US Senators’ Threat Letter to PM:Nuke Deal Noose Tightens

The US Administration and ruling groups have begun tightening the screws on India to sign the Indo-US Nuke Deal on US terms in their characteristic blatant and brash way. The Hyde Act passed by the US Congress had left nothing to the imagination, and made it very clear that signing the Nuke Deal would mean that the US would get to dictate India’s relations with Iran, and also use fuel supply as a stick to keep India in line on other issues as well. Now the US Administration has begun to build pressure on India to sign the ‘123 agreement’ fast, while some Republican and Democratic senators have showed that even before the Deal is clinched, India’s foreign policy and behaviour must satisfy the stipulations of US masters.

It is reported that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the Prime Minister a week back to ‘all but caution’ him to move ahead with the Deal, warning him that it was ‘now or never’. Subsequently the Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon was dispatched to Washington to hold talks to take the Deal forward, and it is reported that George Bush too has made a call to Manmohan Singh. Meanwhile eight prominent US senators, including both Republicans and Democrats, sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling on India to “sever” military ties with Iran and “terminate” all cooperation in the energy sector. The letter declared that “It is difficult for us to fathom why India, a democracy engaged in its own struggle against terrorism, would want to enhance security cooperation with a repressive government widely regarded as the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism.” The letter objected to “the exchange of visits between high-level officials, enhanced military ties, and negotiations of agreements to establish closer economic relations” with Iran. It demanded that India “publicly declare your intent to refrain from further cooperation with Iran”.

Well, it seems the US Senators need to be told that the Indian people cannot fathom why their Government is coming close to the world’s foremost sponsor of colonial occupation, racist Islamophobia, repression, war and terrorism!  

Interestingly, the letter also raps India on the knuckles for a recent case of “illegal procurement of sensitive technology” from a US company Cirrus. Typically the US Senators have chosen to hold the Indian Government, and not the US company itself, guilty of violating US restrictions on peddling this sensitive technology! The letter specifically warns that that the proposed Indo-Iran pipeline “could be subject to US sanctions under the Iran Act” and objects to the visit to India by Commander of Iran’s Navy.

Meanwhile US Ambassador David Mulford has taken it upon himself to tell us “There is an expectation among U.S. companies, the public and the political class that we have helped India, and that the U.S. companies should get a favorable treatment,” adding how ever that this quid pro quo was not written into the Nuke Deal. Mulford’s remarks came in the context of an exhibition in Bangalore by the world’s top aeronautics companies who are exploring partnerships with local firms and lobbying defense officials.

Executives from 52 U.S. companies (more than ever before) are attending the event. Reassuring those who are apprehensive that US defence supplies might be withdrawn in case of US sanctions, Mulford has said “You won’t see 52 (U.S.) companies here if we don’t want to be a reliable supplier.”

So the message is quite clear. Uncle Sam is telling us to behave ourselves, sever ties with Iran, embrace closer ties with US defence corporates, and put on record our willingness to kneel to US dictates – if we want the Nuke Deal. In fact, the orders and threats are now being issued by a bunch of US Senators directly to India’s elected head of Government. The Manmohan regime’s response to such offensive threats has been predictably supine and quiescent, showing full eagerness to go ahead with the Nuke Deal despite all the strings attached.

We must demand that the Indian Government reject the Nuke Deal in toto and express the Indian people’s outrage at the US attempts at bullying. The UPA Government must realise that India will not tolerate a Government that goes ahead with this shameful and humiliating Deal.

Remove Sentenced RJD MP Sahabuddin from Parliament

We welcome the Siwan court’s verdict sentencing Md. Sahabuddin, notorious mafia don and RJD MP from Siwan, to life imprisonment for the abduction and murder of CPI(ML) activist Chhotelal Gupta. This verdict marks a primary vindication for the people of Siwan and the CPI(ML) in their sustained campaign against Sahabuddin’s reign of crime and terror. It must be noted that several CPI(ML) activists and supporters in Siwan have had to lay down their lives for daring to file cases and provide witnesses against Sahabuddin and his henchmen even as the UPA and NDA always colluded on every level to protect this mafia don and his political fiefdom.

It is therefore a significant victory for the democratic and peace-loving people of Siwan and the CPI(ML) to get a well-entrenched and highly protected crime lord like Sahabuddin tried and convicted by a court of law. The experience of Siwan has made it very clear that criminalisation of politics can only be challenged and defeated on the basis of powerful democratic struggles and only a revolutionary party like CPI(ML) can carry forward such struggles.

Particularly inspiring in this context has been the martyrdom of Chandrashekhar, CPI(ML) leader and former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union who was gunned down in Siwan at Sahabuddin’s behest on 31 March 1997. Chandrashekhar’s brave mother Kaushalya Devi has also played a historic role by spurning the compensation offered for her son’s killing and relentlessly persisting with the campaign for bringing the killers to justice.

Ironically enough, while the local court has succeeded in convicting Sahabuddin in at least two cases, the country is yet to hear the CBI’s report on Chandrashekhar’s assassination. This is a telling commentary on the state of the country’s apex investigation agency and the justice delivery system in the country. The CBI must submit its report without delay and the killers of Chandrasekhar must be brought to justice.

Indian Parliament and the ruling parties of the country also owe an answer to the people as to why the parliament membership of criminals like Sahabuddin has still not been terminated. The parliamentary licence granted to the Sahabuddins has only emboldened the Kataras who continue to ‘glorify’ the portals of parliament in spite of being caught red-handed in a case of human smuggling and utter misuse of his diplomatic passport and parliamentary privileges.

We appeal to all democratic forces in the country to support the fighting people of Siwan and join the CPI(ML)’s campaign for immediate removal of RJD MP Sahabuddin and BJP MP Babubhai Katara from the rolls of Lok Sabha.

Protests Demanding Termination of Parliamentary Membership of Shahabuddin

CPI(ML) held a protest in Patna on the day Shahabuddin was sentenced for life, on 8 May. Protesters demanded immediate termination of Shahabuddin and BJP MP Babubhai Katara's membership from Parliament and completion of CBI inquiry into Chandrashekhar's murder. CPI(ML) Bihar State Secretary Nand Kishore Prasad and Central Committee members Ramji Rai, Saroj Chaube, KD Yadav, Mina Tiwary, and AIALA Bihar President Pawan Sharma were present in the protest.

Protesters chanted slogans 'Shame on UPA", "Stop protecting criminals in Parliament", "Hang Shahabuddin" and "CBI must submit its report on Chandrashekhar's murder". They also demanded termination of membership of muscleman JD(U) MLA Sunil Pandey from Bihar Assembly. Comrade Nandkishore said that the parties in both UPA and NDA are fully responsible for criminalisation of politics and they bank upon criminals to facilitate their anti-people politics. This is the reason that the dreaded Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh, the main perpetrator of massacres like Bathe, Bathani tola, and Shankarbigha, has still not been punished.

The Bihar unit of CPI(ML) has declared that a massive protest demonstration will be held before the Parliament on May 16 in Delhi to press for these demands. It is also pertinent to recall here that the killers of Mahendra Singh, CPI(ML) MLA and Central Committee member in Jharkhand, who was gunned down in his own constituency during assembly elections, are still being protected by the state and in that case too CBI is not able to complete its investigation or nab the actual perpetrators of crime, one of them is an MLA from BJP and another a high-profile police officer.

The CPI(ML) has waged a long struggle against the criminalisation of politics, and Shahabuddin’s reign of terror has claimed the lives of scores of CPI(ML) activists in Siwan. A massive student movement forced the then UF Government to order a CBI probe in Chandrashekhar's murder, who was gunned down at Shahabuddin's behest. But a whole decade later, justice is yet to come, and the CBI probe is yet to reach a conclusion. JNUSU General Secretary Sandeep Singh has said that it is a shame that such a criminal killer should enjoy a seat in Indian Parliament. AISA President Indresh Maikhuri saluted the courage of Chandrashekhar’s mother Kaushalya Devi who also spearheaded the campaign for justice. Her battle has inspired the people of Siwan to continue the fight for justice against Shahabuddin boldly – and the convictions are a victory for these brave people of Siwan. AISA and the JNUSU led by AISA pledged to continue struggle to secure the immediate dismissal of Shahabuddin from Parliament and justice for Comrade Chandrashekhar.

A protest was held at the Parliament Street in the national capital with these demands on May 9 where a number of CPI(ML) activists and students from JNU, DU and Jamia Millia Universities participated. AICCTU General Secretary Swapan Mukherjee, CPI(ML) Delhi State Secretary Rajendra Pratholi, CC member Prabhat Kumar, and AIALA General Secretary Dhirendra Jha, AISA's ex-President Kavita Krishnan and JNUSU's Sandeep Singh led this protest. Protests will also be held in other parts of the country in order to intensify this campaign.

BPL has become a political issue in Bihar with massive militant protests becoming the order of the day against the faulty and truncated BPL lists. The protests have forced the state government to announce for the rectification but the actual outcome is yet to be seen as the basic policy framework remains unchanged. The Bihar unit of AIALA has played a crucial role in highlighting this issue with an appropriate political plank and has taken the movement to a new high. AIALA took the lead in making effective people's intervention to rectify the BPL lists in Bihar and organised statewide demonstrations at block headquarters in the state. It demanded the enlistment of all  poor families. A fifteen days' campaign was conducted before the programme which was held at 150 block headquarters from 3-7 May. Thousands of people submitted their applications for inclusion into the BPL lists during these protests. The government exhibited its real intentions as it resorted to lathicharge at many places when people demanded separate table for receiving the applications and easy availability of the prescribed forms. In Jehanabad, dozens of poor people, men and women, were injured in a lathicharge by RAF. At Bahadurpur block in Darbhanga, people did not leave the place for two days but no one turned up to receive the applications. Then people took officials in public custody and forced the BDO to come to the spot and hear the grievances. This programme was organised in almost all the districts and it has exerted pressure on the governmental agencies. This initiative has also exposed those opposition parties who are involved in making only some lip service and some media news without any serious effort. The movement on this issue needs to be intensified and widened to a greater level as the state government does not seem to be honest enough and include every poor family into the BPL list. AIALA has resolved to prepare for such a situation and to lead the movement in a more intense way, throughout the country.

Obituary

Comrade Mohan Upaydhyaya

Comrade Mohan Upaydhyaya of Bargang, Sonitpur, Assam passed away on 20 April 2007 at the age of 59. He was suffering from cancer for last one year. He associated with CPI(ML) in 1976 during the years of party reorganisation in the state and from then on he had been sincerely serving the people and the party. Comrade Mohan Upaydhyaya and some other comrades were instrumental in party building in Behali and surrounding areas. His house virtually became the party office and an important shelter for whole-timer comrades. He was very caring to his comrades and became popular as 'Mohanda'. He considered whole-timer comrades as his family members. He was very popular in his locality and comrades of other districts used to visitd him whenever they come to Behali for various party works. Likewise Mohanda also used to rush to meet all comrades at the time of party's state committee meetings and other state programmes. During underground days Zonal Committee meetings were held at Behali in Mohanda's house.

Comrade Mohan Upaydhyaya always stood firmly with the party at every critical juncture and he paid his contribution in every kind of party activity including participation in elections and formation of IPF as well as today's day-to-day functioning. Unlike those teachers and employees, who usually prefer to keep away from the left politics, Mohan Upaydhyaya being a Govt. employee never hesitated in disclosing his political identity. He was one of the pioneers in party building in Behali area, and performed all duties entrusted to him. Apart from district conferences and other district level programmes of the party and mass organisations, he played an important role to make success the Tea tribes festival in 2000 and 2004, and 6th Assam State Conference of the party in 2004.
His fine memory of sincerity and loyality to the party and the people will always inspire us.
Red Salute to Comrade Mohan Upaydhyaya!

Comrade Hayat Singh Hazara

Comrade Hayat Singh Hazara passed away on 2 May after a prolonged illness. He was 65. Hazara ji, as he was popularly known, dedicated his whole life for the cause of the people and never compromised with the principles of communism. He associated himself during his teens with the communist movement and became a member of the undivided communist party in Uttarakhand. In a course of time he joined CPI(ML) and since then remained active till his last in the Party, despite his old age and illness. A major part of his life was spent in Ramnagar in Nainital district where he never missed any of the party's programmes. He was widely respected among the party members and democratic circles in Ramnagar. Later he went back to his native village in Almora district to spent rest of his life. But this did not come as a retirement as his continuous involvement in common people's affairs and their day to day life made him more popular and indispensable. His activism and communist image led him to become an elected member of the Block Panchayat from his area, though his health condition continued to deteriorate. And being a BDC member, he was offered lakhs of rupees for securing his support by various ruling party's leaders, but despite living in almost penury he emphatically opposed and exposed such ruling class elements and set an example which will remain a source of inspiration for the next generations.

Hazara ji was in Delhi for his treatment in his last days. In spite of being in a very fragile physical condition he joined the Inquilab Rally on 23 March as his last wish. Memorial meetings were held in his memory at Ramnagar and Delhi. A memorial meeting will be held in his village on 14 May.
Red Salute to Comrade Hayat Singh Hazara!

Comrade Rakesh Singh

Comrade Rakesh Singh, aged 23, represented the second generation of communists. His father spent his whole life span with the communist movement, who also inculcated the values and traditions of the movement into his son. The hardworking and entrepreneurial Rakesh succumbed to his injuries, along with his elder brother, when his taxi collided head-on with a truck near Gajraula in UP in the night of May 5. Both brothers were carrying from Delhi to their village in Uttarakhand the last remains of their father, Comrade Hayat Singh Hazara, who expired a couple of days ago.

Though Rakesh had come to Delhi to earn a living, he gradually became an important member of Delhi State Office branch with the primary responsibility in the programme co-ordination team which has an important role in arrangement of logistics for every type of programme in Delhi. He exhibited his commitment and full creativity in this role. Working with a restaurant chain and, simultaneously, continued with his studies through the distant education programme of IGNOU, he gradually realised that his life in Party is more meaningful and was eager to quit his job to spend rest of his time as a full-time party worker. He never cared for his job which he lost once for remaining absent on May Day last year, but this year again he preferred to attend the May Day rally and carried the placards, flags and other materials to the venue of the programme. His role was commendable during the preparations of the Inquilab rally.

A condolence meeting was held in his memory at the party's central office on 7 May which was attended by a large number of party members. The loss of soft spoken, loving, enthusiastic and hardworking Rakesh will always be felt by the comrades in Delhi. And his life will surely inspire the younger comrades.
Red Salute to Comrade Rakesh Singh!