Observe June 24, 2011 as Anti POSCO Day in Solidarity with the fighting People

Lucknow 22nd June. Communist Party of India has been opposing the approval given to POSCO to set up its plant in Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa by the Central and State governments. The steps so far taken by the governments are all in violation of the laws of the country. The old MOU has expired a year back. Even a new MOU does not exist. Yet government is going ahead. The Orissa government has been resorting to worst form of Police repression and vandalism in order to acquire the land. The land which is proposed for POSCO is a fertile agricultural land in Mahanadi delta. In the name of attracting FDI, Government is determined to do everything possible for the notorious POSCO, not having an iota of concern for the environment, protection of sea shore and above all the huge displacement of the people.

Forest and Environment Ministry, has given all clearance, contrary to its own experts committee’s views. It was due to tremendous political pressure from International Finance Capital. But the people led by POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samithi headed by Abhay Sahoo have been valiantly fighting and resisting all the moves to acquire land for POSCO for the last six years. Women and children are also in the front ranks of the resistance. It has attracted the attention of the entire country and also at international level.

CPI has been in the forefront of the Anti-POSCO People’s Movement. It is not only a struggle of the people of Orissa. Communist Party of India, Uttar Pradesh calls upon the rank & file and also the public of the state to raise this issue all over the state by observing June 24th 2011 as ‘the Anti-POSO Day’ in solidarity with the fighting people of Jagatsinghpur.