ML Update 12 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol.  17                          No. 12                                                                                                                           19 - 25 MAR 2014

Free Media From the Nexus of Corporations and Political Parties  

Once again, on the eve of Lok Sabha polls, questions have arisen about the role and objectivity of the media. These questions call out for an answer, and cannot be dismissed.

Certainly, an objective and independent media is crucial for any democracy. The question is: what defines such ‘independence’? Is it enough for the media to be free from censorship by the state or direct control by the ruling party or the? Are there not less obvious forms of control that are exercised? When big corporations own most media houses, can the print and electronic media possibly remain free of the economic and political priorities and interests of their owners?

The media, the world over, is no longer what its name implies; i.e. it is not a mere ‘medium’ to convey and analyse news; it is a massive industry that manufactures consent. Media wields enormous power to shape political opinion, to decide which issues acquire national importance, and which opinions capture the popular imagination. And we have ample evidence to show that there is very little to keep this power accountable and transparent. 

Let us reflect on the so-called objectivity of the media in post-liberalisation India. Before the 1990s in India, the only TV channel was Government controlled, and its lack of objectivity was a standing joke. The fact that DD News in those days gave disproportionate and reverent coverage to the ruling party and Government was widely recognised, and the sarkari channel would certainly never expose scams or investigate Government wrongdoing.

In the era of the liberalised media, with countless private channels vying for TRPs, is the situation really very different? From channel to channel, paper to paper, we often find the same news, the same faces, playing over and over again. Instead of diversity and debate, what we get is monotony and homogeneity, with very little space for dissenting views. Much like in the old DD monopoly days, we find speeches of certain politicians telecast extensively, with very one-sided editorial comment.

Even the print media suffers from the same sickness. Be it coverage of Narendra Modi in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls, or handling of news in the early days of the Nitish Government in Bihar and the Raman Singh Government in Chhattisgarh (to name just a few instances), the loss of objectivity and balance of print and electronic media is quite undeniable.

Bias is apparent on other occasions and issues too. For instance, the Delhi gang rape received non-stop coverage, but the failure to ensure justice in custodial rape cases in Kunan Poshpora (Kashmir) or Manorama’s rape and murder in Manipur, or acquittal of all accused in massacres by the Ranveer Sena in Bihar, barely gets a mention in national media.   

In the aggressive response to the AAP’s accusation of biased coverage, some media channels have demanded ‘proof’ of corruption and bias. The Radia tapes had already shown us a glimpse of the insidious ways in which corporations influence media and politicians alike. Today, can there be greater proof of bias, than the colour and character of the election coverage? For many channels, even the coverage of Holi celebrations in Varanasi was a thinly-veiled excuse to propagate Modi.

The Snoopgate tapes revealed evidence that Modi, as Gujarat CM, violated the law and used the police and intelligence machinery to spy on a young woman’s personal life. How come, in election season, no paper or channel or anchor, however aggressive, are asking the Gujarat CM and BJP’s PM candidate to break his silence and tell the country whether or not he violated the law? Surely, such an issue is newsworthy. Yet, even in a climate of cut-throat competition, there is consensus among the media houses to play down this explosive story!

While the dominant media is fond of telling us that this election is a ‘personality-based’ one, it is strange that there have been hardly any interviews of the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate! The only interview of Modi in recent times (the Reuters interview where he made the ‘puppy’ comment in the context of 2002) was conducted by a surprisingly reverent reporter of a news agency, who asked no tough questions. The scam of Reliance’s gas pricing was exposed and raised by Left leaders long back. Yet, most of the media ignored or played down the story. What explains such silences and omissions and blatant biases?       

There is widespread evidence of paid news – some intrepid whistleblowers from the media itself, have exposed its widespread tentacles and demanded actions (such as public disclosures of equity shares and contracts/agreements) to ensure greater transparency. 

Kejriwal’s remarks about the biased/paid media have come in for some justifiable criticism, however. The problem was not that he brought up the burning issue of paid media. The problem was that his sweeping remarks threatening to jail journalists smacked of high-handedness and also hypocrisy. After all, he seems to be complaining about the media only during elections, when the bias is tilted towards the BJP. He did not express any such criticism when the same channels threw away objectivity and conducted unquestioning 24/7 coverage of the Anna Hazare events at Jantar Mantar, effectively making the channels participants in the event rather than objective commentators.

Moreover, the recent expose of Kejriwal ‘fixing’ the nature of an interview by a senior anchor, showed how he himself colludes with media houses to craft a favourable image of himself, and avoid questions about his stance on economic policies! In that video, Kejriwal can be seen asking the interviewer not to ask him questions about the corporate sector or privatisation since this might ‘turn the middle class against us’. Posed strategically in front of a photo of Bhagat Singh, he asks that the portion of the interview where he makes a comment on Bhagat Singh be highlighted, so as to project him as ‘revolutionary’! Is this really that different from the Radia tapes’ revelations of anchors and columnists taking corporate dictation as to how certain issues are to be covered?  

Worldwide, the corrupt and biased nature of corporate media and its role in manufacturing opinion, is now recognised and exposed. The Murdoch scandal in the UK and the Radia tapes in India are landmark moments that exposed the degree of corporate control over the media. The struggle against corruption cannot stop with politicians – it must struggle to free the elected bodies, political parties and elections, as well as media from corporate stranglehold. Meanwhile, the people are learning to be as sceptical of the media as they are of political parties, and to be alert to recognise and expose media bias.

Bihar State Activists Convention 

A Bihar State Activists’ Convention was held on 12 March at the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir in Patna, to prepare for the coming LS elections. Addressing the convention Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that the true contest this time would be between forces which escalate crisis and forces which seek solutions to the crisis. Narendra Modi is seeking to advance on the support of corporate loot on one hand and communal divide on the other. No Party but the CPI-ML can obstruct this communal frenzy. The public has watched the rat race with Ramvilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and Ram Kripal Yadav rushing to join the BJP and has lost all trust in these people.

Com. Dipankar reminded the meeting that this was not the first attempt of BJP to grab power. The NDA was in power at the Centre from 1999 to 2004. In 2004 they lost the elections due to public anger against the Gujarat carnage and the series of farmer suicides. The fact that today the culprit of the Gujarat carnage Narendra Modi is being aggressively pushed as their PM candidate is an indication of the present crisis. This crisis is a result of the policies of the UPA. In addition to the already economic crisis, people’s lives were made more miserable by price rise and corruption resulting in a political crisis. Thus it is the Congress which has facilitated the rise of the BJP. Both these parties as well as JDU and RJD have cheated and deceived the poor people. In these circumstances, voting for BJP, Congress, JDU or RJD is equal to deepening the political-economic crisis. These are the forces which want to take forward those economic policies which are the cause of the troubles facing the country today. 

Com. Dipankar said that students and youth want to follow not Modi but Bhagat Singh. Therefore on 23 March, the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, students and youth will march at various places and pledge to keep up the struggle for social change against such forces.

Earlier, the convention began with the presentation of a report by State secretary Kunal, detailing the struggles on people’s issues in Bihar. The constituency in-charges and candidates from the State addressed the meeting. These included Mithilanchal incharge PB member Com. Dhirendra Jha, Com. Rajaram Singh from AIKMS and Karakat, former MP and Patliputra party candidate Com. Rameshwar Prasad, Bhojpur district secretary Com. Jawahar Singh, Arrah candidate Com. Raju Yadav, Siwan secretary Com. Indrajeet and candidate Com. Amar Yadav, Jehanabad incharge Com. Mahanand and candidate Com. Ramadhar Singh, Patna rural party secretary PB member Com. Amar, Darbhanga candidate Com. Lakshmeshwar Mishra, Nalanda candidate Shashi Yadav, Katihar candidate Mahboob Alam and AIPWA general secretary Meena Tiwari. The convention was chaired by Com.  KD Yadav, Com. Saroj Chaubey and Com. Rajaram.

Remembering Comrade Saroj Dutta on his Birth Centenary

Comrade Saroj Dutta was born on 14 March 1914 in Narail in Jessore district, East Bengal. He studied at Victoria Collegiate School in Narail and then at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta. While in college he joined the communist movement and was arrested for a while. He graduated in 1936 and got his MA in 1938 from the University of Calcutta. Comrade SD Joined the Amrita Bazar Patrika in 1939. Later he became a political whole-timer, and joined Swadhinata, the organ of the Bengal State Committee of the CPI. He was also the editor of the famous literary journal Parichaye.

During his imprisonment in 1962, SD came in contact with Comrade Charu Majumdar. Both of them joined the CPI (M) after the split in 1964. When the CPI (M) leadership nakedly advocated Khrushchev’s line of class-collaboration, comrades SD, Sushital Roy Choudhuri, Asit Sen and others formed the Marxist-Leninist Institute, a study group targeted against revisionism. Following the Naxalbari upsurge, comrade SD played a leading role in the formation of the AICCR in 1968 and the CPI (M-L) in 1969. He became the editor of Deshabrati, the Bengali organ of the West Bengal State Committee of the CPI (ML). His articles in “Patrikar Duniyaye” (meaning In the World of magazines) in Deshabrati are treated as rare gems in the treasury of Leftist Journalism. He was known as the ideologue of the famous statue breaking movement that rocked the urban life of Bengal in the early seventies.

Comrade SD played an important role in inner-party debates and vigorously fought for the implementation consolidation of the revolutionary line comrade Charu Majumdar. From 1970 onwards, he became one of the most wanted persons in India. The police was always hunting for him like a hungry wolf. Finally, in the early hours of 5th August, 1971, he was secretly eliminated by the state machinery.

Mazdoor Adhikar Rally in Ranchi

More than a thousand workers assembled under the banner of Construction Workers’ Union and CPI(ML) participated in a Mazdoor Adhikar Rally (workers’ rights rally) in Ranchi raising the slogans ‘badlo niti, badlo raaj’ (change policies, change rule), ‘employment guarantee act must be legislated for the urban poor’, fix prices, provide jobs, ensure full wages for the work’. The rally started from Krishna Memorial Park in Doranda and reached Birsa Chowk where the main entrance towards the State Legislative Assemble was blocked and meeting was held. The workers warned the state govt to act within three months time to address the basic issues of the workers or else the Jharkhand workers will lay blockade on the road leading to the vidhan sabha. The gate remained closed for 3 hours. The workers were successful in making their voice heard to the Govt, even if it was the chaos due to the blockade.

Addressing the meeting, CPI(ML) State Secretary Comrade Janardan Prasad called to ensure that communal division of the Jharkhandi society as promoted by the NaMo campaign be resisted. Both the NDA and the UPA, who have ruined the lives of poor and common people, must be taught a fitting lesson. CPI(ML) legislator in the State Assembly, Comrade Vinod Singh said addressing the meeting that the Govt has no agenda for the urban poor and the unorganised workers. The Hemant Soren Govt worries more about the sand and liquor mafias than the urban poor. The upcoming elections are an opportunity to teach a lesson to the Congress, BJP, JMM, AJSU, JVM, parties responsible for the current plight of Jharkhand. The meeting was also addressed by senior Party leader Comrade Bahadur Oraon, GS of CWU Comrade Bhuvaneswar Kewat, Sudama Khalkho, Bhisma Mahto and Mahesh Munda among many others. After the meeting a fifteen point demand letter addressed to the Chief Minister was handed over to the Magistrate.

International Women’s Day

Bihar

Patna: Patna Unit of the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) organised a march raising the slogan ‘half of the humanity is crying out for – security, dignity and freedom’, ‘stop violence against women’, ‘long live IWD’ etc. The rally that started from Station Buddha Park turned into a meeting upon arriving at Kargil Chowk. The meeting was addressed by AIPWA General Secretary Comrade Meena Tiwari who said that the women will not be treated equally until the society respects their freedom. Girls or women have as much right to decide their life as do the men. This awareness needs to be spread more. For a dignified life for women it is crucial that the govt not only takes responsibility for their safety, but also their health, better opportunities of education and employment, etc. National VP of AIPWA and ex-dean of Patna University, Bharti S Kumar, recounting the historical context of the IWD expressed the need to spread the battle of women’s liberation in the context of today to the broadest possible section of women.

Other speakers exposed the anti-women face of the Nitish Govt citing the big time encouragement to booze, one of many regressive steps.

Bhagalpur: AIPWA organised a women’s assertion march in the city from the Railway Station traversing through several prominent place in the town before reaching DC office. Meetings were held before the march and post it. A 8-point memorandum was given to the DC office. Among other demands the memorandum demands setting up of fast track courts for speedy trials in rape cases. The march was led by AIPWA President Comrade Saroj Chaubey, AIPWA’s District Convenor Renu Mandal, co-convenor Kanchan Devi, Manorma Devi, Sumitra Devi and others.

Uttar Pradesh

Deoria: Hundreds of women under the banner of AIPWA marched in Deoria on 8th March. Rally was led by AIPWA’s National VP Comrade Premlata Pandey, State Secretary Geeta Pandey, and other AIPWA leaders and activists. Rally started from the AIPWA office and passed through several places of the town. Addressing the meeting Premlata Pandey said that in last five years political parties did a circus in the name of passing Women’s Reservation Bill and it couldn’t become an Act. Regrettably in the coming election too it is not an issue for most of the parties. Geeta Pandey said that no matter what sweet talks SP, BSP, Congress and BJP indulge in, in the name of women’s security, the fact is that crimes against women in UP has risen sharply. Successive governments in the State have not even ensured jobs to rural women under the NREGA.

Mirzapur: About 300 women participated in the IWD march in Lalganj tehsil demanding end of violence and abuse of women. March was led by Jeera Bharti, Shyamkali, Saroja, Suresh Kol, RS Yadav and Dhanraji Devi. 50 women marched in Madihan from main market to tehsil HQ led by AIPWA leader Comrade Shanti.

Lakhimpur: A rally comprising 225 women was held at Lakhimpur town led by Comrade Krishna Adhikari. The march started from the Railway Station and ended at Nasruddin Bhawan. At Nihasan tehsil, the IWD march was held on 7th March. 150 women participated in the march led by Comrade Krishna Adhikari and AIPWA District Secretary Tapeswari Devi. In Palia tehsil a meeting was held. They were raising slogans ‘forward with the struggle for fearless freedom’ and ‘stop the cutting away of land’.

Pilibhit: March started from AIPWA office and went to District HQ led by AIPWA State Joint Secretary Rama Gairola. In Sitapur about 150 women started their marched from AIPWA office led by Comrade Sarojini and Archana.

Bareilly: A seminar was organised by AIPWA. Shalini Bajpai conducted the proceedings.

AICCTU Against Lock-Out

Workers of the company, Stumpp, Schuele & Somappa Springs (SSSS) Pvt Ltd., picketed in front of the company located in central Bangalore, near Forum Mall for the 18th day on 18 March 2014. The management declared illegal Lock-out from 6th March pre-empting any strike action by regular employees in solidarity with contract workers' grievances who were refused employment from 1st March 2014 because of undeclared Lockout by the company.

Workers protested against the illegal action of employing outside workforce and false complaints by the management. Police force was deployed in large numbers.

Stumpp, Schuele & Somappa (SSS) workers, mainly contract workers, are on the war path led by Com. S.Balan, Karnataka State President of AICCTU demanding regularisation, wage rise and reinstatement of a worker dismissed for trade union reasons. In spite of serving strike notice one month back, the workers patiently waited for a positive approach from the management in solving workers' problems. But they were refused employment through an undeclared Lockout from March 1. Even the intervention of higher officials of the labour department of Karnataka did not yield any result as the management was adamant. On 1st March, workers demonstrated in front of the Labour department. The struggle is on and the strike has entered its sixth day as we go to press. The management is adamant in spite of the fact that contract workers are also part of the recognised union of regular employees which has entered into agreements with the company in the past. The management is unable to digest unionisation by contract employees and is adopting all possible illegal methods and spreading rumours to frustrate workers. Workers are determined to struggle to win over their demands and the struggle is on.

Stumpp, Schuele & Somappa (SSS) is the Best spring maker for automotive and other industries in India. But, it is the worst in terms of labour relations. Established in 1960, Stumpp, Schuele and Somappa was the first spring manufacturing unit in the sub continent. But, workers are being paid a pittance. More than 70 percent of highly skilled workforce in the company are cruelly exploited in the name of contract and training.

The struggle on 8th March received support of solidarity by various organisations including Jai Karnataka, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI-PFI), Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), PUCL, etc. The demonstrators were addressed by Com. Balan, State President of AICCTU, Shankar, All India Vice President of AICCTU, Appanna, State Secretary, Cliffton, Social Activist and High Court advocate, Narasimha Murthy, PUCL, Mohan, AICCTU DCM from BOSCH, Ravi Kumar, SSS Union General Secretary, Prakash, VP, among others. Suresh Rai of Jai Karnataka, Farooq of SDPI, and representatives of DSS, DPI also addressed the gathering.

The protest is still on.

Citizens’ Rights Conference in East Delhi

A Citizens’ Rights Conference was held by CPI(ML) in Mayur Vihar Phase-I (East Delhi) on 10 March. At the Conference, workers and common people shared their issues about unemployment, denial of minimum wages at work, lack of access to healthcare and education, water and power. The Conference resolved to run a campaign to ask Lok Sabha candidates from Congress, BJP and other parties to answer on their policies towards workers’ rights and privatisation policies.

The Conference participants included Delhi State Secretary of the party Sanjay Sharma, AICCTU Delhi State Secretary Santosh Roy, President VKS Gautam, activists Shivji Singh, party State Committee member Shyam Kishore Yadav, Hare Ram, Ram Swarup, Govind Uniyal and other comrades. The Conference elected a 11-member committee with Shakeel as President and Pramod Yadav as Secretary.

Obituaries   

Comrade Lalit Mohan Chokiyal

CPI-ML Garhwal Committee member Com. Lalit Mohan Chokiyal passed away suddenly on 13 March 2014 at the untimely age of 43. He had been associated with the Party since the 1990s.

At an early age Com. Chokiyal started work as a contractor to earn his livelihood but soon left this profession as he found himself a misfit in it because of his own honest nature. He then started selling making and selling fruit juice and sweaters to earn a living. In his long association with the Party Com. Chokiyal always stood by the principles of the Party. Fighting for his principles against all opponents was an inherent part of his persona.  In 2003 when the present Badrinath MLA Rajendra Bhandari (who had hopped from the Congress to BJP and back again to Congress) became the district Panchayat President of Chamoli district, Com. Chokiyal had made a construction in his region on behalf of the district Panchayat. When he went to the Panchayat for settlement of dues for the work, he was not paid the dues because he did not pay a “commission”. He wanted to meet the Panchayat President Rajendra Bhandari to complain about the demand for “commission” but he was put off by the excuse that Bhandari was out of the district HQ. However, he happened to meet Bhandari by chance in the Gopeshwar crossroads and the latter justified the demand for a “commission” saying that when even the DM takes 10%, what can be done about it. This argument enraged Com. Chokiyal so much that he lashed out at Bhandari saying, “Are you, as the first citizen of the district, not ashamed of saying that the DM eats “commission” in your district? I will bring your zilla panchayat to book.” Seeing his misdeeds being thus exposed in the middle of the road, Bhandari requested and pleaded with him to drop the matter, and settled his due payment without “commission”. Com. Chokiyal was also the sarpanch of the forest panchayat of his village chowki. Even in the days when there was not much work for the Party in Gauchar, he used to intervene on different platforms as a Party leader.

On 15 March 2014 the CPI-ML Garhwal Committee organized a condolence meeting in memory of Com. Chokiyal attended by Secretary Indresh Maikhuri, members Com. Atul Sati, KP Chandola, Madan Mohan Chamoli, Ashish Kandpal, Kishan Singh Bisht, Vishram Singh Bisht, Rajdeep Nainwal, and others. After the meeting Indresh Maikuri, Atul Sati and KP Chandola went to Com. Chokiyal’s village Chowki and met with his family members to convey their condolences. On 13 March the Gauchar Vyapar Mandal kept the markets closed as a mark of tribute to Com. Chokiyal.

Red salute to Com. Lalit Mohan Chokiyal!

Comrade Pan Singh Jaggi

Senior comrade Pan Singh Jaggi of Bindukhatta in Nainital district passed away due to illness on 12 March 2014. He was 76 years of age. The Party held a condolence meeting at his house on 15 March to pay tribute to him.

The condolence meeting began with a silence of 2 minutes. Throwing light on his life, his younger brother Com. Bahadur Singh Jangi said that in the 60s when the whole country witnessed land struggles Com. Pan Singh took part in the land struggles in Nainital district. In 1967 he was jailed for 6 months for participating in land struggles. Associated with the Left from his early days, he also inspired his younger brother and State committee member Com. Bahadur Singh Jangi to join the Left. He played a leading role in the 1972 land struggles which took place in Bindukhatta. He was first with the CPI and then joined the CPI-ML, after which he had a life long association with the Party and was at the forefront of Bindukhatta’s struggles for ration cards, roads, electricity, water, hospital and revenue village.

Speakers at the condolence meeting said that the best tribute to Com. Pan Singh would be to take forward and strengthen the struggles in Bindukhatta. The meeting was addressed by CC member Raja Bahuguana, State Secretary Rajendra Pratholi, Party candidate for Nainital constituency Kailash Pandey, Bishandatt Joshi, Anand Sijwali, Lalit Matiyali, Lakshman Singh Khati, and Jeevan Singh Jaggi.

 

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ML Update 11 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 17, No. 11, 12 – 18 MARCH 2014

Confront Modi’s United Front of Corporate-Communal Thuggery

With Lok Sabha elections less than a month away, we are seeing feverish political realignments all around. It is open season for the opportunists, with aya-ram-gaya-ram politicians switching parties at dizzying speed.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) of Raj Thackeray has declared its support for Modi as Prime Minister. MNS will field candidates against its rival and BJP ally Shiv Sena, but not against BJP.

The Modi campaign has taken the shape of a united front of a variety of unsavoury forces: the RSS and its constituent communal outfits; thugs of various hues including moral policing brigades, organisations implicated in Dabholkar’s killing, regional-chauvinists like Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena, and khap panchayats; and corporate houses. This gang-up includes godmen like Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (unfortunately Asaram has been eliminated from this line-up thanks to his being in jail charged with rape of a minor girl). Among the various opportunists who have made a timely strategic shift and joined this gang-up, we can also count the imperialist US Government, which has made an about-turn in its position and extended its tacit blessings for Modi.

Modi’s campaign has essentially been dominated by ‘theme Gujarat’ and ‘team Gujarat’, and the Gujarat Government’s resources being put at the services of Modi’s Prime Ministerial campaign. With Raj Thackeray’s support in addition to Shiv Sena’s, Maharashtra’s might has been added to Gujarat’s fuel power. Gujarat and Maharashtra are both arenas of corporate assertion and the corporate model of ‘development’, and Modi’s campaign has taken on the overtones of the corporate home base against more backward regions. Modi indicated as much by declaring that the ‘eastern’ states, associated with left and non-Congress non-BJP parties, needed to be brought in line with the ‘developed western states.’ It is ironic that Modi, bragging to the people of Bihar about the development model of the ‘western states’, forgets that his allies in Maharashtra are responsible for thrashing the migrant labourers from Eastern India, whose labour contributes in no small way to the corporate-led ‘development’ of those states!

Recent realignments are also revealing the hollowness and insincerity of the ‘Third Front’ being peddled by the CPI and CPIM. In less than a month since the 11-party grouping met in Delhi on 10 February, the Front is showing tears and strains. The AIADMK has coolly walked out of the Front leaving CPIM high and dry: clearly because Jayalalithaa would like to keep the option of supporting Modi (or Mamata), as the situation may demand, post elections. Clearly, such a Front cobbled together with parties without the slightest consistency or secular-democratic principles, cannot possibly offer any resistance to the BJP. In other states too, including Bihar and Odisha, the seat-sharing arrangements with JDU and BJD are seeing the CPIM and CPI cut a sorry figure. These developments hold a lesson for the CPI and CPIM. Time and again, their model of essentially opportunist alliances covered by the fig leaf of ‘secular front,’ ‘common minimum programme’ or ‘third front’ have not only discredited and tarnished the cause of struggles against communal forces and neoliberal policies. They have also contributed to a steady marginalisation, and erosion in the strength and credibility, of the Left. The fact that such alliances yielded some seats for the CPI and CPIM has helped to disguise it, but with time, the erosion and marginalisation has become unmistakeable.

To confront Modi’s united front of communal-corporate thuggery, we cannot possibly rely on political opportunists with a track record of promoting corporate plunder and complete lack of consistent anti-communal principles and practice. People’s movement forces and the Left, instead of passively relying on such opportunist and unprincipled forces and alliances, need to unite and boldly assert a robust agenda of democracy, justice, people’s rights, and reversal of anti-people policies.

AIPWA’s 9th West Bengal State Conference

The 9th West Bengal State Conference was held at Kolkata on 8th March, International Women’s Day. The Conference was held at the Bharat Sabha Hall, named the Aparajita Mancha for the occasion. The Conference began with the hoisting of the AIPWA flag and floral tributes to the martyrs. The Conference was marked by the active and enthusiastic participation of working women, students, and victims of gender violence.

Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA National Secretary addressed the delegates and guests, speaking about the need to assert the agenda of the women’s movement for freedom, dignity and rights, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. She spoke of Anna Hazare’s support to the Mamata Banerjee Government as an insult to the women’s movement, since not only had the Government been utterly callous in its response to a spate of rapes, and had even unleashed rape as an act of political vendetta, but had also presided over corruption scams like the Chit Fund scam that had caused rural poor women to commit suicide out of desperation.

The outgoing State Secretary Chaitali Sen presented the work report, highlighting the struggles for justice waged by AIPWA in a series of rape cases in the State, and the struggles for rights of working women.

AIPWA activists from amongst women workers and students, as well as survivors of gender violence, addressed the Conference. One mother of a minor girl who had suffered rape, spoke of the struggle for justice in the face of isolation and pressure – only to be met with hostility from the police, which delayed filing an FIR on the illegal pretext that the ‘medical report has not been prepared’, and the biased prosecution which weakened the chargesheet, making it possible for the accused to secure bail. Speaker after speaker bore testimony to the fact that the TMC Government had unleashed an offensive on women’s rights, and had tried to muzzle freedom of expression and the voices of resistance to patriarchy.

AISA activists enthused the gathering with the presentation of rousing songs. The gathering was also addressed by senior AICCTU leader and organizer of working women, Comrade Mina Pal, as well as other activists of AICCTU and AISA.

The Conference elected a 47 member Council and a team of office bearers – with Gouri Dey as President, Malina Baxi as Vice President, Chaitali Sen as Secretary, Indrani Dutta and Archana Ghatak as joint secretaries, Chandrasmita Goswami as Office Secretary, and Kalyani Goswami as treasurer. The Conference was followed by a spirited march from the venue to College Square, where activists addressed a street corner gathering.

Updates from TN

Left Cadres Switch to CPI(ML)

100 CPI party members along with 1200 mass organization members joined CPI(ML)and its frontal organisations in Tiruvellore district. With CPI and CPI(M) tailing behind AIADMK, these 100 members with more than 20 years of CPI membership in this region, as well as 1200 members of various mass organizations joined CPI(ML) at a Rally and public meeting organized by the party on various demands of the people on 5th March 2014. The programme was presided over by Com. Janakiraman, district secretary of CPI(ML). The rally demanded 1000 bed hospital at Sengundram, an Arts College, minimum wages of Rs.15000 to all working people, one ration shop to every 500 households, 3 cent house site pattas to all homeless people as promised by Jayalalithaa government, public toilets for women in market areas, pakka connecting roads to all villages, and an end to displacement of people in the name of road expansion. Speakers at the Rally included Party PBM Com. Kumarasamy, CCM Com. Bhuvana, and SCM Com. A S Kumar.        

CPI(ML) Candidate from Coimbatore

Comrade Chandran, a worker in Laxmi Machine Works and also Honorary President of district AICCTU was announced as a candidate for Coimbatore parliamentary constituency by CPI(ML) in a mass public meeting of 1200 workers. Com. Balasubramanian, District Secretary presided over the meeting. Com. Shankar, CCM introduced the candidate. Com. Balan, State President of Karnataka AICCTU also spoke. Com. Kumarasamy, PBM was the main speaker. Other speakers included Com. Bala Murugan, General Secretary of Shanthi Gears Union, Com. N K Natarajan, State President of AICCTU, Com. Janakiraman, district vice president of AICCTU and Com. Chandran, the candidate. The survivor of the ovum racket in Namakkal district and Com. Kathiravan, district committee member of CPI(ML) who were brutally attacked for exposing it, also participated in the meeting.

Dr. Ambedkar Union Branch at Karur

The Dr. Ambedkar Electricity Board Employees and Engineers Association affiliated to AICCTU opened its branch at Karur with an inaugural meeting on 26th January. Com. Balraj, state vice president presided over the function. About 70 employees from among sanitary workers to engineers, participated. Com. Ramachandran, district organiser, Com. Desikan State secretary and Com. Chandra Mohan, state vice president of AICCTU addressed the meeting. Com. Ramachandran, State President and Subramanian, State Secretary of the Association also spoke.

Campaign and meetings by RYA

From February 23–26, RYA organized campaigns at various places in Sanguvarchatram and Thirumangalam areas demanding closure of Tasmac (wine shops run by state government) shops, effective Lokayuktha in the state to combat corruption, provision of minibuses to connect all villages with main roads, upgrading Anna hospital into 100 bedded hospital with all facilities, and minimum wage of Rs 15000 to all working people. On February 24th the RYA team met the contract workers of Hyundai car Factory at their gate. The Feb 26th public meeting was attended by 250 youths and workers of this area. It was presided by Com. Rajaguru, district president of Kanjipuram RYA. It was addressed by Com. Kumarasamy PBM of CPI(ML), Bharathi, National secretary of RYA, Com. Iraniappan, district secretary of CPI(ML). Earlier thousands of signatures were collected from people on these demands and it was decided in the public meeting to hand over the same to the Chief Minister personally.

On March 3rd, when RYA cadres assembled in front of the Secretariat to hand over the petition with thousands of signature to CM, permission was denied by the police and all of them were arrested and lodged in a hall till the evening.

Again on March 4th, a group of RYA cadres planning to lay siege to the head quarters of Tasmac wine shop were detained by police and released in the evening. On March 5th again they decided to proceed to Chief Minister’s house to hand over the petition. There was a heavy police bandobust around the area and RYA cadres were again arrested and detained.

Updates from Karnataka

Com. Balan as Karnataka State President of AICCTU

Comrade S Balan, a reputed lawyer in Criminal Law and also one of the prominent trade union leaders in Bangalore joined CPI(ML). Com. Nirmala, a trade union and political activist also joined the Party. Com. Balan is a fighter for the cause of workers and is also leading trade unions of various categories of unorganized and contract workers including those in public sectors like HAL, BHEL, BEML, in government sectors like municipal workers, in companies like Stump Schhule, BOSCH, Race Course and also state level unorganised workers like Quarry and Construction workers, Computer operators, nurses, etc. In an AICCTU meeting held recently S. Balan was also chosen as the Karnataka State President of AICCTU while Com. Bharadwaj, was made the State General Secretary and Appanna as Secretary in a state level meeting of activists. The meeting also decided to hold the state conference of AICCTU in May, 2014.

Municipal Workers in Karnataka Demonstrate

BBMP Guttige Powrakarmikara Sangha (BBMP Contract Sanitation Workers Union), affiliated to AICCTU held a demonstration in front of the office of Labour Commissioner on 19 Feb. 2014 demanding monthly wages on par with workers engaged in same and similar work in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) under Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act, 1971.

More than 21800 workers are engaged in sanitation work in Bangalore by the BBMP; out of which more than 18700 workers are engaged by contractors and another 3100 plus workers are directly engaged by the BBMP itself.

AICCTU Intervention for Compensation to the Security Worker who Died inside the Factory

On 19th Feb, 2014, when a BOSCH company (German Multinational) employee Nagraj (security department - whose status of employment is disputed by the management) died inside the plant in mysterious circumstances, the attempt of the management and the police to cover up the case was foiled by the initiative of the AICCTU Karnataka State President and the leader of a section of contract workers' union. The police officials who initially targeted and threatened Com. S. Balan of dire consequences were forced to maintain restraint as hundreds of local people and a section of workers assembled near the factory gate. Ultimately, the body was allowed to be shifted out of the factory only after the management paid an on the spot cash compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to the victim's family.

The capital is so ruthless and brutal that an employee is not even paid the required honours even after his death. Without the intervention of AICCTU, the family of the deceased would not even have got a meagre compensation.

AICCTU IN NIMHANS Hospital, Bangalore

Unorganised workers of NIMHANS formed a union, 'NIMHANS Pragathipara Workers' Union', affiliated to AICCTU and its inaugual General Body was held on 22 Feb. 2014. The workers demanded same payment and other service condiitons for the unorganised workers engaged in same and similar kind of work; regularisation of all unorganised workers and bring them under the pay rolls of NIMHANS; Service weightage; Hospital care allowance and Risk Allowance in addition to Privilege Leave, Casual Leave and Government Holidays; mandatory ESI to all and entitlement for treatment in NIMHANS Staff Clinic; Recruitment of more workers to reduce the work burden on existing lesser number of workers and to stick to Patient - Worker Norms for hospitals, etc. The General Body decided on the Demands Charter to be placed before the NIMHANS administration.

Next to PGI, Chandigarh and and Lallaram Hospital in Delhi, NHRM and ASHA workers in Bihar, Jharkhand and other Hindi speaking states, AICCTU has organised contract workers of NIMHANS in Bangalore. After a decisive battle, PGI has won an order of 'Same payment for same work' which is roughly equivalent to 23000 being drawn by any government employee in the lowest grade of Group D. NPWU / AICCTU has also joined the Confederation of Central Government Hospital Employees and Workers.

Dr. Pradnya Rajesh Bhargave of NIMHANS SC/ST Welfare Association, V Muthukumaran, Legal Advisor to NIMHANS Employees Association, Ravi R, Vice President of National Tuberculosis Institute Non Gazetted Staf Association addressed the gathering along with Com. Shankar, All India Vice President, S. Balan, Karnataka State President, Appanna, State Secretary of AICCTU and Ranjani of All India Progressive Women's Association addressed the gathering.

The General Body also decided to send a Workers' Charter of Demands to be placed before the NIMHANS administration and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of central government for speedy resolution.

Com. Shankar condemned the anti-worker attitude of the central government and demanded NIMHANS administration for early negotiation with the union in order to resolve all outstanding issues of the unorganised workers.

Com. Balan called upon all workers to resort to the path of struggle to win over the demands.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is one of those handful of select medical institutions like AIIMS, Delhi, PGI, Chandigarh and JIPMER, Pondicherry. Recently, it has also won the status of a Deemed University. But, in spite of being a hospital run by the central government, none of the labour laws are in force. The central government, which is also an appropriate government, is showing utter neglect on unorganised workers' issues.

AICCTU in BEML, Kolar Gold Field, Karnataka

AICCTU held a convention of BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) central public sector workers at KGF (Kolar Gold Field) on 23 Feb. 2014 under the presidentship of Com. Balan, Karnataka State President of AICCTU. Mr. Bhupathy, Chairman of Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB), Mr. Cliffton of ALF (Alternate Law Forum), Shankar, Vice President, AICCTU addressed the gathering.

The convention was held in the context of BEML workers’ victory in securing an order from the Labour Commissioner advising the BEML Management to implement the Karnataka Government’s decision of giving ‘Service Weightage’ as per the Karnataka Government Notification No. CLA/CR-49/2010-11 dated 11 March 2013 and demanding same and similar payment for same and similar work under Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of the ID Act, 1947.

Com. Balan called upon workers to give a fitting reply to trading unions and to march on struggle to secure the benefits due to workers. He also traced the struggling history of BEML workers and the history of betrayal by the social democratic trade unions. He called upon workers to join the struggles of revolutionary trade union movement. Mr. Bhupathy, Chairman of CACLB elaborated the contours of abolition and regulation of contract labour and the act. Mr. Cliffton spoke on the issues related to ‘Same Payment for Same Work’. Shankar elaborated on the importance of renewed struggles to win over the due rights of workers.

AICCTU Demo for Service Weightage and Same Payment for Same Work

AICCTU (All India Central Council of Trade Unions) held a demonstration on 1st Mar. 2014 in front of Karnataka Labour Commissioner’s Office demanding implementation of ‘Service Weightage’ with retrospective effect and ‘Same and similar wages and service conditions for same and similar work’. Several unions of contract workers in public, private and government sectors, affiliated to AICCTU participated in the demonstration led by Com. S.Balan, State President of AICCTU.

The protest is organized with the primary demand of ‘Same Wages for Same Work’ as specified under the Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act, 1971 and on par with workers engaged in same and similar work in corporate and multinational companies like Bosch, ITC, L&T Komatsu, Kenmetal, Federal Moghul and Central public sectors like BEML, BHEL, HAL, State government run Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), hospitals, etc.. The same is the case with unabated agitations by health sector workers including 108 Ambulance Service, TB Control and HIV Prevention departments, etc.

In the era of Liberalization, Privatisation and Globalisation, the regular workforce is shrinking drastically and on the contrary, the contract and other exploitative forms of employment are expanding. Lakhs of workers are engaged by corporate and multinational companies in Bangalore on contract basis. None of these companies abide by the labour welfare laws. While both the contract and regular workers are engaged in works of same or similar nature, the contract workers are severely discriminated in terms of wages and service conditions. An increase of a ‘Service Weightage’ of 2 per cent of basic pay per year of service notified by the Karnataka State Government on 11 Mar. 2013 is not yet implemented, even after a year.

Com. S.Balan, State President of AICCTU called upon workers to intensify the agitation and demanded the labour authorities to play a proactive role in implementation of service weightage and same payment for same work. He declared that struggle will continue till workers get their due share of benefits.

Com. Shankar, All India Vice President of AICCTU and Central Committee Member of CPI(ML) (Liberation), In-charge of Karnataka called upon workers to march on streets and make the struggle as a broad based movement involving all contract workers in Bangalore. He also called upon workers to expand the movement so as to challenge the powers that be. He also emphasized on the importance of workers participation in trade union struggles and activities.

The Protest demonstration was also addressed by Com. Cliffton, advocate for ALF (Alternate Law Forum), Appanna, State Secretary, Somu, District President, Puttegowda, CPI(ML) District Secretary, District Committee Members Mohan from BOSCH and Ravikumar from Stump Schuule.

 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 10 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol.  17             No. 10                                                                          5 - 11 MAR 2014

International Women’s Day 2014:

Bring Women’s Freedom Onto the Political Agenda

8 March – International Women’s Day – was born in the struggles that women factory workers in their thousands waged against bondage a century ago. Those women workers – in Chicago, in European countries, in Russia - protested against the exploitative conditions in which they worked. They were also the frontrunners of the movement for women’s suffrage: battling against the denial of political equality and citizenship for women.

In 2014, the legacy of those century-old struggles is as relevant as ever. Women workers continue to labour in exploitative and unsafe conditions – but the theatres of such exploitation have shifted from the US and Europe to Asian and African countries. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 2011 that consumed the lives of women workers in New York City, is being re-enacted as fires and collapses in garment factories in Bangladesh a century later. In India too women are employed, overwhelmingly, in the 3D (Dirty, Dangerous, Demeaning) jobs. And just as they are expected to do unpaid housework as a ‘selfless service’ in the home, the Government too asks them to work without a salary (for instance as ASHA workers) as a ‘selfless service’.      

Moreover, women in India are still denied political equality and citizenship. They are grossly under-represented in Assemblies and Parliament, and it has become clear that India’s ruling parties are committed to delaying and denying 33% reservation for women. But the denial of rights as equal citizens goes beyond this.

What is most shameful is that our representative bodies, our Governments, our ruling political parties, and even our Courts are unwilling to uphold our freedom to love or marry a partner of our choice. A Kerala Court has recently decreed that a woman’s right to marry a person of her choice is not absolute, and that parents have a say in their daughter’s marriage. Justifying a father’s action of detaining his daughter when she, a woman doctor, wished to marry a fellow doctor, the judge said, “the liberties guaranteed to citizens could not be stretched beyond limits and should not be used as a weapon to destroy social establishments.” The Supreme Court itself recently recriminalized homosexuality by rehabilitating Section 377. The conclusion is inescapable:  judges tend to see themselves as custodians of the ‘social establishments’ – of family, caste, community, homophobic and patriarchal morality – rather than of the Constitutional liberties.

Governments and ruling political parties are much the same. They are happy to talk of ‘women’s empowerment’ and ‘protection’ for women. But they are as a rule supremely unwilling to defend women’s freedom from patriarchal diktats. Last year, women protesters demanded azaadi – freedom – from ‘khaps, fathers, brothers.’ The recent statements by a range of political leaders defending khaps, shows that they have shut their ears – and their minds – to such demands. That slogan showed that for young protesters, ‘khaps’ did not just stand for ‘honour killings’. They were a metaphor for patriarchal and oppressive structures of caste, class, and community. They identified the ‘khaps’ in the daily restrictions imposed by parents and hostel administrations, in the pressure to obey caste/community restrictions in marriage, in the violence inflicted on dalit or Muslim men who love women of dominant communities, in Section 377, in moral policing by cops and outfits like Ram Sene and Bajrang Dal.  

Yet, we have seen leaders of Congress, BJP, and AAP, tell us that khaps are valuable social institutions, though these parties hasten to assure us that they will not defend acts of coercion or violence ‘if any’. When political parties act as advocates and apologists of khaps, they are telling us that the freedom and dignity of women and dalits really do not have much place in their vision of politics. On the contrary, patriarchal restrictions on women’s freedom have many political uses, especially to justify violence against vulnerable communities. We have seen the BJP use khaps to fan up anti-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar, in the name of ‘saving our women’ from ‘love jehad.’ Khaps have always branded women’s consensual love with dalit men as ‘rape’ and unleashed violence on dalit communities in the name of avenging hurt ‘honour’: this time Muslims were the target. The Congress too has long enjoyed the political support of the khaps, turning a blind eye to the violence they mete out to women and dalits. AAP justified violence against African women in the name of ‘protecting’ Indian women.  

The Kerala judge isn’t alone in legitimising the patriarchal idea that daughter’s Constitutional rights are not absolute, and that these can be violated by her father in order to ‘protect’ her from undesirable relationships. The BJP invoked the same idea when they faced with evidence that their Prime Ministerial candidate had deployed state machinery to stalk a woman. 

Every year on 8 March, we hear some lip service paid by Governments towards women. But women continue to be denied the simplest needs and services. This year, with Lok Sabha elections soon to take place, we need to bring women’s rights and needs onto the political agenda.  

We want no rhetoric about women’s greatness nor promises of ‘protection.’ We instead demand that Governments recognise their duty to ensure free toilets, medical care, education, and safe, regular public transport for women. We expect Governments to provide one-stop crisis centres and compensation and rehabilitation for survivors of gender violence. Children routinely face sexual abuse: is it not the Government’s job to provide safe child-care, especially in poor working class settlements? Why do Governments promote liquor addiction, with disastrous consequences for women? Liquor licences in residential areas should require the consent of the majority of local women.

We want Governments to stop behaving like patriarchal families, and stop asking women workers to work for an ‘honorarium’ instead of a salary. We want to know if Governments will commit to guaranteeing that women workers get equal pay for equal work, that minimum wages are raised, that ASHA and anganwadi workers get their full recognition and rights as government employees, that every work place has toilets, safe and healthy work conditions, and mechanisms against sexual harassment?

We have had enough of Governments encouraging police to do moral policing and crackdowns on consensual couples in the name of women’s protection. Instead, we expect Governments to ensure the accountability of the police, and to ensure strict action against police personnel who fail to do their duty. We also want Governments to stop protecting politicians, police and Army personnel who are accused of rape, and perpetrators of caste and communal rapes. From Chhattisgarh to Manipur to Kashmir, the impunity enjoyed by rapists in uniform, and the continued systematic rapes of dalit women all over rural India, the denial of justice to women raped in caste and communal massacres, exposes the reality of the politicians’ anti-rape rhetoric.

We want to know if Governments will scrap Section 377; enact laws against honour crimes and moral policing, and ensure state-run support centres for inter-caste and same-sex couples? 

From International Women’s Day, let’s foreground the above questions as a charter of gender justice, and issue a resounding call that in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, we’ll strive to elect those forces who are champions of this charter of struggle, and reject those political forces who continue to be custodians of patriarchal values.  

On Threats of War on Ukraine

Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its threat of war on Ukraine is condemnable. The use of Ukraine as a theatre for the tussle between Russia on the one hand and the EU and US on the other is a blow to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The uprising that forced Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych to flee was fuelled in part by genuine popular resentment against the corrupt and repressive leader. But the uprising was also backed by right wing forces backed by the EU and the US. For some time now, the US and EU have been seeking to expand their influence in Ukraine. One of the key aims has been to use Ukraine to bring the US-NATO military presence closer to Russia’s borders.

While Russia’s threats of war must be denounced and resisted, the double standards of the US and European countries towards this must be exposed. The latter have brazenly carried out illegal wars  and occupations, and have no right to sit in judgement on Russia. But the fighters for peace and democracy worldwide, who have consistently resisted all war-mongering and occupations, must demand immediate de-escalation of the conflict, withdrawal of Russia from Crimea, and also an end to attempts by the EU and US to expand NATO in the region.

On Field Trials of GM Crops

In February 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, under Jairam Ramesh, announced a moratorium on the commercial promotion of Bt Brinjal in India. The UPA, after much fanfare, claimed that it was ‘listening to the voices’ of common people, scientists and civil society in stopping the introduction of Bt Brinjal and genetically modified crops. Now, after just four years, the UPA has given up all pretence and has now once again surrendered to the corporate interests of big agri-business companies such as Monsanto. Environment Minister Veerappa Moily has allowed the field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in India – even as environmentalists, farmers, and several scientists have cautioned against this move.

Across the world, several issues regarding GM crops continue to be raised. Apart from the largely unknown health and safety impacts of GM crops, even the tall claims of ‘high yields’ and protection from pest damage for instance have been proved to be highly questionable. Even the science of genetically modified crops continues to evolve, the UPA seems hell bent to run roughshod over all concerns and push through GM crops at all costs. Time and again, several environmentalists and experts in the field of agriculture have pointed out that the burning questions of food security, malnutrition and agrarian crisis cannot be solved through GM crops.

Moreover, even the Supreme Court appointed Expert Committee and the UPA’s own parliamentary standing committee on Agriculture has recommended against field testing of GM crops, given the widespread concerns over the health and environmental impacts of GM crops. From the experience of Bt Cotton in different parts of the country, it is clear that only huge multinational agri-business interests benefit from GM crops – making huge profits, establishing a virtual monopoly over agricultural inputs. Clearly, it is this dangerous unholy nexus between biotech agricultural companies and a subservient government that has resulted in the lifting of the moratorium on GM crops in India. CPI(ML) strongly condemns this move by the UPA.

On Extending OBC Reservation to Jats

The politically expendient move of by the Congress-led UPA Government, to extend OBC reservations to the Jats in nine states on the eve of Lok Sabha elections, makes a mockery of the principle of reservations.

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) unanimously rejected the proposal for reservation for Jats, finding that they are "not socially and educationally backward communities". In fact, the Jats are usually socially dominant communities. To extend OBC reservations to them in blatant disregard for the NCBC recommendations, in the absence of the well-established criteria for social and educational backwardness, is an injustice to other genuinely backward OBC communities, which will now find themselves having to compete for OBC benefits with the more dominant Jat community. The BJP has lost no time in upping the ante and demanding extension of OBC quotas to Jats all over the country, not just in nine states. Such competitive opportunism does deep damage to reservations as a tool of social inclusion and justice.

All India Kisan Mashasabha National Conference

The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha, held its second national conference on 24-25 Feb at Mansa (Punjab) where important questions like the agricultural crisis, agricultural land grabbing by corporate houses, and farmers' suicides were discussed.

Addressing the meeting at the rally CPI-ML General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that just before the Lok Sabha elections attempts are being made to focus all attention around the persona of aspiring PM candidates. But forces fighting for the rights of workers and farmers will have to do their utmost to endure that these elections are centred on the need to change those policies which for the past 20 years have destroyed the lives of the country’s farmers, workers, students and youth. He said that Ambani-Adani, all the national and multinational corporate houses, and the US want that after looting maximum benefits from the Manmohan regime, they can now loot even more if Modi comes to power. Ten years ago it was NDA government in power and farmers were committing suicide even then, mass murder was being perpetrated in Modi’s Gujarat, and the NDA was boasting of “India Shining”.  The Congress came to power with the slogan “Congress ka hath aam admi ke sath” but the Congress cheated the aam admi of his hard earned earnings. This time the Congress’ slogan is “Har hath shakti, har hath tarakki” but the hands and pockets of the working people are empty. Into whose hands then have the benefits of “tarakki” (progress) gone? Com. Dipankar stressed that the country’s farmers, workers and youth want their rights; the common people want their rightful space in democracy. The country has never faced the problem of not being able to form a government and have a PM but a government which does not solve the common people’s problems will not be allowed to run.

Com. Dipankar said that the Muzaffarnagar riots were an example of the BJP’s attempts to grab power through dividing the country. Farmers had to bear the brunt of the adverse effects of the riots. While the sugar cane farmer is in dire straits, the sugar mill owners are raking in huge profits. Advocating a pervasive unity among forces of struggle Com. Dipankar said that when power hungry forces are uniting to divide hearts and society, they can be stopped only by the cohesive unity of forces fighting for the rights of farmers, workers, dalits, adivasis, women, and minorities.

A day prior to this rally of farmers and farm workers, Modi had held a rally in Punjab. Comparing both the rallies, CPM (Punjab) Secretary Com.  Mangat Ram Pasla said that this working people’s rally is a befitting reply to Modi’s rally funded by the rich, blackmarketeers, land grabbers and drug dealers. Commenting on the Third Front Com. Pasla said that the CPI and CPM may win a few seats here and there by tagging on to corrupt opportunists like Mulayam, Nitish, and Jayalalithaa but principles will be sacrificed in the process. He said that a fighting Front of farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers is the need of the hour.

AIKMS National President Com. Ruldu Singh said that only 8% of the people in this country lead a life of comfort. These people have captured all resources including political power and factories. The other 92% farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers live in a state of want. Therefore we have to rise above caste and religion and convert this majority into a united class. If 92% are united for their rights, they can easily overcome the rich 8%. He stressed that land rights belong to farmers and not to corporate houses.

National General Secretary of Kisan Mahasabha Com. Rajaram Singh said that the economic policies of the last 20 years have pushed agriculture into loss and farmers into the quagmire of debt. The loot of agricultural land by national and multi-national corporate houses will increase the food insecurity in the country. The use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes is pushing the country towards starvation. He said that the country needs a Land Conservation Bill instead of a Land Acquisition Bill.

There was a time when Western UP was a stronghold for the kisan movement. But the recent Muzaffarnagar riots have changed this centre of farmers’ struggle into a land of riots. These riots have seen veteran kisan leader Mahendra Singh Tikait’s organization Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Union and his sons Naresh Tikait and Rakesh turn into riot leaders. These colours of the Tikait sons have broken the kisan union. Long time confidant of Mahendra Singh Tikait, Ghulam Mohammad Jaula, grieved by this riot-inciting face of the Tikait brothers, has broken away to form his own organization Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Manch. Addressing the rally in Mansa Ghulam Mohammad Jaula said that the Muzaffarnagar riots, which most affected workers and especially farm workers, were engineered for the sole purpose of electoral gains. Strongly conveying the message of communal harmony Jaula said that though his ancestors had changed religion generations ago, the blood running through his veins also was after all the blood of this soil. He stressed that mischief mongering forces could be defeated by the unity of workers and farmers.

Prior to the convention a mazdoor-kisan ekta rally was held in Mansa town in which thousands of workers and farmers participated. The rally started with the singing of revolutionary songs, after which a play “Boycott” written and produced by noted playwright and actor of Punjab Samuel John, was staged showing how the farm worker, beset by rising prices, asks the rich farmers to increase the “lavai” rates only to be rebuffed not only by the rich farmers but by everyone from administration to dharmagurus. Playwright Samuel John has rightly commented that the moment the workers stand up for their rights it is branded as a caste issue. The play shows how the rich farmers who are from the upper castes boycott the farm workers who come from the so-called lower castes and how the leaders of the workers are arrested on trumped up charges of being Naxalites and Maoists. The play ends with the message that the united struggle of workers and farmers will triumph in the end. Actor Balwinder, skilled in mono-acting, convincingly played the roles of farm worker, rich farmer Bakhtawar Singh, Granthi of the Gurudwara, and police personnel.

Farmers and workers, women and men who participated in the rally marched through Mansa town and the entire town echoed with the reverberations of their revolutionary slogans.

The delegates’ session of the kisan mahasabha began after the rally with the flag hoisting by veteran kisan leaders of Punjab Com. Gamdura Singh and Com. Kripal Singh Veer, whose entire lives have been committed to farmers’ struggles. Inaugurating the delegates’ session CPI-ML General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that the government has declared war on farmers in order to grab agricultural land in connivance with national and multi-national corporate houses. As land is a resource which cannot be reproduced, corporate powers are doing everything possible to evict farmers and grab their lands. The new Land Acquisition Bill is also a facilitator in this process of evicting farmers from their land. He stressed that this war which has been imposed upon the farmers can be won only through organizational unity. He said that during the Green Revolution only big farmers’ agitations were considered to be agitations but the kind of crisis looming over agriculture and farmers today can be fought only by organized struggles of small and medium farmers.

About 400 selected delegates from 15 States participated in the convention. Through their talks the delegates threw light on the special characteristics and problems faced by the farmers’ movement in the different States.

Com. Taramani Roy of the CPRM (Darjeeling) said that the government in place is constantly trying to break the unity of the democratic movement of the Gorkhas in Darjeeling. He pointed out that agriculture in Darjeeling is totally dependent on the rains, and the Gorkha people are also going through an identity crisis.

Com. Rajendra  Bhimji Bhauke of the Lal Nishan Party (Leninist) from Maharashtra told that the compensation for crops destroyed by wild animals given today by the government is still the same amount which was given during British times. He also said that agriculture used to be second in priority for water supply after drinking water, but now this priority has been changed and industry has been given second priority instead of agriculture. Com. Balbir Singh of the Jamhuri Kisan Sabha (Punjab) spoke in detail about the history of revolutionary kisan movements in Punjab and pledged to stand united with the AIKMS.

Leader of anti-POSCO agitation Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti shared his experiences of the movement with the convention. He said that governments are supposed to be for the welfare of the people but during the anti-Posco movement it became clear to us that this government does not care anything for us.

Concluding the discussion on the document Rajaram Singh said that it is the responsibility of the Kisan Mahasabha not only to fight for farmers’ rights but also for the equal rights of women and against caste and religious prejudices and all archaic and outdated values and beliefs.

At the close of the convention kisan representatives were elected to a 111 member council and 41 member executive to lead the farmers’ struggles in the country. Com. Ruldu Singh and Com. Rajaram Singh were re-elected President and General Secretary respectively. Various political and organizational resolutions were adopted by the convention which came to a close with the singing of “Hum Honge Kaamyaab”.

Hunger Strike  in Ambattur

Palanivel State Secretary of AICCTU and Bharathi, National Secretary of RYA , sat on an indefinite strike from 9 Feb 2014, demanding the state government to ensure Minimum Wage of Rs.15000 for all working people, house-site pattas to all without homes, 1000 bed Government hospital with modern facilities, Government’s Arts, science and medical colleges to Ambattur, higher secondary school for both boys and girls, removal of garbage dumping yard from Vanagaram, playground with all facilities and closure of Tasmac wine shop in the area.

The Fast was inaugurated by Chandran, Coimbatore District President of AICCTU and addressed by Jawahar, Honarary President of Tamil Nadu AICCTU, Thenmozhi, State President of AIPWA, Malarvizhi, State President of AISA and Sekar, City Secretary of CPI(ML) also addressed the gathering. Local people, prominent polical personalities, lawyers, students and workers  visited the fasting venue in hundreds daily and offered their support for the cause. Also a team of workers from MRF, President of Surface Transport Union, CPI(ML) state committee members Janakiraman and Iraniappan greeted them.

After a few rounds of talks with officials it was agreed to close down the wine shop immediately and they have promised to look into other demands. After a written assurance from RDO, both of them concluded their fast in  a well  attended public meeting on 13 February. The public meeting was addressed by Com Bharathi and Palanivel. Com Kumarasamy concluded the programme with a speech.

“Peoples demand” rally at Pudukottai

When CPI and CPM reached out  an electoral understanding with Jayalalitha and they portray Jayalalitha as Prime Minister in waiting, about 1000 people (majority of them women) with red flags thronged Pudukottai town raising slogans against Jayalalitha government in a Rally organized by CPI(ML) on various demands of the people of this district is a significant one.

The rally demanded announcing the district as drought hit and writing off of all agricultural loans of small and marginal farmers, cancellation of land and house tax, 300 days of work in MNREGA with legal wages, land and house site pattas for those who applied for, end to practices of untouchability prevalent in this district, punishment to forces of caste domination, adequate compensation for the family of Kumaravel who was the victim of accident in Singapore, protection to all those employed abroad, ensure fearless freedom of women, and to stop discrimination in government welfare schemes”.Rally culminated at District collector’s office where a memorandum was submitted.

Struggle for homeless in Kanyakumari

Struggle for House site patta for homeless people assumed significance on 26th January, with more than 700 people, mostly women assembled to march towards the land occupied by Ex-MLA  Appu Natesan. It was led by Antony muthu, District Secretary of the CPI(ML), while Balasundaram, CPI(ML) State Secretary flagged off the rally. Deputy Superindent of police and Revenue officials assured the protesters who dispersed dispersed with the warning that if their demand for land pattas are not met next round of struggle will be on a bigger scale.

Later, police booked cases on some 250 cadres of CPI(ML), AICCTU and AIPWA. 

OBITUARY

Tiruvellore district committee member of CPI(ML) Com.Raja passed away on 19 February 2014. He was also a state council member of AICCTU and state secretary of the construction labour union. He has served the party for more than two decades. He was affront in mass movements at Ambattur area with utmost dedication and hard work. Comrades in Ambattur area recalled his role in overcoming crisis during the course of the movements. His participation in meetings used to give encouragements to the participants. He used to give emphasis on ideological development of comrades along with developing struggles. He was always eager to help comrades overcoming their personal difficulties. When his family was reeling under severe financial crisis, he has not disclosed anything about it to the comrades. Party has lost a comrade with such a wonderful qualities and great dedication.

Comrades S. Kumarasamy, Bhuvana, A S Kumar, Janakiraman, Bharathi, Iraniappan, Jawahar, Thenmozhi, Malarvizhi all SCMs along with all district committee members and hundreds of people participated in his Funeral.