Thursday, September 30, 2010

ML UPDATE 40 / 2010

ML Update

CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 13, No. 40, 28 SEPT – 04 OCT 2010

Impending Ayodhya Verdict:

Test Case for India's Secularism, Democracy and Justice


As we write, the Supreme Court has dismissed the petition seeking a stay on the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya title suit dispute. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court is due to pronounce its verdict on 30 September.

For the past 60 years, and especially for the past couple of decades, the Ayodhya issue has been at the centre of the worst communal politics and violence against the minority community. The BJP, riding a wave of communal politics in the wake of its 'Mandir' agitation in the late 1980s and the decade of the 1990s, increased its strength considerably and even enjoyed a long stint in power. Subsequently, however, the BJP and communal politics at large have been badly exposed and their strength and appeal stand considerably eroded. Now in the name of the Supreme Court verdict, the Sangh Parivar and the BJP are trying once again to recreate the 'Mandir' frenzy to fuel the communal chariot that has run out of steam. Kalyan Singh visited Ayodhya, and Advani and Uma Bharati have visited the Somnath temple – but as yet, such attempts have not received much public support. It is in this charged backdrop that the outcome of the Allahabad High Court verdict is awaited.

What is beyond doubt is that the Babri Masjid was mosque built in medieval times by a lieutenant of Babar's, and the mosque and land had since, till 1949, been the property of the waqf for nearly five centuries. The seeds of communalism at Ayodhya were sown by the British colonial state and its ideologues, following its policy of divide and rule.

In independent India, a communal myth was manufactured (again, without any basis in historical facts) that the Babri mosque had replaced a Ram temple marking the 'birthplace of Ram.' Precisely because they lacked the legal basis to prove any claim to the Babri Masjid site, the communal forces resorted to a series of surreptitious or openly illegal acts of encroachment and violence, in the hope that the courts and governments would then accept the fait accompli. From the Faizabad district magistrate who in 1949 colluded with communal forces to smuggle idols of the 'Ram Lalla' into the mosque; to the Congress Government headed by Rajiv Gandhi which in 1985 opened the gates to the mosque; to the demolition of the mosque in 1992 by the BJP and Sangh Parivar in a flagrantly fascist act – facilitated by the BJP-ruled UP Government and unchecked by a Congress Government at the Centre: the Babri Masjid saga has been a shameful one of steady erosion of the legal rights of the minority community over their land and place of worship – all with the connivance and collusion of various arms of the State. The judiciary's role too has so far been far from exemplary or reassuring. When the Central Government enacted legislation to acquire the mosque site in the name of "public order" a majority bench of the Supreme Court (overriding the opinion of the two Muslim judges comprising the minority bench) upheld that such an acquisition of a mosque by the government did not represent a violation of the Constitutionally guaranteed right to worship because a mosque was not essential to the practice of Islam!

The case in the Allahabad High Court pertains to the title suit of the Babri Masjid site. What is at stake is whether justice can be done and legal rights (backed by relevant legal documents and provable facts indicating ownership) can be upheld without succumbing to the pressures created by aggressive communal mobilisation. All those who are concerned for democracy and secularism in the country are eager for a verdict that will undo, in some measure, the grave injustice done to the minority community, and will be a step in the direction of healing the deep scars that communal politics and fascist violence have inflicted on society.

As the verdict approaches, communal elements have tried to raise their ugly heads. Ominously, instead of taking firm measures to ensure that attempts at communal violence are nipped in the bud, the BSP Government of Uttar Pradesh has instead taken to profiling and harassing secular activists and the minority community! A shocking instance was a recent notice served to CPI(ML)'s Mirzapur leader and RYA President Mohd. Salim, apprehending his role in communal violence and asking him to provide surety. In the notice, Comrade Salim's name heads a list that includes notorious communal VHP/Shiv Sena leaders and criminal elements. The CPI(ML) has strongly condemned this insult to the very forces that have most steadfastly upheld secularism, and demanded that this notice (which exposes the biased and mischievous role of the Mayawati Government) be withdrawn immediately.

The people of the country must remain vigilant and foil all attempts to whip up violence in the wake of the verdict. We must create democratic pressure on Central Government and various State Governments to ensure security for the minority community. The Court verdict on September 30 will be an important test case for whether secularism, justice and democratic rights can be upheld, thereby closing a grievous and painful chapter in India's life as a democracy.

Mirzapur Police & Administration Once Again Try to Threaten & Implicate CPI(ML) Leader

I

n a blatantly malicious move and with ill-motivated intent the Mirzapur Magistrate served a notice to Comrade Salim (RYA's National President) under sections 111 of the IPC implicating him under charges 107/116 of the IPC. The notice with the heading "The State vs. Mohd. Salim" bears his name on top of a list of names of VHP and RSS functionaries. Shocking as it is, what is venomous is that the notice asks him to provide surety of not inciting communal violence in the wake of Ayodhya verdict. It implies as if he has a prior knowledge of such a scenario and that he's to take responsibility of the actual communal forces like the VHP and RSS notorious for not missing any opportunity to incite communal tensions.

The CPI(ML) has strongly condemned this move. Comrade Salim who is a revolutionary leader and National President of the Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) is also well known for his courageous initiatives for foiling the designs of communal organisations aimed at battering the secular-democratic fabric. Presenting himself before the Magistrate on 23rd September, he handed his written reply in which apart from challenging the basis of the notice and insults hurled at him, he asked him to arrest him then and there as he is not going to provide any surety or bond (jamanat) for such mischievous abuse of the magisterial powers, which would only embolden the communal-fascists. In the same letter he also said that "sending of such a notice by you on a report by the police raises a question mark over your (Magistrate's) intelligence", and that it was being done under the guidance of communal-feudal forces.

The move is an attempt to frighten the pro-people and secular activists in UP who are resisting State's pro-corporate and authoritarian policies. Very recently, the same administration had couriered a letter signed by 'Incharge, Naxal Cell' to Comrade Salim, in a manner of show-cause notice alleging him for hosting a meeting of banned Maoist leaders. The meeting being referred was CPI(ML)'s Central Committee meeting held on 1-3 July, 2010, at Mirzapur. Text of the firm reply to that mischief was published earlier in this bulletin.

8th State Conference of West Bengal AIPWA

T

he 8th State Conference of the West Bengal unit of AIPWA was held in Kolkata on 25-26 September 2010 with the slogan of 'Food, Democracy, Equal Rights.' On the first day, a massive public meeting was held at College Street, in which hundreds of women workers (including anganwadi, mid-day meal, health (ASHA) workers, school teachers and domestic workers) from various districts, as well as women students of the State participated. The dais was named after Tapasi Malik, the young woman activist of Singur who was raped and killed by CPI(M) goons. The meeting was conducted by Comrade Indrani Dutta, and was addressed by veteran Comrade Gita Das, AIPWA State Secretary Chaitali Sen, AIPWA National Secretary Kavita Krishnan, as well as leaders of AISA and RYA and CPI(ML) State Secretary Partho Ghosh. After the meeting, an impressive march (decorated with banners and slogans on the theme of the Conference) was held which culminated at the Conference venue of Moulali Yuva Kendra. There, the procession blocked traffic briefly, and formed a circle with 8 burning torches at the centre, singing 'We Shall Overcome.' The 8 torches were held by comrades representing the continuity between the older and younger generation, as well as those representing various sectors of AIPWA's work.

On the second day of the Conference, the AIPWA flag was hoisted and tributes paid to the martyrs of the revolutionary movement and women's movement. The delegate session began with rousing revolutionary songs. AIPWA National Secretary Kavita Krishnan and CPI(ML) Politburo member Comrade Kartick Pal greeted the Conference. In particular, delegates were inspired by Comrade Gita Das, who, undeterred by age, greeted the Conference with great enthusiasm and spirit. Following that, Comrade Chaitali Sen presented the document for discussion in the house. Around 200 delegates from 15 districts of the State participated in the session. The delegate session was lively: ASHA, anganwadi, mid-day meal, and domestic workers spoke of their experiences of struggle for work, equal and dignified wages, and rights; women students spoke of the issues of privatisation and sexual harassment on college and university campuses; and all delegates reflected on the challenges of the women's movement in W Bengal, where the CPI(M)-led LF Government was unleashing corporate land grab and state terror of which women bore the brunt. Delegates pointed out that while the Trinamool Congress was promising 'change' in W Bengal, its leader was a Minister in the same central Government which was unleashing state terror (which women are resisting) in Kashmir and the North East as well as in the shape of Operation Green Hunt in the rest of the country.

The Conference elected a 47-member Council and a 19-member Executive. Comrade Gita Das was elected President, Comrade Gouri De Working President, Comrade Chaitali Sen as Secretary, Comrades Indrani Dutta and Archana Ghatak as Assistant Secretaries, Comrade Kalyani Goswami as Treasurer and Comrade Chandrasmita Choudhury as Office Secretary.

CPI(ML) leaders Protesting Custodial Torture of Dalit Youth in Pilibhit Arrested

Rampal, a dalit youth while in custody was so severely assaulted by the Pilibhit police that extinguished his life, later in a hospital on 23rd September. The CPI(ML) leaders soon saw another episode of this lawlessness and cruelty of Pilibhit police when they were arrested and thrown behind bars because they were protesting the (almost custodial) killing of Rampal next day by going on a dharna along with his deceased body to demand arrest of all accused policemen and compensation to his family. Comrades Afroz Alam, (UP State Committee member) Kishanlal Advocate (also dist. panchayat member), Devashish (dist. committee member), Gopal Mishra and Rama Devi have been arrested.

Dalit youth Rampal hailing from Jarkallia village under Barkhera police station in Pilibhit dist. and a girl from Muslim family together fled from their village as their love was being opposed. Later, the police traced them. However, the families of both mutually compromised and agreed to withdraw cases. The girl returned to her family. The police refused to accept the compromise of the families and forcibly took Rampal, his father and brother to police station when their demand of Rs.25000 from Rampal's family was not fulfilled. Rampal was detained and his father and brother let off after the family somehow managed to arrange Rs.19000 and gave to the policemen. Just because his family could not arrange the remaining money for policemen's unlawful and criminal demand, he was assaulted on 15th August (on India's Independence Day, ironically) inside the Barkhera PS. He slipped into coma and could not recover.

When the news spread, CPI(ML) activists along with Rampal's village people blockaded the Bareily-Pilibhit highway on 16 August to demand immediate arrest of the assaulter policemen. This action resulted in slapping of attempt to murder charges and Dalit Act against the assaulters. Amidst all this, policemen hurried Rampal's battered body to hospital on 15th August where he remained in coma before being declared dead on 23rd September.

So far the Dist. Administration has neither arrested the culprits nor granted the Rs.10 lakh compensation. At one point, BJP and Varun Gandhi's supporters tried very hard to give this incident a communal turn, which was foiled due to our alertness. The incident also bares the true character of Mayawati's regime in the State where policmen can kill dalit youth with impunity. CPI(ML) State Secretary Com. Sudhakar Yadav has asked the administration for a high-level probe and immediate arrest of the policemen under murder charges.

CPI(ML) & Left Forces in Bihar Assembly Election

The Left in Bihar comprising of CPI(ML), CPI and the CPI(M) have agreed on seat-adjustments on 116 Assembly seats out of a total 240 in Bihar. Out of this, 78 will be contested by CPI(ML),CPI on 28 and CPI(M) 20. Apart from these 116 seats all the three parties are free to contest any number of remaining 124 seats. CPI(ML) will contest on 105 seats in total.

140 seats in 19 districts are going to polls in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase. CPI(ML) is contesting 16 in each of the three phase. Out of the 48 seats being contested in 16 districts, 10 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and one for the Scheduled Tribe. A total of 15 SC and ST candidates are contesting in these 3 phase. 4 SC/ST candidates are contesting from general category seat. Apart from this, there are 6 Muslim candidates and 4 women candidates. 40 out of the 48 candidates belong to the youth category whose age is in the range of 25-45. Of the 48 seats, 36 seats have only CPI(ML) candidates, on other 12 seats 7 has CPI and 5 of CPI(M) in addition to our candidates. All candidates of CPI(ML) are leading figures of Party and its mass organisations in their respective district. A list of the same is published on the next page.

 

Srl.No.  Assembly                             Candidate                       District

           Segment

1      2-Ram Nagar (SC)                    Rameshwar Majhi                    West Champaran (3)

2      4-Bagaha                                 Bhikari Prasad

3      9-Sikta                                     Birendra Pd. Gupta

4      12-Narkatia                              Prabhudev Yadav                    East Champaran (1)

5      27-Wajpatti                              Niyaj Ahmad Siddique             Sitamarhi (1)

6      35-Bisphi                                  Ramchandra Yadav                 Madhubani (4)

7      36-Madhubani                          Kalyan Bharti

8      37-Raj Nagar (SC)                    Uttim Paswan

9      38-Jhanjharpur                        Yognath Mandal

10    42-Pipra                                   Yogendra Yadav                      Supaul (2)

11    44-Triveniganj (SC)                  Ghanshyam Ram

12    47-Raniganj (SC)                      Suresh Rijidev                         Araria (3)

13    48-Forbesganj                          Champalal Mandal

14    49-Araria                                  Sushil Kumar Vishwas

15    58-Kasba                                  Rajeev Kumar Sah 'Ravi'        Purnia (3)

16    60-Rupauli                               Avinash Paswan

17    61-Dhamdaha                          Yamuna Murmu (tribal)

18    65-Balrampur                           Mahboob Alam                                    Katihar (3)

19    67-Manihari (ST)                      Geeta Uraon (w)

20    68-Barari                                  Avinash Kumar Singh

21    76-Simri Bakhtiyarpur              Rajkumar Chaudhary               Saharsa (1)

22    78-Kusheshwar sthan(SC)        Lalbahadur Sada                     Darbhanga (6)

23    82-Darbhanga rural                  Shanichari Devi (w)

24    83-Darbhanga                          RK Dutta

25    84-Hayaghat                             Satya Narayan Mukhiya

26    85-Bahadurpur                         Baidyanath Yadav

27    86-Kewati                                 Rambabu Sah

28    88-Gayaghat                            Jitendra Yadav                                    Muzzafarpur (3)

29    91-Bochahan (SC)                    Ram Nandan Paswan

30    94-Muzzafarpur                        Suraj Kumar Singh

31    100-Barauli                              Serajuddin Ahmad                  Gopalganj (3)

32    103-Bhorey (SC)                       Jitendra Paswan

33    104-Hathua                               Ravindra Kushwaha

34    105-Siwan                                Niamuddin Ansari                    Siwan (7)

35    106-Jeeradei                            Amarjeet Kushwaha

36    107-Darauli (SC)                       Satyadev Ram

37    108-Raghunathpur                   Amarnath Yadav

38    109-Daraundha                        Javed Baig

39    110-Barhadia                           Malti Devi (w)

40    111-Goraya Kothi                     Sujeet Kushwaha

41    116-Taraiya                              Satyendra Sahni                      Chhapra (1)

42    126-Mahua                               Md. Shamsad Ahmad              Vaishali (2)

43    130-Patepur (SC)                      Tapeshwar Paswan

44    131-Kalyanpur (SC)                  Arvind Kumar Ram                  Samastipur (5)

45    133-Samastipur                        Pramila Rai (w)

46    132-Warisnagar                        Jeewachh Paswan

47    134-Ujiyarpur                           Phulbabu Singh

48    135-Morwa                               Dinesh Yadav

 

Stand with the fighting people of Bihar in their struggle for genuine transformation and real democracy

Strengthen CPI(ML)'s Campaign for Land Reforms, for end to a regime of Loot and Lies, for end to a state of Starvation and Unemployment, for a New Bihar

Contribute Generously to the CPI(ML)'s Bihar Election Fund

 

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


Saturday, September 25, 2010

ML UPDATE 39 / 2010

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 13, No. 39, 21 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2010

Kashmir All-Party Visit: More Hype, Less Hope


Since June, the Kashmiri people have shown remarkable courage and endurance in the face of brutal repression, meeting each firing on mass protestors with fresh and unabated protests. After months of bloodletting of ordinary Kashmiri people in firing by security forces, the government at the centre finally took some political steps in Delhi – of these, the main one is an all-party meeting followed by an all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir.

While these moves are a positive gesture, there is always the danger that on Kashmir, the "all-party route" could well be a pretext for political inaction. It may be recalled that the Prime Minister, in his address on Kashmir, had made the possibility of autonomy contingent on a 'consensus.' It is well known that repeal of Article 370 is a part the BJP's core agenda and this party opposes even dilution of the draconian AFSPA. For the Congress to invoke 'consensus' on Kashmir in this backdrop is a thinly veiled excuse for doing nothing. The Jammu unit of BJP has reportedly boycotted the all-party delegation in protest against the non-inclusion of "nationalist organisations" – i.e., the communal fascist RSS and VHP! The choice of Chidambaram – known for his Green Hunt gospel – to head the delegation too is hardly likely to inspire confidence in Kashmiri people.

Meanwhile the situation in Kashmir remains dismal. In Bandipora some weeks ago, a man returning home in the evening was shot dead by security forces – who later claimed they 'mistook him for a militant.' This incident is one of many that illustrate the draconian character of the AFSPA, which allows security forces to use force to kill even on 'suspicion.' Some days back in Mendhar town, Jammu, firing on a procession protesting against reported burning of the Quran took three lives. Giving the lie to official attempts to paint protests in J&K as sponsored by Pakistan/militants, large numbers of Hindus and Sikhs joined Muslims in mourning and protesting the deaths in Mendhar. Even on the eve of the delegation's visit, four people including a 19-year-old girl were reportedly killed in firing on protests, bringing the death toll to 105.

The visit was projected as an attempt by the spectrum of political forces in Delhi to feel the pulse of Kashmir. But the curfew clamped on Kashmir for the two-day duration of the delegation's visit could not have inspired much credibility or confidence in Kashmiri people. With curfew in place, the delegations' meetings with Kashmiri people could hardly be open and frank. But even at these carefully planned and policed meetings, the people's resentment and anger could not be suppressed.

The visit by some members of the delegation to the home of separatist leaders who had spurned the offer to meet the delegation has become the most-discussed aspect of the delegation's visit. This move to reach out to separatist leaders, while positive, cannot mean real issues are confronted and real and meaningful dialogue initiated by the Indian Government.

As it is, the visit has failed to usher in any real change in New Delhi's policy towards Kashmir. Even while the delegation is in Kashmir, the Minister of State for Defence in Delhi ruled out dilution or revocation of AFSPA, going further to declare that AFSPA and the Army are being needlessly 'demonised' in Kashmir. The visit also failed to address the humanitarian crisis (caused by lack of access to food, milk, medicines etc) building up in Kashmir in the wake of continuous curfew. Hundreds of Kashmiri youth arrested for stone-pelting are in jails, facing charges of 'waging war against the state.'

Overall, the all-party delegation's Kashmir visit falls far short of the Centre's promise of a 'healing touch.' The visit can serve as an image-correction exercise for the UPA Government, but cannot compensate for the lack of real political initiatives within Kashmir. Until and unless the Government revokes the draconian AFSPA, releases all political prisoners and withdraws charges against arrested youth, shows a will to acknowledge and end state repression rather than continue to rationalise it by praising the 'restraint' showed by security forces and begins unconditional talks with all forces in Kashmir, the Government's gestures and words on Kashmir can only remain cosmetic.

All India Left Coordination (AILC) Statement

Vigilantly Resist Possible Communal Mischief in the Wake of Ayodhya Verdict

New Delhi, 20 Sep. 2010: Secularism and democracy in India have suffered deep scars due to communal violence and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Now, again, as the Allahabad high Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute approaches on September 24, communal forces are once again making an effort to whip up communal sentiments. The Congress, which on every crucial occasion in the past gave ground to communal forces at and over Ayodhya (when the locks at the Babri Masjid were broken, when Rajiv Gandhi began his election campaign from Ayodhya with the slogan of 'Ram Rajya', when the Masjid was demolished, and subsequently by allowing the instigators and perpetrators of the dastardly act to go unpunished) cannot be trusted to ensure peace and security of the minorities. The AILC appeals to the people to exercise vigilance, resist and rebuff all attempts to whip up a communal frenzy, and to create pressure on Governments at the Centre and the states to ensure safety and dignity of all citizens.

Excerpts of the PB Meeting held on 17-18 September

The Polit Bureau met at the Party Central Office in Delhi on 17-18 September. Before starting the meeting, the PB paid homage to three comrades who recently breathed their last: Comrade Subodh Majumdar of Nadia, West Bengal, Comrade Budhram Paswan of Bhojpur, Bihar, and Comrade NK Talukdar of Namrup, Assam.

The main deliberations and decisions taken at the PB meeting are summarised below:

1. Ayodhya Verdict: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court is scheduled to announce its verdict on the Ayodhya title suit on 24 September, 2010. In anticipation of the verdict going against their claim, the Sangh brigade has already begun attempts to reignite the communal fire over Ayodhya. It is a welcome sign that there has been no popular response to the desperate communal attempts by RSS-BJP leaders and Kalyan Singh's visit to Ayodhya was largely ignored by the local people. We must however remain alert to face any eventuality and rebuff any attempt by communal forces to whip up communal frenzy over the verdict. Party committees in sensitive areas must take all necessary precaution and initiative in this regard.

2. The SC Verdict on Food Distribution: The UPA government has refused to obey the Supreme Court order to stop the rotting of food grains by urgently arranging free or subsidized distribution of grains among the starving poor and the PM has asked the Court not to meddle in policy matters. This exposes the true nature of the UPA government. We must make full use of the SC order to expose the central and state governments and intensify the struggle for an effective PDS cushion for the poor and the needy.

3. AILC Convention and after: The PB expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the All India Left Convention in Delhi and the formation of the All India Left Coordination. At the call of the AILC a National Day of Solidarity with the People of Kashmir was observed in many centres all over the country on August 20 and all constituents of the AILC played an active role in the September 7 strike. The AILC has planned to hold a number of conventions in some major states in the coming months. As part of this plan, conventions will be held in Kolkata and Ranchi on October 5 and 7 respectively.

4. The Popular Upsurge and Continuing Repression in Kashmir: Indiscriminate state repression is continuing in Kashmir taking the death toll to more than 100 over the last three months. The government has belatedly begun to take some political steps like the holding of an all party meeting and the visit of an all party delegation to Kashmir, but to create conducive political atmosphere, the government must immediately withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, stop state repression, release all political prisoners and begin unconditional talks with all concerned.

5. September 7 All India Strike: The all India strike called jointly by most central trade unions in the country evoked a good deal of response cutting across states and industries and sectors. In Jharkhand, the Party had called a Jharkhand bandh in support of the strike and it witnessed considerable mass participation in our major areas of work and also in the coal industry. The strike has rightly pointed to the need for conducting sustained and systematic mass political propaganda among the working class in all our areas and sectors of trade union work.

6. Preparing for Bihar Elections: The PB cleared a list of about 100 constituencies and candidates for Bihar elections which will be released by the Bihar State Committee following its forthcoming session in Patna on 25-26 September. Talks are on with other Left forces in the state for a possible seat-sharing arrangement. Our election campaign will highlight the centrality of land reforms to any real development in Bihar. It will expose the all-round betrayal and failure of the Nitish government on the basic issues of rural employment and rationing for the poor, the crisis of education and healthcare and rampant corruption and loot of public funds and challenge his pretentious claims on secularism, rapid economic growth and good governance.

The CC had appealed to all Party committees and comrades and sympathizers for contribution to Bihar election campaign fund. We need to urgently collect these contributions to help the Bihar election campaign.

7. New Government in Jharkhand: After months of President's Rule, a new government has been formed in Jharkhand with the BJP's Arjun Munda as Chief Minister. It was during his first term that a whole lot of infamous MoUs were signed between the Jharkhnd government and different corporate houses. By all accounts, the new government comprising the BJP and a new-look JMM as well as the AJSU, JD(U) and some independent MLAs has been formed under corporate pressure. Utilizing the recent cancellation of the bauxite mining lease for Vedanta and the SC order for free distribution of food grains among the poor, we must launch a popular campaign in Jharkhand against illegal mining, land acquisition and tribal alienation, violation of PESA and for proper rationing measures for the toiling masses. It should be noted that even after ten years of formation of Jharkhand, there is still no separate food and civil supply corporation in the state!

CPI(ML) Appeal on Ayodhya

Appeal to Observe Peace in the Wake of Ayodhya Verdict

On September 24, the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya case is due to be pronounced. Disturbingly, there are already signs of communal mobilisation by Hindutva outfits, who have called for a 'Dharm Sansad' of religious leaders to coincide with the verdict.

Even as the verdict on the title deed of the Babri Masjid site is awaited, it must be recalled that the entire 'dispute' was manufactured by communal forces who, without any historical basis, propagated the myth that the Babri mosque site demolished a Ram temple marking the 'birthplace of Ram.' This became the pretext for widespread communal violence and the demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992. The BJP, riding a wave of communal politics, increased its strength considerably an even enjoyed a long stint in power.

Subsequently, however, the BJP and communal politics at large have been badly exposed and their strength and appeal stand considerably eroded. Now in the name of the Supreme Court verdict, the Sangh Parivar and the BJP are trying once again to recreate the 'Mandir' frenzy to fuel the communal chariot that has run out of steam. But by all accounts, such attempts have been rebuffed: in Ayodhya itself, BJP leader Kalyan Singh's recent march met with a cold response from the people of Ayodhya.

In 1949, the Congress Government presided over the breaking of the locks at the Babri Masjid; and in 1992 at the demolition of the Babri Masjid too. Congress' calculated compromises with communal politics are the reason that those responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid are yet to face any punishment.

The CPI(ML) appeals to people of the country to remain vigilant and rebuff all attempts to whip up violence in the wake of the verdict and demands that the Central Government guarantee the security of the minority community.

Questions by Kashmiri Youth to P Chidambaram

(as reported in Indian Express and ToI)

When the all-party delegation visited Ward 16 of SMHS hospital in Srinagar and met 18 injured patients, one of the patients shouted, "Give us freedom or kill us all." Hundreds protested outside. Fearing more protests, the delegation dropped the plan to visit more hospitals.

At Tangmarg, a young Tariq Ahmad Lone from the crowd asked Chidambaram: "If you call Kashmir an atoot ang (inalienable part) of India, then why are your people showering bullets on Kashmiris?... If you say Kashmir is atoot ang of India, then why are you putting your own ang (body part) into frying pan? If we are a body part of India why do you feel no pain when you fire at us?" Another student Yasin Mir asked Chidambaram, "I want to ask you, why are you firing bullets at us whenever there is a protest. Protests are always peaceful but unlike other states, you fire at us here. Why is it different in other states?" The Home Minister stood silent.

Karnataka: Demonstration for Land and Wages

Harapanahalli unit of CPI(ML) organised a demonstration demanding disbursement of wages under NREGA scheme and regularisation of Bagairhukum lands on 16 September. Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the office of the Assistant Commissioner to fulfill the demands immediately. The struggle was a follow-up of a fortnight-long agitation few months back that resulted in the suspension of corrupt panchayat officials. The follow-up agitation is a reflection of the determination of agricultural labourers and poor peasants to continue their struggles to fulfill their demands. Students, including girls, also participated in the demonstration in scores.

September 7 General Strike: More Reports

Maharashtra Rajya Sarwa Shramik Mahasangh participated in nationwide strike. In Mumbai all PSUs, banks, financial institutions, State & Central Govt. offices, even employees of most of the foreign banks participated in the strike and domestic workers like housemaids also participated to some extent. Textile mills workers of the few remaining mills also went on strike. A rally was held at Azad Maidan. BEST & Railway workers did not participate in the bandh. In Pune Corporation, workers did not participate in the strike (as they were on strike in previous week) but they participated in rally with other workers. In Ahmed Nagar municipal and sugar workers, agriculture labourers participated and took part in rally. In Kolhapur Dist. our (LNP-L) workers organized rallies in all talukas. In the parts of Marathwada our centres participated and took part in rally. Maharashtra's entire sugar factory workers participated in actions as INTUC participated in the bandh.

ANDHRA PRADESH: In Sattupalli, Khammam district, AICCTU and AIALA held a rally on the strike eve led by comrades Damodar and K Janardan. In Kakinada district HQ of East Godavari, 100 activists of AICCTU, RYA, AIALA held a march and joined a day-long blockade organised by the Strike Joint Action Committee. AICCTU State President Ch. Nageswara Rao addressed the gathering. In Prathipadu mandal of East Godavari, nearly 500 people held a rally under the AIALA-AICCTU banner and blocked the NH for an hour. In the mandal towns of Jaggampeta, Yeleswaram, Ronthulapudi, Kotanandanu, Sankhavaram, AICCTU and AIALA activists held programmes to implement the strike. In Visakhapatnam, AICCTU activists joined the JAC in implementing the strike.

Strikes: Outmoded in 'Modern Societies'?

The day after the historic September 7 All India General Strike, the Times of India carried an editorial advising unions to "shun bandh politics." The editorial argued, "In a democratic age, bandhs have lost their pre-independence aura and have outlived their purpose. They …reek of the old style of doing politics… With rising literacy and growing economic activity, modern societies search for moderate political methods such as debate, discussions or protests that do not involve public disruption."

India may be 'backward' and less than 'modern.' We wonder if the paper considers advanced capitalist countries like France and Britain to be 'modern societies' equipped with literacy and all other marks of modernity? What does the paper make of the fact that September 7 was 'International Action Day' for workers all over the world, and on that day, millions of French workers poured out on Paris streets against pension reforms, and transport workers of the London metro-rail system observed a 24-hour strike? Why are workers in these unquestionably 'modern' countries showing such zeal for 'outmoded' methods like strikes rather than 'debate and discussion'?!

French workers' September 7 Strike

Two to three million workers took to the streets across France on September 7 in a nationwide protest against plans by the French government to raise the minimum pension age from 60 to 62 by 2018.

The maximum pension age would also rise by two years to 67 as has happened in a number of other European countries. The changes are especially unpopular among employees who perform manual work. It was the biggest demonstration on any issue since President Nicolas Sarkozy came to power in 2007.

The 24-hour walk-out disrupted rail and air passengers, schools, hospitals and the postal service. Approximately 25% of all flights in and out of Paris were affected and an estimated half of rail and underground services were cancelled.

Union leaders said more people turned out than the previous protest in June, when two million people took to the streets. Dozens of rallies have already taken place in many cities across France.

The protests were timed to coincide with the introduction of Sarkozy'z legislation to make the change in the pension eligibility age and to "reform" other aspects of the country's national pension system.

Workers' Strikes Hit London Underground

London's tube workers went on a 24-hour strike on September 7. The entrance to an Underground station in west London was locked during the strike. Buses were diverted from central London because streets were at a standstill. The strike affected about 3 million passengers.

The strike was called by two unions -- the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) -- over plans by London Underground to cut 800 jobs.

Anti-Repression Day Observed in UP

Against the barbaric lathi-charge of 14 September on para-teachers in Lucknow, CPI(ML) organised statewide protests on 18th September to observe anti-repression day in Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion a dharna was held at the "Shaheed Smarak" in Lucknow and a memorandum was sent to the Governor.

Thousands of para-teachers from all over the State, who have been struggling for long, had converged in Lucknow to demand regularisation and decent pay. No-sooner they had started to march towards the State Assembly from Shaheed Smarak that batons were rained on them injuring and fracturing bones of many including women para-teachers. Later, even criminal cases were filed by the police against hundreds of protesting para-teachers.

Through the protests, the Party has demanded that the Mayawati Govt. abandon its repressive tactics and use of barbaric force against people's movements and punish all those officials that were responsible for the offensive on para-teachers. The Govt. should immediately withdraw fabricated cases against them and seriously consider their demands regarding job regularisation and salary.

The protests were also held at 3 places in Chandauli dist. namely Chakia, Naugarh and Chandauli, and Ahiraura and Jamalpur in Mirzapur dist. In Allahabad a protest march was held. At Nichlaul in Maharajganj, CPI(ML) and RYA jointly held a demonstration. Anti-repression day was also observed in Deoria, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Sonbhadra, Sitapur, Jalaun, Banda, Muradabad, Mau and Gonda among other places.

In a separate demand the Party State Committee of UP has held Mayawati Govt. responsible for the death of 18 people from toxic liquor on 17 September in Mirzapur and has demanded resignation from State's Excise Minister who along with the police department has been patronizing large supplies of illicit liquor on the eve of panchayat elections in the State.

AISA's Torchlight Procession to Reassert the Demand for Judicial Probe in Batla House 'Encounter'

19th September, 2010, marked two years since two young men were killed by police bullets in a flat in Batla House, Delhi. Despite the publication of the post mortem reports which clearly established that the two slain youth were killed from close range and that they did not receive a single bullet wound in the frontal regions of their bodies—an impossibility in the case of a genuine shootout. It is obvious to anyone now that the NHRC enquiry was sham and partisan in its conclusions. There has been no sign that the UPA government is willing to order a free and fair probe.

Indeed, both the BJP and the Congress governments have been united in unleashing a communal witch hunt in the name of combating terrorism. The recent revelations about the deep involvement of Hindutva organizations like Abhinav Bharat in planning and executing bomb blasts reveals the biased nature of the investigations so far. It shows how easy it is to execute Sohrabuddins and Ishrats and legitimize it as a counter terror operation; and how difficult it is to even conceive of Hindutva organizations as terrorist outfits.

All India Students' Association's (AISA's) torchlight procession was taken out against this politics of witch hunt and stereotyping; and to assert the struggle for justice and truth, on the eve of the second anniversary of the 'encounter'. Students and teachers from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, and JNU, as well as civil rights activists and filmmakers participated in large numbers.

West Bengal: Students and Youth Seminar on State's War against Tribals

On 29th August AISA and RYA held a seminar on "New Tactics of Imperialism and Operation Green Hunt" at Rabindra Niloy Hall in Midnapore town just 40 km from Lalgarh where State and Central forces are jointly carrying out a campaign of terror against the tribal population. The Maoists operating in the area have also not budged from their anarcho-militarist ways. In such a climate an initiative by the students and youth received encouraging response from local intellectuals and the seminar witnessed participation from many of them. The main speaker at the seminar was Nabarun Bhattacharya, President, West Bengal Gana Sanskriti Parishad. Other speakers at the seminar were Amit Dasgupta, Secretary, WB's GSP, Arup Dasgupta from APDR, Sudarshan Pal, Professor, Kharagpur College and Com. Jul Mukherjee, AISA leader. Com. Shoumyadip Bannerjee, an AISA activist from IIT Kharagpur anchored the session.

Over-bridge Collapse: Delhi Govt. Criminally Culpable for Endangering CWG Workers' Lives    

In yet another horrific accident yesterday, a foot-over-bridge under construction towards the CWG collapsed, injuring 27 workers, four of whom are battling for their lives in hospital.

Congress' 'Shining Delhi' is being built on the graves of exploited workers. In a series of past incidents, workers at Delhi Metro and CWG construction sites have been grievously injured and even killed. The reason is clearly the deeply ingrained corruption which results in compromises in quality of materials and in bypassing of safety regulations. Workers are not only being paid far below minimum wages (as noted by the Delhi HC on several occasions), they are also paying with their lives and limbs for this criminal corruption and negligence as they work day and night to meet CWG deadlines. 

CPI(ML) Liberation demands the arrest and prosecution of officials and contractors responsible for the foot-over-bridge construction. Trade union and human rights organisations should be entrusted with a thoroughgoing probe of the work conditions and implementation of labour laws at construction sites all over Delhi – and officials found to be blinking at labour law violations must face exemplary punishment. The Governments at Delhi and the Centre cannot simply pass the blame on to private contractors; they must directly answer for the violation of labour laws resulting in workers' loss of lives and limbs and underpayment of workers.

 

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


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Fwd: ML UPDATE 38 / 2010

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 13, No. 38, 14 – 20 SEPTEMBER 2010

Rahul Gandhi's 'Mission Bihar':

Posers for the Congress 'Crown Prince'

On the eve of the announcement of the Assembly election schedule for Bihar, the Congress 'crown prince' Rahul Gandhi addressed a couple of heavily publicised meetings at Saharsa and Samastipur, the nerve-centres of the Kosi and Mithila regions of Bihar. The meetings were advertised as a major milestone in Rahul Gandhi's 'Mission Bihar' campaign for a grand revival of India's grand old party in India's poorest state. The elections will tell us if and how far the Congress has managed to regain its long lost ground, but the meetings have already thrown up a whole series of uncomfortable questions for the youth icon of the grand old party.

 

Rahul Gandhi has been talking of infusing new blood in the Congress and recruiting fresh faces with clean images. Sharing stage with him in the Saharsa meeting were Ranjita Ranjan and Lovely Anand, two women leaders who represent the political legacies of Pappu Yadav and Anand Mohan, both currently serving life sentences as murder convicts (Pappu Yadav in the 1998 case of assassination of CPI(M) leader and Purnea MLA Ajit Sarkar and Anand Mohan in the 1993 case of murder of Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiyya) – certainly not among the cleanest and freshest of political faces in Bihar! And this is no aberration; rather this is central to the Congress gameplan of 'reviving' itself by recruiting turncoats and tainted elements from all sources.

 

Rahul did not forget to remind his audience that the funds he was despatching from Delhi were not being allowed to reach the deserving beneficiaries, and to ensure a free flow of funds to Bihar villages, the Congress would have to be brought back to power. This is a modified version of his father's famous statement that of every rupee released from Delhi only fifteen paise reached the villages with middlemen appropriating the rest. Well, there are two gaping holes in this formulation. Firstly, the funds released by the Centre do not belong to the Congress party and secondly, the politician-middleman-bureaucrat nexus appropriating the lion's share of these funds is as much characteristic of Congress-led governments as of any other government!

 

Indeed, as far as the people are concerned, it hardly matters whether the funds are allocated by the Centre or a state government. In both cases, the funds belong to the people and to the people alone. The coffers of the government are filled primarily by indirect and direct taxes paid by the people, more by the poor and middle-income sections than the rich. Of the 32.5 million tax-paying households in the country, 96% report an annual taxable income of less than Rs. 200,000 while only 2.2% (715,000) belong to the Rs. 800,000-plus bracket even as the National Council of Applied Economic Research tells us that at least 3.8 million households earn over Rs. 1 million a year! Clearly while the rich and the super-rich excel in tax evasion, it is the poor and the middle classes who bear the brunt of the tax burden, both indirect and direct.

 

Before bragging about central funds and pretending to be the soldier of the tribals and saviour of the poor, should not Rahul Gandhi tell his audience why the Congress government at the Centre is refusing to honour the Supreme Court directive to distribute foodgrains free of cost among the starving poor? Bihar, where more than 80% people live in poverty according to the latest UNDP report, which has been suffering continually from droughts and floods and where hunger has claimed some 150 lives in the last five years, surely has every right to know.

 

Before promising security and dignity for the migrant Bihari worker, should not Rahul Gandhi tell us why the Congress governments at the Centre and in Delhi are presiding over the more than Rs. 28,000 crore extravaganza in the name of the Commonwealth Games while Bihari workers engaged in CWG-related construction work are subjected to sub-human living and working conditions and abysmally low wages? Why in Congress-ruled Maharashtra, the MNS is allowed to humiliate, harass and attack Bihari workers and youth with impunity while the Congress strikes electoral deals with the same MNS?

 

Rahul Gandhi and his trumpet-blowers keep telling us that a resurgent Congress is the best bet for the deprived and insecure Muslim community in the country. Do not they first owe an answer as to why innocent Muslim students are killed in fake encounters in Congress-ruled Delhi and the champions of justice refuse even to order a judicial probe? Why the government that set up the Sachhar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Commission is shying away from implementing their recommendations?

 

And last but not the least, why the crown prince who swears by youth power has not a word for the Kashmiri students and youth who are being gunned down by the dozen for daring to come out on the streets in protest against repression?

 

The questions are getting louder, and Rahul Gandhi obviously has no convincing answers. No wonder, the NSUI was humbled in the recent student union elections in Delhi University, the home turf of our crown prince. Will Bihar be any different?

 

9-11 Anniversary, Islamophobic Hate-speak and

Efforts against Racism and War-mongering

The run-up to the 9/11 Anniversary in the US was marked this year by threats by a bigoted pastor in Florida to burn the Quran. This came in the backdrop of a recent rise in violent anti-Muslim mobilization and hate-speak in the US over the proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque two blocks away from 'Ground Zero' where the Twin Towers once stood in New York City.

 

While the pastor eventually called off his plan to burn the Quran, the incident brought to the fore US Government's avoidance of a firm stand against the Islamophobic anti-mosque campaign. When Obama became President of the USA, he held out a promise of "mutual respect and peace to the Muslim world." His silence on Israel's siege of Gaza and his continued occupation of Afghanistan has already called the bluff of that statement. But now the ongoing unbridled communal poison being spewed out openly on US soil itself is something that Obama must answer for.

 

Meanwhile the threat to burn the Quran had tragic consequences in Kashmir where ever-continuing state brutality of Indian security forces took 17 more lives in Kashmir. An irresponsible Iranian TV channel relayed supposed 'news' of the Quran burning, and in Kashmir, cut-off by curfews, multiple bans on communications and the dearth of credible news, the impact of this false news was explosive. People erupted in protest – and the security forces, instead of dealing sensitively with such a protest, predictably went on a rampage and killed 17 people, taking the toll of those killed in firing by security forces in Kashmir in the past 3 months to 88.

 

In Mumbai too, Islamophobic panic and paranoia was whipped up by the Mumbai police displaying two photos of two supposed 'Pakistani terrorists' on the loose in the festival season in Mumbai.

 

It was heartening however that thousands of people (mobilised by a broad coalition of anti-war and anti-racism groups) observed the 9/11 Anniversary in lower Manhattan with a massive rally against anti-Muslim bigotry. The rally against demonisation of Muslim, Arab American and South Asian communities and racism dwarfed the smaller right-wing, racist mobilization that was organized in opposition to the planned construction of the Islamic community centre and mosque.

 

A quiet blow to Indo-Pak mutual jingoism and war-mongering was the emergence of the 'Indo-Pak express' of Rohan Bopanna from India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi from Pakistan as runners up in the US Open tennis championships. The duo expressed their appeal for Indo-Pak friendship by wearing T-shirts with the slogan 'Stop war, start tennis.'

 

Published below is the letter from CPI(ML) Central Committee written to the UP Chief Secretary asking him to look into motivated and prejudiced action of Mirzapur Police against our local leaders and activists.

To

The Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh.

 

Dear Sir,

 

It has come to our notice that the Mirzapur police administration has started harassing Com. Mohammad Salim, National President of Revolutionary Youth Association and a Mirzapur-based member of the UP State Committee of the CPI(ML)(Liberation) following the meeting of the party's Central Committee held in Mirzapur from 1 to 3 August. Copies of the two letters addressed to him by someone claiming to be in-charge of the Naxal Cell of Mirzapur are attached herewith for your information and necessary action.

 

You must be aware that the CPI(ML) Liberation is a well-known communist party in the country with a long history of fighting for people's rights within the state of Uttar Pradesh itself. The party is duly registered with the Election Commission of India and has representatives in the Assemblies of two neighbouring states, Bihar and Jharkhand. On behalf of the Mirzapur committee of our party, Comrade Salim had on 28.07.2010 itself duly informed the City Magistrate, district administration and other local authorities (a receipt for this information from the City Magistrate's office was given to Comrade Salim) about the meeting of the Central Committee (held on 1-3 August at Rahi Lodge, Mirzapur) and the district convention in the same place on 4 August which was addressed by our General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya. Based on this information, the district administration arranged for security and for medical arrangements from the district hospital for the meeting.

 

Yet the so-called Naxal cell of Mirzapur has chosen to harass and threaten Comrade Salim and level highly irresponsible and objectionable allegations against the Central Committee of the party. The first such letter dated 6.08.2010 had no stamp, file number or any other hallmark of an official letter, but it warned Comrade Salim of "action" for having hosted the Central Committee meeting, alleging that this meeting was attended by "suspicious people" hailing from states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa etc.

 

On 19.08.2010 Comrade Salim sent a detailed response to the letter, through the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Mirzapur. In spite of this, a second letter dated 27.08.2010 from the "in-charge Naxal Cell" was sent to Comrade Salim warning him that since no reply had been received, "one-sided action" would be taken against him.

 

We hope you will look into the matter and restrain the Mirzapur police from any motivated and prejudiced action against our local leaders and activists.

 

Hope you will acknowledge this letter and keep us duly informed of action taken.

 

(Swadesh Bhattacharya)

For CPI(ML) Liberation, Central Committee

 

In the last issue of ML Update, we reported about Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Delhi, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan where the all-India general strike was implemented. We could not cover reports from a few states which is being carried below:

 

WEST BENGAL: Jute mills' gates were picketed by our activists. TMC and BJP had to retreat when our activists resisted their attempt to break the strike at Bhadreswar Jute Mill in Hoogly.  AICCTU activists blocked the gate of Kasba Industrial Estate and did mike campaign. The unorganised workers in this area stood in our favour. At Konnagar in Hooghly, hundred construction workers took out a 2-hour cycle rally and held a condolence meeting in memory of the construction workers killed at Commonwealth Games site in Delhi.  At Dhaniakhali too our comrades resisted TMC's forcible attempt to up the shutters of the market.  Beedi workers in Maldah, Murshidabad and Nadia participated in the strike in a big way. Rail Hawkers Union affiliated to AICCTU blocked the rail line. Transport workers affiliated to AICCTU had significant role in the strike at Jalpaiguri and the transport workers of Calcutta Tramways Company and Kolkata State Transport Corporation too had a significant role in the strike. Strike was total in Budgebudge and Durgapur-Asansol industrial area. Our members participated in the strike at collieries in Asansol. Activists in North and South Dinajpur held marches on several roads for the success of strike. Our activists picketed gates of Jute mills in Howrah also.

 

ASSAM: After years of lull in Karbi Anglong, the 7th September bandh call ended the inertia and our forces geared up to make all out initiative in organising the bandh. Besides publishing a leaflet for wide circulation, AICCTU took the leading role in organising various sections. A section of health workers like ASHA took part for the first time in strike. In the Barak valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi the general strike was almost total. AICCTU concentrated in Cachar and its HQ Silchar where 200 activists were arrested from picket on the railway tracks. In Dibrugarh too the bandh was total and what is notable is shutting down of railway workshop on our sole initiative. Serious altercation took place between security forces and picketers before the security personnel yielded. In Tinsukia, two tea estates where our trade union work has influence, were closed. This is the result of our recent struggle on the issue of PDS. Though INTUC was part of the strike its national VP Pawan Singh Ghatowar and the MP of Dibrugarh opposed the strike in tea gardens. However, his orders were not followed even in his native place. In Guwahati AICCTU Jt. Secretary of Assma Com. Pankaj Das was arrested with others while leading a blockade of railway track.

 

ORISSA: A mass rally of 300 comrades of different unions like Motorboat Workers Union, Chilka, Rickshaw Porters Federation of Bhubaneswar railway station, Construction Workers Union and Slum Dwellers Association of Bhubaneswar led by State General Secretary of AICCTU Com. Radhakanta Sethi, AICCTU Secretary Com. Mahendra Parida, Yudhistir Mohapatra, CPI(ML) State Committee member, Ashok Pradhan, President of AIALA Com. Satyabadi Behera held demonstration in front of the State Assembly. The rally started from Nagbhusan Bhavan to Bidhan Sabha via Rajmahal Square with colourful placards and flags of AICCTU and raising slogans to stop price rise, stop disinvestment in profitable public sector units, provide social security to all unorganized workers, strict implementation of labour laws etc.

 

In front of Orissa Assembly a public meeting was held where comrades Radhakanta Sethi, Litulal of AISA, Janaki Rao of Basti Basindha Masanga, Seema Sethi of Rickshaws Sangha addressed the meeting. In the public meeting AICCTU raised the issue of permanent patta to landless labourers, supply of ration card, provide work and Rs.200 wage per day etc. All the business concerns, insurance companies and banks were closed on this day due to workers' solidarity. It's the first time business community downed their shutters without any pressure from us and petrol pumps too remained closed in Bhubaneswar.

 

At Patatmendei AICCTU cadres led by comrades Rama Krishna Dash, Bidhan Das, Ananta Kar and Ramakrishna Patra held mass rally and handed over memorandum to the BDO. The workers of Motor Workers Association, Khet Mazdoor Sabha participated in this demonstration. In Rourkela, AICCTU and CITU jointly held a demonstration in front of Rourkela Steel Plant and 100 comrades of Ispat labour union and construction workers union joined with us under the leadership of comrades Kedar and RP Singh.

 

IN Bhadark, under leadership of Samar Bala, around 200 workers of construction workers union, and AIALA members participated in the rally to DM's office and handed him a memorandum.

 

CHHATISGARH: Workers organised under the banners of by AICCTU, AITUC, CITU, HMS and INTUC jointly blockaded all the five gates of Bhilai Steel Plant and held demonstration. AICCTU blockaded the Maroda gate and held a meeting. Thousands of contract workers participated with great vigour. AICCTU also took out a rally from Maroda gate to Bhilai Power House and held a dharna at Ambedkar chowk. Workers from CMM struck work in industrial area and participated in this dharna. Dharna was addressed among others by comrades Brijendra Tiwari and Rajaram.

 

In Raipur, workers from State warehouse and Central warehouse participated in the rally led by AICCTU's national VP Com. Bhimrao Bagre. Programmes were also organised at Jagdalpur in Bastar.

 

GUJARAT: Himmatnagar (Sabarkantha district) - Building and transport workers struck work and 300 attended the rally at District Collectors office under AICCTU banner. Comrades Dashrath Sinhali (AICCTU working committee), Ranjit Sinh Rathod (national councilor) Vinod Modi, Babubhai Parmar, Navin Varma, Nanjibhai Pagi, Jivaji Parmar among others addressed the rally.

 

PUNJAB: Chandigarh: In Chandigarh AICCTU's two main unions Punjab Engineering College (PEC) Mess Workers Union and Prehari Security Men's Union took part actively and this strike was a complete success in Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. All mess workers gathered in the morning and put locks on the mess gates. Security Men Union members also joined the gathering and later all marched to Nehru Park in Sector 22 where all other trade unions were also present. Total gathering was 400 and AICCTU's participation was 150. From there all marched to Sector 16 which is a stretch of nearly 4 km. In Sector 16 the main program organiser was AICCTU. Mess Worker Union President Com. Satish Kumar was one of those presiding. AICCTU Punjab's Co-Convenor Com. Kanwaljeet addressed the rally.

 

Total gathering in Sangrur was 450 and AICCTU's participation was 107. The newly formed Mobile Tower Guard Union affiliated to AICCTU participated with 60 members. From AICCTU Convenor Harbhagwan and Brick-kiln Workers union President Gurjant Mansa addressed the rally.

 

Total gathering was 200 at Mansa and AICCTU had half the share. From AICCTU main participation was from Brick-kiln workers union and Construction Workers' Union. Bhagwant Samao, Sukhcharan Daanewalia and Jasveer Natt addressed the gathering.

 

AISA and RYA teams blocked the Mansa Highway for 2 hours with strength of 200 youths.

 

At Barnala, total participation was 300 and our participation was 125. Brick kiln workers and Majdoor Mukti Morcha members mainly participated.

 

At Bhathinda, total participation was 500 and from AICCTU Ammi Lal addressed the gathering.

 

Annual Conference of Building Workers' Union in Mandawli

 

Second Conference of Building Workers' Union of Mandawli zone was held on 22 August. Leaflets were distributed among wider section of workers in the area. Despite heavy pours in Delhi prior to the Conference date wider public campaign was conducted.

 

Conference began with paying homage to martyrs by observing silence for two minutes in their remembrance. CPI(ML)'s Central Committee member Comrade Prabhat Kumar Chaudhary inaugurated the Conference and called upon the Union and workers to expose and resist the corrupt, pro-corporate and anti-worker Congress Govt.

 

Various issues icluding membership renewal, retrying for Ward based structure, building chowk based structures and fixed participation in programmes, politicization of workers etc. came up in the discussion. Mandawli has 500 members of the Union. Against the commonly held perception of frequent inter-state migration and movement of workers it came out that the workers have been permanently residing in Delhi. The Conference resolved to continue resisting and fighting against the loot and corruption in the name of Commonwealth Games, fight for inclusion of names inn voter list, rashan card, health and education. Conference has elected 23-member executive body that includes three women and 8-member office bearer. The Conference was addressed by Comrade Sanjay Sharma and VKS Gautam among others.

 

Protest in Delhi against Massive Displacement of Poor, Violations of Workers' Rights and Loot of Public Money in the name of Commonwealth Games

 

CPI(ML) held a week long campaign in Delhi asking the people to join a massive protest at parliament Street in New Delhi on 15th September to condemn the huge displacement of poor and working class people in the name of Commonwealth Games and to ask for immediate resettlement of all. The campaign also exposed the massive corruption and violation of labour laws at Commonwealth games sites.

 

On 15 September, CPI(ML) activists, workers, students from universities in the Capital and affected people from various parts of Delhi marched on Parliament Street demanding punishment to the corrupt officials and Organising Committee members, strict implementation of labour laws and immediate rehabilitation of those displaced. The protest and rally was led by CPI(ML) Delhi State Secretary Comrade Sanjay Sharma.

 

Martyrdom Anniversaries

 

16th anniversary of Subbu's martyrdom was observed by Subbu peravai. CPI(ML) State Committee members Balasundaram, Asaithambi, Usha and comrades from Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Madurai participated. Scores of Dalit organisations and groups too attended the anniversary.

 

Martyrs Chandrakumar Chandrasekar's 26th anniversary was observed at Manaloor. CPI(ML), AIALA, AISA, and AIPWA leaders, activists and local people participated. Balasundaram, Ammaaiappan, Kannaian, Rajasankar, Bharati, Rajesh, Gurusamy, Prasad spoke at the occasion. Manaloor Party Branch Secretary Thangasamy presided over the meeting. State secretary hoisted the Party flag.

 

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