AISA’s 7th National Conference Held in Kolkata

AISA’s 7th National Conference was held in Kolkata from 8-10 February. On 8 February, AISA activists from 18 states marched through the streets of central Kolkata and assembled at College Street for a public meeting. The meeting started with the rendition of popular songs by Com. Sanjay Tiwari and a dance performance by AISA activists from Karbi Anglong. Com Ravi Rai, National Secretary, AISA, addressed the gathering from ‘Bharat-Selim-Tapashi’ manch and called for a student movement to resist state repression and Operation Green Hunt and struggling for the right to education and employment. Ramesh Patnaik, educationist and convener of Save Education Council of Andhra Pradesh demanded that education from KG to PG be made free and urged AISA activists to resist Public-Private Partnership in education. CPRM leader Com. Birendra from Darjeeling Hills said that Gorkhas are deemed fit only for guarding the country’s borders and are not recruited to high posts. He reiterated his organization’s demand for Gorkhaland state and thanked AISA for its support to the Gorkha people’s struggle for identity and against discrimination. Com.Partho Ghosh, State Secretary, CPI(ML), called for the students to raise the banner of resistance against the Conference of CMs convened by the Union Home Minister which Kolkata was hosting the next day to give finishing touches to Operation Green Hunt. He also pointed out that Mamata Banerjee’s slogan of “change” in West Bengal cannot change the fact that she is firmly behind Operation Greenhunt. Anil Sadgopal, Convener of Save Education Council of Madhya Pradesh, exposed the agenda of ‘privatisation’ and exclusion of poor students that underlies the UPA Government’s rosy promises of educational ‘reform’ and ‘Right to Education.’ Nabarun Bhattacharya, Bangla poet, said that restrictions on cultural programmes in Jadavpur University are an attempt on the part of the authorities to intimidate students. Com.Indresh Maikhuri, National President, AISA, spoke of the assaults on campus democracy.

On the second day of the National Conference, the organisational session began at the Triguna Sen auditorium at Jadavpur University with a ‘John Henry’ ballet mime performance by the Thakurnagar Cultural Association. Comrade Dipankar, General Secretary, CPI(ML), delivering the inaugural address, said that it is the duty of revolutionary student activists to free student politics from the clutches of the establishment and direct it towards the struggle of the toiling masses and for democracy.

Comrade Ravi Rai presented the draft document of the Conference. 309 delegates from 18 states attended the Conference, and discussed the document on the last day of the Conference. The draft was unanimously passed and a 95 member National Council was elected by the house. The National Council elected a  45-member National Executive and a 10 member office-bearer team. A 13-point resolution was also adopted by the house. Comrade Ravi Rai was re-elected General Secretary and Comrade Sandeep Singh was elected President.