May Day, 2019 celebrated in Delhi : Communist Ghadar Party organizes padayatra to mark May Day

ThumbActivists of the Communist Ghadar Party of India organized a padayatra through the streets and lanes of Sanjay Colony, a slum colony situated in Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase 2, on the morning of May 1, 2019.

Activists of the Communist Ghadar Party of India organized a padayatra through the streets and lanes of Sanjay Colony, a slum colony situated in Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase 2, on the morning of May 1, 2019.

The office of the Communist Ghadar Party, located right within the colony, had been decorated with bright red banners bearing slogans “Long live May Day!”, “Long live Communist Ghadar Party of India!”. Red flags and flowers adorned the walls and doorway. Revolutionary songs filled the air, calling on our people to rise up, end this slavery and usher in a bright new future.

Mayday on CGPI office Delhi_2019
Mayday Delhi_2019
Mayday Delhi_2019

Comrade Prakash Rao, spokesperson of the CGPI, began the celebrations by introducing Comrade Birju Nayak, a dedicated member of the Party and a resident of Sanjay Colony, as the Party’s candidate from South Delhi, for the Lok Sabha Elections. He garlanded Birju Nayak, congratulated him and invited him to speak a few  words.

Comrade Birju Nayak thanked the Party for this honour and expressed his gratitude and commitment to the people of the area, who have placed their faith in him, to represent them in the elections. He explained that the even though the working class and people are in a majority in the society, their problems — the problems of water supply, sanitation, sewage disposal, education, health care, transport and other basic necessities – are never raised by those whom we elect and send to represent us in Parliament. Whichever government comes to power, it works only to enrich the Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis and other Indian and foreign big monopoly capitalists. People have no power once they have cast their vote on election day. This periodic cycle of replacing one political party of the capitalists with another in government is not going to solve any of our problems. “That is why I am contesting these elections, to raise our voice, the voice of all the working people in Parliament. I call on all of you to join my campaign and vote for me, so that our voice is heard in Parliament”, he elaborated.

The election symbol of Birju Nayak is Water tank. The symbol was clearly displayed on the banner at the entrance to the Party office.

Hundreds of children and youth, women and men of the colony, holding aloft red flags, led by Birju Nayak and other leaders and activists of the Communist Ghadar Party, marched through the lanes of the colony. The sound of drums and militant slogans “Long live May Day!”, “Workers of the world, unite!”, “With political power in our hands, oppression and injustice we shall end!”, “Inquilab Zindabad!” could be heard far and wide. Greeting the residents and working people of the area, they called upon all “to vote for our voice, the voice of the working people, to vote for Birju Nayak, election symbol Water tank!” Tens of thousands of copies of the leaflet introducing Birju Nayak were distributed among the people. Residents of the colony, many of whom have known Birju Nayak since he was a child and respect his fighting spirit, wholeheartedly gave their support.

Trade Unions march in support of their demands

Trade Unions in Delhi marched in a joint rally starting from Ram Lila Maidan and culminating in a meeting at the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk. Holding aloft red flags and banners of their respective organisations, the workers marched through the crowded streets, raising slogans highlighting their demands.

At Town Hall, the meeting was chaired by representatives of the participating trade unions. Cultural workers presented songs highlighting the workers’ struggles. Leaders of the trade unions addressed the meeting. They greeted the workers on May Day. They denounced the program of liberalization, privatization and globalization being pursued by successive governments, the growing exploitation of the workers, the increasing use of contract labour, the denial of minimum wages for workers, the gross violation of labour laws, the application of ‘fixed term contracts’ in all sectors, the denial of rights, etc. They spoke against the growing climate of hatred and anarchy, the increasing attacks on people on the basis of their religious beliefs and customs, on the basis of language, caste, community, region, gender, etc.

Birju Nayak addressed the May Day rally on behalf of the Mazdoor Ekta Committee. He has been nominated as the candidate of Communist Ghadar Party of India, from South Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections.

In his address to the workers on May Day, comrade Birju Nayak referred to the on-going Lok Sabha elections and explained that it makes no difference for the working class whether the BJP is in government or the Congress Party. “Both have defended and implemented the same program of liberalization, privatization and globalization, in the interests of the Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis and other Indian and foreign monopoly capitalists. Both are responsible for organizing the worst kind of communal genocides, to smash the fighting unity of our people. Neither of them has implemented our long-standing demand for minimum wages. Bringing one or another of these parties of the capitalist class to power will not end our exploitation and misery. We workers cannot leave the electoral field free for these parties who serve the capitalist class. We workers have to enter the electoral arena with our own program.

“Workers in Delhi had hoped that the AAP would pay heed to the demands of the workers, but these hopes have been belied. The AAP, which came to power as the “great crusader against corruption” of the Congress Party, is now seeking an alliance with the same Congress Party” he pointed out.

He made a scathing criticism of all those who are trying to mobilise the working class to support and vote for the Congress Party and other parties whom they call “secular”, in order to defeat the “communal” BJP. He pointed out that both of these, the “secular” Congress or the “communal” BJP, are two sides of the same coin. “We workers have to reject the path of supporting and bringing to power one or another of these parties of the capitalist class. We have to fight for establishing the rule of the working class”, he declared.

“The red flag of communism”, he pointed out, “is the symbol of the sacrifices of countless communists who fought and died, not to prolong this savage rule of the capitalist class, but with the vision of establishing the rule of the working class. It is the working class, the toiling peasantry and numerous working people who produce the wealth of this country, not the handful of capitalist exploiters. We communists have to take the struggle forward to establish the rule of the working class. I dedicate myself to this glorious cause”, he concluded, amidst thunderous applause.

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