AIPF Punjab

A People’s Convention was organised on 3 February 2019 to constitute the All India People’s Forum (AIPF) State Committee in Punjab. The convention was presided over by AIPF National Advisory Committee member, renowned people’s rights activist and Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh’s nephew Prof Jagmohan Singh. Punjabi theatre artiste Manjeet Kaur Aulakh, Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi National Secretary Teerth Tongariya, Editor of Punjabi monthly magazine Sarokar and former State President of Punjab Students Union Sukhvinder Singh Pappi and CPI (ML) senior leader Nachhattar Singh Kheeva. AIPF Convener Girija Pathak and Secretarial Team member Vidya Bhushan Rawat were the main speakers. About 150 delegates from various districts in Punjab participated in the Convention.

Girija pathak

 

Com. Girija Pathak spoke in detail about the need for AIPF, its aims and objectives, its organizational structure and the Citizens’ Charter, followed by a detailed discussion. Comrades Girija Pathak and Vidya Bhushan Rawat explained that though the immediate agenda of the AIPF is to throw out the BJP government in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it is not a Parliamentary forum or front. Its aim is to unite all progressive forces to defeat the fascist ideology and corporate development model of the BJP-Sangh Parivar and build a new democratic, federal and socialist India. Addressing the Convention, Teerth Tongariya said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Karl Marx, and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar are our guides in our movement for social change. Dr Jagmohan Singh spoke about the ideas of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries on various issues and said that the situation in the country today is such that AIPF must remain constantly active, it should be expanded and new forces added to it if it is to emerge as an effective force. Folk singer Amrit Bange, People’s Art Patiala and Ladi Jatana presented revolutionary songs. Socialist Party of India State President Harinder Singh Manshahiya was also present at the Convention.

A 23-member State Committee was unanimously elected with Balwinder Singh Chahal as Convener.