While President and Prime Minister Fiddles, India Burns.

After 20 years of neo-liberal raj when the inequality, corruption, price rise, under employment, criminalization, communalization, caste-gender based atrocities and cultural degeneration have reached unheard of levels, and they are going to multiply as the global imperialist crisis is increasingly sweeping across all fields with both production and export declining while inflation intensifies, when Assam is still burning and India is alienated from all neighbouring countries, what was stated by the president in his 14th night speech and the prime minister from Red Fort on 15th morning amounts to nothing but fiddling, while the country is burning. If prime minister is silent or nothing much to assure about  actions against  corruption, price rise,intensifying stagflation and the Assam riots, it shows the compound guilt of this government which has dragged the people to unprecedented miseries.

This shows the extent of malice within the system which cannot be remedied without the major operation of overthrowing it to be replaced by people's democracy with socialist goals. It calls for replacing present imperialist dictated development policies which pauperize masses and devastate the country, with people oriented sustainable development which ensures the all basic needs of the people to start with and which ensures non-antagonistic relation between nature and human beings.

This can be created only through a second independence struggle. On this day when the union jack was brought down 65 years ago, let us pledge to bring a people's raj.

In Search of a People’s Alternative. -K.N.Ramachandran-

Kuldip  Nayar had concluded his article “Where is the vision?”(Mainstream, June 30) with these words: “The people’s dilemma is that both the national parties, the Congress and the BJP, riven as they are with groupism and ambitions, do not qualify to lead the nation. How I wish there were some party, even though small, that had the vision to retrieve the country and take it forward!” Expanding this idea, Bharat Dogra has also explained his vision of a Party “which will never sacrifice its basic principles” for immediate electoral gains, to take such an initiative. “It will prefer to sit in the opposition rather than sacrifice its principles”. He has concluded by saying that “the lead can be taken by some eminent persons in this direction” and that “the country really needs such an initiative”(Mainstream, July 19). Few months back Mainstream (12^th November, 2011) had published An appeal by S.G. Vombatkere: “Urgent need for left unity and coordinated progressive action”. In response to Vombatkere’s appeal we had sent a response in which it was pointed out that as the so-called left parties are themselves having basic differences on the vision to lead the country forward, it is better to go for a unity of left and democratic forces based on a program for People’s Alternative to the present ruling system. As we had apprehended, nothing happened after that, in spite of some efforts by him to contact those parties which were in his list. Recently some of the members of Team Anna also had expressed the view that,  neither Congress, nor BJP, nor any of the present ruling parties can put forward a people’s alternative, and efforts should be made to build a genuine alternative so that systemic changes can be materialized by effectively intervening in 2014 general elections. When asked whether it will take initiative for this, the reply was an emphatic ‘no’. They hoped that some new force will emerge to satisfy the need for a People’s Alternative.

So, even though a large number of politically active individuals and groups, besides vast majority of the masses, who are suffering from acute pauperization and ever increasing miseries after six decades of so-called independence, are seeking a people’s alternative, no such efforts have materialized so far or possibilities for such an alternative with countrywide influence have not emerged so far.  During the last decades when CPI(M) led Left Front came to power for continuous 34 years in Bengal, for many years in Kerala and for long periods in Tripura, there was expectation among many that this opportunity will be utilized by it for putting in to practice an alternative to the reactionary ruling system. But as proved now, instead of going for alternate policies, it basically pursued the very same policies of the central government. The  Left Front government soon got degenerated and became corrupt like any other state government pursuing the neo-liberal policies, with disastrous effects to the people. The pity is that in spite of the electoral debacle in 2011 elections, its leadership does not see anything wrong in what they were doing. If it returns to power it is going to repeat what it was doing. Its government in Tripura is justifying the deployment of army and imposition of AFSPA still! Its two sections in Kerala are quarrelling  not for an alternative policy perspective, but merely a quarrel for leadership.

 If the CPI(M) has degenerated to opportunism in this manner, on the other side, the Maoists, pursuing anarchist practice  through the few squads they have in Chathisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha are in effect used  as a cover by the central and state forces to shoot down the adivasis indiscriminately and to put down all mass movements coming up in different states. Chidambaram found Maoist hand even behind the workers struggle in Gurgaon. Again, if one goes in search of individuals as an alternative, it will only lead us only to benevolent dictators.  What is required is a People’s Alternative, a platform of like minded left, democratic, dalit and adivasi forces, based on a program of systemic change and social justice; a program which rejects the imperialist dictated development policy which pauperizes vast masses and devastate the country, and instead puts forward a people oriented and sustainable development policy, rejecting consumerism and capitalist lust.

It is in this context, the efforts made by the CPI(ML) in this direction should be seen. At a time when even many of the so-called left parties and groups have either become apologists of neo-liberal policies, or seeking electoral understanding with parties representing the interests of elite classes, or refuse to go for any electoral fronts, the CPI(ML) has succeeded to launch a Democratic People’s Forum based on a ten-point program in which a number of organizations, mostly having state level presence, are already brought together. A countrywide initiative is launched to bring together dalit, adivasi, peasant organizations active in different states also in this platform.

The ten-point program put forward by the DPF includes:

1.Reject imperialist globalization and neo-liberal policies; Oppose imperialist domination through IMF-World Bank- WTO and MNCs.
2. Defend existing Constitutional, democratic and secular rights and fight for their expansion. Judiciary should function within the Constitutional framework, not under neo-liberal framework.
3. Make all out efforts to end corruption in all fields; Confiscate black money deposited in foreign banks.
4. Fight against all displacements for neo-liberal projects. Confiscate all land from mafias, big landlords etc. Implement land reforms based on land to the tiller.
5. Fight price rise. Struggle for universal public distribution system. Ensure education, healthcare, housing and employment for all.
6. Struggle for need based wages, job security and democratic rights of working class. Stop contract and casual, contract labor system.
7. Ensure adivasis’ right over their land and natural resources. Ensure Sixth Schedule in adivasi areas. Organize dalits, adivasis and minorities to resist casteist and communal oppression.  Struggle for casteless and secular society.
8. Fight all forms of gender discrimination. Ensure women’s equality in all fields.
9. Scrap AFSPA, UAPA and all other black laws. Withdraw military from J&K and Northeast. Fight state terror.
10. Fight imperialist promoted ‘development’ policies which devastate nature and pauperize the masses; implement people oriented and sustainable development policy.

This DPF program can be taken as a basis for further discussions and expansion including issues like the foreign policy perceptive also. In the present situation, the imperialist forces, especially US imperialism, are engaged in all forms of neo-colonial policies to transfer the burden of the ever intensifying crisis faced by the international finance capital system to the backs of the people of the vast number of undeveloped countries. For this purpose they use the  IMF-World Bank- WTO trio and other imperialist agencies and MNCs. These countries are prevented from pursuing an independent self-reliant development policy. These countries are attacked and controlled to loot their natural resources, especially petroleum, as in the case of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya under various pretexts or are threatened with aggression as in the case of Iran and Syria. In this situation, we are of the view that the so-called strategic agreements with US should be thrown out and the Indian government should ceaselessly try for uniting the undeveloped countries for their independence and sovereignty. India should try for transforming the United Nations in to a platform for struggle against hegemonic forces and for disarmament and world peace. As a part of this internationalist perspective, India should strive for peaceful political settlement of all disputes with countries in the neighborhood and, based on the principle of equality, try for a confederation of the South Asian countries.

Today, the UPA government is pursuing a nuclear policy which will have dangerous consequences. Already the so-called development policy imposed under imperialist dictates have devastated the environment to a great extent all over the world and creating violent changes in the climate including ‘global warming’. Instead of struggling against this, the UPA government is going for a number of nuclear plants in different parts of the country, when after Fukushima meltdown all the developed countries including Japan, France, Germany  are de-commissioning their nuclear plants. It is in spite of the fact that nuclear technology, including the question of nuclear waste disposal is still in an infant stage and nuclear power is the costliest. So it will be a significant step forward if the program includes a call for an end to nuclear arms, to nuclear plants and to Uranium mining. We should call for developing renewable energy and for rational use of energy.

Mobilizing the genuinely left, democratic, dalit, adivasi and other progressive forces based on such a programmatic approach as a People’s Alternative against the Congress, BJP and all other parties sharing power today at centre and in the states will be a historic step forward. There should be a bold effort for it. CPI (ML) is prepared to play any role required in order to realize such an alternative which shall strive for fulfilling the dreams of the millions who fought for the independence of the country.

Repeal Hike in Petrol Price and Bring Down Prices of Essential Commodities! Revoke Decontrol of Petrol pricing; Repeal Neo-Liberal Policies! Mobilize the Masses and Make 31st May Bharat Bandh a Great Success!

Dear comrades,

The UPA government’s declaration hiking the petrol price by Rs. 7.50 at one stroke is another arrogant attack on the masses who are already reeling under ever-intensifying and unprecedented rise in prices of all essential commodities and services. After decontrolling the petrol pricing without even getting it passed in parliament, prime minister Manmohan Singh is ridiculing the people by saying that it is done by the companies, and the government has no control over it. Similarly, if is happening because of the fall in Rupee value in relation to dollar, as the government shamelessly justifies, it is due to the neo-liberal policies imposed under imperialist dictation. So will the government  repeal these anti-people policies?  It should not be forgotten that even when the international finance capital crisis was intensifying for last three years or more, this government was repeating that everything is ok and that the resilient Indian economy will not be affected. Now they justify the crisis in the economy and hike in petrol price sighting the Euro zone crisis and what not. All these self-contradictory talks are for       hoodwinking  the people. It is abundantly clear that as Indian economy is getting increasingly integrated with the imperialist finance capital system under globalization, any crisis in the imperialist system will be soon transmitted to the economy of countries like India which are under increasing neo-colonial plunder. The worsening economic plight of the masses including the price hikes are the result of  these policies blatantly imposed by the government, and it alone is responsible for its consequences like price rise.

In this situation, the people have no other way out but to unleash their fury to compel the government to repeal of the petrol price hike and to revoke the decontrol of petrol pricing. This struggle should be expanded to a mighty struggle for revoking the reactionary neo-liberal policies themselves. But as far as the opposition parties are contended they are only interested in cornering the UPA government for their future electoral gains. They have no basic differences with the Congress or UPA government regarding the neo-liberal policies and servitude to imperialism. While campaigning and mobilizing for the bandh, these differences between the approach of the parties from BJP to CPI(M) who implement the very same policies of the UPA government whenever and wherever they come to power, with that of the revolutionary left forces should be highlighted. The CPI (ML) appeals to all genuine left and democratic forces to make the Bharat Bandh a great success and get prepared to use it as a stepping stone to carry forward the struggle to the very revocation of all these anti-people policies.

K.N.Ramachandran,

General Secretary, CPI(ML).

Dated 24^th May, 2012.

Kerala: Criminalization of CPI(M)

The responsibility for the dastardly murder of com. T.P. Chandrasekharan (TP), leader of Revolutionary  Marxist Party (RMP) of Onchiyam in Kozhikpde district on 4^th May night was first denied by the CPI(M) leadership. Still many of its own rank did not believe this denial, as they are well aware of its past record in dealing with the dissidents, especially when they try to persist in a left stand. Unlike numerous others from M.V.Raghavan to recent dissidents like Murali of Shornur, who after leaving CPI(M), went over to Congress led UDF side, in spite of the offer of Vadagara parliament seat by Congress in 2009 elections, com. TP had stood firm exposing the degeneration of CPI(M) and taking leftist positions. The later arrest of a number of its local leaders of CPI(M) for conspiring and murdering him, as a “renegade” according to the statement of its state secretary Vijayan, has convinced that it is the latest in the series of its ‘political’ murders, for which Kerala has already become notorious. With the statement of CPI(M) leader V.S.Achuthanandan, the former chief minister and present opposition leader of LDF, condemning Vijayan’s statement and calling TP a “brave communist” has once again taken the contradiction between these leaders to yet another flash point. Whether VS will stick to his stand and fight against the criminalization of his party as a part of its over all degeneration, or once again surrender to the central party leadership, limiting his fight to yet another opportunist bout against Vijayan, is yet not clear, though this time he has ostensibly moved to a position of no return. Only when the by-election in Neyyattinkara constituency in southern Kerala, where a CPI(M) MLA after resigning from the party is contesting as a UDF candidate, is over in early June, the CC of the CPI(M) will meet and the fate of the internecine conflict will become clear.

TP’s murder exposes the degeneration of the CPI(M) from Marxist positions to social democratic positions, to a bureaucratic establishment bereft of any communist values. The documents adopted by its recently held 20^th Congress in the same district with much fanfare, prove this degeneration from proletarian revolutionary positions. It has led to its criminalization for long, indulging in the murder of its political opponents, whether it is its own dissidents, RSS men or other political opponents, to continue its political sway. From the 1980s when the CPI(M)-RSS clashes started in Kannur district, CPI(ML) has exposed this criminal line pursued by these political forces including CPI(M) for petty political ends, while all of them are basically united in following the neo-liberal policies, turning the UDF and LDF in to two sides of the same coin.

An analysis of the political developments in Kerala from the second half of 1950s show that from the time the Congress had joined hands with the communal, caste-based, criminal forces and forged a front of reactionary parties to violently throw out the CPI ministry in 1959, Kerala had started sliding back from the advances it had made after breaking loose of its past when it was called a ‘mad house’’ by Vivekananda. As the famous ‘Kerala model’ was soon replaced by neo-liberal policies, it started becoming one of the worst show pieces of neo-colonization, a haven for land mafias, sex tourism and what not. Side by side, the criminalization with the spread of ‘quotation’ or mafia gangs, degenerating its socio-cultural-political life, was promoted by all the political formations: Congress- led UDF, CPI(M)- led LDF and BJP. Secular values were eroded, and majority as well as minority religious fundamentalism started dominating the social life. Along with this, the caste system was internalized in vulgar forms and started influencing all fields. Under the sway of post-modernism, all progressive cultural influences started getting weakened. In this degeneration, the right opportunist deviation influencing the CPI and then CPI(M) played a decisive role. As a result, though there are differences in details, the political scene in Kerala, like in any north Indian state, came under the sway of mafias. Commercialization of all walks of life became rampant. The brutality of the murder of TP with his face and head having 51 cuts with swords exposes the extent of this criminalization. The CPI(M), which still calls itself Marxist and holds the red flag, should be uncompromisingly criticized for indulging in this murder and becoming a part of this criminalization.

What is happening in Kerala after the murder of TP reminds one of what happened after the disintegration of Soviet Union on a larger scale after its degeneration to social imperialist path and later disintegration. Concealing that it had abandoned the socialist path long back, all the anti-communist forces led by the imperialists and their lackeys had then joined hands to unleash a furious attack on Marxism, shouting socialism has become obsolete. Similarly, for the sins of CPI(M), which has very little relation with Marxist values today, all the anti-communists, spearheaded by the Congress-led UDF, BJP, religious-caste leaders and reactionary intellectuals, have joined hands to attack Marxism, using TP’s murder as a cover. As those who claim to uphold his legacy, like the Left Coordination Committee (LCC) did not recognize the consequences of these attacks on Marxism by the rightist forces, two mistakes were committed. On the one hand, the platform for condemning the murder of TP was allowed to be utilized by anti-communists, UDF leaders and petty bourgeois opportunists who used the opportunity to attack Marxism in the name of attacking CPI(M). On the other hand, it has reduced the attack on the degeneration of the CPI(M) merely to an attack on Vijayan, as if it will be saved if he is thrown out, as their organ: Janasakthi gave title to its front article. Or, they refuse to go beyond what VS is ready to take up, even after TP’s murder. Both these approaches have weakened the ideological offensive needed to be waged against CPI (M) at this crucial juncture, to win over its cadres to Marxist positions from its criminalized, bureaucratic and social democratic positions, so that a left alternative which is capable of fighting against the neo-liberal onslaught with a people’s democratic outlook can be built up.

It is in this situation, severely condemning the brutal murder of TP and CPI(M)’s role in it, the CPI(ML) has organized a statewide political campaign against the criminalization of politics in the state, reducing the state to one of the worst examples of neo-colonization, with communal, caste, mafia forces dominating the socio-cultural-political scene. It has analyzed the transformation of CPI(M) in to a criminal, bureaucratic organization as a result of its degeneration to social democratic positions. While focusing the attack on CPI(M) for this murder, it has launched a powerful campaign against all anti-communist forces who are using this incident as a cover to attack Marxism. It has called on all genuine communist forces to struggle against the right opportunist positions of the CPI(M) led forces and petty bourgeois sectarian tendencies who easily become prey to the forces of reaction, and to join hands to build a revolutionary left alternative to the forces of reaction and reformism.

Observe May Day with Revolutionary Spirit and Orientation

THE MAY DAY, the international working class day, is observed this year when the all round attacks on them in all fields are intensified by the forces of capital, thereby further sharpening the contradiction between labour and capital to unprecedented levels. Today there is not a single country in the world where this contradiction is not getting manifested in one way or other. In India the mighty general strike of tens of millions of workers on 28th February, irrespective of the reformist character of the leaderships of the trade union centres leading them, had revealed the potential of this vanguard class once they are politicized and mobilized. At many industrial centres across the country including the new centres like Gurgaon and Noida near Delhi repeated militant struggles are taking place for their basic rights.
This is the situation around the world also. Especially in Greece and in other capitalist countries including the US, millions of workers are coming out in struggles paralyzing the economies there. So if the international finance capital is intensifying its most barbarous attacks on the working class, the workers are also strengthening their resistance struggles which are sometimes spilling over to militant offensives against the capitalist imperialist forces and their lackeys.
It is high time the communist forces recognize the potentialities inherent in this newly emerging situation, when the working class is becoming more politicized, mobilized and joining numerous struggles against their class enemy. The revolutionary opportunities created by the increasingly favourable objective situation become brighter if the unity of the working class can be strengthened further and they are increasingly transformed in to a ‘class for itself’ through continuous politicization. May Day is not a day for celebrations today as the working class has very little left to celebrate. It is a day for pledging to carry forward the struggle to overthrow the rule of imperialists and their lackeys. For this the working class should get mobilized and politically educated to shoulder this task. The challenge confronting the communist forces is to help the working class to prepare themselves for the historic struggles of coming days. While observing the May Day let us resolve to vigorously carry forward this task.

Make Anti-Caste Movement a great success.

The Preparatory Committee for the Anti-Caste Movement with Anti-Cast Organization, New Democratic Party of India, AINUS-Mulpravah and CPI(ML) as its constituents and  com.Jayprakash, Adv. Arun Maji  and com. Brijbihari as its co-conveners has intensified the campaign to make the two day seminar at Garhwal Bhavan ( near Jhandewalan metro station) 20-21 April on various aspects of the caste question and the need for building an anti-caste movement with the objective of abolition of the caste system, and the one-day convention of forces dedicated to build a countrywide anti caste movement on 22 April a great success. The Preparatory Committee appeals to all those organizations and individuals who are working with this objective to send their papers and suggestions latest by 10^th April so that it can be circulated to all participants. About 250 delegates from almost 15 or more states are expected to participate in the seminar. On 22^nd April representatives from organizations which are prepared to join hands and form a platform of Anti-Caste Movement shall assemble at the same place to chalk out the organizational and campaign-agitation tasks. All interested forces are requested to contact the Co-Conveners at their following numbers:  com Jayprakash-09811484817; Adv. Arun Maji-09582529401; com. Brijbihari- 09648946426.

Proposal from the Convening Committee adopted by the Asian Agricultural Conference

Proposal from the Convening Committee adopted by the Asian Agricultural Conference

The Asian Agricultural Conference organized by the Convening Committee, composed of the All India Krantikari Kisan Sabha (AIKKS), All Nepal Peasant Association (ANPA) and Bangladesh Krishak Samiti (BKS) on 1^st to 3^rd April at New Delhi has created much revolutionary enthusiasm among the various organizations and delegates who participated in it. The papers presented and the deliberations, debates and discussion which has taken place during the three-day Conference on the theme identified have made it clear that in spite of differences on  ideological persuasions, it is possible for the peasant activists and organizations of Asia to come together and debate on the crisis confronting agrarian sector in this part of the world. It is definitely a significant step forward in the direction of arriving at a concrete understanding of the agrarian situation in Asia, which will enable us to arrive at practical steps in the direction of resolving the problem in the coming days.

In this context, in the concluding session of the Conference, the following proposals put forward by the Convening Committee in order to nurture and carry forward these efforts further were adopted unanimously:

1.The activities of the Convening Committee shall be continued and expanded grasping the experience it has gathered while convening this Conference and during the course of the actual Conference including other like-minded organizations also in the effort from the countries which already participated and from as many countries as possible from the continent..

2. As a follow up action, the Convening Committee shall compile and publish all the papers, presentations, discussions and opinions presented to the Conference as early as possible.

3. The Convening Committee shall take up the task of organizing a larger Conference in the near future ensuring the participation of more organizations from the Asia-Pacific region with the perspective of taking practical initiatives and putting forward an alternative, people oriented path of development against the imperialist path of development which is increasingly pauperizing the peasant masses and devastating, the nature in the direction of resolving the agrarian crisis.

Com.R.Manasayya, Co-Convener, General Secretary, AIKKS (India),

Com. Bharat Bhandari, Co-Convener, President, ANPA (Nepal),

Com. Sajjad Zahir, General Secretary, BKS (Bangladesh).,

Press Statement

Asian Agricultural Conference successfully concluded.

The Asian Agricultural Conference inaugurated by com.K.N.Ramachandran, General Secretary, CPI(ML) on 1^st April, began with the first session at 10 am discussing the perspective of the Conference which include  an attempt to make concrete analysis of the Agrarian Scene in Asia and the orientation to be developed for its people oriented transformation. 120 delegates including representatives of peasant organizations from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Philippines, agronomists, agricultural scientists and Marxist scholars along with two comrades from MLP of Germany participated all through the three day Conference. In the Second Session in the afternoon papers on the agrarian question in these countries were presented leading to an active discussion with a number of delegates participating. The papers presented by Prof.Manbahadur Khatri for All Nepal Peasant Association, Prof. Akah for Bangladesh Krishak Samithi, Prof. P.J.James for AIKKS, com.Rajesh Kumar Raju for AISKS, com.Narendra Khadka for All Nepal Peasant Organization (Revolutionary) and Dr. Ram Kavindra of Navjanavadi Lokmanch, in spite of ideological differences and theoretical positions of CPI (ML), RSP and other organizations from India, CPN (Mashal), UCPN (Maoist) and CPN(Marxist)  from Nepal, NDPF from Sri Lanka, CP of Bangladesh and CP of Philippines to whom the different agricultural organizations are linked, were emphatically pointing out the need to focus on the struggle against the neo-liberal policies and the need for a people’s centric alternative to the imperialist dictated ‘development’ which is pauperizing the masses and devastating the nature.

The third session on 2^nd April morning, dealing with the Asian Agricultural Scene During the Post- Second World War period, in which Prof. K.R.Chowdhry and Sharmistha Chowdhry presented the papers, once again there was active discussion by the delegates on the various aspects of imperialist penetration in the agrarian sector including consequences of state-promoted land reforms and ‘green revolution’. In the afternoon, during the forth session, Impact of the imperialist policies on the agrarian sector was discussed after presentation of papers by com. P.N. Provint for AIKKS and Prf. K.R. Chowdhry for Prof.Prasad Rao, which focused on the neo-liberal agenda in the farm sector and how it has led to large scale peasant suicides.

In the fifth session on 3^rd morning dealt with Impact of ecological changes, technological intervention and WTO policies on the agrarian sector.  Various aspects of this question were presented in the papers presented by Dr. Abdul Khader presented the paper on “Impact of climate change and imperialism: a case study of Kerala”, com. Indra Varma on “Global environmental crisis, neo-liberal trade policies and their impact on Nepal’s agricultural sector”, com. Krishna Prasad on “Agricultural practices-impact on environment and vice versa”, and com. Asit Das on “Sustinable agriculture in the age of changing climates”. The presentation of papers was followed by a lively discussion with the authors of the papers answering to the various questions raised. The unanimous opinion that emerged was that unless the neo-liberal policies under international finance capital” domination is not thrown out the catastrophic consequences of the climate change cannot be resolved.

The discussion in the concluding session was on the Approach to agrarian revolution in the present context.Com. Sankar Das presented the paper “On agrarian revolution in Asian countries”, Dr. Vijayachandran on “Development of India Agriculture: Search for an anti-imperialist and patriotic alternative” and com. Gred Zitzner of MLPD on “On the orientation of the Asian Agricultural Conference”. The papers as well as all the comrades who participated in the discussion that followed agreed that in order to arrive at a revolutionary restructuring of the society in each country the path of agrarian revolution should be pursued based on worker-peasant alliance and according to concrete conditions. All participants agreed that this Conference has created a new platform for the first time to take up this question forcefully and this effort should be continued.

Before the conclusion, com. R.Manasayya presented a proposal for discussion calling for continuing the functioning of the Convening Committee, for publication of all papers and contributions and for convening another Conference to continue the process initiated by this Conference. Representatives of all organizations and the prominent intellectuals who participated unanimously congratulated the Convening Committee for this initiative and accepted the proposal. The Asian Agricultural Conference concluded at 5.30 pm amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere with the determination to continue the process at continental level initiated by it. For the delegates who came from six countries and ten states in India it was a new experience. Thus the Conference was a big success and the Convening Committee congratulated all the participants who made it so.

R.Manasayya, Co-Convener, Convening Committee,

Asian Agricultural Conference.

4^th April, 2012.