of the
global finance capital. Working for regional financial cooperation e.g.
Regional Monetary Union/s.
* Decisive breaking away from the US
strategic design and opposing US militarism, in particular, US-Israeli militarism
in West Asia, and exposing and defeating US-Israel sponsored Islamophobia.
* Fighting and defeating chauvinistic
and jingoistic policies and stances towards the important neighboring
countries, China and Pakistan in particular, and striving for peace and cooperation
in the Indian subcontinent, Asia and the whole world.
* A new energy policy consistent with the
reorientation of the strategic, agrarian
and industrial policies; selective strategic cooperation with the West Asian and Central Asian
oil and gas rich countries ; closer cooperation with the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization.
Website: www.aipfr.org/wp/
*
Office: 18 BP,
40 Feet Road
Patel
Nagar, Mugalsarai
Chandauli,
UP
* Mobile: 09450153307, 09455186999, 09415164845
v
Contact :
Akhilendra Pratap Singh
ED-17, Diomand Dairy Colony
Udaiganj, Lucknow
Phone: 09451061595
v
Email: aipfr.org@gmail.com, srdarapuri@gmail.com
v
Website: www.aipfr.org/wp/
