ML UPDATE 50 / 2011

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol.  14            No. 50                                                          06 - 12 December 2011

 

NATO Firing on Pakistan Troops:

Perils of Partnership with Imperialists

On November 26, a NATO air attack on a border patrol in North-West Pakistan claimed the lives of 28 Pakistani soldiers. The attack, which took place around 2 am, reportedly lasted two hours. While the US military has maintained that the attack was unintentional, Pakistan has asserted that the attack was not inadvertent, since NATO possessed detailed information about the position of border posts, and worked in close coordination with Pakistan's military.

The incident has sparked off huge protests in several cities in Pakistan, including at the US Embassy in Karachi. This attack is not the first by US and NATO troops on Pakistani soil. Since 2001, Pakistan has facilitated the US and NATO war in Afghanistan and been an active part of the US-led 'war on terror.' Increasingly, the US put pressure on Pakistan to launch an offensive on its Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West Frontier Province (NWFP), causing huge civilian casualties and displacement. Since 2008, US drone attacks, ostensibly in the name of targeting Taliban forces in Pakistan, have claimed a large number of civilian deaths, even as the US military claims 'zero collateral damage.'

Pakistan's ruling class has incurred the wrath of its people for its complicity with these imperialist attacks. The Wikileaks cables revealed the Pakistani Government telling the US that they did not much mind the 'collateral damage' in drone attacks, but explaining that they would have to adopt a posture of condemnation in the National Assembly for public consumption. The US military raid which killed Osama bin Laden was yet another violation of Pakistan's sovereignty that had Pakistan's people frustrated and angry with their Government's subservience to imperialist aggression.

The latest attack which claimed the lives of Pakistani troops has been the proverbial last straw – and public anger has forced the Pakistan Government to take an unusually tough posture. Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Conference which was held to mobilise international support for the continued war and occupation in Afghanistan; closed its borders to NATO convoys supplying international troops in Afghanistan; and expelled the US from its drone base in the country: one of the major bases for drone operations over Pakistan and Afghanistan.           

The US response to the drone attacks smacks of its characteristic audacity. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, ruled out any apology for the incident. US President Obama, too, has refused to make any formal apology for the attack, in spite of the US ambassador to Pakistan explicitly requesting a formal video statement from Obama to help defuse the escalating public anger against the US. Meanwhile, in the wake of Pakistan's move to close convoy routes and expel the US from its drone base, two US Senators, one Republican and one Democrat, have urged the White House to initiate "tough diplomacy" and threaten to withdraw funding unless Pakistan restores full cooperation. These statements and the US' brazen refusal to apologise, only underline the essentially unequal relations between the US and its 'junior partners.'    

More shameful is India's silence on the issue of such a major attack by imperialist forces on a close neighbour's soil. With its silence, the Manmohan Singh Government is displaying its abject loyalty to its US masters. Secretly gloating at the growing rift between Pakistan and the US, the UPA Government hopes to have India replace Pakistan as the US' most trusted lieutenant in the subcontinent. Democratic and anti-imperialist forces in India must condemn the NATO attack in Pakistan and the Indian Government's silence.

The US is notorious for its shabby and arrogant treatment of its 'friends,' once the latter have served their purpose. The US has revealed that such 'friends' can be no more than subservient allies for it. Having killed innumerable civilians and 28 soldiers in Pakistan, its most loyal and long-serving ally, the US cannot even pay it the basic courtesy of an apology. Pakistan's experience ought to serve as a grim warning to India, as her rulers aspire to be the US' new 'best friend' and junior partner, of the inevitable fate of US imperialism's friends and partners. 

Resolutions Adopted at CPI(ML) CC meeting

(Patna, 24-25 November)

On Kishanji's killing

The CPI(ML) demands a judicial enquiry into the killing of Maoist leader Kishanji by security forces in Bengal. Last year, questions had been raised about the authenticity of the 'encounter' in which Maoist leader Azad had been killed, and Mamata Banerjee herself had endorsed the demand for an enquiry. However, no credible enquiry followed. Now, a judicial enquiry should be ordered into the killings of Azad as well as Kishanji, without delay.

Promises of peace, and talks with Maoists before elections – followed by severe repression and liquidation of Maoist leaders immediately after coming to power: this is a familiar pattern seen in the behavior of the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh in 2004, and now, the TMC Government in Bengal. The CPI(ML) condemns the repressive tactics of the TMC Government and the demands that the Governments at Bengal and the Centre withdraw its repressive operation and seriously initiate talks.

On FDI in retail

The CPI(ML) condemns the Cabinet decision to introduce 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. This measure will hand over the Indian consumer market to the big multinational retail corporations like Wal-Mart etc., and will jeopardize the livelihood and survival of innumerable small retailers, employees, small producers and marginal farmers in India. The decision has been taken under pressure from Indian corporates, MNC lobbies and their parent governments. The CPI(ML) calls for sustained countrywide protest against this anti-people move.

NATO Attack on Pakistan

The CPI(ML) condemns the continued air strikes by NATO and US forces on Pakistani soil. The latest NATO attacked claimed the lives of 28 Pakistani soldiers, while many attacks have claimed civilian lives. The CPI(ML) calls upon the democratic people in India to stand in solidarity with the Pakistani people in the face of these attacks, and demands an end to these imperialist assaults on Pakistan's sovereignty.

Ishrat Jahan's Killing

The SIT appointed by the Gujarat High Court has termed the supposed encounter by Gujarat police of a 19-year-old student Ishrat Jehan in 2004 to be a cold-blooded murder. Both Narendra Modi's Gujarat Government and the Congress Government at the Centre have maintained all along that Ishrat Jahan was a terrorist – the SIT report has exposed these claims to be lies. The Gujarat HC has now ordered a CBI enquiry into the killing.

Ishrat Jahan and three others killed with her were said to be terrorists targeting the Chief Minister. Now that Ishrat Jahan's killing stands exposed as a fake encounter, the enquiry into this killing must look into the complicity of Narendra Modi as well as top Gujarat police officials. Those responsible for the shameful assassination of this young girl must be brought to book.   

Pension Bill

The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Bill tabled in Parliament is a move to rob the lakhs of government employees of their due pensions, and put these pension funds on the stock market. The Government has ignored the long-standing working class opposition to this neoliberal measure. The CPI(ML) demands withdrawal of this Bill that seeks to erode the rights of the employees and working class.  

On Notification of Rules Nuke Liability Law

The Nuclear Liability Law passed by the UPA Government was in any case weak and tailored to limit the liability of foreign suppliers. However, even that weak law failed to satisfy the global nuclear industry and their parent governments, especially the US, which have been clamouring for further dilution. The UPA Government, in notifying the rules for the Nuclear Liability Law, has further diluted the provisions relating to liability of foreign suppliers in case of a nuclear accident. At the same time, the Government is determined to force through the nuclear projects at Koodankulam, Jaitapur and other places, ignoring the huge people's movements against these. 

In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, there is a new and urgent awareness worldwide about the dangers of nuclear disasters. The global nuclear industry is keen to free itself from any liability obligations, leaving host countries (in this case India) to bear the burden of compensation and clean-up.

Not only must the rules notified by reviewed and made stringent to ensure that foreign suppliers bear their full share of liability; the CPI(ML) also reiterates the demand for the UPA Government to announce a moratorium on nuclear projects pending a thorough review of the whole question of nuclear power in India.   

CPI(ML) March Against Communalism on 6 December

On 6 December, marking the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the CPI(ML) held a March Against Communalism, For Secularism and Democracy. Participants – including students, teachers, workers, women and intelligentsia – marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar, raising slogans and displaying placards and banners demanding action against the perpetrators of communal violence and fake encounters. 

At Jantar Mantar, the march culminated in a public meeting. Addressing the public meeting, Kavita Krishnan, Central Committee member of CPI(ML), said the date 6 December stands out as a dark day for India's democracy. On that day, in 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished by the communal forces and BJP leaders in full public view – while the police and Central Government headed by the Congress stood as a mute spectator. Today, nearly two decades later, even after the Liberhans commission of enquiry held LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and many other BJP leaders guilty for the demolition, the UPA Government lacks the political will to take any action against them.

Girija Pathak of CPI(ML) said the Babri Masjid demolition was a result of an organized political campaign of communal hatred by the saffron forces.  Today, that organized political campaign of communal violence and hatred continues in many forms. In Gujarat in 2002, the Modi Government sponsored riots that killed thousands of minorities. Senior police officers who gave evidence of CM Narendra Modi's role in that violence have been victimized. The Modi Government has also been implicated in a series of fake encounters. Pointing out the recent SIT finding that the 'encounter' of a 19-year-old girl, Ishrat Jahan, was a cold-blooded murder by police officers, Sandeep said it was ironic that the Central Government, headed by the Congress, was uniting with the Modi Government to brand Ishrat as a terrorist.  

General Secretary of AISA Ravi Rai spoke of how nine innocent Muslim men were framed, jailed and tortured in the Malegaon blast case, before Swami Aseemanand's confession proved that the Malegaon bomb blasts had been done by the saffron forces. Only recently, these men were granted bail, but there has been no move to compensate them or redress the injustice done to them. JNU unit President of AISA Akbar Chaudhary said that the Malegaon case is a reminder of how common it is for communally biased investigative and police agencies to frame innocent Muslim youth in terror cases. In Delhi, too, the Congress Government has refused to allow a judicial enquiry into the Batla House 'encounter' – though there are ample indications that the 'encounter' was fake.

Senior Journalist Anand Pradhan, Social activist Mehtab, AISA leader from Jamia Naseem and from DU, Anmol, and many other also addressed the gathering. They emphasised on the Congress party and UPA Government's betrayal to the cause of secularism and justice, repeatedly. The latest instance is the UPA Government's vacillation on the question of passing the Communal Violence Bill, which is intended to fight the communal biases embedded in the police force. The BJP is trying to whip up a communal campaign against the Bill. And the Congress, instead of defending and enacting the Bill, is dragging its feet.

Prabhat Kumar and Rajaram, Central Committee members of CPI(ML) and Sanjay Sharma, Delhi State Secretary, CPI(ML) led the procession. The meeting ended with a call to the people of the country to reject and resist the communal forces, as well as communally biases in police and government, and expose the doublespeak of the Congress on the question of defending secularism and democracy.  

Rape of Tribal Women in Tamilnadu

Fact-finding Report

On 22nd November, TN police unleashed brutality in T. Mandam hamlet of Vizhupuram district. Four women from the Irula tribal community were raped by the Tirukovilur police in the early hours of the morning.

Hearing the news, a six-member team of CPIML and AIPWA led by Party State Secretary Balasundaram visited Vizhupuram district to investigate the incident. The team members visited the Irula hamlet and the Government Hospital in Vizhupuram, where the victims were admitted for medical examination, and interacted with the relatives of the victims, leaders of Irula tribes' association, human rights organizations, media persons and lawyers. The fact finding team comprised Com. Balasundaram, State Secretary, Com. Venkatesan, District Secretary, Com. Gopalakrishnan, Com Suseela, AIPWA district secretary, Com. Baby and Com. Ranjani.

The Irulas are a local tribe numbering barely 40000 in the Vizhupuram district. They live by catching rats, snakes and iguanas, and sometimes by working in quarrying. They are at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of socio-economic status. It is routine for the police to slap theft charges on them and jail them. Irula men are the scapegoats in every unsolved theft case. 

The team found that on the day of the incident, six men of a family were falsely implicated in theft charges and arrested by the police. Around 8 pm the police ransacked the house; the girls were beaten and forcibly pushed into the police vehicle, took them to a remote place at midnight and raped them. The girls were threatened with dire consequences if they divulged the matter.

As men of their family were in lock-up, the girls were unable to act, till one R Gopalakrishnan helped them to reach the Irula tribes' association. With the help of this association, the girls approached the District Superintendent of Police to lodge a complaint. But the SP, instead of sending them to hospital for a medical examination, or arresting the culprits, detained them in his office for 18 hours. The SP and his team, including women police, intimidated them and forced them to sign blank papers. Only after the media highlighted the issue, an FIR was filed and court proceedings began. The Madras High Court, on a PIL petition, directed the SP to send the girls for medical examination. As a damage control exercise, the Chief Minister announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation, and 5 police men have been suspended.

The fact finding team demanded that the Chief Minister Jayalalitha should own responsibility for the incident and take stringent action against the culprits immediately. The police involved in the heinous crime should be imprisoned immediately, and the District Collector and the DSP and SP should be suspended for dereliction of duty and be booked under the SC/ST Act. Stringent action should be taken against the police personnel who indulged in suppressing the facts.

Further, the team has demanded an impartial enquiry by the State Women's Commission and State Human Rights Commission and SC/ST commission, as the investigations under the district police machinery, which itself is the accused party, cannot render justice. The team demanded proper protection for the victims and their family and the release of the men of the victims' family who have been arrested under fabricated theft charges. We also demanded a review of all cases filed on Irula men, and implementation of special socio- economic programmes.

CPIML and AIPWA leaders, Comrades Balasundaram, A S Kumar, Venkatesan, Ammaiappan, Thenmozhi, Devaki, Kuppabai and Lilly met the DGP on December 2, and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and action against the SP and DIG under SC/ST Act.

On December 5, a militant protest demonstration was held by CPIML and AIPWA in front of Vizhupuram Collectorate. Comrades Suseela, AIPWA, Venkatesan, CPIML district secretary of Vizhupuram, Ammaiappan, district secretary of Cuddalore, Dhakshanamurthy of AIALA and Dhanaval of RYA addressed the demonstration. Addressing the demonstration, Balasundaram, State Secretary of CPIML, castigated the police administration for crimes on tribal women. He also charged the education minister, along with District Collector, MLA and MP of AIADMK and DMK, for getting photographs with the rape victims to appear in dailies, citing several Supreme Court judgments and norms against revealing the names and identities of rape victims. He demanded that the High Court should take action suo moto in this matter; and the Chief Minister should drop the Education Minister from the council of ministers. He also noted that in the AIADMK regime, police repression and violence on the Dalits at Paramakudi, women at T.Mandapam and other weaker sections is on the rise.

Protests Against FDI in Retail

A massive protest demonstration was held on 1st December 2011 at Puducherry town opposing UPA II's Cabinet decision to allow FDI in retail to MNC's like Walmart, Metro, Tesco, Lawsons etc. The protest, held in support of the traders' bandh on the same issue, was led by Comrade G Palani, SCM and the protestors demanded withdrawal of UPA's decision. A large number of CPI(ML) and AICCTU activists and workers took part in the protest. S Balasubramaniam, State Secretary CPI (ML), P Sankaran, State Convenor, AIALA, S Motilal, State Secretary, AICCTU, and J Sakthivelu, co-convenor, Movement for Protection of Roofless, Puducherry, addressed the demonstrators. 

In Delhi, on the same day, the party expressed support for the traders' bandh. The party and AICCTU activists distributed leaflets in the marketplaces, held mike meeting and raised slogans against FDI in retail in Narela, Wazirpur, Govindpuri, Mayur Vihar, Shahdara and Mandawali.

ASHA Wokers Protest in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand ASHA Health Workers' Union held out protest demonstrations in various centres of the state. A protest was held in Nainital on 8 November. Protest in Bageswar Distt. was also held on the same day while in Champawat, the it was organized on 2 November. A protest in Pithoragarh was held on 1 November. ASHA workers and representatives from various blocks in respective districts participated in these protests. CPI(ML) and AISA leaders also took part at various places. Memoranda addressed to the Chief Minister were sent through the District Magistrates in these protests reminding the latter of the promises made earlier.

AIPWA Pratapgarh District Conference

All India Progressive Women's Association's Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) District Conference was held on 4 December 2011. The Conference was addressed by AIPWA National President Srilata Swaminathan who called upon to intensify the struggle against unemployment, price rise and corruption along with the struggles against the women's inequality, malnutrition and starvation which have become inseparable parts in women's lives. The conference was also addressed by CPI(ML) Rajasthan State Secretary Mahendra Chaudhary who emphasized on the need for greater interventions by women on national scale on their issues. AIPWA State Secretary Sudha Chaudhary also addressed the conference. The conference elected a 11-member Executive with Abida as its Secretary. Various resolutions were passed by the conference including against price rise, for making MNREGA available for the whole year, increase in its wages to Rs. 300 per day and to appoint woman supervisor where women workers are more in numbers, for old age pension to women, homestead land for landless women, easy availability of Diesel, kerosene, and LPG, medical facility for pregnant and poor women, etc

Edited, published and printed by S. Bhattacharya for CPI(ML) Liberation from U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi-92; printed at Bol Publication,
R-18/2, Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-92; Phone:22521067; fax: 22518248, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org

ചില്ലറ വില്‍പ്പന രംഗത്ത് വിദേശ നിക്ഷേപം ചെറുക്കുക. കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ് ലാഭം ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ജനതയുടെ ഉപജീവനം ബലി കഴിച്ച് വേണ്ട

ചില്ലറ വില്‍പ്പന രംഗത്ത് വിദേശ നിക്ഷേപം ചെറുക്കുക.
കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ് ലാഭം ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ജനതയുടെ ഉപജീവനം ബലി കഴിച്ച് വേണ്ട

ഇന്ത്യയിലെ കോടിക്കണക്കിനു ജനങ്ങളെ ദോഷകരം ആയി ബാധിക്കുന്ന ഒരു നീക്കം  ആണ് മള്ടി ബ്രാന്‍ഡ് റിട്ടെയില്‍ വ്യാപാര രംഗത്ത് 51 % വിദേശ നിക്ഷേപം അനുവദിക്കാനുള്ള യൂ പി എ സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ തീരുമാനം. ബഹുരാഷ്ട്ര കുത്തകകളുടെ റിട്ടെയില്‍ ശ്രുംഘലകള്‍ ഇന്ത്യയിലെമ്പാടും ഷോപ്പുകള്‍ തുറന്നിടുമ്പോള്‍  രാജ്യത്തിലെ അനേകലക്ഷങ്ങള്‍ വരുന്ന  ചെറുകിട വ്യാപാരികളെ  മാത്രമല്ലാ അത് ബാധിക്കാന്‍ പോകുന്നത്  എന്നതിനാല്‍  ആണ്  ഇത് സംബന്ധമായി ആദ്യം കേരളത്തില്‍ നവംബര്‍ 30 നും , പിന്നീട് രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ മറ്റുഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ ഡിസംബര്‍ ഒന്നിനും നടന്ന രണ്ടു ഹര്ത്താലുകള്‍ക്ക്  വ്യാപകമായ ജന പിന്തുണ  ലഭിച്ചത്. വിവിധ വ്യാപാരി സംഘടനകള്‍ക്ക് പുറമേ പ്രതി പക്ഷ രാഷ്ട്രീയ കക്ഷികളും യൂ പി എ യുടെ സഖ്യ ശക്തികള്‍ ആയ ഡി എം കെ , ടി എം സി തുടങ്ങിയ പാര്‍ട്ടികളും ബന്ദു വിജയിപ്പിക്കുന്നതില്‍ കാര്യമായ പങ്കു വഹിച്ചു .ഭരണ പക്ഷത്തിനകത്തും പാര്‍ലമെന്റിലും ഉള്ള വിവിധ രാഷ്ട്രീയ കക്ഷികള്‍ റിട്ടെയില്‍ വ്യാപാര രംഗത്തെ കുത്തകവല്‍ക്കരണത്തെ  എതിര്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ തന്നെയാണ്  ഇന്ത്യയിലെ അമേരിക്കന്‍ സ്ഥാനപതി പ്രസ്തുത തീരുമാനത്തെ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്തത് എന്നത് ശ്രദ്ധേയം ആണ്.
രാജ്യവ്യാപകമായ പ്രതിഷേധങ്ങളെ ഗൌരവമായി എടുക്കുന്നതിനു പകരം യു പി എ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ഇപ്പോള്‍ കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ്കള്‍ക്കും  ബഹുരാഷ്ട്രക്കുത്തകകള്‍ക്ക് അനുകൂലമായി പ്രചാര വേലയില്‍ മുഴുകുകയാണ്. റിട്ടെയില്‍ രംഗത്തെ 51 % വിദേശ പങ്കാളിത്തത്തിന് അനുകൂലമായി വര്‍ത്തമാന പത്രങ്ങളില്‍ ഫുള്‍ പേജ് പരസ്യങ്ങള്‍ നല്ക്ന്ന മന്‍മോഹന്‍ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ഇത് സംബന്ധിച്ച തീരുമാനത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് പുറകോട്ടു പോവാന്‍ ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നില്ലെന്ന് വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ചെറുകിട കച്ചവട രംഗത്തെ അനേക ലക്ഷം പേര്‍ക്ക് തൊഴില്‍ നഷ്ട്ടപ്പെടുകയും വിഭവങ്ങള്‍ ഉല്‍പ്പാദിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കര്‍ഷകര്‍ക്ക് പുതിയ തരം ചൂഷണങ്ങളുടെ രൂപത്തില്‍ ദുരിതങ്ങള്‍  സമ്മാനിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും എന്ന ന്യായമായ ആശങ്കയെ പാടേ അവഗണിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് സര്‍ക്കാര്‍, മേല്‍പ്പറഞ്ഞ പരസ്യങ്ങള്‍ വഴി അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നത് വാള്‍ മാര്‍ട്ട്, കരെഫോര്‍,ടെസ്കോ തുടങ്ങിയ കുത്തകകളുടെ  വരവ്  ഇടനിലക്കാര്‍ കര്‍ഷകരെ ചൂഷണം ചെയ്യുന്ന അവസ്ഥയ്ക്ക് പരിഹാരമുണ്ടാക്കുകയും ഒപ്പം പുതിയ തൊഴിലവസരങ്ങള്‍  ഉണ്ടാക്കുമെന്നും ആണ്.  ചില്ലറ വില്‍പ്പന രംഗത്തെ വിദേശ നിക്ഷേപം പുതുതായി പത്ത് ദശ ലക്ഷം തൊഴിലവസരങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കുമെന്നും ഉപഭോക്താക്കള്‍ക്ക് എന്ന പോലെ കര്‍ഷകര്‍ക്കും അതുകൊണ്ട് നേട്ടങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകുമെന്നും ആണ് കുത്തകകളുടെ വക്കാലത്ത് ഏറ്റെടുത്തിരിക്കുന്ന
വരും  സര്‍ക്കാരും അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നത്.
മേല്പറഞ്ഞ അവകാശ വാദങ്ങളുടെ പൊള്ളത്തരം മനസ്സിലാവണമെങ്കില്‍, അമേരിക്കയിലെ പ്രധാന നഗരങ്ങളില്‍ ഒന്നായ ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്കില്‍  റിട്ടെയില്‍ വ്യാപാര ശ്രുംഘല തുറക്കാന്‍ ഈ രംഗത്തെ ലോക കുത്തകയായ വാള്‍ മാര്‍ട്ട് 2005 മുതല്‍ നടത്തിപ്പോരുന്ന ശ്രമങ്ങള്‍ ഇതുവരെയും ഫലം കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല എന്ന ഒറ്റക്കാര്യം മതിയാകും . തൊഴിലുകള്‍ നഷ്ട്ടപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതില്‍  റിട്ടെയില്‍ വ്യാപാര രംഗത്തെ വാള്‍ മാര്‍ട്ട് എന്ന കുത്തക യുടെ കുപ്രസിദ്ധമായ പൂര്‍വ ചരിത്രം അറിയാവുന്ന യൂണിയനുകളും പ്രാദേശിക ജനതയും വാള്‍ മാര്‍ട്ട് ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്കില്‍ കാലുകുത്തുന്നതിനെ ചെറുത്തതിന്റെ   ഫലമായിരുന്നു ഇത്.  ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ചെറുകിട കച്ചവടക്കാരെ പൂട്ടിക്കാനും അനേക ലക്ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്  തൊഴിലും ഉപജീവനമാര്‍ഗ്ഗവും ഇല്ലാതാക്കാനും    തൊഴില്‍ പരമായ അവകാശങ്ങള്‍ പലതും നിഷേധിക്കപ്പെട്ട അവസ്ഥയില്‍  തുച്ഛമായ വേതനത്തിന് ആളെ നിയമിച്ചു ചെറുകിട വ്യാപാരം കുത്തകവല്‍ക്കരിക്കാനും സ്വന്തം നാട്ടില്‍ അനഭിമതരായ വാള്‍ മാര്‍ട്ടിനെ ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക്‌ ക്ഷണിക്കുകയാണ് ഇപ്പോള്‍ യു ഐ എ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത്.
ചെറുകിട വ്യാപാരത്തില്‍ കുത്തകള്‍ പ്രവേശിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അത് കര്‍ഷകരെ ഇടനിലക്കാരുടെ ചൂഷണത്തില്‍ നിന്നും രക്ഷപ്പെടുത്തും എന്നതാണ് മറ്റൊരു ന്യായമായി സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ പറയുന്നത്. എനാല്‍ ലോകത്തെമ്പാടും ഉള്ള അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ തെളിയിക്കുന്നത് നേരെ മറിച്ചാണ് . കുത്തകള്‍ നിഷ്കര്‍ഷിക്കുന്ന ഗുണ നിയന്ത്രണ നിലവാരങ്ങള്‍ ഏറെയും കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ്കളുടെ ലാഭം മാത്രം മുന്‍നിര്‍ത്തി കൃത്രിമമായി സൃഷ്ട്ടിക്കപ്പെടുന്നതും, ചെറുകിട കര്‍ഷകന് പാലിക്കാന്‍ ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടുള്ളതുമാണ്.  സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ കാര്‍ഷികോല്‍പ്പന്ന സംഭരണ സമ്പ്രദായത്തിന്റെ നിലവിലുള്ള കാര്യക്ഷമതയെയും  ചെറുകിട വ്യാപാര രംഗത്തെ കുത്തകവല്‍ക്കരണം തീര്‍ച്ചയായും ബാധിക്കുമെന്ന് മാത്രമല്ല, അത് ഭക്ഷ്യ സുരക്ഷിതത്വത്തെയും കൃഷിയെത്തന്നെയും തകിടം മറിക്കാന്‍ ഇടയാക്കും.
അഴിമതി വിരുദ്ധ ലോക്പാല്‍ ബില്ലിന്റെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ പാര്‍ലമെന്റിന്റെ പരമാധികാരത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു കപടമായ വേവലാതി പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച യൂ പി എ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ , ചില്ലറ വ്യാപാരത്തില്‍ 51 % വിദേശ പങ്കാളിത്തം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത്‌ പാര്‍ലമെന്റിന്റെ അഭിപ്രായം പരിഗണിക്കാതെയായിരുന്നു എന്നതില്‍ ഒട്ടും അത്ഭുതമില്ല . പാര്‍ലമെന്ടു സമ്മേളനകാലം ആയിട്ടുപോലും, ദൂരവ്യാപക പ്രത്യാഘാതം ഉളവാക്കുന്ന ഈ തീരുമാനം എടുത്തത് വെറും ക്യാബിനറ്റ് യോഗം വഴി ആയിരുന്നു.
വ്യാപാര രംഗത്തെ കുത്തകവല്‍ക്കരണം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്ന പുതിയ സ്ഥിതി വിശേഷം പ്രതികൂലം ആകാതിരിക്കാന്‍ ശക്തമായ മുന്‍കരുതല്‍ നടപടികള്‍ സ്വീകരിക്കും എന്ന് സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ അവകാശപെടുന്നു. കേവലം അമ്പതു വന്‍ നഗരങ്ങളില്‍ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ നടത്താന്‍ മാത്രമേ അനുവദിക്കുകയുള്ളൂ എന്നും , ചെറുകിട ഉല്‍പ്പാദകര്‍ക്ക് സംരക്ഷണം നല്‍കുന്നതിനു വേണ്ടി ചുരുങ്ങിയത് 30 % ഉത്പന്നങ്ങള്‍ എങ്കിലും രാജ്യത്തിനുള്ളിലെ  ചെറുതും ഇടത്തരവുമായ കര്‍ഷക /സംരംഭകരില്‍ നിന്ന് വാങ്ങാന്‍ വിദേശ കമ്പനികളെ നിര്‍ബന്ധിക്കുമെന്നും ആണ് പറയുന്നത്. ഇന്ത്യന്‍ നിര്‍മ്മിത ലഘുപാനീയങ്ങളെ കൊക്ക കോളയും പെപ്സിയും എങ്ങിനെയാണ് വിപണിയില്‍ നിന്നും തുരത്തിയതെന്നു ഓര്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ മേല്‍പ്പറഞ്ഞ 30 % സംവരണം കൊണ്ട് നാട്ടിലെ ചെറുകിട ഇടത്തരം ഉല്‍പ്പാദന മേഖലകള്‍ നേരിടാന്‍ പോകുന്ന വന്‍ പ്രതിസന്ധി ഇല്ലാതാവുകയില്ലെന്നു ആര്‍ക്കും മനസ്സിലാകുന്നതാണ്.
മന്‍മോഹന്‍ സിംഗ് ധനകാര്യ മന്ത്രിയായിരിക്കെ ഇരുപത് വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുന്‍പ് ആരംഭിച്ച നിയോ ലിബറല്‍ പരിഷ്കാരങ്ങളുടെ മുഖ്യ ഘടകങ്ങളായ ആഗോളവല്‍ക്കരണം, സ്വകാര്യവല്‍ക്കരണം , സാമ്പത്തിക ഉദാരവല്‍ക്കരണം എന്നീ നയങ്ങള്‍ രാജ്യത്തിലെ ഭൂരിപക്ഷം ജനങ്ങളുടെ തൊഴിലുകളെയും  ഉപജീവനമാര്‍ഗ്ഗങ്ങളെയും ഇതെല്ലാം വിധത്തിലാണ് തകിടം മറിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്  എന്ന് ഇപ്പോള്‍ പകല്‍ പോലെ വ്യക്തമാണ് . രാജ്യത്ത് ഏറിവരുന്ന കാര്‍ഷിക പ്രതിസന്ധിയും  അതിന്റെ ഫലമായി പെരുകുന്ന ഗ്രാമീണ കര്‍ഷക കട ബാധ്യതകളും, എല്ലാത്തിലുമുപരി അഭൂതപൂര്‍വ്വമായ അളവില്‍ വര്‍ധിച്ചു വരുന്ന കര്‍ഷക ആത്മഹത്യകളും കണ്ടില്ലെന്നു നടിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഉദാരവല്‍ക്കരണത്തിന്റെ തേര്‍ വാഴ്ചയിലെ മറ്റൊരു ഘട്ടത്തിനാണ് സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ഇപ്പോള്‍ പച്ചക്കൊടി കാണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. അതിനാല്‍ ,രാജ്യത്തെമ്പാടും ഉള്ള റിട്ടെയില്‍ വ്യാപാരികളുടെയും സാമാന്യ ജനങ്ങളുടെയും പ്രതിഷേധത്തില്‍ നാം അണി ചേരുക.
നമ്മുടെ ജനതയുടെ ഉപജീവനവും അതിജീവനവും തകരാറിലാക്കാന്‍  വാള്‍ മാര്ടുകളെ ഒരിക്കലും അനുവദിക്കാതിരിക്കുക. ചെറുകിട വ്യാപാര രംഗത്ത് കുത്തകകളെ വിളിച്ചു വരുത്താനുള്ള തീരുമാനത്തില്‍ നിന്നും യൂ പി എ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍  പിന്മാറുക.

ML Update 49 / 2011

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 14, No. 49, 29 NOV – 05 DEC 2011

Resist FDI in Retail:

No to MNC Profits At the Cost of Indian People's Livelihood!

 

Delivering a huge blow to crores of small retailers in India, the UPA Government has taken a decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. This will mean that the giant MNC retail chains can open outlets in India. The move has been met with widespread opposition – not only from traders' organisations who have called for a nationwide bandh, and from Opposition parties of all hues, but even from some UPA allies. The TMC and DMK have come out in opposition to the move, while even several Cabinet members are known to have expressed reservations or dissent openly, wary as they are of the price they may have to pay during the next elections. Meanwhile, while so many sections within the Government and the parliament are opposing the move, the US Ambassador has come out in support of the decision!

 

Faced with widespread countrywide opposition, the UPA Government is resorting to blatant propaganda for the corporates and MNCs. It has brought out full-page ads in papers extolling FDI in retail. Unwittingly, these ads acknowledge people's concerns of job losses, of kirana store owners being put out of business, of multinationals gaining full access to and control of India's retail sector, of farmers being exploited - but attempt to dismiss these concerns as 'myths.' The UPA Government, as well as corporates and neoliberal ideologues, are telling us that if companies like Walmart (the US MNC, one of the world's biggest retail chains), Carrefour, Tesco etc are given more space in India's retail sector, they will create ten million new jobs; ensure low prices for consumers; and a better deal for farmers.

 

The truth of these claims can be judged by the fact that Walmart has been struggling in vain since 2005 to open an outlet in one of the USA's most prominent cities - New York City. Local people and unions in NYC are unwilling to allow Walmart into their city because it is notorious for killing jobs; putting mom-and-pop (family-run) stores out of business; destroying communities by driving down wages and driving up real estate prices; disallowing unions; and extremely exploitative working conditions. Now, the UPA Government is inviting Walmart, which is unwelcome in its own home country, to put small stores out of business, kill jobs and employ people in sweatshop conditions in India!

 

Walmart is run by the Walton family - which is the richest family in the world. Is it fair to force small Indian family stores and street vendors to compete with the richest in the world? It is well known that such MNC giant retailers resort to predatory pricing, squeezing out the smaller retailers by selling at low prices, only to hike prices once they have a monopoly on the market. So, the benefits for consumers are purely illusory and short-lived.

 

In India, there are around 1.2 crore shops, employing 4 crore people. Most of these are small, self-employed establishments. The retail sector is also the refuge of those unable to find employment elsewhere, allowing them a chance to eke out a living by running small shops, pushing handcarts or selling vegetables on the street. Even if we accept the Govt's claim that FDI in retail will create a crore jobs, should we not ask how many jobs and means of survival it will jeopardise and destroy in India? Moreover, the quality of jobs in the corporate and MNC retail chains are notorious the world over for being the worst paid and exploitative, with the least workplace democracy.

 

The much-touted benefits for farmers are equally far-fetched. All around the world, it has been seen how corporate and MNC retail chains squeeze small farmers, forcing them to sell at low prices and laying down arbitrary quality standards which most farmers can't meet. By allowing FDI in retail, the Government is actually paving the way to cut back on procurement by Government, which will further jeopardise agriculture and food security.

 

Not long ago, on the Lokpal issue, the Government was preaching Parliamentary supremacy to people protesting on the streets. Now, when it is clear that the majority in Parliament is opposed to FDI in retail, the Government is audacious enough to take such a vital policy decision merely by holding a Cabinet meeting even as Parliament is in session – claiming that the decision needs no Parliamentary debate or approval!

 

The Government claims to have provided certain checks and safeguards, like restricting foreign retail chains to 51 cities in India and requiring them to source 30% products from the Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). But the fact remains that even if the MNC retail chains are initially limited to the bigger Indian cities, it is not difficult to see that they will skim off the cream of the Indian retail market. Also, a token 30% reservation would not save the Indian SMEs from the adverse impact of unequal global competition. We have all witnessed how, with the entry of Pepsi and Coke in the soft drink sector, all Indian companies were swallowed up or pushed out.

 

The UPA Government, in its full-page ads, ends by making a telling comparison. Manmohan Singh ushered in the Liberalisation-Privatisation-Globalisation two decades ago, they say, and now it's the turn for a 'revolution' in the retail sector. In fact, the LPG policies have wreaked havoc on jobs and livelihood, workers' rights, agriculture and farmers' survival. Now, it is the retail sector – and the survival of countless family store owners, street vendors, suppliers and sales workers, shop employees and workers involved in transportation of goods, small-scale producers and small farmers – that is the target! Already, Reliance and other Indian corporates are getting a foothold in the Indian retail market. Now the giant MNC retail chains are being invited in.

 

Let us join the traders, unions and common people all over the country in forcing the Govt. to back down on FDI in retail! Let's tell the UPA Govt - we won't allow Walmarts of the world to rob our people of livelihood and survival!

 

Farmers Hold "Kisan Sansad" at Parliament Street:

Demand Withdrawal of LARR Bill and FDI in Retail

"In the interests of food security and environment, enact laws to protect agricultural, forest and coastal land from land grab" – Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML)

 

New Delhi, November 30 :

 

Hundreds of famers from all over the country gathered at Parliament Street today to hold a 'Farmers' Parliament' (Kisan Sansad) on policy issues affecting farmers, including the Land Acquisition Bill and FDI in retail. The Kisan Sansad, organized by the All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM), was attended by farmers from UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, Odisha and several other states.

 

Introducing the Kisan Sansad, Rajaram Singh, General Secretary of AIKM, said, "Parliament and Government are pushing through Bills and policies affecting farmers – without even consulting the farmers themselves. This is why we farmers are holding a Farmers' Parliament – to assert farmers' own views on laws and policies affecting them."

 

The Kisan Sansad was presided by Ruldu Singh, President, AIKM, AIKM Vice Presidents Kartick Pal, Prem Singh Gehlawat, Devendra Singh Chauhan, Rajaram, as well as CPI(ML) CC Member and former Jharkhand MLA Bahadur Oraon.

 

The assembled farmers debated resolutions on the LARR Bill and the FDI in retail policy. The Kisan Sansad adopted a resolution demanding withdrawal of the UPA Government's LARR Bill, declaring it to be a blueprint for land grab. Instead they demanded measures to protect agricultural, forest and costal land from land grab.

 

Addressing the Kisan Sansad, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, "Land grab threatens not only the survival of farmers but also the country's food security and environment. The LARR Bill's provision allowing acquisition of up to 5 percent of multi-crop irrigated area in a district will jeopardize food security. The Government must withdraw the anti-farmer LARR Bill, and instead enact protection for agricultural, forest and costal land in the interests of food security and environment." He continued, "Land reform laws mandate that government lands be redistributed among the landless. Violating this principle, the LARR Bill paves the way to hand these over to corporates!" He concluded, "The UPA Govt is trying to hand over India's agriculture and retailing to MNCs and corporates – but the farmers are holding their own Parliament, and tell the Government and Parliament that they will not allow anti-farmer policies to be pushed through."

 

The Kisan Sansad also adopted a resolution condemning the Government's unilateral decision allowing 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. Rajaram Singh, AIKM General Secretary, said, "The PM is claiming that this measure will benefit farmers. In reality, the experience all over the world has shown that giant MNC retail chains tend to source produce mainly from very large farmers and contract farms. Small farmers inevitably lose out, because they cannot match the arbitrary quality standards of these chains. The MNC retailers also arm-twist farmers into selling cheap. Procurement by MNCs will reduce Government procurement, and will mainly divert the produce towards food processing – jeopardizing food security." FDI in retail will threaten not only small retailers in India, but also small farmers, agriculture and food security, famers felt.

 

The Kisan Sansad also passed resolutions demanding withdrawal of the anti-farmer Seed Bill. They also demanded the release of activists Afroz Alam of CPI(ML) in Uttar Pradesh and Abhay Sahoo, the anti-POSCO leader from Odisha, who have been jailed while leading struggles of rural poor and peasantry.

 

The Kisan Sansad was also addressed by CPI(ML)  CCM and AICCTU General Secretary Comrade Swapan Mukherjee and senior journalist Shri Kuldeep Nayyar.

 

The resolutions passed were submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker as well as MPs of all parties, demanding that Parliament heed the opinions of the Kisan Sansad.

 

Rajaram Singh,

General Secretary, AIKM

 

Support Traders' Bandh on 1 December

Protest Against 51% FDI in Retail

(Party's statement)

 

The CPI(ML) condemns the Cabinet decision to introduce 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. This measure will hand over the Indian consumer market to the big multinational retail corporations like Wal-Mart etc., and will jeopardize the livelihood and survival of innumerable small retailers and shop employees in India.

 

The CPI(ML) extends support to the countrywide bandh called by the Confederation of Indian Traders on 1 December against the move to introduce 51% FDI in multi-brand retail, and calls upon its units and mass organisations to hold protest actions.

 

CPI(ML) Central Committee

 

 

Protests against The UPA Govt.'s Move to Introduce 51% FDI in Multi-Brand Retail

 

New Delhi – 30 November: PM's Effigy Burnt

 

Unorganised sector workers, street vendors, and people from all walks of life under the banner of CPI(ML) burnt the effigy of Manmohan Singh at Jantar Mantar in protest against the Government's decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. The protestors held placards asking, "When New York can show red light to Walmart, why red carpet for Walmart in India?"; "No to Assault of MNCs on India's Retail Sector!" and "Shame on Manmohan Singh – Agent of MNCs." A protest meeting was held, which was addressed by Comrades Sanjay Sharma, Kavita Krishnan (CCMs), Santosh Rai and Shyam Kishore.

 

Sanjay Sharma, Delhi State Secretary, CPI(ML), expressed the party's support for the countrywide traders' bandh called on 1 December against FDI in retail, saying that such an anti-people move that is being supported only by corporate and MNC lobbies and imperialist powers, and is opposed by the vast majority of Indian people must never be allowed.

 

Tamilnadu - 29 November: CPI(ML) held protests all over the state demanding withdrawal of FDI in retail.

In Coimbatore a public meeting was held in which over 300 workers participated. Comrades N Krishnamurthy, State Secretary of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and S Kumarasami, Politburo member of CPI(ML) addressed the meeting.

 

In Chennai a demonstration was held in which more than 100 workers participated. Com. Munusami, City Committee Member of the Party led the protest. Com. S Sekar, SCM and Com. Bharathi, State President of All India Students' Association (AISA), spoke in the meeting. Mr. Karunakaran, District President of Tamilnadu Traders' Association participated in the meeting and warmly welcomed our quick initiative saying that CPI(ML) only is advancing the cause of poor and it has gone to the streets immediately on the issue of FDI in retail. He said that he draws strength from the demonstration to help in implementing the December 1 All India Traders' Strike forcefully in Chennai.

 

In Gandarvakottai of Pudukottai a demonstration was held in the market. The demonstration drew the attention of the traders in the market and the local traders' association representative spoke in the meeting following the demonstration. They said that only after listening to the speakers at this demonstration they came to know about the December 1 All India Traders' Strike and that they would spare no efforts for its implementation.

 

In Tirunelveli, a padayatra was held in Suthamalli and demonstrations were held at two centres. Comrade T Sankarapandian addressed the demonstrations. Demonstrations were also held in Kanyakumari, Villupuram and Salem. In Tiruvallore, the police did not let the demonstration take place.

 

Programmes against AFSPA and in Solidarity with Irom Sharmila

 

Several organisations in Wardha, University professors, social activists, students, AISA, AIPWA and CPI(ML) leaders and activists from Nagpur city and intellectuals jointly held a procession on 5 November at Wardha in Maharashtra to express solidarity with Irom Sharmila, who has been on hunger fast for last eleven years to press for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from North East. The march was organised by JanAdhikar Manch.

 

The procession marched ten kilometres before reaching the District Magistrate's office where a day-long fast was observed. During the day long hunger strike the students performed various street plays and group songs. The meeting that followed was addressed by AISA's Maharashtra President- Abhilasha and CPI(ML)'s Harendra Srivastava among others. AISA activists played crucial role in organising this programme.

 

Varanasi - Film Screening: AIPWA organised a film screening on 5 November at Lanka in Varanasi against the AFSPA and in solidarity with Irom Sharmila. The film – AFSPA 1958 – directed by Haoban Pawan Kumar, is wel known for very closely capturing the harrowing trauma that the people of Manipur and north-east, especially women have been subjected to since the AFSPA was imposed in the region. The impact of the visuals was evident from the moist eyes of the viewers at the film screening. AIPWA dedicated the programme to the steely resolve of Irom Sharmila.

 

AISA, RYA Hunger Protest against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project

 

AISA and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) held a fast on 26 November in Chennai demanding scrapping of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. Over 150 students-youth and workers participated in the day long hunger strike. The protestors also demanded from UPA government to withdraw its decision on FDI in retail. Com. Bharathi, State President of AISA led the protest. Com. Venkatachalam, State General Secretary of AISA and Com. Malarvizhi, State Secretary, AISA, addressed the fasting protesters.

 

AIPWA Demonstration against Hikes in Milk Price and Bus Fare

 

In Chennai the All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) held a demonstration on 24 November demanding immediate withdrawal of milk price rise and bus fare hike which has virtually broken the back of the poor and the working people of Tamilnadu. Dozens of women took part in the demonstration. Com. Devaki, AIPWA State VP led the protest. Com. Thenmozhi, AIPWA State President addressed the gathering.

 

Earlier, on 7 November, on the anniversary of Russian Revolution, AIPWA's Chennai unit held a study class on 'Our Revolution, Our Party and Women's Movement: Basic Concepts and Our Tasks'. In the class it was also decided to concentrate on membership and the forthcoming AIPWA's All India Conference. Com. Devaki, AIPWA State Vice President presided over and Com. Thenmozhi, AIPWA State President, spoke about the immediate tasks ahead.

 

 Odisha: Arrest Condemned

 

The Odisha State Committee of the CPI(ML) condemned the arrest of a leader of the anti-Posco  struggle Abhaya Sahoo in false cases like murder and dalit atrocities. Comrade Khitish Biswal, Party's State Secretary said that due to popular movement and broadest support of people people the Posco has been thwarted in its attempt to displace people and so the Govt is acting like henchman of Posco by slapping false cases and arresting a leader of the popular struggle. CPI(ML) has demanded immediate and unconditional release of Abhaya Sahoo.

 

Movement against Anti-workers' Policies in Assam

 

In Assam, attacks on workers have been on the rise. In a fresh move, Govt of Assam recently passed an order stating to transfer pending cases under Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals to the respective Session Judges concerned, with immediate effect and subsequently Guwahati High Court passed an order instructing to transfer pending cases to the Sessions Court. It is nothing sort of a conspiracy to abolish 13 different courts such as Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals, Family courts, Motor Accident Claim Courts, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Courts etc.

 

A workers convention jointly organized by AICCTU and Struggling Workers Centre in Guwahati on 27th November, discussed the issue and decided to launch movement to resist this anti-workers policy. A presidium comprising of AICCTU state president Com. Biren Kalita, State President of Struggling workers' Centre Com. Tapas Das and APBE (Assam branch of AIBEA) leader Com. Dilip Sarma conducted the convention and representatives of nearly 20 trade union organizations, including central trade unions AITUC and UTUC, condemned this anti-working class move.

 

Com. Subhas Sen pointed out different conspiratorial move of Assam Govt against the workers and called upon the working class of Assam to build a movement against this. The convention resolved to start a movement and formed a convening body to resist this anti-worker, anti-people move.

 

Edited, published and printed by S. Bhattacharya for CPI(ML) Liberation from U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi-92; printed at Bol Publication, R-18/2, Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-92; Phone:22521067; fax: 22442790, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org

ML Update 48 / 2011

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 14, No. 48, 22 – 28 NOVEMBER 2011

 

Unfolding Colours Of TMC Rule In Bengal

As Mamata Banerjee completes her first six months in office, the people of West Bengal now have a fairly good idea of the shape of things to come. In a systematic reversal of her poll promises, Mamata Banerjee has now launched a full-scale repressive campaign in Jangalmahal. The joint operation which she claims had been effectively 'suspended' to 'give peace a chance' has been resumed in full swing. And this is accompanied by Mamata's own version of 'Salwa Judum' complete with recruitment of 'special police officers' and a TMC-backed vigilante force in the name of 'Bhairav Vahini', a veritable TMC-style replica of the erstwhile CPI(M)-sponsored band of armed storm-troopers known notoriously as 'harmad vahini' in West Bengal.

If this looks like the standard format of Operation Greenhunt, the kind of tirade Mamata has launched against Maoists and their sympathisers, trying to whip up a veritable anti-communist witch-hunt, can only remind us of the McCarthy era in the US and Bengal's own experience of fascist repression in the 1970s. She has described the Maoists as 'mafia' and as being more dangerous than terrorists. She and her lieutenants constantly refer to the Maoists as a foreign-backed threat, implicating almost all of India's neighbours – China, Pakistan, Nepal, all included. And now she has gone to the extent of asking the people to keep tabs on whatever transpires at the Coffee House, Jadavpur University and Basanta Cabin, iconic centres of Kolkata's cultural identity and Left discourse. Even those who speak in favour of Maoists will not be spared, she has said on record.

Having come to power by riding on the support of the 'civil society' and large sections of Bengal's left-leaning cultural world, this is Mamata Banerjee's way of paying off her debt! Before elections she had promised to release all political prisoners and settle the grievances of the people of Jangalmahal. Now she has shelved even the truncated list of political prisoners recommended for release by the committee reviewing the issue, and the interlocutors entrusted with the job of facilitating negotiations with the Maoists have been left with no other option but to offer to resign. But while she refuses to release political prisoners, she personally storms the police station in her neighbourhood to get her own 'TMC boys' released.

Mamata would of course like to cover her anti-democratic campaign in the characteristic garb of TMC-style populism. But the limits of populism have also started showing. Her surprise visits to hospitals have brought no relief to the helpless people, who continue to suffer, and the conditions of the state's crumbling healthcare sector continue to deteriorate. Her silence on the issue of corruption has been as eloquent as her shrill campaign against communists. And her threat to pull out of the UPA government at the Centre over the petrol price hike has been exposed to be only sound and fury, signifying nothing. Meanwhile, her government carries out every policy of the Centre that has been snatching away the livelihood and rights of the toiling masses.

Before the elections Mamata Banerjee had shrewdly dropped her original slogan 'lal hatao' and made all kinds of pro-Left overtures to broaden her base and neutralise her old anti-Left image. The SUCI, the Maoists and many left-leaning intellectuals fell for this trap and endorsed Mamata as the change that Bengal needed. Now that Mamata has chosen to take on the Maoists, the CPI(M) sees this as vindication of its own stand and would like to egg her on. Both Maoists and the CPI(M) have little concern about the real implications of Mamata's systematic assault on democracy. Having once again demonstrated their utter political bankruptcy, Maoists would like to pretend it is business as usual by indulging in killings that would only strengthen Mamata's anti-Maoist campaign, while the CPI(M) would seek to score points by making empty "We-told-you-so" boasts.

Revolutionary communists and committed democrats must never lose sight of the larger picture. Arrests of trade union leaders, attacks on trade union meetings and offices, eviction of sharecroppers and small peasants and agricultural labourers, and factional clashes among rival TMC groups in various parts of Bengal portend a grim situation that calls for consistent vigilance and determined opposition. The CPI(ML) must take all-out initiative at this juncture to defend the people of Bengal and their democratic rights in the face of this systematic assault. All sincere and fighting forces of the Left will have to be mobilised in this battle for defending democracy and rebuilding the Left.

Bhrastachar Mitao-Loktantra Bachao Rally in Bihar

Massive Turnout in CPI(ML)'s Rally at Patna

Thousands of peasants and workers from all over Bihar poured into Patna to participate in CPI(ML)'s "Bhrastachar Mitao-Loktantra Bachao" rally (Finish Corruption-Save Democracy Rally) at the historic Gandhi Maidan on 21 November. This is the largest rally in Bihar against the Nitish-led NDA Govt. Comrade Mangat Ram Pasla, leader of CPM Punjab and Comrade Arun Ghatani, leader of CPRM Darjeeling also attended the rally as our esteemed guests. The rally observed a minutes silence in memory of the martyrs. Cultural troupe Hirawal performed revolutionary songs.

The massive assembly of Bihar's rural poor and Party activists from all districts and several towns was addressed by Comrades Dipankar Bhattacharya (General Secretary of the Party), Arun Ghatani (CPRM Darjeeling), Mangat Ram Pasla (CPM Punjab), Rajaram Singh (CPIML's CCM and General Secretary of the All India Kisan Mahasabha), Meena Tiwari (Party's CCM and General Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association), Rameshwar Prasad (Party's CCM and President of the All India Agricultural Labourers' Association), KD Yadav (Party's CCM and Bihar State President of the AIKM), Arun Singh (member of Party's State Standing Committee), Mahbub Alam (Party's State Committee member) and Satyadeo Ram (Party's SCM and Bihar State President of AIALA). Comrade Rameshwar Prasad conducted the proceedings of the rally and public meeting. Also present on the dais were several senior-most leaders of CPI(ML), including- Comrades Swadesh Bhattacharya, Ramji Rai, DP Bakshi, Kartik Pal, Ram Jatan Sharma, Amar (all Politburo members), Dhirendra Jha (AIALA's General Secretary and Party's CCM), Brij Bihari Pandey, Kunal and Saroj Chaubey (Party CCMs). Apart from them State leaders of mass organisations were also present.

Addressing the rally, CPI(ML) General Secretary said that the massive gathering of peasants and workers in this rally from remote places of Bihar shows that  a huge force of peasants and workers is united under the red flag of CPI(ML) in its Country-wide movement against corruption and on the back of this militant force Bihar is marching ahead to play a bigger role in the Country-wide movement against corruption.

He said that the Nitish Kumar government had prepared a weak draft for Lokayukta in Bihar which would have no power to investigate the cases involving high profile personalities including top bureaucrats. The process of selection of the Lokayukta was also framed in such a way that there would be complete control of the government over it. Calling for CBI enquiries into AC-DC Bill scam, BIADA land scam and Forbesganj police firing, he said that a empowered, people's Lokayukta was needed in Bihar and not a sarkari one. He ended his speech by stating that we will beat back the feudal-communal forces in Bihar with the united strength of peasants and workers, and calling for demonstrations of agricultural labourers and peasants at every district headquarter on 15 December.

Towards its conclusion the rally passed a seven point resolution that was proposed by AISA leader Abhyuday. The rally reiterated its resolve to intensify the ongoing Country-wide struggle "Finish Corruption, Save Land, Save Democracy". The rally appealed to the peasantry, workers, women, student and youth of the Country to expose the farce of the Govts in the name of fighting corruption, uproot the policies that facilitate corporate loot and plunder of our land, forests and natural resources and to take the fight to establish people's right over people's resources to a new height. The rally condemned the NATO bombing of Libya and killing of Colonel Gaddafi and IS-led imperialist intervention in Africa. The rally also stated its heartiest support of the OWS and condemned the violence on OWS participants by the police and Obama administration. Several other resolutions calling for removal of AFSPA, urgent formation of Second States Reorganisation Commission, enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill etc were also passed by the rally.

4th National Conference of AIALA at Patna

The 4th National Conference of AIALA took place at Patna on 22 November 2011, with the central slogan 'Against Hunger, Corruption, Repression; For Land, Livelihood, Social Security and Dignity!' The Conference venue was named after Comrade Ram Naresh Ram, and the streets of Patna (rechristened Baba Nagarjun Nagar on the occasion), were decorated with welcome arches and red flags.

The Conference began with the hoisting of the red flag and homage to the martyrs. Hirawal, Comrade Ramashankar Nirmohi and Babuni, and cultural activists from Karnataka presented rousing revolutionary songs. Comrade Rameshwar Prasad, National President of AIALA, gave the welcome address.

The Presidium comprised of Comrades Pawan Sharma, Krishna Adhikari, Bhagwant Singh Samaon, Phool Chand Dhewa, and others.

On the dais were Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML), Arun Ghatani of Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), Rajaram Singh, GS, AIKM, and Meena Tiwari, GS, AIPWA. The Conference was inaugurated by Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya.

Comrade Dhirendra Jha, the outgoing GS of AIALA, presented the Conference report, which was discussed by delegates. 1388 delegates from 15 states – participated in the Conference.

The Conference discussed the issues and challenges before the task of organizing agricultural workers and resolved to intensify the movement of rural poor against corruption, land grab, and for their rights.

The Conference rejected the Draft Food Security Bill proposed by the Government as a mockery, since it is a far cry from guaranteeing food security and in fact proposes replacing rations with cash, and resolved to build a countrywide struggle of rural poor demanding universalisation of PDS and guarantee of 50 kg of food grain as well as pulses, vegetables, milk, oil and other essentials as subsidized rations. The Conference condemned the fact that the Government had yet to withdraw the infamous 'Rs.26-Rs.32' poverty line. The Government had merely said that some above this line would also be entitled to food rations. The Conference instead demanded that the vast majority of the population excluding the unquestionably rich, be included in the BPL list – with automatic inclusion of all agricultural workers, landless, sharecroppers, marginal farmers, contract and honorarium workers. The Conference demanded provision of subsidized food rations as well as all other social welfare benefits to this BPL section of people. The Conference demanded that the questionnaire for BPL census be prepared with consultation with agricultural workers' organizations and trade unions. The Conference announced a countrywide campaign with the slogan – 'Awaken the Poor: Let No Poor Be Left Out, And No Rich Find a Place in the BPL List'.

On the question of corruption in MNREGA and other rural welfare schemes, and well as inclusion of all the poor in the BPL list, the Conference announced a countrywide protest at block HQs on 15 December. In Bihar, the AIALA would gherao the block HQs on this question.

The Conference rejected the LARR (Land Acquisition) Bill proposed by the Government, terming it a document to legalise land grab. The Conference instead demanded protection of all agricultural, forest and coastal land. The Conference also demanded land reform laws to ensure the rights of sharecroppers, as well as shelter rights and 10 decimals of homestead land to each agricultural labourer.

The Conference demanded a comprehensive legislation for the welfare and rights of agricultural labourers. Noting the callousness of state and central Governments towards rural healthcare (especially the instance of the encephalitis epidemic in Uttar Pradesh and high maternal mortality all over India), the Conference demanded comprehensive rural healthcare as a priority.

Addressing the Conference, Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya said that legacy of Comrade Ram Naresh Ram would inspire the struggles of rural workers and poor even though he is no longer with us. Agricultural workers, he said, are not just struggling for their own rights; their struggle is in fact to save agriculture, save the country. He cited the instance of the Kaun Banega Crorepati winner from Bihar being declared the brand ambassador of MNREGA, saying that in doing so, the Government has unwittingly revealed the truth – that MNREGA, far from being a job guarantee, is in fact a lottery. He said that MNREGA should, in fact, provide jobs round the year, for at least 300 days a year, and the MNREGA wage should not be less than Rs 300 a day. There is merit in the argument that MNREGA be extended to agriculture, so that it can contribute to combating the agricultural crisis.

He called for land reforms, housing rights, as well as education and health rights for rural poor. He said that AIALA needs to develop continuity as an organization that works round the year to give shape to the aspirations and struggles of rural poor. The initiative of rural labour activists in the villages needs to be unleashed. Even while fighting for small issues, he said, we should be inspired by big dreams and revolutionary vision, striving to make those dreams of a bigger, stronger AIALA and more vibrant struggles for a new society and politics, a reality.

The Conference unanimously adopted the report after Comrade Dhirendra's summing up of the debates. A 175-member national council was elected with a 47-member executive, and Comrades Rameshwar Prasad and Dhirendra Jha were reelected National President and General Secretary respectively.

Peasants' Protest at Manure Godown in Darbhanga

Scores of peasants held a militant protest under the banner of the Darbhanga unit of All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM), against the rampant black marketeering and shortages in manure. They held an indefinite gherao of the manure godown at Darbhanga, where thousands of bags of potash and DAP manure were stored but not distributed among peasants.

The gherao was led by Shivan Yadav, district president of AIKM and CPI(ML) block secretary Abhishek Kumar. The gherao began on 15 November, intimating the local administration. The manure sellers, alarmed at the gherao, began putting pressure on the farmers, but the latter refused to leave till manure bags were distributed. They spent the night in the open in spite of the chill. By next morning news of the gherao had spread and a large number of peasants from nearby villages came to join the protest. Eventually the administration was forced to open the godown and distribute thousands of bags of manure. Peasants saved between Rs 400-Rs600 per bag as a result of this movement.

Peasants gained confidence in this struggle and have resolved to strengthen the AIKM in the district.

TN: Protests against Transport Fare Hike and Price Rise

People of TN were dealt with a rude shock by the Jayalalitha government with its announcement and overnight implementation of bus fare hike of 40 to 100 percent and rise in milk price of 30-50%. Rubbing salt to the wound, Jayalalitha also announced that there will soon be a revision in power tariff with a hike to the tune of 110%.

These hikes in the essential commodities and services have really broken the back of the toiling people of the state. Many daily wagers were in for a rude shock next day to find bus fares hiked beyond the amount they were carrying. People spontaneously blocked the roads at many places in the State against the anti-people hike. Rate of the monthly bus pass went up by 40% and the pass users were asked to pay extra charges immediately.

On the day of announcement and implementation, 18 November, more than 500 Pricol workers immediately staged a demonstration at two centres in Coimbatore, demanding withdrawal of fare hike and milk price immediately and they raised slogans against Jayalalitha Govt like 'Civic Elections are Over so the Real Face of Amma has Come Out'. AICCTU State General Secretary Com. NK Natarajan, NWC Member Com. Gurusami and State Secretary Com. N Krishnamurthi led these protests.

On the same day comrades in Namakkal led by Com. A Govindaraj, SCM of the Party, organized a demonstration. Comrades in Salem released posters. On 19th November more than 200 workers of TIDC held a demonstration and demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike and warned against any hike in power tariff. They also condemned the Jayalalitha government for arbitrarily dismissing 13,000 State Welfare employees in a stroke.

On 20th November AISA and RYA held a demonstration in Chennai in which over 150 students, youth and workers participated. Com. Bharathi, SCM of the Party and AISA State President led this protest.

Protest demonstration was held in Ambattur on 22 November with more than 100 workers participating and raising slogans against the refusal of Jayalalitha government to withdraw the hikes even after protest all over the State. They demanded the hikes should be withdrawn immediately. Com. S Sekar, SCM of the Party addressed the demonstration. Comrades in Tirunelveli also held a demonstration on 22nd November. Com. T Sankarapandian, SCM of the Party led this demonstration.

Aadvani's Rathyatra Opposed in Uttarakhand

CPI(ML) held a demonstration and meeting at Ambedkar Park in Haldwani on 18 November – the day when LK Advani's cavalcade reached Haldwani – to protest BJP's double standard on corruption and its attempt to fool the people through Advani's 'anti-corruption' road tour. Uttarakhand's ex-CM Nishank, involved in several corruption scandals, who had to resign owing to the accusations of corruption, also adorned Mr. Advani's 'anti-corruption' rath.

Addressing the protest meeting, CPI(ML)'s State incharge Comrade Raja Bahuguna said that the leader of BJP whose two CMs had to resign, in Uttarakhand the ministers during Nishank cabinet whose names have figured in corruption are still continuing, is trying the fascist of deceiving the people. Advani, whose rath yatras have history of inciting communal violence, this time is trying to ride the wave of anti-corruption anger of people of the Country. Comrade Raja said that Advani wants to fulfil his personal ambition of being a PM with the help of corporate houses.

The meeting was also addressed by peasant leader Bahadur Singh Jangi, KK Bora (State's AICCTU General Secretary), student leader Lalit Matiyali, youth leader Pankaj Tiwari among others.

Left Parties in Uttarakhand for a Broader Left-Democratic Front  against the BJP-Congress

The State leaders of the CPI(ML), CPI and the CPI(M) held a meeting at CPI(ML)'s State Office at Haldwani on 17 November. Comrade Raja Bahuguna of CPI(ML), State Secretary of CPI(M) Comrade Vijay Rawat and CPI's National Council member Comrade Samar Bhandari were present in the meeting. After the meeting the three leaders released a joint statement that said – "There cannot be an effective alternative to BJP-Congress in Uttarakhand without the Left Parties. No front that does not have the Left parties at its core will be able to sustain for long".

The statement further stated – "In the last eleven years, after the formation of the State, the BJP and Congress' main contribution has been to institutionalise corruption in the State. Most of the political streams in the State have become infected with the culture of commission and dalali (brokerage), the political culture spawned by the BJP and Congress from top to panchayat level. Therefore, the strong alternative that is required against this political culture of BJP and Congress can only come from the Left parties."

The leaders' joint statement also said that the three parties will not field their candidates against each other. They also agreed for contesting a minimum of 20 seats in the forthcoming State Assembly election. At the same time the three parties will endeavour for a broader Left-democratic unity against the BJP and Congress. The primary condition for such a unity/front will be that there cannot be any comprise with either the BJP or the Congress before or after the elections by any constituent of the Left-democratic front.

 

Edited, published and printed by S. Bhattacharya for CPI(ML) Liberation from U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi-92; printed at Bol Publication, R-18/2, Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-92; Phone:22521067; fax: 22442790, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org