ML Update 24 / 2013

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 16, No. 24, 04 – 10 JUNE 2013

Democratise BCCI and all other Sports Bodies

T

he BCCI is managing the IPL spot-fixing scam much the same way the UPA government is managing the string of scams it wears shamelessly like a garland. Even though several of his ministers have been caught red-handed in scams, Manmohan Singh has refused to take responsibility and resign. Even when he himself has been implicated in the coal scam, Manmohan Singh held on to power, manipulated the CBI to fix the probe instead. Likewise, the BCCI chief has also refused to resign; he has only condescended to step aside and hand over charges to his nominee till the spot-fixing probe is over. Interestingly enough, the interim deal was mooted by BJP leader Arun Jaitley and endorsed by political leaders of various shades who crowd the BCCI, reflecting an unmistakable political consensus to cover things up.

The BCCI president happens to be the Managing Director of India Cements Limited which in turn owns the Chennai Super Kings. Apart from the most obvious charge of conflict of interest, the specific allegation in the betting-cum-fixing scam is more immediate. The spot-fixing allegations and arrests pointed to the involvement of Maiyappan, BCCI president Srinivasan's son-in-law and a key functionary of the CSK, in high-value betting in the IPL. A probe has been ordered by the BCCI into the betting-cum-fixing scam. Every test of probity, transparency and accountability would demand immediate resignation of the BCCI chief. Yet Srinivasan had his way and but for a lone dissenting voice nobody really dared call for his resignation in the BCCI meeting. This clearly shows how deep the rot runs.

The cancer of corruption afflicting Indian cricket is attributable to the same corporate-politics nexus that is responsible for the web of scams that has become the hallmark of neoliberal governance. It is the inherent nature of capitalism to commercialise every productive and creative activity and sports are no exception. Ever since the arrival of the era of televised cricket, the so-called 'gentleman's game' has been taken over by the brute forces of capital and commerce. And in the IPL, the game of cricket has virtually been buried under the collective impact of commerce, glamour and entertainment. And once betting gets associated with the game, fixing is bound to follow. Indeed, the IPL-style T20 tournament seems thoroughly designed for the betting syndicate and its counterpart, the fixing mafia. After six editions of this sordid spectacle, sports-lovers have rightly begun to ask if the country really needs a commercial extravaganza like this masquerading as a sporting tournament.

Cricket is the biggest money-spinning sport in India and BCCI is the world's richest cricket board. Yet it is a private society and it does not have to make its balance-sheets public. It is insulated from the RTI Act and till recently it used to enjoy tax exemptions as the government gave it the benefits of a 'charitable' organisation. But since the launch of IPL – rightly rechristened by many as the Indian Paisa League or Indian Profiteering League for its overwhelmingly commercial character – the government has been compelled to withdraw the 'charitable' tag and taxes are being levied on the BCCI since 2006. But within six years, BCCI has turned into one of India's biggest tax defaulters with billions of rupees of accumulated tax dues. The BCCI is also refusing to pay the 12.36% service tax that it is required to pay in accordance with the latest budget.

The real issue therefore is not just the resignation of Mr. Srinivasan but a thorough overhaul of the entire structure and functioning of BCCI to make it function like a transparent, accountable and democratic body and not as a shady private club of a few capitalists and politicians. The overhauling of BCCI should set the tone for a larger process of streamlining and democratisation of other sporting associations. Sports bodies should be run exclusively by retired sportspeople, professional sports administrators and persons of impeccable integrity and politicians and corporate bosses should be barred from having anything to do with the business of running sports organisations and deciding the future of Indian sports.

 

CPI(ML) Stand on CIC Ruling about Applicability of RTI for Recognised Political Parties

With regard to the CIC ruling bringing recognised national parties within the domain of RTI, the CPI(ML) Central Committee is of the considered view that there should be adequate transparency about the way activities of political parties are funded. But internal deliberations and decisions made by political parties belong to the domain of inner-party democracy and RTI cannot be used as an instrument to curb it. The norms of transparency and accountability applicable to governments that are elected by the people cannot exactly be applied to political parties which are constituted by members abiding by the programmes and objectives of the parties. Within the limits of distinction between governments and parties, the CPI(ML) is all for greater transparency about the funding and functioning of political parties.

Civil Disobedience in Kolkata 

against TMC Terror and Authoritarian Rule

Kolkata District Committee of CPI(ML) organised a successful civil disobedience programme on June 4 in protest against the ban imposed by the State Government against holding demonstrations and civil disobedience programmes in Kolkata. The programme also highlighted the two other demands the Party has been campaigning for: (i) arrest all those involved in the Saradha-TMC nexus in masterminding chit fund scam and confiscation of all assets of Saradha group to compensate the depositors, and (ii) action against TMC goons who have unleashed a reign of terror in rural Bengal to ensure free, fair and peaceful panchayat polls. Defying heavy police encirclement nearly 150 comrades assembled at Subodh Mullick Square. When the assembly of slogan-shouting rallyists began to march in a procession breaking three successive police cordons, the police resorted to severe lathicharge injuring Comrade Basudev Bose and four other comrades and detaining all comrades at Lalbajar police lock-up. One woman rallyist Comrade Swapna Haldar fainted during lathicharge and had to be hospitalised. All comrades were released later in the evening.

Convention in TN on Ambedkar

On May 26th, Marxist study circle, Salem (Tamil Nadu), held a convention on Ambedkar and his contributions. More than 60 activists and vanguards from various streams of Left parties including CPI, CPI(M), ML groups and CPI(Maoist) participated in the convention. A good number of dalit activists and a few dalit intellectuals also participated.

Comrade M.P. Sadasivam hailed the role of Ambedkar in guaranteeing reservation for sections and castes of Indian society historically excluded from education and dignified employment, particularly for SC/ST and OBC. Recalling the Mandal recommendations implementation by the V.P. Singh Govt he said that the necessary foundation was laid by B.R. Ambedkar. AISF State leader Comrade Manikandan spoke on the economic thoughts of Ambedkar. He elaborated on Ambedkar's views on land nationalization, big industries and on state socialism. Dr. Alagappan explained the role and debates proposed and conducted by Dr. Ambedkar during the time of constitution making, and subsequent bills and first amendment to the constitution.

Com. Simpson, State organizer of Oppressed Liberation Front, dealt with land question. He elaborated Ambedkar's views on small land holdings, co-operative farming and land nationalization. In his speech he recollected and recounted the land struggles in Bihar led by CPI(ML) Liberation. He appreciated the theoretical breakthrough of Comrade VM on caste question, his critical appraisal of Dr. Ambedkar and his policy propositions on several counts. He also appealed to all the Left parties and dalit organizations to come forward to wage land struggles unitedly.

Com. P. Subramanian, State Secretary of AICCTU and GS of TNEB workers and employees union spoke on Ambedkar's contribution on social justice. Several participants from among the audience raised variety of questions. Com. Chandramohan, SCM and CCM of CPI(ML) traced the socio-economic conditions of British india, colonialism, Brahminical feudalism and political climate of Ambedkar's contention with Gandhi and Congress party. He critically acclaimed saying Ambedkar was a radical personality clashed with Gandhian economy and Swaraj. He had opted for socialist measures and industrialization. Some how congress had co-opted Ambedkar in constitution making but never gave him a chance to implement the radical measure he envisaged. Ultimately Ambedkar had been cheated by Congress and its leadership.

Martyrs' Day Observed in Bihar on the Occasion of Ghorhuan Day

Programmes were organised on 3rd June at Ghorhuan in Patna district to commemorate the legacy of revolutionaries who sacrificed their life leading peasants' struggle against landlord-police nexus during Congress rule on the eve of Emergency in 1975. A booklet in Hindi titled "samajik parivartan ke sangharsh mein shahadat kee virasat" (Legacy of Martyrdom in the Struggle for Social Transformation) was released on the occasion of the 38th anniversary (3rd June) of that historic event. Prior to the booklet release, red flag was hoisted and unfurled at the Martyrs' column. CPI(ML) Politburo member cum District Secretary Comrade Amar and All India Agricultural Labourers' Association (AIALA's) National President Comrade Rameshwar Prasad were present who later also addressed a public meeting being organised there.

Fifteen comrades including CPI(ML) leader Nagendra, and Birad Manjhi, a fighter for social change, sacrificed their lives in a heroic battle that went on for 14 hours at Ghorhuan on 3rd June 1975 against the feudal-police nexus. A road intersection (Bihta-Sarmera road) at Purainia in Punpun was remade as Comrade Birad Manjhi Chauk and it inauguration held on the same day. Red flag was hoisted by Comrade Rameshwar Prasad and inauguration done by Comrade Amar. Other processions and programmes commemorating the anniversary were also held.

At the public meetings held at both the places, Comrade Amar, recalling the struggles of the martyrs said that the poor people have been completely cheated by the Nitish Govt in its 7-year rule. Neither did they get the promised 3-decimal homestead land nor a dignified treatment at the hands of this Govt. They are not even getting minimum wages under MNREGA. The Govt is cutting Rs.30 from their statutory minimum wage of Rs.168. Nitish Govt is working mostly in the interests of the rich and powerful and the demand for special status for Bihar is also meant to benefit that section and not the poor.

The Martyrs' Column was built in 2010 and was inaugurated by Party's General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya. Since then martyrs' day is commemorated on every 3rd June in each block of the district. The Party leaders visit the family members of each martyred comrade for getting to know the situation in their family and provide whatever possible help could be provided. Meetings are organised at several places in the district.

CPI(ML) Leaders in Bihar Conducting Nyaya Yatra

On 2nd June, two teams comprising of Party leaders set-out from Patna to tour the regions where dalits, tribals, women and minorities have been subjected to repression and injustice during the Nitish Govt's rule. It is to be noted that the repression and injustice against these sections are on the rise under the present Govt of Bihar.

One team comprising Party's Politburo member Comrade Dhirendra Jha, Araria's District Secretary Comrade Naval Kishore and Party leader from Purnia Comrade Islamuddin toured Bhajanpura village in Forbesganj on 2nd June. The day was also the anniversary of most cruel and blatant murders that the police perpetrated on four innocent villagers, all of whom were from Muslim community. The Govt has already refused a CBI enquiry of this police action. No police officer guilty for the four murders has been punished, rather they have been rewarded with promotion. The police are regularly repressing and harassing the villagers as a result of which most men have left the village.

Thousands of villagers participated in the programme on 2nd June and resolved to participate in nyaya sammelan (justice conference), to unmask the Nitish Govt's apathy for the minorities, at Patna on 20 June.

The second team left from Arrah. Comrades Rajaram (State Standing Committee member), Sudama Prasad, Sudhir Suman of Jasam and RYA's Qyamuddin are in the team. The team first addressed a press conference in Arrah after which they reached Nagri village. As is known, all the accused in the Nagri massacre have been acquitted by the Patna High Court recently. A meeting was held at Nagri with all the villagers. The team was scheduled to visit Arwal and Bathe next day.

Indefinite Hunger Strike in Madhubani

In Madhubani an indefinite hunger strike was launched on 3 June at the DM's office demanding immediate unconditional release of Comrade Dhruvnarayan Karn and others arrested in the wake of the student revolt and police firing in October 2012. Family members of the arrested comrades, including large numbers of women have joined the fast. Hundreds of women are joining in the fast (day-long) in support of those who are on indefinite hunger strike. The 53 arrested activists are also on hunger strike in the jail. It is the third day of the hunger strike when we go to press.

The plight of the hunger strikers outside and inside the jail in this scorching heat has not been sufficient to affect a decision by the insensitive Govt and Administration. Rather the District SP is threatening the agitators through press statements that the agitation is illegal, that under the new rules no movement can take-off without the Administration's permission. While the CPI(ML) is strongly backing the movement, the CPI and the CPI(M) have maintained silence so far. A team of CPI(ML) leaders including the Politburo member Comrade Dhirendra Jha, AIPWA leader Shashi Yadav, Colonel Lakshmeswar Mishra and AIALA leader Dileep Singh  visited the hunger strikers and conveyed Party's solidarity. The Administration did not allow microphone to be used neither let any male members of the Party to address the meeting at the site of hunger strike. Comrade Shashi Yadav, also a Central Committee member of CPI(ML) however, addressed a meeting there and claimed that this movement for justice will surely be victorious, and together we will end the rule of injustice and police excesses. She said that Nitish Kumar wants to convert Bihar into a police state and Madhubani's Supdt of Police is out with all guns blazing to destroy whatever justice and democratic values are being upheld. CPI(ML) has appealed to all people to intensify the united movement for justice and democracy.

Even children have been arrested and are being held in Juvenile homes. Pinki Singh (member of Madhubani dist council), Kiran Karn, Yasmin Khatun, Neelam Shah, Sudha Chaudhary, Asha Pradhan, Nishu Jha and others on indefinite hunger strike, while in Jail 53 are on hunger strike led by CPI(ML) leader Dhruva Narayan Karna and youth leader of CPI Anil Singh.

Booklet Release by AIKM

The Uttarakhand State unit of All India Kisan Mahasabha released a booklet titled krishi kee upechha se badhta palayan (Rising Migration due to Neglect of Agriculture) at Dehradun on 15th May. Releasing the booklet at a press meet the State President of AIKM, Comrade Purushottam Sharma said that Uttarakhand is a tipping point of a serious land crisis. More than 65 % of the State's habitants are dependent on agriculture and related activities while the land left for cultivation in the State is now only 8 to 9 %. He accused all the governments that ruled the State subsequent to its formation for the massive migration of the hill people due to continuing neglect and apathy shown to agriculture. He stressed on the urgent need for a larger peasant movement in the State against the anti-agricultural policies of the Govt.

  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

Fwd: ML Update 23 / 2013

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 16, No. 23, 28 MAY – 03 JUNE 2013

Democratise BCCI and all other Sports Bodies

T

he BCCI is managing the IPL spot-fixing scam much the same way the UPA government is managing the string of scams it wears shamelessly like a garland. Even though several of his ministers have been caught red-handed in scams, Manmohan Singh has refused to take responsibility and resign. Even when he himself has been implicated in the coal scam, Manmohan Singh held on to power, manipulated the CBI to fix the probe instead. Likewise, the BCCI chief has also refused to resign; he has only condescended to step aside and hand over charges to his nominee till the spot-fixing probe is over. Interestingly enough, the interim deal was mooted by BJP leader Arun Jaitley and endorsed by political leaders of various shades who crowd the BCCI, reflecting an unmistakable political consensus to cover things up.

The BCCI president happens to be the Managing Director of India Cements Limited which in turn owns the Chennai Super Kings. Apart from the most obvious charge of conflict of interest, the specific allegation in the betting-cum-fixing scam is more immediate. The spot-fixing allegations and arrests pointed to the involvement of Maiyappan, BCCI president Srinivasan's son-in-law and a key functionary of the CSK, in high-value betting in the IPL. A probe has been ordered by the BCCI into the betting-cum-fixing scam. Every test of probity, transparency and accountability would demand immediate resignation of the BCCI chief. Yet Srinivasan had his way and but for a lone dissenting voice nobody really dared call for his resignation in the BCCI meeting. This clearly shows how deep the rot runs.

The cancer of corruption afflicting Indian cricket is attributable to the same corporate-politics nexus that is responsible for the web of scams that has become the hallmark of neoliberal governance. It is the inherent nature of capitalism to commercialise every productive and creative activity and sports are no exception. Ever since the arrival of the era of televised cricket, the so-called 'gentleman's game' has been taken over by the brute forces of capital and commerce. And in the IPL, the game of cricket has virtually been buried under the collective impact of commerce, glamour and entertainment. And once betting gets associated with the game, fixing is bound to follow. Indeed, the IPL-style T20 tournament seems thoroughly designed for the betting syndicate and its counterpart, the fixing mafia. After six editions of this sordid spectacle, sports-lovers have rightly begun to ask if the country really needs a commercial extravaganza like this masquerading as a sporting tournament.

Cricket is the biggest money-spinning sport in India and BCCI is the world's richest cricket board. Yet it is a private society and it does not have to make its balance-sheets public. It is insulated from the RTI Act and till recently it used to enjoy tax exemptions as the government gave it the benefits of a 'charitable' organisation. But since the launch of IPL – rightly rechristened by many as the Indian Paisa League or Indian Profiteering League for its overwhelmingly commercial character – the government has been compelled to withdraw the 'charitable' tag and taxes are being levied on the BCCI since 2006. But within six years, BCCI has turned into one of India's biggest tax defaulters with billions of rupees of accumulated tax dues. The BCCI is also refusing to pay the 12.36% service tax that it is required to pay in accordance with the latest budget.

The real issue therefore is not just the resignation of Mr. Srinivasan but a thorough overhaul of the entire structure and functioning of BCCI to make it function like a transparent, accountable and democratic body and not as a shady private club of a few capitalists and politicians. The overhauling of BCCI should set the tone for a larger process of streamlining and democratisation of other sporting associations. Sports bodies should be run exclusively by retired sportspeople, professional sports administrators and persons of impeccable integrity and politicians and corporate bosses should be barred from having anything to do with the business of running sports organisations and deciding the future of Indian sports.

CPI(ML) Stand on CIC Ruling about Applicability of RTI for Recognised Political Parties

With regard to the CIC ruling bringing recognised national parties within the domain of RTI, the CPI(ML) Central Committee is of the considered view that there should be adequate transparency about the way activities of political parties are funded. But internal deliberations and decisions made by political parties belong to the domain of inner-party democracy and RTI cannot be used as an instrument to curb it. The norms of transparency and accountability applicable to governments that are elected by the people cannot exactly be applied to political parties which are constituted by members abiding by the programmes and objectives of the parties. Within the limits of distinction between governments and parties, the CPI(ML) is all for greater transparency about the funding and functioning of political parties.

Civil Disobedience in Kolkata against TMC Terror and Authoritarian Rule

Kolkata District Committee of CPI(ML) organised a successful civil disobedience programme on June 4 in protest against the ban imposed by the State Government against holding demonstrations and civil disobedience programmes in Kolkata. The programme also highlighted the two other demands the Party has been campaigning for: (i) arrest all those involved in the Saradha-TMC nexus in masterminding chit fund scam and confiscation of all assets of Saradha group to compensate the depositors, and (ii) action against TMC goons who have unleashed a reign of terror in rural Bengal to ensure free, fair and peaceful panchayat polls. Defying heavy police encirclement nearly 150 comrades assembled at Subodh Mullick Square. When the assembly of slogan-shouting rallyists began to march in a procession breaking three successive police cordons, the police resorted to severe lathicharge injuring Comrade Basudev Bose and four other comrades and detaining all comrades at Lalbajar police lock-up. One woman rallyist Comrade Swapna Haldar fainted during lathicharge and had to be hospitalised. All comrades were released later in the evening.

Convention in TN on Ambedkar

On May 26th, Marxist study circle, Salem (Tamil Nadu), held a convention on Ambedkar and his contributions. More than 60 activists and vanguards from various streams of Left parties including CPI, CPI(M), ML groups and CPI(Maoist) participated in the convention. A good number of dalit activists and a few dalit intellectuals also participated.

Comrade M.P. Sadasivam hailed the role of Ambedkar in guaranteeing reservation for sections and castes of Indian society historically excluded from education and dignified employment, particularly for SC/ST and OBC. Recalling the Mandal recommendations implementation by the V.P. Singh Govt he said that the necessary foundation was laid by B.R. Ambedkar. AISF State leader Comrade Manikandan spoke on the economic thoughts of Ambedkar. He elaborated on Ambedkar's views on land nationalization, big industries and on state socialism. Dr. Alagappan explained the role and debates proposed and conducted by Dr. Ambedkar during the time of constitution making, and subsequent bills and first amendment to the constitution.

Com. Simpson, State organizer of Oppressed Liberation Front, dealt with land question. He elaborated Ambedkar's views on small land holdings, co-operative farming and land nationalization. In his speech he recollected and recounted the land struggles in Bihar led by CPI(ML) Liberation. He appreciated the theoretical breakthrough of Comrade VM on caste question, his critical appraisal of Dr. Ambedkar and his policy propositions on several counts. He also appealed to all the Left parties and dalit organizations to come forward to wage land struggles unitedly.

Com. P. Subramanian, State Secretary of AICCTU and GS of TNEB workers and employees union spoke on Ambedkar's contribution on social justice. Several participants from among the audience raised variety of questions. Com. Chandramohan, SCM and CCM of CPI(ML) traced the socio-economic conditions of British india, colonialism, Brahminical feudalism and political climate of Ambedkar's contention with Gandhi and Congress party. He critically acclaimed saying Ambedkar was a radical personality clashed with Gandhian economy and Swaraj. He had opted for socialist measures and industrialization. Some how congress had co-opted Ambedkar in constitution making but never gave him a chance to implement the radical measure he envisaged. Ultimately Ambedkar had been cheated by Congress and its leadership.

Martyrs' Day Observed in Bihar on the Occasion of Ghorhuan Day

Programmes were organised on 3rd June at Ghorhuan in Patna district to commemorate the legacy of revolutionaries who sacrificed their life leading peasants' struggle against landlord-police nexus during Congress rule on the eve of Emergency in 1975. A booklet in Hindi titled "samajik parivartan ke sangharsh mein shahadat kee virasat" (Legacy of Martyrdom in the Struggle for Social Transformation) was released on the occasion of the 38th anniversary (3rd June) of that historic event. Prior to the booklet release, red flag was hoisted and unfurled at the Martyrs' column. CPI(ML) Politburo member cum District Secretary Comrade Amar and All India Agricultural Labourers' Association (AIALA's) National President Comrade Rameshwar Prasad were present who later also addressed a public meeting being organised there.

Fifteen comrades including CPI(ML) leader Nagendra, and Birad Manjhi, a fighter for social change, sacrificed their lives in a heroic battle that went on for 14 hours at Ghorhuan on 3rd June 1975 against the feudal-police nexus. A road intersection (Bihta-Sarmera road) at Purainia in Punpun was remade as Comrade Birad Manjhi Chauk and it inauguration held on the same day. Red flag was hoisted by Comrade Rameshwar Prasad and inauguration done by Comrade Amar. Other processions and programmes commemorating the anniversary were also held.

At the public meetings held at both the places, Comrade Amar, recalling the struggles of the martyrs said that the poor people have been completely cheated by the Nitish Govt in its 7-year rule. Neither did they get the promised 3-decimal homestead land nor a dignified treatment at the hands of this Govt. They are not even getting minimum wages under MNREGA. The Govt is cutting Rs.30 from their statutory minimum wage of Rs.168. Nitish Govt is working mostly in the interests of the rich and powerful and the demand for special status for Bihar is also meant to benefit that section and not the poor.

The Martyrs' Column was built in 2010 and was inaugurated by Party's General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya. Since then martyrs' day is commemorated on every 3rd June in each block of the district. The Party leaders visit the family members of each martyred comrade for getting to know the situation in their family and provide whatever possible help could be provided. Meetings are organised at several places in the district.

CPI(ML) Leaders in Bihar Conducting Nyaya Yatra

On 2nd June, two teams comprising of Party leaders set-out from Patna to tour the regions where dalits, tribals, women and minorities have been subjected to repression and injustice during the Nitish Govt's rule. It is to be noted that the repression and injustice against these sections are on the rise under the present Govt of Bihar.

One team comprising Party's Politburo member Comrade Dhirendra Jha, Araria's District Secretary Comrade Naval Kishore and Party leader from Purnia Comrade Islamuddin toured Bhajanpura village in Forbesganj on 2nd June. The day was also the anniversary of most cruel and blatant murders that the police perpetrated on four innocent villagers, all of whom were from Muslim community. The Govt has already refused a CBI enquiry of this police action. No police officer guilty for the four murders has been punished, rather they have been rewarded with promotion. The police are regularly repressing and harassing the villagers as a result of which most men have left the village.

Thousands of villagers participated in the programme on 2nd June and resolved to participate in nyaya sammelan (justice conference), to unmask the Nitish Govt's apathy for the minorities, at Patna on 20 June.

The second team left from Arrah. Comrades Rajaram (State Standing Committee member), Sudama Prasad, Sudhir Suman of Jasam and RYA's Qyamuddin are in the team. The team first addressed a press conference in Arrah after which they reached Nagri village. As is known, all the accused in the Nagri massacre have been acquitted by the Patna High Court recently. A meeting was held at Nagri with all the villagers. The team was scheduled to visit Arwal and Bathe next day.

Indefinite Hunger Strike in Madhubani

In Madhubani an indefinite hunger strike was launched on 3 June at the DM's office demanding immediate unconditional release of Comrade Dhruvnarayan Karn and others arrested in the wake of the student revolt and police firing in October 2012. Family members of the arrested comrades, including large numbers of women have joined the fast. Hundreds of women are joining in the fast (day-long) in support of those who are on indefinite hunger strike. The 53 arrested activists are also on hunger strike in the jail. It is the third day of the hunger strike when we go to press.

The plight of the hunger strikers outside and inside the jail in this scorching heat has not been sufficient to affect a decision by the insensitive Govt and Administration. Rather the District SP is threatening the agitators through press statements that the agitation is illegal, that under the new rules no movement can take-off without the Administration's permission. While the CPI(ML) is strongly backing the movement, the CPI and the CPI(M) have maintained silence so far. A team of CPI(ML) leaders including the Politburo member Comrade Dhirendra Jha, AIPWA leader Shashi Yadav, Colonel Lakshmeswar Mishra and AIALA leader Dileep Singh  visited the hunger strikers and conveyed Party's solidarity. The Administration did not allow microphone to be used neither let any male members of the Party to address the meeting at the site of hunger strike. Comrade Shashi Yadav, also a Central Committee member of CPI(ML) however, addressed a meeting there and claimed that this movement for justice will surely be victorious, and together we will end the rule of injustice and police excesses. She said that Nitish Kumar wants to convert Bihar into a police state and Madhubani's Supdt of Police is out with all guns blazing to destroy whatever justice and democratic values are being upheld. CPI(ML) has appealed to all people to intensify the united movement for justice and democracy.

Even children have been arrested and are being held in Juvenile homes. Pinki Singh (member of Madhubani dist council), Kiran Karn, Yasmin Khatun, Neelam Shah, Sudha Chaudhary, Asha Pradhan, Nishu Jha and others on indefinite hunger strike, while in Jail 53 are on hunger strike led by CPI(ML) leader Dhruva Narayan Karna and youth leader of CPI Anil Singh.

Booklet Release by AIKM

The Uttarakhand State unit of All India Kisan Mahasabha released a booklet titled krishi kee upechha se badhta palayan (Rising Migration due to Neglect of Agriculture) at Dehradun on 15th May. Releasing the booklet at a press meet the State President of AIKM, Comrade Purushottam Sharma said that Uttarakhand is a tipping point of a serious land crisis. More than 65 % of the State's habitants are dependent on agriculture and related activities while the land left for cultivation in the State is now only 8 to 9 %. He accused all the governments that ruled the State subsequent to its formation for the massive migration of the hill people due to continuing neglect and apathy shown to agriculture. He stressed on the urgent need for a larger peasant movement in the State against the anti-agricultural policies of the Govt.

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 23 / 2013

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 16, No. 23, 28 MAY – 03 JUNE 2013

The Worst Attacks on Democracy Are Conducted by Its Supposed Custodians

U

PA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has described the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, which claimed the lives of several Congress leaders including Salwa Judum leader Mahendra Karma, as an 'attack on democracy.'

The Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, as leaders of the Congress party, must be asked if Mahendra Karma and Salwa Judum, declared 'unconstitutional' by the Supreme Court, represented 'democracy'? The Salwa Judum SPOs stand accused of burning entire villages, raping women, and killing countless people. Yet Mahendra Karma and his extra-constitutional terrorist outfit got the backing not only of BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh but of the Union Home Ministry and the Congress party. Was this democracy?

The Salwa Judum, flouting the Supreme Court ordering it to be disbanded, continues to be operational under a variety of pretexts, with the tacit support of the Central Government. In Chhattisgarh, then, the worst and most flagrant attacks on democracy are being launched by its supposed custodians, the State and Central Governments and the security forces.

While one cannot condone the killing of innocent or abducted people, the Maoist attack on May 25 surely cannot be seen in isolation from the political context of Chhattisgarh where the State has given up even the pretence of upholding Constitutional norms or democratic rights. Just a week before the Maoist attack on the Congress convoy, 8 adivasis including 3 children aged 10-15, were shot dead by CRPF while celebrating a seed sowing festival. In June last year, 17 people were killed in another CRPF firing on an adivasi festival. The security officers were not booked for murder, and the SC/ST Act was not invoked. Senior police officers accused of sexual torture and rape of adivasi women in custody have received gallantry awards from the President of India. These atrocities were never ever described by India's or Chhattisgarh's rulers as 'attacks on democracy'.

It must also be stressed emphatically that the CPI (Maoist)'s militaristic actions, isolated from democratic movements and political assertion, are counterproductive in developing any mass resistance to the Government's policies of corporate plunder, Salwa Judum and Operation Green Hunt. It is also on record that the Maoists have at times acted as mercenaries for ruling class parties, murdering CPI(ML) activists in Paliganj (Bihar) at RJD's behest and CPI(ML)'s Jharkhand MLA Mahendra Singh at the behest of the nexus of the BJP leadership, a corrupt police officer and coal mafia.

The Governments of Chhattisgarh and the Centre have already begun to use the latest Maoist attack as a pretext to propose Army deployment and even of Air Force strikes and 'drone attacks'. The Governments cannot be allowed to dress up such an unconscionable war on the adivasi people as a 'war on Maoists'. Instead, there must be an immediate scrapping of Operation Green Hunt, withdrawal of former SPOs from the Chhattisgarh police force, and criminal action initiated against all those, including police personnel and Salwa Judum cadre, who stand accused of rape and killing.

The developments in Chhattisgarh make it abundantly clear that the quest for a military solution to the Maoist or any other insurgency is antithetical to the very notion of democracy and rule of law. Pressure must be brought to bear upon concerned governments and other wings of the state to shun this counterproductive quest for a non-existent military solution and pave the way for a democratic political solution. The Maoists too must realize that a few stunning and sensational military actions are no substitute for the basic and indispensable task of waging a protracted political battle to secure and defend people's rights.

Land Struggle and Police Brutalities in Purnea

A

nother incident of brutal repression on landless peasants and agrarian workers in Purnea district of Bihar, has again exposed the reality behind Nitish Kumar's 'sushashan' and his continuing nexus with the feudal goons strengthening at the grassroots. This was a land dispute which Nitish Govt. tried to solve in favour of the landlord who was in illegal possession of common land which was earmarked as ceiling surplus.

Purnea and adjoining districts in Bihar are still known for the existence of hundreds of 'States' and 'Estates' which in other parts of the Country in now a thing of the distant past! Ironically these 'states' still command thousands of acres of land even after decades of the land ceiling Acts came into existence.

This particular incident occurred in one Molchand Estate, in Dhamdaha block of Bishanpur-Balua panchayat, where a middleman Jayanendra Mandal was killed by the enraged poor adivasi villagers. This was the outcome of a series of events started after the Bihar High Court cancelled status of 22 acres of ceiling surplus land which had been under the occupation of adivasis, and then the District administration sent force to evict the poor villagers and harvest their standing crops of banana and corn in 2012.

Jayanendra had earlier extorted lakhs of rupees from the villagers with the promise to transfer of land in their names, but then embezzled 17 acres of land himself with their money. He had promised to sell 17 acres of land of Molchand Estate to poor villagers. His wife is two-time Mukhiya of the village and he himself is a known broker of the said Estate (which belongs to one Kumar Sukhchand Singh). He collected money from the adivasis in the range of 5-50 thousand rupees totalling more than 8 lakhs, but the land was transferred in his name betraying poor villagers. Later, in 2012 angry villagers collectively harvested banana crops from the same 17 acres land in protest of the betrayal and administrative apathy they received.

Immediately after the incident, CPI(ML) state committee sent an investigation team to Purnea comprising of Nawal Kishore, Gopal Ravidas, Md. Islamuddin, and Jamuna Murmu.

In the year 2009-10, 70 adivasis were allotted Indira Awas. Out of total money sanctioned for homes for the poor, Jayanendra kept with him around 24.5 lakh rupees with the promise of supplying bricks for the homes in exchange, which he did not comply and poor adivasis money was looted this way.

Later in 2012, he tried to capture a piece of 5 acres of land which was under the possession of adivasis for generations, this is registered as govermental land on papers. Adivasis as well as CPI(ML) tried to resolve this issue through mutual discussions, but Jayanendra defied every such attempt.

On 23 May last, Jayanendra tried to dig sand from same 5 acres land plot for his brick-kiln which was peacefully protested by the adivasis. But he, along with dozens of armed goons, again reached the spot and intimidated villagers and opened fire on them. Enraged villager resisted the attempt ultimately leading the goons to flee away from the spot, while Jayanendra was caught by them. They beat him up and then burnt him alive.

Only then the police and administration swung into action! No one was spared from police brutality. The administration which did nothing to stop Jayanendra's atrocities going on for years, was now adamant to teach poor people a lesson for their crime of daring to rise up against atrocities. Police mainly targeted women and children who had nothing to do with the incident. One pregnant woman, Gita Devi, was brutally beaten up leading to the violent termination of her pregnancy. After rampaging the whole village police has arrested 40 people, mainly women. Even women with breast feeding infants and children as little as three years old were beaten and tortured by the police. With the 40 arrested women, there are 14 children- 7 children in the age group of 2 months to 1 year; and 7 children in the age group of 2-7 years- with them in jail.

The said adivasi tola is now almost empty as all the remaining people have fled from the village to escape police brutalities.

This incident glaringly exhibited how Nitish Govt. provides 'Nyay' (justice) and 'sushashan' (governance) to people in Bihar. The government and administration never heeded to the complaints of adivasis and never acted against Jayanendra's atrocities in time – amply proves prevailing administrative inaction and its nexus with the feudals and their goons.

CPI(ML) has protested this atrocity and organised a Statewide protest day on May 29. AIALA leader Satyadev Ram and Gopal Ravidas led people in Purnea on this day. The Bihar unit of All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) has called for block and district level protests from June 1 to June 5. This will start from Purnea on June 1, where large number of women will gather against police brutality on women and children and prevailing anti-people nexus which is the back-bone of Nitish Govt. at the grassroots.

Joint TU Protest Demonstration Demands Release of NOIDA Workers

Two hundred workers in NOIDA continue to languish in jail, having been arrested on fabricated charges during the all India Strike called jointly by Central Trade Unions on February 20-21st 2013. The Central TUs that had called the Strike, held a joint demonstration at the Greater NOIDA District Magistrate's office on 20th May. Hundreds of workers from NOIDA and Delhi participated in the demonstration, and submitted a memorandum to the DM demanding withdrawal of the fabricated charges and release of the arrested workers.

The demonstration was addressed by CITU General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Tapan Sen, AICCTU National Secretary Santosh Roy, AITUC National Secretary D L Sachdeva, NOIDA AICCTU leader Shivji Singh, RYA National VP Aslam Khan, and several other TU activists. AICCTU State President VKS Gautam was also present, as were leaders from various sectoral Unions affiliated to AICCTU, including DTC transport workers, construction workers, street vendors, and domestic workers.

On the same day, 20th May, several organizations jointly protested at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi against the arrest of Maruti workers who were peacefully demonstrating at Kaithal in Haryana. More than a hundred sacked Maruti workers holding a sit-in at Kaithal were arrested by the Haryana Police on the night of May 18th, a few hours before their scheduled demonstration the next day in which many local villagers were to come out in support. 96 villagers who supported the Maruti workers have cases lodged against them, including blatantly fabricated cases of attempt to murder. AISA and RYA activists participated in the demonstration at Haryana Bhawan.

Closed Mohini Mills: Workers' Convention

On 17 May, 2013 a workers convention was organised by AICCTU & Mazdoor Baachao Manch at Samaj Sadan Hall, Kamarhatti, Belghoria, 24 Parganas (North) on the issue of immediate disbursal of PF dues, gratuity & pension to all the workers of Mohini Mills, a Central Govt. Undertaking under NTC and of all other closed industries.

A workers rally was organised from Belghoria Railway Station to the Convention Hall with a significant number of women workers participating. More than 300 workers took part in this rally. It is to be noted that Mohini Mills was a unit of National Textile Corporation. The Central Govt. Undertook the management on 23 Oct. 1981, but denotofied it on 21 June, 1988. Since then the Mill is lying closed and the workers have not yet received their PF dues and other retirement benefits.

Though the State Govt. Of West Bengal acquired the land of Mohini Mills in the year 2004, no initiative has been taken to disburse the legitimate dues of the workers. The PF dept. has mentioned that at the time of closure, total PF fund accumulated was 85,73,494.61.

The Convention was addressed by Naba Dutta of Nagarik Manch, Amal Sen, AIUTUC leader, Kalachand Das, worker of Mohini Mill, Debashis Pal, Civil Liberty activist, Atanu Chakravarty, General Secretary, BCMF & Basudev Bose, General Secretary, AICCTU, West Bengal. The convention resolved to (a) File mass FIR against the corrupt members and Secretary of Board of Trustees. (b) To organise rally & handing over deputation before the Minister of Industry, West Bengal, and pressurize for immediate disbursal of all the retirement dues. (c) To pressurize the municipal Corporation of Kamarhatti for immediate renovation of workers quarter of Mohini Mills. Nabendu Dasgupta, President of BCMF reported on the initiatives taken on behalf of the organisation and Shibshankar Guha Roy presided.

Cinema of Resistance starts its Journey in WB with Film Screening in a closed Jute Mill

At the invitation of Gouripur Mazdoor Bachao Manch, the Kolkata Chapter of the Cinema of Resistance campaign made its debut with an evening film screening on 25th May from 6 to 8 pm in the Gouripur Jute Mill area in Naihati, an industrial town located about 40 Kms from Kolkata.

For independent filmmakers Purba and Kasturi, it was an occasion to screen the trailer of their film-in-progress, made in solidarity with the struggling workers of the closed Gouripur Jute Mill. When the 150 year-old mill was liquidated in 1997, 5000 workers lost their jobs. The mill had its own power plant, water treatment plant, jetty and post office. The policies of the government and millowners gradually drove a profitable mill into sickness, and eventually shut it for good. Now the workers are fighting a long battle to wrest their outstanding PF, pension and gratuity dues under the leadership of Gouripur Mazdoor Bachao Manch.

Subrata Sengupta, leader of the Gouripur Mazdoor Bachao Manch welcomed the Cinema of Resistance caravan into West Bengal. Sanjay Joshi, National Convener of The Group, Jan Sanskriti Manch, started off with a discussion on new cinema and its association with peoples' movements. Then a worker, Comrade Gayatri Das sang a song of resistance, to flag off the screening.

For the children in the audience, Rajesh Chakrabarty's animation songs from Hip Hip Hurray were screened. Following that was K P Sasi's short film Gaon Chorab Nahi, Anand Patwardhan's film Occupation: Millworker, Biju Toppo and Meghnath's film Gari Lohardaga Mail, trailer of Kasturi and Purba's ongoing film Gouripur Diary, and Norman Mclaren's short film Neighbors. 300 people, mostly workers, were present at the cinema hall constructed with bamboo poles and open on two sides, by the comrades of Gouripur Mazdoor Bachao Andolan. The audience not only enjoyed the new cinema but also contributed to the making of the ongoing film, with their many suggestions and positive discussions.

CPI(ML) Observes "Dhikkar Dibas" 

in Condemnation of Betrayal, Repression and Corruption of the Mamata Govt 

on its Two-year Anniversary in West Bengal

The Trinamool Congress led government in West Bengal has completed two years in office. From 5th to 21st May, the ruling dispensation spent Rs.3 crores and 10 lakhs on celebrating the occasion. At a time when West Bengal is reeling under financial bankruptcy and a scam of unprecedented magnitude, such extravagant waste of public money is an attempt to coat a layer of gloss on misgovernance, financial corruption and breakdown of democracy in the state.

In this tenure, the farmers of Singur are yet to get their land back. The culprits of Nandigram massacre or the rapists of Tapasi Malik remain unpunished. The government not just backtracked on its pre-poll promise of releasing all political prisoners and stopping operation Greenhunt in Lalgarh, rather military and police repression has escalated - the cold-blooded encounter-death of Maoist leader Kishenji, instances of rapes and crackdowns in the area, and an increased number of political prisoners expose the real face of the Mamata government. There has been escalation in the number of farmer suicides which the chief minister continues to deny. The Govt as well as the TMC have staunchly and consistently pitted themselves against workers' movements and assertion. In the most recent Jute mill strike and all-india working class strike of 20-21 February, the government and the party unitedly took a militant stand to break the strikes. The consistent attacks on the functioning of democratic institutions like the Panchayat and steps to curb student-youth movements have been glaring. The murder of student activist Sudipto Gupta and the ensuing concerted assault on all political opposition has shown the intolerance of the government to any democratic dissent. The Saradha scam, latest and most massive in a series of instances of financial misappropriation by the TMC government, has torn to shreds even the so-called 'honest' image assumed by the Trinamool supremo herself. Millions of poor people have been victimised, cheated of their lifelong savings in collusion with the ministers.

Against this backdrop, the CPI(ML) called for observing "Dhikkar Dibas" (Day of Condemnation) on the TMC's two-year anniversary. A ten-point peoples' chargesheet implicating the Trinamool Government on issues of betrayal, repression and corruption was published and widely distributed among the masses. The state-wide campaign, organized on and around 18th May, was concentrated in block and panchayat levels in all the major districts of the Party's work. In some districts the campaign made inroads into newer areas and panchayats. The campaign will continue till 4th June, when a massive state-wide civil disobedience and 'Jail Bharo' would be observed.

Jagjit Singh Layalpuri

Jagjit Singh Layalpuri, 96, veteran communist and a lifelong crusader for left unity passed away in Ludhiana in Punjab on the night of 27 May at 11 p.m. He was a renowned communist and freedom fighter who dedicated his life to the struggle for the people's emancipation. He was among the few in Punjab who initiated the formation of CPI(M) in Punjab from 1964 onwards. Later he was the first to raise his voice against CPI(M)'s capitulationist policies and tactics within the party, which eventually led to his expulsion from CPI(M). He continued to strive for a broader unity among the left forces throughout his life. His contribution to the peasant movement in Punjab will always be remembered. He remained a good friend and well wisher of CPI(ML) and its movement, and never hesitated to help our Party on various occasions. CPI(ML) pays him warm tributes and will always cherish his memory.

Red Salute to Comrade Jagjit Singh Layalpuri!

 

 

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

Fwd: ML Update 22 / 2013

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 16, No. 22, 21 – 27 MAY 2013

Resist the TMC's Authoritarian Bid to Appropriate Panchayat Power

T

he TMC government of West Bengal and the State Election Commission are embroiled in a protracted legal battle over the ensuing panchayat elections in the state. On the face of it, the battle may well seem to be over the issue of supremacy of the state government and the state election commission over their respective jurisdictions or domains, but we must see it in the evolving political context of West Bengal and the hostile and contemptuous attitude of the TMC government to various institutions of democracy.

The panchayats were the first to reveal the direction of 'paribartan' or change of guard in West Bengal when in the wake of Singur and Nandigram, the TMC managed to wrest control of almost half the village panchayats in 2008. The 'paribartan' wave could be felt even more strongly in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and by the time the Assembly elections were held in 2011, the results were a foregone conclusion for all but the politically blind. But now this is 2013, and the panchayat elections will mark the first major test for the new regime.

The TMC has now been in power for two years and by all indications disillusionment has already started setting in among large sections of the society in West Bengal. Like most other states in India today, West Bengal is also in the grip of a deepening economic crisis, and the state government has hardly done anything to provide any relief to the people. On the contrary, there has been a renewed campaign to deprive people of whatever access and right they had to land and tenancy. The incidence of peasant suicides has also grown in West Bengal and the government is only busy in denying these suicides. On top of it, the rural population has been hit hard by the chit fund scam and there can be no denying the complicity of the TMC, as of the CPI(M) in the past, in the phenomenal rise of this dubious web of swindling.

The only plea of the state government now is that it has been in power for only two years, which is too short a time span especially viewed against the 34-year-long tenure of the CPI(M) and Left Front. Well, the CPI(M) never won a 34-year-long mandate, it won seven successive elections that allowed it to rule for such a long period. And in a good majority of West Bengal panchayats, the TMC has already ruled for five years and has proved itself one up on corrupt and degenerated CPI(M) panchayat-lords. This is why the TMC regime is wary of the people venting their anger through free and fair panchayat polls. As has already happened with elections in student unions, factory unions and provident fund trustee boards, the TMC is desperate to secure control of panchayats through unbridled muscle-flexing and terror tactics.

In flagrant violation of the rules and established norms of panchayat elections, the government twice unilaterally announced election dates thereby clearly seeking to arrogate to itself powers that belong to the state election commission. It wanted to have a single-day poll schedule in utter disregard of the sane advice of conducting elections in a three-phase schedule. Anybody familiar with the ground reality of West Bengal will hardly question the commission's insistence on adequate deployment of security forces.

In fact, there are reasons to apprehend that in many places opposition candidates will be forcibly prevented from filing their nomination papers. The commission must make sure that the entire process of election right from nomination and campaigning to casting and counting of votes and declaration of results is free from administrative bias and political terror and violence.

Despite being the main opposition party, the CPI(M) is not in a position to offer any credible opposition or resistance to the TMC's politics of terror and violation of democratic norms. Much of what the TMC is doing today is sheer imitation of the CPI(M)-style politics of control and domination. The people of West Bengal have not forgotten the lynching of six agricultural labourers in Karanda village of Bardhaman district in the May 1993 panchayat elections – the only 'crime' of these agricultural labourers was that they had dared to revolt against the feudal-kulak domination in the CPI(M). The victims of Karanda massacre are still awaiting justice from the Supreme Court after the guilty were all acquitted by the High Court much the same way as the guilty are currently being acquitted in Bihar. And Karanda has been no aberration – the people of Kerala have seen similar CPI(M)-led violence in Onchiyam and many other places.

The TMC must not however be allowed to get away with its politics of terror and subversion of democratic procedures and institutions. The way Mamata Banerjee and her government are treating the election commission is symptomatic of the regime's arrogant attitude and its desperate design to monopolise power on every level in the state. The fighting peasantry and the democratic intelligentsia of West Bengal must once again come together. If they had joined hands in the wake of Singur and Nandigram to vote the arrogant CPI(M) regime out of power, they must come together now to resist the TMC's authoritarian dispensation and assert the voice of grassroots democracy.

45th Session of Indian Labour Conference

AICCTU raises the voice of protest before PM On the Issues of Arrest and jailing of workers of Noida, Maruti (Manesar) and Brutal assassination of Gangaram Koul

T

he 45th Session of Indian Labour Conference (the highest tripartite forum, also called Labour Parliament) held on 17 – 18 May, 2013 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi- the first one after the successful 2-days all India General Strike called by central trade unions- was unprecedented in a way that it witnessed protest, not seen in recent times, when the delegation of AICCTU (All India Central Council of Trade Unions) led by Subhas Sen, National Secretary as well as Assam State Secretary of AICCTU (also a delegate to the conference) raised the banner of protest in the inaugural session in the presence of Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh (also a Rajya Sabha member from Assam), demanding answer from him regarding the indiscriminate arrest of hundreds of workers and TU activists in Noida industrial area during the all India General Strike on 20-21 February 2013 who continue to languish in jail, languishing Maruti, Manesar workers in jail for last one year and brutal killing of Gangaram Koul, a popular leader of Tea Tribe in Assam and of AICCTU. Subhas Sen and other members of AICCTU delegation raised the issues when the Union Labour Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge rose to welcome the PM. The Minister's efforts to stop the AICCTU leader to raise the voice of protest went in vain, as he continued to speak till he had made his point. This protest was reflected in the Media also with a wide coverage in print and electronic media including national and state media and particularly in the media of north-east.

The other members of AICCTU delegation (as advisors) were Rajiv Dimri, Santosh Roy and VKS Gautam, the National Secretaries.

Subhas Sen in his speech in the post-inaugural session, while raising the issues of escalated attacks on working class and downtrodden and the throttling of industrial democracy, characterized the central and various state governments as "caged parrots" of Corporates. Exposing the duality of the Central Govt, he said that while the inaugural address of the PM took care to give space to the February Strike and issues raised by it, but during the same strike hundreds of workers and TU activists were indiscriminately arrested and offices of trade unions were raided in Noida and the Central Govt remained mute spectator to this incident, and even in this session did not care to address this particular issue. While raising the issue of brutal assassination of Gangaram Koul, he questioned the Labour Minister of Assam (incidentally, he was also a member of presidium of this session) as to why the main conspirator of this killing, Raju Sahu, the ruling party MLA from Chabua and other accused were not yet arrested, why despite the order of CBI enquiry into this case by your government the CBI has not received any communication in this regard. He also raised the issue of non-implementation of Bonus in Assam.

Ending his speech, he expressed his resentment on the speech of PM for not announcing any measures for improving the working and living conditions of scheme (honorarium) workers like ASHA, Angavadi, Mid-day meal etc. who are lakhs in number and predominately women workers.

The issues of Noida and Maruti, Manesar found echo too in the speeches of delegates of other central trade unions.

The 45th session of ILC had four agenda-items for deliberation. Some of the notable recommendations/conclusions of this session were: Scheme (honorarium) workers like ASHA, Angavadi, Mid-day meal etc. "should be first recognized as 'workers' and not volunteers or honorary workers", "they should be paid minimum wages" and "should get all social security benefits like pension, gratuity, maternity benefits etc." On the issue of Assured Pension with Indexation to all workers, the session recommended that "EPS '95 should, as a first step, provide a minimum assured pension of Rs. 1000/- per month", "the pensionary benefits available to the beneficiaries should be responsive to price rise", "the new pension scheme (NPS) should be suitably modified also to provide for assured pension to its members" etc.

In Akhilesh-Ruled UP Minority Youth Dies in Custody While Varun Gandhi Goes Free

Khalid Mujahid, a so-called "accused" in the 2007 serial blasts in UP died on Saturday 18 May in police custody, yet another shameful injustice to a victim of Muslim witch-hunt. Khalid, a resident of Mariahu in Jaunpur and a Madarsa teacher, was arrested by the special task force of the UP police in December 2007 following serial blasts in UP and immediately and declared, without any evidence, to be an 'operative of the Harkatul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI)'. Since then, he had been languishing in jail for the last 6 years. Following sustained protests against false framing, a commission was formed to probe the matter. The report submitted in 2012 found discrepancies in the "official" police case against Khalid. On the basis of the report, the UP govt. was forced to file an application in the court to withdraw the case against Khalid. However, the court turned down the application. According to activists, the UP Government put up a weak application, and now Khalid has died under mysterious circumstances, raising serious questions of cover up and conspiracy.

It is indeed yet another copybook instance of killing and suspicious death in Police custody of so called "terror accused" against whom the police never managed to provide any evidence. One has not forgotten, how just last year 8 June, Mohd. Qateel Siddiqi of Darbhanga, arrested since Nov 2011, on charges of 'involvement' in several blast cases, was strangled to death by two gangsters, Sharad Mohol and Alok Bhalerao, inside Yerawada jail in Pune. Let us note, Maharashtra ATS had failed to file a chargesheet against Qateel in the 7 months from November 2011 till June 2012. In the Adarsh scam, accused got bail because the CBI failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated 6-month period. If the same norms had applied, Qateel should have been free, given the failure of authorities to assemble any proof against him. Yet, he remained in jail, and the ATS kept claiming he was a 'key Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative.' From Maharashtra to Hyderabad, Gujarat to Darbhanga, the horrific saga continues unabated– framing innocent youth without a shred of evidence, torturing them for years together behind bars, and finally killing them off in custody or in fake "encounters". These shocking cases- from Malegaon to Hyderabad, Bangalore to Azamgarh and Darbhanga- underline the vulnerability of Muslim youth routinely arrested on terror charges.

The cases also expose the duplicity and hypocrisy of the SP and Congress who never tire of swearing by 'secularism'. During the UP elections, we have seen cynical competition between the SP and the Congress to woo support of the beleaguered Muslim community. Yet, in practice, whether it is the Congress-ruled Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh or the SP ruled UP, they are competing with the BJP in the false framing and custodial attacks on Muslim 'terror accused'.

Contrast this witch-hunt with how the SP Government in UP manufactured a "clean chit" for Varun Gandhi in the public hate-speech case! Varun Gandhi made the worst of anti-Muslim, venomous, hate-mongering speeches in Pilibhit before the previous Lok Sabha elections. The hate speeches were delivered in large open public meetings and the entire country saw and heard them through TV channels. But, suddenly, when the matter came up in the court, Samajwadi Party's UP administration could not produce any video footage of the incident and several witnesses turned hostile! The recent sting operation by a magazine - aired by a TV channel - exposed how the UP state machinery and an SP leader happily colluded with the BJP to manufacture the 'clean chit' for Varun Gandhi. What a remarkable tango of the communal fascists and those who gather votes in the name of "secularism"!

It is high time that this twin trend of communal politics - of state patronage to communal forces and hate-mongerers on the one hand and unabated state-sponsored witch-hunt of minorities on the other, this time enacted in UP, is exposed and resisted. We must struggle to ensure that all those responsible for framing Khalid Mujahid and for his custodial death are brought to book. Moreover, the case against Varun Gandhi's hate speech should be reopened, and all those responsible for scuttling the case against him – especially the Public Prosecutor and the officials in the UP government – should be punished for the shameful subversion of the judicial process.

Protest in Patna against Acquittal of the Killers of Ajit Sarkar

Acquittal of Accused in Political Murders and Massacres of Poor - a Mockery of Justice

CPI(ML) activists and citizens of Patna held a protest march on 19th May in Patna against the acquittal of the killers of Comrade Ajit Sarkar, a popular leftist leader of Purnea. The protest accused the Centre's Manmohan Singh Govt and the State's Nitish Govt as well as the police and CBI guilty of shielding those accused and involved in massacres and murders of political activists.

The march started from Patna Radio Station and culminated in a public meeting upon reaching at the Patna Railway Junction. People in march were carrying placards with Ajit Sarkar's photo, demanding retrial, as in the case of Gujarat, of all those cases in which the accused in massacres and killings of political activists had been acquitted.

Well known economist Prof. Naval Kishore Choudhry, CPI(ML)'s Politburo member and AIALA's General Secretary Comrade Dhirendra Jha, Party's town secretary Santosh Sahar, journalist Pushpraj, AIPWA leader Anita SInha, advocate Javed Ahmad, Party leader Murtaza Ali and ward councillor Tota Choudhary among others led the march.

Hailing Comrade Ajit Sarkar as a well known and popular leftist leader of Bihar, Comrade Dhirendra Jha said that he had represented Purnia Assembly Constituency continuously from 1980 till the time he was murdered in 1998 by the criminal-politician nexus. It is extremely shameful that Pappu Yadav, Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav have been acquitted by the Patna High Court accused in the murder of a popular leader. This acquittal is all the more serious as the HC says that the CBI could not furnish sufficient evidence against the accused. The HC has already in the past brought this that the Bihar police has not furnished sufficient evidence against the massacre accused. These incidents create an impression that acquitting those involved in massacres and political murders has become a characteristic feature of the Central and State govts.

Other speakers said that after acquitting the criminals of Bathanitola, Narayanpur, Nagri and Khagri Bigha massacres and now the acquittal of the murderers of Ajit Sarkar, a new basis has been laid for feudal violence and criminalisation of politics in Bihar. But the people of Bihar will not tolerate this injustice and in the coming days there will be bigger mobilisations to thwart this design.

Puducherry Protests

Jananayaga Kattumana Thozhilalar Sangam, (AICWF) and Rural Workers Movement (AIALA) jointly organised a road-blockade on 9th May in front of Dy. Collector's office at Puducherry. The protestors demanded: (1) implementation of MNREGS without delay and interruption in Puducherry and Karaikal districts, and wages to labourers for lay-off days, (2) immediate and free allocation of constructed houses to dalit families, which were built long back and rents for house plots to all BPL families in rural areas, (3) monthly pension of Rs 3000 to all construction workers, (4) immediate withdrawal of Aadhar/UID and DPT which has been made mandatory to avail old age pension, widow pension and LPG subsidy, etc.

Protestors took out a rally led by Comrades RV Lenin, District organizer (AIALA) and P Murugan (AICWF). Comrade S Balasubramanian, National President of AICWF, addressed the rally. The protesters courted arrest and were released later. A massive propaganda was also done in the rural areas of Puducherry to highlight the demands of the agricultural and construction workers.

Freedom Fighter and CPI(ML) Leader Comrade Brij Bihari Lal Passes Away

CPI(ML) Central Committee Expresses Deep Sorrow

C

omrade Brij Bihari Lal, a Freedom fighter and an ex-member of CPI(ML)'s Central Control Commission, died in Pilibhit on 11th May 2013 at the age of 92. Fighting several conditions including cancer, he breathed his last at the King George Medical University's Gandhi Hospital in Lucknow. At the time of death members of his family and CPI(ML) leaders and activists were present at the hospital.

Comrade Brij Bihari Lal was born on 14 June 1921 in Itauria village under Puranpur Tehsil in Pilibhit district. He was jailed thrice after participating in the Quit India movement of 1942. After the Country won Freedom and he was subsequently released from the jail, he joined the Communist movement. Populary known as Mahashay ji, he was among the founders of the Communist Party in Pilibhit.  He took CPI(ML) membership early in 1980's. Later he became a member of the Party's Central Control Commission. He struggled all his life for betterment of toilers and poor and for revolutionary change and remained a Party member till the very end of his life.

His struggle with death was a long one and just a few days back while on hospital bed he tried to entertain others with these lines:

"92 varsh kiye hain puray, hum ab bhi jiye jaate hain

Ae maut, tujhe hum baar-baar challenge kiye jaate hain!"

(have completed 92, still I go on; O' death I'm challenging you on and on")

CPI(ML)'s Central Committee expressing deep sorrow at this loss to the Communist movement, held his contributions for the Communist movement and the Party in high esteem. The CC statement said that he was deeply loved and respected in the Party. The CC shares the grief of his family members and his close comrades and pledges to fulfil his unfinished tasks.

The cremation was held on 12th May in his home-town of Puranpur in which a large number of leaders and activists of the Party including State Secretary Comrade Sudhakar Yadav, CCM Comrade Krishna Yadav were present. The State Administration separately presented a 'Guard of Honour'. A large number of people assembled at the cremation also bid adieu to the to the departed leader.

Long Live The Legacy of Comrade BB Lal !

Adieu Dear Comrade !

 

 

 

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