By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Lokayat, a small cultural forum based in Pune, Maharashtra has decided to ‘affiliate itself’ to the Socialist Party (India) led by Bhai Vaidya.
This decision was taken in a meeting of Lokayat activists. Following this decision, senior activists of Socialist Party and Lokayat announced this decision at a Press Conference held on December 18, 2014 at the Patrakar Bhavan, Pune.
Dr Abhijit Vaidya (National President, Socialist Yuvjan Sabha), Mrs Varsha Gupte (National Convenor, Socialist Mahila Sabha), both members of the National Executive of the Socialist Party (India), and Neeraj Jain and Alka Joshi, the convenors of the activist group Lokayat, jointly addressed this Press Conference. The Pune City President of the Socialist Party (India), Advocate Santosh Mhaske was also present at the Press Conference.
The joint note circulated at the merger elaborated on how country is in deep economic crisis because of these policies, the country is entrapped in a very serious foreign exchange crisis, adding that the push for a communal agenda with great speed by the RSS, the controlling force behind the BJP, is evident in numerous events, such as promising poor Muslims gifts and converting them, and then threatening to convert thousands more on Christmas Day; and raking up a debate on non-vegetarian food and promoting Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas, etc. One of the most disturbing agendas of the Sangh Parivar which is being blatantly promoted by the Modi government is saffronisation of education, it continued.
“The very conception of India or Bharat as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic as visualised by our founding fathers and enshrined in the Constitution of India, is under threat from fascist forces. The majority of the Indian people believe in democracy and the values of the Indian Constitution; the fascists are in minority; but because the progressive forces are disunited, they are appearing to be so strong,” the noted added.
Lokayat has, since its very inception, worked together with other progressive forces in several united fronts, the most recent being Satyashodhak Sanskrutik Manch, Jaganyacha Hakkache Andolan and All India Forum for Right to Education. It feels that all progressive forces who share the values of the Indian Constitution must join hands as simply working in coalitions is not enough to face the onslaught from the fascist right, and hence other progressive groups must united.
According to conveners of Lokayat, they “feel closest” to the Socialist Party (India) led by the venerable Bhai Vaidya. The Socialist Party (India) has consistently opposed globalisation and communalisation, and has not made any unprincipled compromises to somehow form coalitions and win political power. Like the Socialist Party (India), Lokayat too believes in democracy and that society cannot be changed forcibly by violent means.
The efforts at reviving the Socialist Party started after the disintegration of the Janata Party; however, it got a boost with the Indian Socialist Meet held in Pune in 2002. The task of revival of the Socialist Party was entrusted to Surendra Mohan under the auspices of the Socialist Front. It took almost eight years to take a final decision in this direction.
In June 2010, it was finally decided, again in Pune, that the Socialist Party will be formed without further delay. Surendra Mohan, along with Panna Lal Surana, tried very hard to bring together various socialist outfits till his untimely and unfortunate death. After year-long deliberations undertaken through a series of meetings held in different cities of the country, several socialist groups and individuals met at a two-day foundation conference held in Hyderabad on May 28-29, 2011 and formed the Socialist Party (India) to carry forward the legacy of Acharya Narendra Dev, JP, Lohia, S.M. Joshi, Yusuf Meharally, Kishan Patnaik and other genuine socialist leaders and thinkers. Around 600 delegates from 19 States were present at the conference. Veteran journalist and writer Kuldip Nayar and Justice Rajindar Sachar were also there to bless the occasion.
The conference elected the following office-bearers of the party: President—Bhai Vaidya, General Secretary and spokesperson—Dr Prem Singh, Treasurer—Jayanti Bhai Panchal, General Secretary—Nurul Amin, General Secretary— Onkar Singh and 28 National Executive members.
While joining hands, Lokayat also called upon other like-minded organisations to seriously think over the crisis facing the country, and work towards building a strong unified progressive socialist movement to counter the growth of fascist forces in the country, and provide the people a genuinely alternative model of development.