Abrogating the concept of Planning is a disaster that is coming to hit the poor very hard. Yes, the word Planning in the Indian economy stood on its head and did everything opposite what it was supposed to do.
Mind you, the earlier Indian policy makers, greatly influenced by the spectacular economic strides that were being made by the former Soviet Union through Soviet Five Year Plans (however bureaucratically mismanaged) in tackling poverty, famine and the after effects of war with the 21 armies of Imperialist countries, did choose the concept of Five Year Plans & Planning Commission, to tackle the enormous economic and social disparities in our society.
Yes, along the way it not only lost its focus but was purposely derailed and given a bad name, so that a future unabashedly blatant, right wing govt. can throw it away, lock, stock and barrel. It is a conspiracy dreamt by Indira & Rajiv, shaped by V P Singh & P V N Rao, agressively introduced and pursued by Manmohan Singh, Montek & P. Chidambaram and now getting perfectly and brutally executed by BJP’s Narendra Modi and his rabid right wing followers. Of course, it need not be mentioned that the United States Of America’s imperial agencies such as World Terrorist Organisation (WTO), IMF & World Bank have “ably” supervised this long drawn conspiracy.
This is a challenge to all those who dream and tirelessly struggle for an equal society, a Socialistic Pattern of an economy. This is the beginning of transfer of all that we think is in our hands to the rich and the super rich.This has to be met with a dogged fight back, by all sections of the working poor, women,middle classes, farmers and peasants, Daliths & down trodden, vulnerable religious and other minorities which includes Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.
The Trade Unions have to wake-up now! All that was fought and won over a period of several decades is at stake, the working hours, conditions, safety & security in employment, everything, every single pro people reform is in danger of getting revoked or annulled. It is high-time that the Trade Unions take the lead to rally round all (mentioned above) and go for the offensive.
Trade Unions should immediately call for a 24 hour General Strike as a starting point to say no to:
- Abrogation of Planning Commission and Five Year Plans.
- Bring in a Democratically Planned Comprehensive 5 year Plans under the supervision of and management of Working Peoples’ Organisations, Peoples Movements and the Organsiations of the Dalits and Down Trodden.
- Demand Re-Nationalisation of all Public Sector Industries, Services and Utilities
- We oppose the dilution of the fundamental statutes of Indian Constitution by the right wing govts. in Power.
- Only a genuine Left Govt. comprising of all fighting People’s Organisations and Movements can guarantee the advance of all peoples interests.
- WE have had enough of all Capitalist Parties – Build a New Mass Party of the Working People now!
Jagadish G Chandra
Bangalore