AISA held its annual National Workshop from June 30-July 2 at Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. On June 30 the workshop began with a convention held at St. Columba College titled “Tradition of Resistance Against Imperialism and the Role of Students and Youth” at which CPI(ML) politburo member Comrade Ramji Rai was the main speaker; other speakers were former AISA National General Secretary (and AISA in-charge from the CPI(ML) CC) Dhirendra Jha, JNUSU President Sandeep Singh, RYA State President of Jharkhand Rajkumar Yadav, AISA National President Indresh Maikhuri, Prof. Shambhu Badal and others.
144 students from 10 states including Delhi, UP, Bihar, Punjab, W Bengal, Uttarakhand, Assam, Karbi Anglong, and Maharashtra participated in the workshop. In the delegate session on June 30, CPI(ML) Politburo member Ramjatan Sharma presented a paper on the ‘Various Streams in the Indian Communist Movement.’ On July 1, CPI(ML) CCM and former AISA National President V Shankar presented a paper on Current Policies of Privatisation of Education. In the final session, AISA activists from various centres shared their experiences, and Dhirendra Jha addressed the students on the various political and organisational questions of the student movement.
In the National Council meeting held on the last day, AISA declared an All-India Student Strike to coincide with the August 20 General Strike called by the Trade Unions. This Student Strike would be preceded by a campaign on campuses from 9 August to 20 August against the policies of privatisation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, students held a Protest March in Hazaribag against the Indo-US Nuke Deal.
