Socialist Solidarity Conference
D-15, Naushir Bharuch Marg, Grant Road, Mumbai
Press Release
Socialist Solidarity Conference- Against inequality, corporatisation, loot of resource and for secularism, social justice and democratic development.
Mumbai | 21st October: The first day of the Socialist Solidarity Conference successfully concluded at Damodar Hall in Mumbai with great enthusiasm and commitment on 21st October 2016. 500 representatives of 60 organisations from 17 states participated in the conference. The conference was inaugurated by veteran activist and freedom fighter Dr GG Parikh. Underlining the need for unity among various socialist organisations, Dr Parikh said that “in the present circumstances, we need our youth to get inspired by the work of activists like Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia and other pioneers of the socialist movement. Adviser to the NAPM, Medha Patkar recalled that “ On this day in 1934, the Congress Socialist Party was founded on the principles of equality and socialism. It breathed new consciousness into the national struggle. That agenda is still relevant today. We are putting forth the alternative development paradigm against the prevalent destructive development being imposed on this country.
In the first session the speakers were, Prof. Prem Singh (socialist leader), Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, (Hind Mazdur Sabha Punjab), Praful Samanta (Orissa), Sawai Singh (Rajasthan), Raja Pateria, (former minister, Madhya Pradesh), Prabodh Sinha, (former minister, West Bengal), Dr. Sunilam and others. Economist, Prof Arun Kumar (JNU) said that the international finance organisations are not only dictating policy to our financial organisations but their philosophy of the free market has conquered our minds. Neeraj Jain from Lokayat and Socialist party India talked in detail about the humongous tax benefits and subsidies given to the corporates, from public funds, at the cost of public welfare spending. These policies have driven our people deeper into poverty and unemployment since 1991 and now under the Modi government these policies have been accelerated, leading to even more inequality. The BJP government is encouraging RSS led fascist forces in order to divert the attention of the masses from these issues.
The second session of the conference focussed on the growing threat of fascism looming over the country today. Irfan Engineer, the main speaker said that Hindus and Muslims have created a syncretic culture in India and the RSS seeks to destroy this with a false version of history and culture. The RSS ideology is an imported ideology inspired by Hitler and Mussolini. Today, issues like `Cow Protection’ and `Love Jihad’ are being used to kill communal harmony and cultural freedom. Diversity of ideas is being suppressed, leading to incidents like the suicide of HCU student Rohith Vemula. Faisal Khan from Khudai Khidmatgar said, “Socialists made the mistake of leaving the entire field of cultural struggle to right wing forces. The responsibility of preventing fascism is not only of the state alone but is a collective responsibility. We may criticise Gandhi on his stand on caste, but there is no better way to combat communal forces than the one adopted by Gandhi”.
In the third session, on global warming, the main speaker Saumya Dutta (energy policy activist) emphasized that global warming is no longer an environmental problem but has become a political one. Without questioning the corporate model of development and the economic and political ideologies that support this model, we cannot hope to avert the crisis of climate change. He called for a minimum standard of living for the poor, but also an upper limit on the wealth and consumption of the rich On the second day, 22nd October, the main session will be on `Socialism is the Only Alternative to Neo Liberal Fascism’. The program will conclude with a massive public meeting at Azad Maidan. Socialist leaders, Medha Patkar, Naini Narasimha Reddy (Home Minister, Telangana), Dr. Sunilam, Harbhajan Singh Siddhu (Hind Mazdoor Sabha), Teesta Setalvad, Hussain Dalwai, Rehman Abbas, B.R. Patil (MLA, Karnatka assembly), Rajabhau Avasak (Rashtra Sewa Dal).
Madhu Mohite Guddi S.L. Bilal Khan Shanta Chavan
Contact: 9958660556 / 7738082170
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