ML UPDATE 11 / 2010

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 14, No. 11, 08 – 14 MARCH 2011

The CVC Fiasco:

The Appointee Has Lost His Job,

the 'Masters' Must also Lose theirs!

Six months after appointing PJ Thomas as the Central vigilance Commissioner, on March 7 Manmohan Singh told the Lok Sabha that the appointment was an error of judgement. The PM's admission of course came only after the Supreme Court struck down the appointment on 3 March as being illegal and arbitrary. Till that moment the government adamantly defended the appointment in the face of a growing public outcry. The Prime Minister even advised the judiciary to stay within its limits and not intrude into the domains of the legislature or executive. At one stage Home Minister P Chidambaram, one of the three members of the High Power Committee alongside the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, even sought to argue that the government was not aware of Mr. Thomas being chargesheeted in the palmolein scam that had rocked Kerala in the early 1990s.

 

Evidently, the government has been defeated on the issue of appointment of the CVC and the PM who blames coalition compulsions for every pressing problem now haunting the country – be it soaring prices or unbridled corruption – is now trying to put up a brave face by describing it as 'an error of judgement' and taking 'full responsibility' for the error. Sushma Swaraj, the vocal BJP leader and the third member of the High Power Committee who had submitted a dissenting note when Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram pushed for Thomas as the CVC, says that the matter should now be over with the PM accepting responsibility. She also says she has the backing of her party president in suggesting this truce. So the BJP, the party that claims to be waging a war on corruption is not interested in pursuing the subject any more. The reason is perhaps not difficult to understand – after all, those living in glass houses must exercise a lot of caution if at all they have to throw a stone or two.

 

The Congress and the BJP may have their reasons to arrive at a tacit understanding not to push the issue any further, but there are clearly major questions involved that are crying out for an answer. The Central Vigilance Commission is supposed to be the apex anti-corruption agency in the country and when the High Power Committee was dealing with the issue of appointment of the CVC, the question of corruption in high places had already acquired disturbing prominence in public discussion. Against such a backdrop the UPA government could think of appointing nobody as CVC other than PJ Thomas who is a named accused in the Kerala palmolein case pending in the Court of the Special Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, for offences under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code. As food secretary of the Karunakaran government, in 1992 Thomas had signed the import order for 15,000 tonnes of palm oil from a Singapore-based Malaysian firm at a rate much higher than the prevailing international price.

 

Quite interestingly, even as Thomas was chargesheeted in 2000, he went on to occupy important positions in the Kerala bureaucracy, becoming Chief Secretary to the Kerala Government in 2007 before being catapulted to the capital, first as secretary to the Parliamentary Affairs ministry in 2009 and then as telecom secretary till he was appointed CVC in September 2010. Karunakaran had successfully obtained a stay order from the Supreme Court to stall the case at the lower court and it is only after Karunakaran's death that the Supreme Court lifted the stay allowing the case to be resumed. As telecom secretary, Thomas presided over the 3G auction, but quite crucially he also secured a favourable nod from the law ministry to try and stop the CAG investigations into the 2G scam.

 

The issue is not whether Thomas is personally corrupt – it is his role as a facilitator of corruption that should have made him eminently ineligible for the post of the CVC. Yet the UPA government chose to reward this loyal bureaucrat with the assignment of the country's Chief Vigilance Commissioner! Given this track record of Mr. Thomas, his appointment as the CVC, defying a dissenting opinion within the HPC, could not possibly have been a simple 'error of judgement' as Manmohan Singh would now like us to believe. On the contrary, there is every reason to suspect that it was part of a larger design to have a loyal and suitable CVC to save the government when it finds itself under the cloud of massive scams.

 

The Thomas episode also shows how institutions are being systematically devalued and subverted in our system. It should be noted that in a judgment issued on 18 December 1997, the Supreme Court had called for making the CVC a statutory body "entrusted with the responsibility of superintendence over the CBI's functioning". The Prime Minister's admission of "an error of judgement" in the appointment of the CVC is therefore a crucial lapse with ramifications for the entire investigative process in the system.

 

A government caught red-handed while playing with the highest institutions in the country can claim no right to continue in office. Heads must roll. If the CVC has had to go, the government that thrust this illegal appointment on the country must also follow suit. For those who value probity in public life and would like to see a degree of institutional accountability, the present juncture is nothing short of a wake-up call. We must rise and act decisively to banish corruption, and to banish corruption we must challenge the political climate that fosters and rewards corruption.

 

AIPWA's March on International Women's Day Centenary in Delhi

 

To mark 100 years of International Women's Day, women workers, students and professionals held a march and Public Meeting at Jantar Mantar (Parliament Street) in New Delhi on 8th March. The march was decorated with colourful banners and placards, and women raised slogans against discrimination, violence and oppression on women.

 

At the public meeting, women reminded that it was women workers of many countries, under the banner of revolutionary left organisations, who first began celebrating International Women's Day in 1911, demanding rights and equality at the workplace and the right to vote. In India in 2011, women workers still face severe discrimination, exploitation and insecurity at work.

 

Addressing the meeting, women sanitation workers from the Lala Ram Sarup TB Hospital said that the Government exploits women workers, forcing each woman to do the work of two. If women raise their voice in protest, employers threaten to throw them out of the job.

 

Domestic workers said that domestic workers in Delhi are very often denied basic human rights – even the right to use the toilet in the homes and colonies in which they work. They often face immense cruelty, abuse and sexual harassment, yet the Bill on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace being proposed by the Government excludes domestic workers, in the name of the 'sanctity of the home!' They pointed out that the rich person's home is the poor woman's workplace, and demanded that domestic workers must be recognised as workers and guaranteed proper wages and rights, and justice against sexual harassment.

 

Sucheta De, AISA Secretary from JNU, said that there has been a sharp increase in violence against women, with many MLAs involved in rape, and many gang rape and blade attacks against women in Delhi. Sexual harassment and cyber crimes against women are also on the rise.

 

Kavita Krishnan, National Secretary, AIPWA said in spite of all the boasts of '8% growth rate', it is shameful that India is amongst the five countries in the world with the worst maternal mortality rates, and more than half of India's young women are malnourished and thousands of women die of anaemia. Yet the UPA Government's Budget, which gives away Rs 5 lakh crores to corporates, claims to have no funds to increase ICDS coverage that can ensure women's nutrition and health! The meagre increase in the ICDS program Rs 8996.64 cr to Rs 10404.68 cr, will go towards the increase in anganwadi workers' wages to Rs 3000 – which is still less than minimum wages!

 

Kavita Krishnan asked why the Govt is dragging its feet on passing the 33% Reservation Bill, and laws against Sexual Harassment at the workplace and Sexual Assault? Why does the Sexual Harassment Bill have discriminatory provisions like a clause against 'false complaints'? Women all over the country are being killed for the 'crime' of choosing their own life-partners, yet why is the UPA Govt. is refusing to pass a law against 'honour' crimes? Why are women being subjected to rape and state repression by security forces in Kashmir, the North East, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Lalgarh and many other parts of the country?

 

The meeting was conducted by AIPWA leader Uma Gupta, and addressed by AIPWA activists Sheela Bharti, Shakuntala, Soni, Ramvati as well as women students from DU, Jamia Millia Islamia and JNU including Shweta and Avalokita. Women students Chintu, Anjali, Raj Rani and Tahiba also performed several songs on the theme of women's rights and students from DU performed a play on Women's Day.

 

Uttar Pradesh: Women across the State were prevented and denied by the police from holding Women's Day demonstrations under the pretext that Samajwati Party's agitation was going to create problems and that Sec. 144 has been enforced across the State.

 

In Pilibhit, when AIPWA members, mainly poor agricultural women labourers tried to hold demonstration they were prevented by the police on pretext of 144 and when they tried to argue it was Women's day they were mistreated, arrested and taken to police station where mindless charges were slapped against them and heavy bail amounts imposed. They were threatened with jail term also. Elsewhere in the Pilibhit town, CPI(ML) leader Comrade Afroz Alam was picked up by the police, taken to thana and physically assaulted by the police.

 

In Deoria too, the women were forcefully prevented from holding Women's Day demonstration. In the backdrop of recent spate of shocking incidents in the State in which dalit and poor women have been brutally assaulted, raped and killed, preventing women from demanding safety and justice on Women's Day clearly points to authoritarian rule in UP and imposition of Sec. 144 in view of opposition protest and preventing women from holding protest is clearly a draconian measure under Ms. Mayawati's rule.

 

AIKM Conference in Uttarakhand

 

All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) held its first Pithoragarh District Conference on 27-28 February. The Conference elected 35 member District Council and 11 member District Committee. Apart from elected delegates from two development divisions, invited delegates too from other two development divisions participated in the Conference.

 

AIKM's Uttarakhand State Convenor and National Secretary Comrade Purushottam Sharma inaugurated the Conference. Main speaker at the Conference was Comrade Raja Bahuguna, CPI(ML)'s incharge for the State. About the growing loot of public resources in the newly formed State, he said that a big peasants movement can bring to halt such plunder and regressive political culture of brokerage. He mentioned of the need in Uttarakhand to form AIKM in every village of the State to uproot anti-peasant and anti-farmer governments of BJP and Congress.

 

Leaders from AISA, AIPWA, AICCTU, Bhojanmata Union, Aanganwadi Employees Union etc. also addressed the Conference. The Conference has resolved to enroll twenty thousand new members in the District in next two years.

 

BJP Govt.'s Attack on Aanganwadi Emloyees

 

Sacrificing the interests of Aanganwadi employess in Uttarakhand, the BJP Govt. has passed an order to fill by outsourcing 282 posts of supervisors and handing over new Aanganwadi centres to NGOs. Following the privatisation and liberalisation policies of Centre the State Govt. has begun privatising the Aanganwadi centres.

 

Infuriated at this development, Aanganwadi employees under the banner of Uttarakhand Aanganwadi Employees Union (affiliated to AICCTU) held protest demonstrations and sat on dharna on 3rd March at District Magistrate's offices in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts. Demonstration were also held at tehsil headquarters of Gangoli Haat, Berinag, Didi Haat, Munsyari in Pithoragarh Dist. and Lohaghaat in Champawat Dist.

 

It is evident that the move to privatise this service will further add to insecurity of the Aanganwadi employees. The Aanganwadi members have decided to intensify their agitation. Leaders of AISA, AIPWA, AICCTU and Kisan Mahasabha also participated in the protests.

 

AISA's Demonstration in Mumbai

 

On 28 February, about four hundred students from Nagpur, Aurangabad, Dhulia, Jalgaon, Khandes, Ahmed Nagar, Kolhapur and Pune along with student-youth associated with Shaheed Bhagat Singh Brigade assembled at Azad Maidan in Mumbai under the banner of All India Students' Association (AISA) to protest UPA Govt.'s education policies and economic policies that do not generate employment.

 

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was reverberating with revolutionary slogans early morning on 28th February when AISA members from various districts of Maharashtra reached here to march to Azad Maidan later in the day. Despite examinations approaching, 400 students came to Mumbai for protesting UPA's new education policies. The march was led by AISA leaders Shivaji Pawar (AISA's Maharashtra President), Jeevan Surude (State Secretary of AISA), Prakash Jadhav (State Vice President of AISA), Sandeep Singh (AISA's National President) and Abhilasha Srivastava (Secretary of Nagpur) apart from other student leaders. The protest meeting at Azad Maidan was addressed among others by General Secretary of Lal Nishan Party (Leninist) Comrade Bhimrao Bansod, and Comrades Uday Bhatt, Shyam Gohil, Dheeraj Rathore and Harendra Srivastav.

 

AICCTU's March in Punjab

 

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) Punjab and Chandigarh units have achieved progress in the recent days by initiating many struggles and being successful too in some struggles. In dist. Sangrur the AICCTU's foothold is mainly in the brick kiln workers. The condition of these workers is that most of the time they are working as kind of bonded labourers as they get some advance payment at the start of the season and then they are forced to accept all the harsh working conditions without any capacity to renegotiate. The old unions associated to CITU and AITUC have only gone so far as organizing strikes and negotiate a few percentage increase in their wages. The issue of maintaining record of workers by the brick kiln owners, registering them with the Provident Fund department, ESI, Group Insurance etc., getting uniforms, fixing of work hours, abolition or regulation of the piece rate payments etc. were always pushed back.

 

The AICCTU served a demand notice to the brick kiln owners' union raising all the above basic demands. The owners initiated a conciliatory process and an agreement was finally signed which secured the victory of workers over the PF question apart from an increment of 25% in the wages above the minimum wages and many other demands.

 

Similarly in dist. Barnala, we secured victory on the above demands after a brief strike and an indefinite dharna in front of the DC office. The victory rallies of these districts were attended by hundreds of workers and the old unions and their TU functioning style were seriously criticized by the workers.

 

Chandigarh: The main base of AICCTU in Chandigarh are the contract workers working in different govt. hospitals, university hostels, Municipal health and sanitation departments. These workers are denied even the basic rights and there had been a general ban on rallies, dharna and demonstrations. AICCTU is the only union which in the recent months organized a 53 day long dharna in one of the VIP areas in front of the PEC university of technology and won all the demands. Three tools down strikes over the issues of delayed salaries, illegal termination and undue deductions were organized by our Ekta Contract Workers' Union, GMSH-16, in the month of February. About 300 workers participated in a workers march to Labour Secretary, Chandigarh on February 21. Nearly 500 workers participated enthusiastically in the February 23 Delhi march. AICCTU in Chandigarh has been successful in getting many unions affiliated with it. A dharna was organized despite massive opposition by the police in the city centre at Plaza Sec. 17 on 5th march against UPA's anti-people budget.

 

Rise against Soaring Prices and Rampant

Corruption!

Rise against the

Corrupt, Repressive and Treacherous UPA Regime!!

Onward to Delhi,

Onward to the March 14 "People's March to

Parliament"!!!

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 / 2011

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 14, No. 10, 01 – 07 MARCH 2011

Budget 2011:

Concessions for Corporates,

Cuts for the People

With Assembly elections approaching in several key states and the government having lost all credibility for its complete failure to check prices and curb corruption, the budget this year was widely expected to be a desperate 'balancing act'. A 'balancing act' it has been, but the end result is once again more of the same: a crushing burden on the common people, bountiful largesse for the corporate biggies. Despite unprecedented inflation, the government slashed food, fuel and fertilizer subsidies by more than Rs. 20,000 crore and signalled further cuts in the coming days. Contrast this to signals to the corporate sector: reduction in surcharge on corporate tax from 7.5% to 5%, and no curtailment in stimulus package, and there can be absolutely no doubt as to who the budget is meant for.

 

The budget and the economic survey have seemed to create an impression that agriculture has bounced back. The rise in last year's agricultural growth rate reflected no real increase but only a recovery from the impact of the previous year's drought. In his budget speech the Finance Minister prayed for the blessings of Lord Indra (for a good monsoon), but made no effort to increase public investment in irrigation and agriculture. The renewed spurt in farmers' suicides has not bothered the Finance Minister – he has remained busy building castles of second green revolution in air. In terms of budgetary allocations and policy priorities, agribusiness has nearly replaced agriculture. There are enough indications that the government is moving in the direction of complete privatization of agricultural trade. There can be no food security for the ordinary Indian people if the reins of agricultural marketing are left in private hands.

 

There is also a lot of self-congratulatory noise over increased social sector spending in the budget especially in education and healthcare even as the steep increase in defence budget (which has now reached a staggering magnitude of more than Rs. 1.64 trillion) has gone virtually unnoticed. Much is being made of the doubling of the honorarium paid to anganwadi workers who are the backbone of the ICDS programme, but even this doubled honorarium – Rs. 1500 and Rs. 3,000 per month – makes a complete mockery of any notion of minimum wages for women workers who are playing such a key role in rural healthcare. While the government would like to highlight the increase in outlay, a look at the government's tax and excise duty proposals makes it clear that medicines, diagnostic tests and various education-related items like textbooks, notebooks and other accessories are all going to cost more!

 

The tax proposals made in the budget point to an increasingly regressive tax regime with the government relying much more on indirect taxes borne by the rich and the poor alike than on direct taxes, corporate or personal. While the government hands out massive tax exemptions to the corporate sector, in the name of revenue generation it resorts to disinvestment, and increased excise duty on necessary articles of mass consumption. The budget this year expects disinvestment proceeds to contribute Rs. 40,000 crore while corporate tax exemptions (described as "subsidy payment to preferred taxpayers" in the budget) in 2010-11 stood at a staggering Rs. 88,263 crore! It may be noted that the total quantum of revenues forgone is rapidly increasing – it was about Rs. 2.4 lakh crore in 2006-07 and Rs 5.7 lakh crore in 2010-11! The proportion of revenues forgone to revenues collected is also rising fast – from about 50% in 2006-07, it reached 80% last year.

 

The budget contains many new concessions for foreign capital, the most significant being the entry of foreign capital in the mutual funds market. Foreign Institutional Investors can now invest $40 bn in Indian corporate bonds against the $20bn available earlier. The Economic Survey has mooted phased opening of foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail – while the budget has not yet made any specific commitment in this regard, the Finance Minister has talked of further liberalization of the government's policy regarding foreign direct investment. While throwing open the Indian capital market to foreign players, the government has announced no concrete measures to check the illicit outflow of Indian wealth to foreign banks. A study made by the Global Financial Integrity has estimated the illicit outflow to be of the order of Rs. 240 crore every single day.

 

The Economic Survey released before the budget has mooted several measures towards greater economic liberalization and privatization and some of them have already been echoed in this year's budget. Some of the key proposals include banking licences for microfinance institutions and business houses – a clear move towards privatization of the banking sector; "streamlining land acquisition and environmental clearance" for infrastructure projects – a euphemism for accelerated corporate plunder of land, minerals, forests and other natural resources; and privatization of state-run SEZs set up before the 2005 Act. To increase investment in infrastructure the Economic Survey emphasized not only the much-touted PPP model but also "exclusive private investment wherever possible".

 

If the country was expecting any respite from the pressing problems of inflation, black money, agrarian crisis, industrial slowdown and the growing exclusion of the aam aadmi from the basic necessities of life, then the budget has completely betrayed this expectation. But then budgets in neoliberal economics are hardly meant to address the concerns of the people, their only business is to appease 'the sentiments of the market'. The rhetorical references to the aam aadmi, inclusive growth and responsive governance have never made the UPA budgets any different. Budget 2011 has proved to be no exception.

 

Godhra Verdict: Questions Remain

 

The trial court verdict in the Godhra train burning case has raised more questions than it has answered about the horrific incident of 2002 in which 59 kar sevaks had lost their lives.

 

The trial court has upheld the prosecution's theory of a pre-planned 'conspiracy,' while acquitting those whom the prosecution had claimed to be the 'key conspirators.' It is unclear how there could be a conspiracy without the conspirators. The fact that 63 people were acquitted points to the way in which the Gujarat police had indiscriminately arrested Muslims of Godhra and baselessly charged them with the crime. Evidence of police coaching witnesses to give false statements was ignored by the court. The court relied on custodial confessions of the accused which had been subsequently retracted on the plea that they were obtained under torture.

 

It must be remembered that in February 2009, the Gujarat high court upheld the POTA review committee's finding that there was no element of terrorist conspiracy in the Godhra case, leading to the withdrawal of POTA charges from the accused. The findings of the Rail Ministry-appointed UC Banerjee Committee had also ruled out the possibility of conspiracy in the train fire – and the Nanavati Commission appointed by the Gujarat Govt., while upholding the conspiracy theory, was unable to satisfactorily answer questions raised by the Banerjee Committee.

 

In the case of Babri Masjid demolition and the Gujarat anti-Muslim pogrom of 2002 (for which the Godhra incident had provided a pretext), despite ample evidence of criminal and communal conspiracy at the top levels of BJP and RSS leadership, none of the conspirators has faced trial. But in the Godhra case, where the 'conspiracy' claim stands on questionable and flimsy grounds, people have been convicted and even sentenced to death. Such a verdict cannot be accepted as closure in the Godhra case, and it is hoped that higher courts will provide a more convincing conclusion.

 

23 Feb: Working Class' Massive Rally in Delhi

 

23rd February 2011 has become a milestone in the Indian trade union movement when the capital witnessed the assertion of lakhs of workers on the streets of Delhi. The whole central Delhi came to a standstill with workers marching to Parliament street from Ramlila ground with clinched fists and powerful slogans. The whole rally and meeting was vibrating with the enthusiasm and fighting spirit of the working class.

 

The massive, spontaneous response and the fighting spirit in the rally amply shows the growing disillusionment of the working people with the corrupt, repressive rule of UPA 2 government. The rally also shows the determination of the working class to fight back the pro-corporate-MNC rule of Manmohan government which is totally insensitive and cruel towards the plight of the working people living under unprecedented price rise, massive unemployment and continuous curbing of labour rights.

 

The composition of the rally reflects the all India representation and also of the cross section of Indian working class. Financial sectors like Bank and insurance contingent was present in good numbers, as was telecom and railways. Biggest contingent were from construction, Aanganwadi-Asha-mid day meal, agriculture labourers and workers from in and around Delhi. This is for the first time that a large number of women workers particularly from ASHA Aganwadi- mid day meal participated in the rally in most articulate and visible way. The left's mobilization played decisive role for the success of the rally.

 

Though the mobilisation was done by the left, there was attempt to focus on the presence of INTUC by media and influential sections of the left. This attempt blunts the political edge and political assertion of the working class. Like National Advisory Council raising voice for aam aadmi and Manmohan led government pursuing pro-corporate, pro MNC policies or Swadeshi Jagran Manch raising people's issues when NDA was in power, these are ruling parties ploy to capture opposition space, confuse people and blunt the edge of political offensive.

 

The 23rd rally amply proves the fighting mood of working people against the Govt's policy of economic liberalisation and privatisation. AICCTU as revolutionary centre of Indian working class movement must gear up to lead the struggle at various levels and develop strong network. AICCTU General Secretary Comrade Swapan Mukherjee addressed the rally among others.

 

CPI(ML)'s March in Lucknow to Protest Rising Crime against Dalits & Women

 

The angry protest march against rising crime against Dalits and women under Ms. Mayawati's Government was held on 25 February in Lucknow. Thousands of party members, women and activists from different districts of Uttar Pradesh marched five kilometers from Charbagh to dharna place at Jhulelal Park at the banks of river Gomti. The well-decorated march shouting slogans against the Ms. Mayawati's Govt. and carrying red flags, festoons and banners passed through Latush Road, Kaisarbag Crossing, Parivartan Chauk and Hanuman Setu. More than half the marchers were women participating with great dynamism.

 

The march was led by Comrades Ramji Rai (Party's Polit Bureau member), Sudhakar Yadav (State Secretary-CPIML), Krishna Adhikari (CCM) and AIPWA's National Secretary Kavita Krishnan. Through the protest march the Party has demanded immediate dismissal of ministers and MLAs found involved in crime against Dalits and women, stringent action be initiated against accused police officers and Govt. officials, making State Women's Commission a representative and effective body and as members inclusion of representatives from different women's organisations/groups, and holding respective DM-SP accountable for incidents involving oppression of Dalits.

 

Com. Sudhakar Yadav said that ministers and MLAs of Bahujan Samaj Party itself have been found involved in murder and rapes of women and minors in the State in atleast three cases. Ms. Mayawati, who rode to power promising freedom from Mulayam's goonda raj and improvement in safety and security of the weaker sections, is silently watching criminals devastating lives of innocents and thus emboldening the criminals.

 

Speaking as main speaker Com. Kavita Krishnan noted that most of the victims in the State are Dalit women and that involvement of ruling party politicians and police personnel in crime against Dalits and women has exposed the true colours of BSP's social justice. Other AIPWA leaders including Tahira Hasan (National Vice President), Vidya Rajwar (State President), Premlata Pandey (Secretary), Rama Gairola, Shankar Kol (leader active among Tribal groups) and leaders from AISA and RYA also addressed the dharna.

 

 

New Delhi:CPI(ML) Protests against pro-Corporate, anti-people Budget

 

The CPI(ML) Liberation held a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 1st March against the UPA-II's General Budget for 2011-12, which appeased corporates and betrayed the people, failing to address any of the three burning concerns about the Indian economy – inflation, agrarian crisis and black money. Protestors including workers and students raised slogans against the anti-people Budget and held a protest meeting on Parliament Street.

 

Addressing the protest meeting CPI(ML) State Secretary Sanjay Sharma said that the Budget's predictions of a lower inflation rate could not be believed since the Economic Survey, released just three days ago, had warned of higher inflation and further increases in prices of food and fuel. The Budget merely repeats the vague promise of some food security legislation later this year without any budgetary provisions. And, despite soaring inflation in food grains and other agro-products, the allocation for Food and Public Distribution has been reduced from Rs.68,021.08 cr. to Rs.61,606.01cr. At least Rs.6000cr. has been reduced under the head of storage and ware-housing. This clearly shows the Govt.'s real intent of further dismantling the existing public distribution system, giving a freer hand to hoarders and speculators and facilitating the entry of private players and FDI in food retail business.

 

CPI(ML) Central Committee member Kavita Krishnan said that the Budget talks of 'second green revolution' but in fact, the Budgetary allocation for agriculture has gone down from Rs. 17, 695.48 cr to Rs. 17,522.87cr. Central plan outlay for Rural Development has been slashed from Rs. 55438 cr. to Rs. 55288 cr. Meanwhile revenue foregone on account of sops and exemptions to corporates for the year 2010-11 continues to be over Rs. 500, 000 crore – amounting to almost half of the total budgetary expenditure of this year! Had these revenues been achieved from the super-rich corporates, surely the Government could have substantially increased expenditure on health and education for our citizens? The Government gives Rs 5 lakh crore every year to the corrupt corporates – and yet claims to be very generous when it makes a minor increase in the honorarium paid to Anganwadi workers to a mere Rs. 3000 per month – which is less than even the minimum wages.

 

Ravi Rai, General Secretary, AISA, said that the increase in budgetary outlay for education and health is highly inadequate, especially when compared to the massive hike in defence budget which is more than 3 times the budget on education and 6 times on health. The higher education budget has seen a meagre increase from Rs.18,206 cr. to Rs.21,912 cr. and the health budget from Rs. 23,300cr. to Rs.26,897 cr.

 

The protest concluded by calling for intensification of the CPI(ML)'s countrywide people's campaign against the UPA government, its disastrous policies and callous and corrupt rule, culminating in the all-India Rally  to be held in Delhi on 14 March 2011.

 

Successful strike for wage increase by power loom workers in Tamilnadu

 

After 2 months of negotiations for an increase of 43% in wages as against 11% being offered by factory owners, ten thousand power loom workers under the leadership of AICCTU went on strike from 27 January to 9 February. AICCTU also sought an intervention by government to resolve the issue.

 

While the strike was on, the Owners' Association began negotiating with other trade unions. We immediately organised demonstration in front of the Owners' Association building with 200 workers on January 30th. On February 1, workers from two different localities organised road blockades under our leadership. It was withdrawn only on assurance by police officials that they will arrange to include AICCTU in the negotiation process.

 

In another area Sadayampalayam, Mr. Sebastian, representing the owners and also Vice President of the panchayat informed the gathering of some 200 striking workers that there won't be any talks with Communists (meaning AICCTU), and he asked the striking workers to come out of the AICCTU, only then negotiations would be possible. But workers turned down the offer and within an hour hoisted AICCTU flag in that area and took AICCTU membership. All sorts of attempts to scuttle this programme were foiled. Comrades Jacqueline Mary and Kamala, both woman leaders were at the forefront.

 

The owners relented somewhat but since deadlock continued we continued with the strike. Strike was continued by all sections of workers on our call even after few agreements that we rejected were signed. Finally Owners' Association agreed for across the board increase of 20% to all sections of workmen and then the strike was called off.

 

We have been in the forefront of wage revision struggles in this area for the past 23 years. Every time we struggle, stop work, stage protests and road rokos, Owners' Association used to settle the issue with AITUC, CITU and Other letter pad unions. These TUs, irrespective of their colour are concerned about falling profit margins of owners because of increase in raw material costs. But this time all their postures were defeated by workers' struggles. AICCTU has emerged as most reliable union among all sections of workers. In Kumarapalayam alone there are 5000 power looms employing about 30,000 workers. We could mobilize 10000 from some 2000 power looms in this strike. The agreed 20% wage revision is applicable to all factories.

 

Job-order contractors: Some times back those who take job orders from the owners resorted to strike for increase in rates. We supported their struggle on the condition that 50% of the increased wages have to be given to workers. Job order contractors conceded to our demand and implemented it. And this time, because of workers strike, rates of job order contract was also increased. This is a significant notable phenomenon. The role of job order contractors has in past posed complex issues in raising of wages of workers in small set-ups. However, a process has started to untangle this situation.

 

2nd State Conference of TN Democratic Construction Labourers' Union

 

TNDCLU's 2nd State Conference was held at Nagercoil, district HQ of Kanyakumari on 27th February. One thousand workers marched through the main streets of the town that culminated in a mass meeting. About 80 percent of the participants were women workers.

 

Some of the demands include free bus pass to all construction workers, increase accident benefit to 5 lakh and natural death to 2 lakhs, minimum pension of 3000 and eligibility age to be amended to 50 years for women and 55 years for men.

 

Conference also condemned the atrocities let loose by Srilankan Army/police on Tamil fishermen and demanded adequate protection to be provided by central and state governments. It called upon the workers to make the coming March 14 Rally at Delhi by All India Left Co-ordination a Grand success. It also called upon the workers to defeat corrupt and treacherous DMK-Congress alliance in the coming assembly election and reject the opportunist AIADMK alliance. It appealed to workers to intensify struggles and support CPI(ML) candidates. Com. S Kumarasamy, National president of AICCTU addressed the rally.

 

Chhatisgarh: AICCTU held a day long dharna on 24 February at the main gate of Bhilai Steel Plant to say NO to disinvestment of SAIL and to fulfil all other long-standing demands like housing, PF dues etc., and guaranteeing minimum wages of contract workers simultaneously with ensuring harassment-free work environment for them.

 

A dharna was also held on 23 February in front of the Collector's office in Bilaspur.

 

Uttarakhand: AICCTU held its Pithoragarh District Conference of Bhojanmata Union and Aanganwadi Workers on 1st January and 20 February respectively. Both the Conferences elected their district units. Comrades Govind Kaphalia and Vidya Rajwar were speakers at these conferences.

 

Kisan Mahasabha unit of Dharchula block held its unit conference on 23 January at Pangla. Com. KK Bora was the main speaker.

 

Cadre Convention in Patna

 

Party organised a cadre convention on Saturday resolving to launch an intense agitation against skyrocketing prices and unbridled corruption at the national level. The convention was held at Vidyapati Bhawan in Patna and wa addressed by CPI(ML) General Secretary. Besides speaking on our current tasks, in context of the ongoing people's movement in Arab countries of Middle-East he said that a myth that Muslim countries were being dominated by religious fanatics has now been exploded with a series of protest in Egypt and Tunisia where the Muslim population has come out in revolt against the rulers on the issue of livelihood, democracy and dignity.

 

Wisconsin Workers Standing Up Strong To Save The Unions!

Abridged version of the Statement of the Revolutionary Organization of Labor, USA

 

February 26, 2011: Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson aptly entitled a recent column: "Workers Toppled a Dictator in Egypt, But Might Be Silenced in Wisconsin". In mid-February newly elected Wisconsin governor Walker announced a "non-negotiable" state budget plan that substantially cuts the benefits and eliminates nearly all collective bargaining rights for state workers. As a police state tactic, he put the National Guard on alert, in case state workers rose up in protest.

 

In their tens of thousands, they did! Workers from both the public and private sector (joined by many supporters) took off from work, took to the streets and occupied the state house in Madison, WI, peaking at some 70,000 participants, and now continuing into its second week. Thousands more have been demonstrating in support all over the U.S. At least one Wisconsin Central Labor Council has raised the need for a general strike. These "fight back" actions (undoubtedly partly inspired by the popular successful uprisings of the Tunisian and Egyptian people) are encouraging and needed. It's in sharp contrast to the anemic response of the Labor movement's leadership to the increasing corporate and government assaults on unions and workers in general in the context of the economic crisis, caused by the greed and speculation of finance capital and the resulting massive job and home loss. Wisconsin is now a battleground state for the survival of Unions in the United States.

 

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

Fwd: ML UPDATE 9 / 2011

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 14, No. 09, 22 – 28 FEBRUARY 2011

Confessions of a CEO Prime Minister

Ahead of the budget session of Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a televised meeting with some select editors of television channels. The Prime Minister had a simple explanation for all the problems facing the country: 'compulsions of coalition politics'. And he had a simple suggestion: the media should not pay too much attention to the scams and other problems for it affects the 'self-confidence of the people' and the 'international image of the country'! The economist PM brushed aside the whole issue of the 2G scam by likening the spectrum loot to the subsidy on food, fuel and fertilizer! And he also did not forget to remind his listeners that his government would complete its term for it still had a lot of unfinished business.

 

In May 2009 the UPA had returned to power promising food security for the hungry and 'inclusive growth' for all those who have never been invited to the celebrations of economic growth. But while food security and inclusive growth still remain cruel jokes, under UPA-II, the country has had no respite from soaring prices and mega scams. The government knows it has forfeited whatever confidence the electorate may have reposed in it and it therefore asks the media not to weaken the 'self-confidence' of the people by focusing too much on the scams! And if the PM's press meet was any indication, the media is only too willing to play ball. There was hardly anything asked on the issue of illicit outflow of Indian wealth abroad, estimated at Rs 240 crore every single day. Nor was any clarification sought from the PM on the issue of appointing a tainted official as the CVC!

 

The PM had the audacity to compare the loss to the national exchequer caused by the spectrum loot to the subsidies meant for the poor. Even if one ignores the crucial distinction between the beneficiaries in the two cases – the 2G spectrum loot only bolstered corporate coffers while the subsidies are meant to help the poor survive the onslaught of the market – how can the PM compare a budgeted subsidy to a loss caused by the non-auction of a key resource? If it is the government's policy to allot spectrum on 'first come, first serve' basis and not through auction why did not the government declare that? Why did the government then go in for auction in the case of 3G spectrum, claiming credit for the revenue it yielded? Why did Manmohan Singh write to the Telecom Minister Raja in November 2007 suggesting auction of 2G spectrum if he thought it should be made available to telecom companies at subsidized rates?

 

The Al Jazeera correspondent of course drew the PM's attention to the ongoing developments in the Arab world and asked if he thought such mass upsurges could also happen in India. True to his politics, Manmohan Singh expressed concern over what was happening in the Arab world before reluctantly extending his good wishes to the people of Egypt if they wanted to move towards democratization! He was however sure that there was no 'danger' of Egypt being replicated in India, for India is a 'functional democracy' where the people "already have a right to change governments". And he seemed to be sure that the Indian people would not exercise that right against his government! "Of all the decisions that I take, 7 out of 10 turn out to be correct. The shareholders of a normal corporation will say a job well done", said Singh.

 

So here we have Singh's essential vision of democracy and his role as Prime Minister: he is the CEO of a 'normal corporation'! Manmohan Singh and his ilk can only see politics through the corporate prism – where the government is just a service provider to those who can afford to buy that service. Not even a 'sleeping shareholder', the notion of a citizen has actually been reduced to that of a fee-paying customer and those who cannot afford to pay simply do not count! But India is not a 'normal corporation' – it is a country of more than a billion people 77% of whom live on a daily income of less than Rs. 20 while Rs. 240 crore daily migrate illegally to the safer shores of foreign banks. Manmohan Singh is a crisis manager whose way of crisis management only deepens the crisis. In 1991 he initiated the new economic policies in the name of solving the country's balance of payments crisis. Twenty years later, there is crisis on every front, but Manmohan Singh and his ilk are doing brisk business.

 

The people will have to accept the challenge thrown up by Manmohan Singh. Beyond a mere change of government, the Indian people will have to rise for a change in the disastrous policies. The entire policy establishment of liberalization, privatization and globalization and its trademark products – economic crisis, megabuck scams and state-corporate assault on democracy – will have to be dismantled. In Manmohan Singh's vocabulary, his normal corporation will have to be sent out of business. And if it needs a replication of Egypt in India, the people of India will have to rise to the occasion and foot the bill for a real change.

 

AISA Organises "People's Parliament on Education"

Delhi: Students, Teachers, Educationists Reject UPA's

Pro-Corporate, Pro-Privatization Bills on Education!

"People's Charter on Education" Released,

Demanding Universal, State-funded Education,

Increased Budgetary Allocation for Education,

Withdrawal of PPP Models

and Offers Made by UPA to Bring Education Under the WTO/GATS Regime!!

 

On the first day of the budget session of Parliament (February 21st), AISA held a "People's Parliament on Education", along with the All India Forum for Right to Education. Several noted educationists and teachers participated at this People's Parliament including Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Ramesh Patnaik, Dr. Soumen Chattopadhaya (JNU), Dr. Maninder Thakur (JNU), Prof. Minati Panda (JNU), Dr. VN Sharma, Dr. Ramesh Sarin (Satyawati College, DU) and Dr. Vikas Gupta (DU). The People's Parliament was also addressed by Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML). Hundreds of students from the universities in Delhi, Allahabad University, BHU (Varanasi), AMU (Aligarh) and Lucknow University attended this Parliament and many of them also addressed the session.

 

This People's Parliament was organized in the backdrop of the UPA's attempts to further commercialise and privatise education. In the budget session that began today, the UPA proposes to table to a slew of anti-student and pro-corporate Bills. Several of the participants at the People's Parliament discussed the repercussions of the proposed legislations, which will not just usher in a regime of corporate-driven education, but will also scuttle reservations and social inclusion in institutions of higher learning.

 

"These proposed legislations will mean unregulated, exorbitant fee hikes, commercialization of campus spaces and facilities like health care, halls, canteens and auditoriums, extraction of "user charges" even for basic facilities like water and electricity and a fundamental shift in focus of educational curriculum towards market-oriented courses", said Ravi Rai, national general secretary of AISA. "Moreover, apart from converting institutions of higher learning into exclusive enclaves of the rich, social inclusion will further be scuttled since reservations will NOT be mandatory in the higher education institutions being envisaged by the proposed Bills," added Ravi.

 

The proposed legislations will also herald in a regime of immunity for private players from the law of the land. Several clauses allow the government to "exempt" educational institutions from provisions of the Bills; students will no longer be able to approach district level courts or the High Courts for justice in case of violations of the law.

 

After a detailed discussion of the proposed legislations, the People's Parliament rejected them. Also, the People's Parliament adopted an alternative People's Charter on Education. The main points in the people's charter included:

 

n Curbing of privatization and commercialization: the charter demanded that the offers made by the UPA to bring education under the WTO/GATS regime. Also, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model should be completely done away with: all state funding should be invested in state-owned institutions, and not routed through PPP projects. Fee structures of existing educational institutions should be strictly monitored, and they should not be allowed to charge exorbitant fees arbitrarily. Active steps should be taken to prevent new private players from entering the education sector. Policy initiatives aimed at commercializing campus spaces and facilities should be reversed immediately.

n Regulation of higher education institutions: The government should put an end to the mushrooming of unrecognized colleges and universities, and should tackle the lack of proper infrastructure, lack of qualified faculty, poor conditions of work, scuttling of legally mandated reservations, and increasing contractualisation in the education sector.

n Budget allocation for education: The budget allocation of education should be increased to at least 10% of Union budget, and this money should not be routed through PPP projects. It should be used to create state-funded and residential educational institutions where all basic facilities are heavily funded.

n Social inclusion in educational institutions: In order to ensure more social inclusion, a progressive admission policy (which incorporates deprivation points for students from backward areas and also for women) should be universally put in place. Also, SC/SC/OBC/PH reservations should be made universally mandatory. Madarsa certificates should be recognized and existing financial assistance schemes should be enhanced. Educational institutions should encourage students from multi-lingual backgrounds and accessibility to physically challenged students should be increased.

n Inclusion of women in education institutions: Apart from financial assistance to women students, special cells to look into issues of sexual harassment should be instituted in all colleges and universities, and moral policing of women through dress codes and restrictions of the movement of women should not be allowed.

n Campus democracy: Greater democratic participation of students in decision-making processes should be ensured, and democratization of campuses should be encouraged through a culture of debate and discussion.

 

Parallel Students Assembly at Davanagere, Karnataka

 

As a part of AISA's all-India campaign against anti-student, anti-education bills to be introduced in the parliament, Davanagere unit of AISA organized a Parallel Students Assembly on 21 February. Thousands of signatures demanding scrapping of bills were also collected from students from many colleges. The assembly passed resolutions demanding withdrawal of anti-student measures that include introducting various bills in the parliament. The parallel assembly also condemned Yeddyurappa led BJP government for rampant corruption and scams and demanded withdrawal of government permission being accorded to the formation of various private universities in the state.

 

Com. Javaraiah, SLT member of CPI(ML) inaugurated the convention and Com. Rati Rao, VP of AIPWA delivered key note address. KA Oblesh, lecturer at AVK College, Virupakshappa, lecturer from RL Law College were also main speakers along with AISA state leaders Hanumanthappa and Kumar. Prasad, NEC member and Manju, NCM presided over the programme while newly elected Taluk president Rekha, Secretary Manoj, Joint secretaries Prashant and Sanjeev, district conveners Prakash and Ganesh also addressed the students. Sushma, taluk Vice-President welcomed the gathering while Santosh, HPHalli taluk president sang revolutionary songs.

 

CPIML-AIALA demand Special Assembly session to decide on Land Reforms Commission

 

On February 14 state-wide demonstrations were held by CPI(ML) and All India Agricultural Labourers' Association (AIALA) in Tamilnadu demanding special session of State Assembly to decide on Land Reforms Commission in the State.

 

Karunanidhi Govt has utterly failed in its election promise of distributing two acre agricultural land to every landless family and instead passing the same to MNCs and big corporates by thousands of acres. In 2006 election manifesto, the DMK promised to retrieve 55 lakh acres of Govt land which were handed over previously by AIADMK's Jayalalithaa Government (in 2003) to the corporate houses and distribute the same to the landless families in the state.

 

Report of the Ministry of Rural Development on land reforms has also noted this in its findings submitted to the Govt of India. But the present corruption ridden DMK government has utterly failed to honour its poll promise. Similarly about 20 lakh acres of Panchama land distributed to Dalits in the state during the colonial period were encroached by the land grabbers and even by the government institutions. Apart from seven lakhs of wet and dry lands held by Temples, Mutts and religious trusts, scores of private universities, colleges and for-profit corporate hospitals have got several hundreds of agricultural land under Land Reforms Act exemption clause.

 

More than 30,000 acres of agricultural land has been given to big industrial houses, operating in SEZs. TNCs like Hyundai and Nokia have cornered huge tracts of agricultural lands at throw away prices. Thanks to these reckless policies of the successive AIADMK and DMK governments agriculture is ridden with crisis. Agricultural labourers and small and marginal peasants are bearing the massive brunt of this development. Migration has become acute in TN with both in and out migration taking place in millions. Unabated price rise has compounded the woes of the poor. In this appalling situation CPIML-AIALA demanded to urgently address the land question in the state.

 

Owing to the decades long demand for retrieval of panchama lands and as election eve gimmick to impress the dalit electorate DMK Govt appointed a committee to go into the issue of Panchama land. In this back drop CPIML-AIALA demanded that the same Marudamuthu committee must be appointed as high-power full-fledged Land Reforms Commission as was recommended by the MRD Committee report on Land Reforms.

 

Employment question of the rural poor is in severe crisis. A deep and powerful resentment is seething in the country side on this issue. The implementation of the NREGA is ridden with corruption. The DMK in its 2009 Parliamentry election manifesto promised increasing 100 days under NREGA to 150 days but nowhere in the State even 100 days of employment is guaranteed. The Congress which is supporting the DMK Govt. had promised Rs.150/-day in wages. None of the promises has seen the light of the day. In this State-wide protest programme CPIML-AIALA demanded guaranteeing 200 days of employment, Rs.200/- as wage per day, and extension of the scheme to town panchayats too.

 

To highlight these demands CPIML-AIALA organized state wide demonstrations on 14th February. In Chennai agricultural labourers' assembly was held. More than 300 hundred agricultural labourers and industrial workers assembled in the gathering. Chennai City Committee Secretary Com. Sekar conducted the programme. Com. Janakiraman, State General Secretary of AIALA, CPI(ML)'s Polit Bureau member Com. Kumarasamy addressed the assembly. The rural-urban workers' assembly demanded to immediately convene a special session of State Legislature to decide on Land Reforms Commission.

 

In Ulundurpet, more than 300 rural workers, most of them women, took out a colorful procession and gathered in front of Taluk office where Villupuram dist. secretary and AIALA's Dy. GS Com. Venkatesan and CPI(ML) State Committee member Ammaiyappan addressed the protesters.

 

Demonstrations were also held in Kumbakonam, Kandarvakkottai, Karambakudi, Kunrandarkoil of Pudukkottai district, Avathipalayam in Namakkal dist., Nellai, Madurai and Kanyakumari. Com. Ilangovan, proposed candidate for Tiruvidai Marudur constituency, Janardhanan, State president of AIALA, Kannaian, addressed the demonstrators in Kumbakonam. Com. Asaithambi, proposed candidate for Kandarvakkottai, Dy. GS of AIALA Valathan, SCM Desikan, addressed the Pudukkoattai gatherings. Venkadachalam, proposed candidate of Kumarapalayam constituency, AISA leader Govindaraj, CPI(ML) District Secretary of Namakkal addressed the protesters in Namakkal dist. Thenmozhi, proposed candidate of Nellai constituency, Sankarapandian, State Vice-president of AICCTU addressed the Nellai demonstration. In Kanyakumari and Kolachal, similar demonstration was held. Com. Anthony Muthu, the proposed candidate of Kolachal constituency and other dist. leaders addressed the protest. In Madurai, the proposed candidate of Sholavandan constituency Com. Murugesan conducted the meeting at protest and addressed by State Secretary of CPI(ML) Com. Balasundaram who demanded immediate convocation of State Legislature to fulfil the basic demands of rural poor. He also called upon the toiling people to rally in the ongoing 'oust corrupt, treacherous Congress-DMK UPA Govt.' campaign. He also stressed that the toiling people must defeat the anti-people and corrupt DMK-Congress alliance and reject the opportunistic AIADMK led alliance. Village level women activists narrated their experiences of struggles on the question of welfare measures of DMK Govt. Almost on every count they implicated the Karunanidhi Govt. as responsible for the pathetic condition of various measures meant for rural poor.

 

People's Campaign Calls to Kick-out the Killer Vedanta and Save Selvarayan Hills

 

A people's convention in Salem resolved to kick-out killer Vedanta from the Selvarayan Hills in Salem Dist. which is rich in bio-diversity and mineral resources. For the past 40 years the bauxite mining activities in the 700 acres of land by Vedanta in and around the hills has done irreparable damage to the biodiversity. Apart from destroying the flora and fauna and rare kind of species, the very existence of the Malayali tribal people numbering about 50000 is under serious threat. Though only 400 acres of land was leased in agreement Vedanta is illegally mining another 300 acres of land. Due to reckless mining more than 10,000 acres of agricultural land in the surrounding areas has been affected where agriculture has failed. Thousands of tribal youth had to migrate for employment. Young tribal girls are forced to work in spinning mills of Coimbatore on wages below minimum requirement for livelihood.

 

Around 50 villages out of the total 67 villages have been affected. Flouting all the rules and regulations with the connivance of top Govt. officials Vedanta amassed wealth to the tune of Rs.3000 crores from mining activities here. Apart from evading the village taxes, 300 cores to the State Govt and 151 cores due to the State Electricity Board has been evaded.

 

A fact finding team comprising of political activists, from different organisations, journalists and environmentalists toured the hills, met with people and also geologists of Vedanta on 12 December, 2010. Through RTI, materials were collected from different departments and institutions.

 

Pastors of the Church there (who had fought against Vedanta – MALCO) also came in support of the initiative and shared information and documents with the team. A comprehensive report prepared by the team was released to the press on 23-01-2011. The Tamil version of the report was released for the public on 13-02-2011.

 

A Convention was held in which tribal activists, tribal leaders of TN (Malayali) Peravai, professors, scholars, junior scientists, students, workers, political activists from CPI, CPIM, CPI(ML) and other ML stream, Periyar Diravidar Kazhagam, literary activists, and journalists attended the Convention. The report was released by Balamurugan, PUCL state leader and novelist.

 

Apart from many activists representing different organisations, Comrade Balasundaram, State Secretay of CPI(ML) also addressed the Convention calling upon the activists and people to intensify people's movement to kick-out the Killer Vedanta to save the Selverayan hills.

 

'Oust DMK-UPA' Campaign Launched in Tamil Nadu

 

On 13 February, 'oust the corrupt and unreliable DMK-Congress UPA' campaign was launched. Comrades Chandramohan, CPI(ML)'s State Committee member, Mohanasundaram, Salem Dist. Secretary, Ayyandhurai, AICCTU, Natarajan, District leader of Construction Workers Union, Viji of Manuda Viduthalai Panpattu Kazhagam and others spoke. State secretary Com. Balasundarm called upon the people to defeat DMK-Congress alliance, reject opportunistic AIADMK alliance and to support and strengthen the CPI(ML). This was the first program in the State launching 'oust UPA' campaign.

 

Seminar against Privatization of Health Serveices

 

Medical Workers Union Affiliated to All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) organised a seminar against privatization of health services and a workshop on the condition of health employees working at private medical facilities and centres at Nirala Auditorium in Allahabad University on 6th February. The Seminar was inaugurated by Comrade Kumudini Pati who made a comparison between the utterly cruel policies of privatization of health and medical facilities on the one hand and Rs.20/day as only means for survival for 840 million Indians on the other hand. On top of this, people's doctor Binayak Sen who has been struggling for providing health care to poor tribal people are being implicated on false charges and jailed. She called upon the people for building massive opposition to these developments.

 

Comrade Ramkishan, General Secretary of All India Health Employees Federation was the main speaker at the seminar. Veteran write Neelkant, Comrades RP Kaithal, KK Pandey, Harshankar Tiwari, Subroto Bannerjee and Anil Verma also spoke apart from several other representatives of various left and democratic trade unions. In the end a ten point resolution was passed.

 

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