Bring the Prices Down - Guarantee Health, Education and Jobs for All !

The implications of Indo-US strategic partnership are becoming clearer with every passing day. Beyond the customary pictures of Bush-Manmohan bonhomie, last week we had a slightly unusual glimpse of the emerging pattern of partnership at the Aero India 2007 air show at the Yelahanka Air Force Base near Bangalore. Attending the biennial Aero India show were high profile delegations from 15 countries, the most prominent being the 24 member delegation from the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and displays from over 50 US corporations like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Electric. And there was Ratan Tata talking of his ‘exhilarating experience’ of flying an American F-16 on the Indian sky!
The IAF is about to purchase 126 multi role combat aircrafts in near future and according to a study India will be spending some $35 billion on military aviation over the next two decades. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has, in its current Defence Procurement Policy of 2006 (DPP-2006), stipulated that any defence contract worth more than Rs 300 crores will automatically include a “direct offset liability” of 30 per cent, which means that the vendor will have to source from Indian suppliers components or technologies worth at least 30% of the contract value. Accordingly, the coming days will witness heightened collaboration between foreign corporations and big Indian private players. In other words, India is all set to replicate the US model of military-industrial complex.
Defence Minister AK Antony hinted as much in his inaugural address at the Aero India 2007 when he talked about rethinking India’s defence priorities in the context of the current spate of economic reforms. Referring to new policy measures like “opening up of the defence sector to the private sector, allowing manufacturing of defence items under license and permitting Foreign Direct Investment with a cap of 26% in equity”, Antony expressed the UPA government’s determination “to utilise all capabilities of the industry in the development of defence products” and “take a quantum jump” – in economic as well as military terms. Antony’s ‘determination’ was readily endorsed by David Mulford, US Ambassador to India who cited increased American participation in Aero India as a sure sign of growing American interest in India’s aviation and defence sectors.
If US corporations showcased their heightened interest in India’s defence market, British telecom giant Vodafone clinched a $19.3 billion deal to enter the Indian telecom market. India is considered the fastest growing telecom market in today’s world and Vodafone is currently the biggest telecom company. The money that Vodafone shelled out to buy off Hutch Essar, India’s third largest private sector mobile operator more than the combined sum that the Tatas and Birlas have paid to acquire the Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus and the Canadian aluminium sheet manufacturer Novelis (Hindalco’s acquisition bid, worth $6 billion or about Rs. 26,400 crore, has been approved by the Novelis board, but the possibility of other bidders entering the acquisition fray is still there). Foreign corporations are clearly manifesting their interest in India in different ways – if they are eager to buy their way to India’s growing consumer market in sectors like telecom, they are equally prepared to sell themselves to smaller Indian players to access India’s significant mineral reserves!
Going by the magnitude of these deals, corporate India is really booming. Economic commentators are busy with their double-digit growth projections. But there are three areas that our corporate watchers do not dare mention – agriculture, employment and prices of essential commodities. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has turned out to be the biggest hoax of recent times – the Act that had promised to eradicate unemployment from at least one-third of India remains the worst implemented piece of legislation. And to counter the demand for immediate extension of NREGA to the whole of the country and improvement in its terms, the government has already started complaining about funds crunch. But if the Tatas can buy Corus by paying $12 billion and the Birlas can shell out $6 billion to acquire Novelis, surely it is time for stopping all corporate concessions and devote all our budgetary resources to meet the pressing problems of agriculture and employment and the most neglected public services like education, health and distribution of essential commodities. While the captains of the military-industrial complex gleefully eye the forthcoming budget, the rest of India must gear up for a showdown with the powers that be to secure basic amenities for the world’s biggest contingent of the poor, deprived and jobless people.

Mass Anger Against Abduction and Killings

Around ten thousand people poured in Khutahan Bazar of Bhojpur district on Feb. 4, to lodge their angry protest against abduction and killing of innocent youths by Lal Babu Yadav gang. The meeting attended by thousands of people was addressed by Comrades Ramnaresh Ram, KD Yadav and Rameshwar Prasad.
The criminal gang had abducted five innocent youth on Dec. 28 and dead bodies of three of them were recovered later by the police. The Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was contacted time and again but all his assurances to nab the criminals proved futile. The CPI(ML) launched consistent movement for the arrest of the criminals. Road blocks with the dead bodies of the deceased persons, gherao of police station, a Bhojpur-Rohtas bandh, a mahadharna in front of the DM, etc. were organised. Only due to the mounting mass pressure through these protests the administration came into action and of late arrested the leader of the killer gang. This criminal gang-leader enjoys the patronage of the RJD and had also been involved in many acts of abduction, murders, dacoity, etc. earlier. His brother Lal Bihari Yadav is a member of Ddistrict Council from the same area and many prominent RJD leaders including the local MLA were campaigners in his election. And to nobody's surprise, RJD organised a dharna at DC Office in defence of the accused which was addressed among others by the central minister Kanti Singh.

CPI(ML) Opposes Allocation of Public Money to the Hindu Conference in Allahabad

CPI(ML) strongly condemns and opposes the decision of Mulayam Singh Govt. in UP to allocate Rs. 8 Crores for the World Hindu Conference being held in Allahabad from 11 Feb. Party also condemns UPA Govt. in the centre for giving railway concessions to the participants travelling for this conference. The Party has termed these decisions as an act of helping the RSS-BJP's communal fascist intentions and has demanded from the Governor of UP an inquiry into this misuse of public money. UP State Secretary and Polit Bureau member of the Party Akhilendra Pratap Singh has said that even a commoner knows that this conference is going to reiterate the venomous demand of a Hindu Rashtra and a mandir in Ayodhya, to spread venom into the secular fabric of the country, and to escalate communal tensions. Giving public money to such an event by Mulayam Singh as well as the Congress exposes their anti-people credentials and both of them must give an explanation to the people of the country. These governments have no right to spend public money for communal purposes, he said. CPI(ML) calls upon all left and democratic forces in UP and all part of the country to vehemently oppose these decisions of UP and the Central Govt.

Two More Die of Starvation in Pilibhit

Ambarlal and his son Paramsukh died of starvation and malnutrition, and the resultant illness, in Jagatpur-Abhaypur village in Pilibhit district on the same day. But it took whole five days for the administration to accept that the deaths have been caused due to  poverty and hunger. The only surviving members of this family are Maheshwari, wife of Paramsukh, a handicapped in her thirties, and her four year old son. Seventy year old Ambarlal had to work hard as a labourer after the tuberculosis immobilised his son. The village pradhan, in a shameful act, charged Rs. 300 from poor Maheshwari for carrying the two dead bodies in his tractor trolley to throw them in a nearby river as she had no money to pereform a dignified cremation of her kins. Ambarlal had applied for BPL and Antyodaya Card and he also made to pay to the panchayat secretary Rs. 20 as bribe but the ration card remained an illusion for him. Had he got the Antyodaya card in time the two lives would have been saved.
When the news of these deaths spread in the area, local CPI(ML) and AIALA units went to the village to mobilise the villagers and asking the administration for proper rehabilitation of Maheshwari and her son. But to their dismay, they found that the village pradhan and the owner of the PDS outlet were threatening the villagers of dire consequences if they go in favour of the bereaved family. The village level nexus of corrupt politician, block officials and middlemen appropriating PDS food-grains were out to prove that the deaths were natural and not a result of the hunger. Even a district level Samajwadi Party leader issued a statement in press condemning those demanding compensation and rehabilitation of the family. Then CPI(ML) and AIALA organised a protest before the SDM of Puranpur and demanded a compensation to the family and action against the panchayat secretary and others indulged in the black-marketing of the PDS food-grains. It was also demanded that the administration should take the responsibility of such deaths. When the administration remained recalcitrant, a serial fast was started at the district headquarters in Pilibhit which continued for five days till the DM called on the agitators on Feb. 9 and accepted all the demands, including issueing of a cheque of Rs. 20,000 for interim assistance to Maheshwari. A probe was also started against the panchayat secretary. An Antyodaya card was also issued to the family and assurance was given for a land-patta to Maheshwari. The DM has forwarded to the state govt. the demand for a compensation of Rs. five lakhs.
This was the third incident, in last six months, reflecting grave crisis in the rural areas in Pilibhit district which bears the distinction of being a part of the terai area much trumpeted for the 'success' of the green revolution. Earlier a poor peasant was forced to suicide as his land was confiscated by the state when he was unable to pay the debt. Later an agricultural worker set himself on fire after receiving humiliation from village pradhan and police when he asked a BPL card for his starving family. CPI(ML) had also organised a public hearing in December on "hunger, starvation deaths, and the corruption in PDS". This agitation received widespread support from the democratic sections in the district.
The government has decreased the number of BPL cards in the district although poverty is on the rise in rural areas and employment opportunities for the poor are diminishing. Moreover, whatever is coming for the BPL and Antyodaya card holders is being snatched away by the powerful middlemen in the villages in nexus with the bureaucracy and the politicians of the ruling parties.

Condolence Meeting in Memory of Ajanta Lohit

CPI(ML) and AIPWA organised a condolence meeting to pay homage to Comrade Ajanta Lohit on Feb. 7. She passed away on Feb. 2 last after a long illness due to cancer. Apart from Party colleagues, many political leaders, women activists, cultural personalities, journalists and social activists paid tributes to the departed leader.
Speakers in the meeting said that her untimely death is a great loss to the democratic movement. She was associated with various movements in UP and was particularly vocal on the issues of women. She proved through her struggles that the question of women's liberation can only be addressed thoroughly when guided by the communist ideology. Her indomitable spirit and fight against all odds despite her ailments made her more popular among the activists. CPI(ML) State Secretary Akhilendra Pratap Singh, CPI(M) State Committee member Premnath Rai, NCP State President Ramesh Dixit, Republican Party of India's leader and ex-DGP SR Darapuri, CPI and AITUC leader Sadaruddin Rana, Jan Morcha's Vandana Mishra, Literateure Mudrarakshas, Virendra Yadav from Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh, Rakesh from IPTA, Madhu Garg from AIDWA, Yashodhara Das from Sahyog, Ex-VC of Lucknow University Dr. Rooprekha Verma, and many others spoke on the occasion.
A Condolence meeting was held on Feb. 3 at the CPI(ML) headquarters in Delhi. This was attended by a number of party activists and friends.

Obituary

Comrade Kapil Muni Chaudhary

Comrade Kapil Muni Chaudhary, a senior leader and Block Committee member in Sandesh, Bhojpur, passed away on 1 February 2007 at PMCH, Patna at the age of 65. He was suffering from intense TB and cardiac problems for last many months. Born in a rich peasant family in Fulari village of Sandesh, he associated with the Party since its beginning and played an important role in establishing the party in his area. He remained dedicated to the Party and the people throughout his life.
Comrade Kapil Muni led a valiant struggle for land in 1974 in Fulari, Nurpur, Saraiya and other villages which forced the administration to redistribute 259 acres of land. He was always at the forefront of the struggles for the dignity and rights of the poor and was jailed many times by the state during the course of the struggles. The last time he was released from jail was about seven months ago. Due to a very hard life and repeated imprisonments he fell victim to multiple diseases. But this could not dampen his spirit and his exemplary dedication and sacrifices for the revolutionary movement will remain a source of inspiration for all of us. Though he was from a rich peasant origin, his dedication to the movement lead him and his family in a life of poverty, but he never compromised with his principles. Even during his illness and old age he was active in propagating party's ideology and struggles. He was a very popular and established leader in his area. Party salutes him and expresses its grief and attribute condolences to his family and all party ranks.
Red Salute to Comrade Kapil Muni Chaudhary!

Brightest sparks of revolutionary struggles - 1857, Bhagat Singh and Naxalbari
Join the
Inquilab
Rally
23 March 07, Delhi
2007 Marks
the 150th anniversary of the Great Indian Revolt of 1857,
Birth Centenary of Shahid-e-Azam Bhagat Singh,
40 years of the “spring thunder” of Naxalbari…
CPI(ML) Invites you
to Celebrate this Glorious History and
Join the Inquilab Rally on 23 March in Delhi
to Assert our Inalienbale Claim to
Our Country, Our History
Our Freedom, Our Rights

With this Inquilab Rally for people’s rights, let us put forward the following People’s Charter:
·           Scrap the SEZ policy, Guarantee Cultivable Land for Peasants!
·           No More Peasant Suicides and Starvation Deaths! Pro-poor peasant agrarian policy!
·           Strictly Implement NREGA, Extend it to the Whole Country!
·           Legally Guarantee Right to Education, Right to Work, Right to Health!
·           RestoreAlienatedTribalLand, Rehabilitate all (Project-) Displaced People!
·           No to Indiscriminate Foreign investment, Especially in Education and Retail Trade!
·           Regularise Unorganised Workers, Guaranteeing their Basic Rights!
·           End Violence and Discrimination against Dalits, Adivasis, Women and Minorities, Ensure Greater Opportunities for All Disadvantaged Sections!
·           Scrap Black Laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, End State-sponsored Terror like Salwa Judum in Chhatisgarh! Free the people’s leaders victimized under TADA, POTA and other draconian Acts.·           Scrap Indo-US Nuclear Deal, Reverse Pro-US Foreign Policy!