Red Star Rises Over Nepal
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is poised for a momentous and convincing victory in the historic Constituent Assembly elections in the hill country. Within the Constituent Assembly, it is clear that not only will the Maoists be a dominant force; between the Maoists and CPN(UML), communists will enjoy a comprehensively commanding position. The Nepalese people have emphatically demonstrated their total rejection for the monarchy and all royalist forces and their enthusiasm and aspirations for a communist-led republican agenda. Not only within Nepal, but the pro-monarchist forces beyond Nepal, including the US administration (which continues to list the CPN(M) as a 'terrorist' outfit and was known to be friendly to the king) as well as the Hindutva Right in India (which wishes Nepal to remain frozen as an idyllic feudal 'Hindu' state) and the Indian Government are watching the Nepalese people's mandate in shock and dismay.
As late as January 2008, L K Advani had said that the "monarchy was the symbol of (Nepal's) unique national identity and a source of stability…Nepal should continue to remain as the lone Hindu State in the world"; while the UPA Government's tacit moral -- and even military -- support to the monarchy in the face of a huge democratic upsurge was no secret. The first phase of the pro-democracy movement in Nepal in 1990 ended with the monarchy retaining its teeth and casting its long shadow on Nepal's fledgling democracy. This time around, it is apparent that the abolition of the monarchy is imminent; indeed street demonstrations in Nepal have lent a triumphantly literal meaning to the slogan, popular both in India and Nepal, "Raj darbar khali karo ki janta aati hai" ('Vacate the palace, make way for the people'). The Nepali Maoists have made it clear that the king will be free to live as an ordinary citizen, but shorn of his crown and clout. There are reports that the king may be secretly seeking safe passage to India, and communal fascist forces like the RSS and Yogi Adityanath of Gorakhpur are said to have offered their services and support. The Nepalese people will no doubt want the king to face the consequences of his deeds (including the enormous violations of human rights which he ordered and presided over) - and India must not belittle Nepal's democracy by shielding the king or offering him a platform from which to conduct a covert counter-revolution in Nepal.
The victory of revolutionary communist forces in Nepal is bound to have an enormously inspiring impact on Indian people. In the pro-democracy upsurge of 1990, it was the CPN(UML) at the forefront; this time around, it is the CPN(M): once again, the example of Nepal emphasises, with enormous imaginative force, the potential for communist parties to lead popular upsurges and champion substantial social and political changes. Sensing this, the Indian ruling class elite has promptly made a bid to peddle its own interpretation of the Nepal mandate. On the one hand, the UPA Government as well as the BJP are likely to use the Maoist victory in Nepal to further fuel the hysteria against the bogey of Maoism in India. On the other, the UPA Government, the CPI(M) and other parties too have said that the Nepal mandate is all about the Nepal Maoists 'realising the futility of armed struggle and embracing the parliamentary mainstream', and have advised Indian Maoists to do likewise. The fact is that the trajectory of the Maoists' ascendancy in Nepal cannot be explained in facile terms as a case of the Maoists' exchanging bullet for ballot. Rather, it has been a case of creative integration of extra-parliamentary and parliamentary forms of struggle. The ascendant curve began at a time when the monarchy faced a crisis of credibility, with the Maoists' timely slogan of a democratic republic capturing the imagination of the Nepalese people. The Nepal Maoists both during the phase of armed struggle and during the more recent pro-democracy upsurge left their imprint on Nepalese politics in a twofold way. In the first place, they championed the assertion of the poor in the rural countryside beyond Kathmandu as a key force in the political mainstream. No doubt this also had its impact in Kathmandu too. They also tapped into the enormous resentment of Nepalese people against a discredited monarchy, and turned it into a massive republican upsurge. Certainly the Maoists deserve credit for making the republican agenda the agenda of Nepal politics, while other forces followed, though with varying degrees of reluctance and equivocation. This is in contrast to the Indian Maoists' lack of political initiative and failure to intervene on key questions of Indian politics. But it is also in contrast to the CPI(M)'s politics that has surrendered all initiative to the Congress and is content to tail behind the latter. As for the Indian ruling class, its patronising pose of patting the Nepalese Maoists on the back for 'embracing democracy' is ridiculous! After all, when Nepal's people were on the streets demanding a secular republic and a new Constitution, the Indian ruling class was busy supplying arms to the king for use in bludgeoning the people back into submission!
It is imperative that the Indian ruling class and the imperialist US come to terms with the mandate of Nepal's people and respect the right of Nepal to forge its own way free from any external intervention. The revolutionary and democratic forces in India must join Nepal's fighting people in demanding that the US lift the demeaning tag of 'terrorist' from the CPN(M) and in resisting any big brotherly approach on the part of the Indian State. India's struggling people watch with great warmth, goodwill and eagerness as Nepal makes its republican transition, and wish the Nepalese people well in further revolutionary advances.
Long live revolutionary Nepal!
Long live Solidarity between the Struggling People of India and Nepal!
Hisab do-Jawab do Rally in Jharkhand
Enthusiastic and wider participation of masses for the 10th April Rally
Overcoming the scorching heat by their spirited will for struggle against plunder, state repression and corruption in Jharkhand, wider section of toiling-working people, peasants, women, students-youths, dalits and tribals descended on its Capital Ranchi from various parts of the State to seek answers from the ruling Madhu Koda Government.. The enthusiastic participation and disciplined presence of a large number of rural women among the rallyists left a imprint on all observers and viewers. The rallyists observed a minute's silence in memory of all martyrs and resolved to carry forward their yet-unrealised dreams before the rally.
Addressing the people as the main speaker Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya reminded the people of Jharkhand of CPI(ML)'s cautionary note at the formation of the State in 2000 through a similar rally at the same Morhabadi grounds that the reins of the young State has gone in wrong hands, and therefore the people of Jharkhand will have to wage another long battle for reconstruction. The current situation in the State resounds that note. He further said that from the very inception there is a struggle between two distinct political currents in the State- one current is of loot-repression-division and political corruption in favour of the Capitalists and those in power, whereas the other current of united resistance of all oppressed and marginalised people is represented in the struggles and sacrifices of CPI(ML) and its leaders for protecting the life and livelihood of the oppressed masses, for their honour, dignity and self-esteem, for reconstruction and rejuvenation of Jharkhand, true democracy and political rights.
CPI(ML) has constantly upheld the glorious tradition of the Jharkhand movement even at the costs of the lives of its leaders like Comrade Mahendra Singh. Today, it's that current of heroic struggles that is moving away from the sold-out and unwilling leaders of Jharkhand and becoming stronger with CPI(ML), the true voice of proletariat and oppressed people against the selling of the State to corporates. Asking the UPA constituents in the State, the Congress-RJD and the JMM to stop pretending as opposition when they themselves were behind the Government, he challenged them to pull down the Govt. and call for elections. He said that the MLAs of the Congress-JMM-RJD and Babulal Marandi sold themselves to get the Director of Ambani's company - who came from Delhi - elected for the Rajya Sabha through the backdoor. This displays the allegiance of the present rulers. Whereas the true voice of people Com. Mahendra Singh is killed and his murderer Deepak Verma is given protection and promotion. The UPA govts of the State and Centre do sloganeering about the aam aadmi (common man) but they work for Ambani and America. The previous NDA Govt. as the first Govt. of the State, as soon as it took reins of the State had opened fire and killed Tribals in Tapkara and then Muslims in Ranchi on the day of Eid in a clear signal of its allegiance to the forces plunder, oppression and communal fascism. Therefore, to defeat this political nexus of looters-killers and oppressors the political unity of all oppressed, all village people and all workers-peasants will have to strongly assert their full stake in political course of the State.
Speaking on issues of livelihood Com. Dipankar said that the failure to prevent rampant migration of workforce as promised by them is telling on the doings of this Govt. where even NREGS funds are not spared for providing employment to the people.
In Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar UPA and NDA are ruling the State one after the other and are busy signing MoUs in the name of development with the Jindals and Mittals trying to fool the people that capital is needed for industries which they will provide. This is actually happening to allow these corporates to plunder the resources of this mineral rich State because the truth is that there are already lots of industries in Jharkhand which is actually being finished off by the UPA and NDA governments. Recently a new mineral policy under mining policy was presented in the Parliament to privatise the mines and thus allow unrestrained loot after paying a small royalty where as the excuse is being peddled that there is no money for running welfare schemes.
The CNT Act is being openly violated and flouted to capture the lands of the tribal people and on resisting they are being subjected to murder, violence, repression and rapes. At such juncture it is urgent for the people of Jharkhand to form broader unity to intensify the movement and struggles for change and reconstruction. CPI(ML) is prepared and fully devoted for this cause.
Comrade Bahadur Oraon, central committee (CC) member of CPI(ML), while addressing the rally said that all parties in the State except the CPI(ML) are involved in politics of loot and plunder. The buying and selling of political votes by elected legislators has severely dented the image of Jharkhand. The Tribal people are being constantly cheated by these parties. He appealed to all segments of Tribal people to spread this awareness and associate with the revolutionary current of CPI(ML)
Comrade Ibnul Hasan Basroo, CC member of CPI(ML) and State's incharge of Inquilabi Muslim Conference (IMC) while recounting the repression and deteriorating situation of Muslims said that the American propaganda of labeling entire Muslims in the name of terrorism is being copied in India by UPA and NDA govts. The advocates of the Muslim community are not doing anything effective to counter this conspiracy and address the basic issues of the community. The Muslims have only been cheated in the 60 years of Independence by other political parties and CPI(ML) has pledged to give revolutionary course to the political demands of Muslims through IMC.
CPI(ML) MLA in Jharkhand Assembly Com. Vinod Kumar Singh said that no debate or discussion is conducted in the State Assembly on the question of repression and death of poor people. A much elderly man Ramzan Miyan was brutally beaten to death on Muharram day by the police. While the unrestrained police force is being given big salary hikes, the people in desperate need of employment do not get any allocation of State's finances.
Earlier Prof. Sambhu Badal of Vinoba Bhave University recited the poems penned by him on Com. Mahendra Singh and provided creative dynamism to the already enthusiastic arena.
Other prominent people's leaders and leaders of several mass organisations also addressed the rally. They include prominent cultural personality Dr. B.P. Keshri, Comrades Jayanta Rongpi, Subhendu Sen, Swapan Mukherjee, Rajaram (all CC members) and Rajkumar Yadav. Com. J.P. Minz presented the 15 point resolution which was unanimously passed by the rallyists.
The people were also entertained with several cultural programmes, notable among those was the Chhau dance on the suicide of Turia Munda, in which all those responsible for his death could be sensed by the viewers. The entire Ranchi city was decorated with visually attractive gates erected in the names of all revolutionary martyrs of the Jharkhand movement.
Intensify Fortnight-long Campaign Against Price Rise,
April 15 - May Day
The CPI(ML) has held the policies of the UPA Government responsible for soaring inflation, and has strongly condemned the statements by the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and other functionaries of the UPA Government that price rise was a ‘global’ phenomenon. Such statements were a highly deplorable attempt by the Government to wash its hands off the responsibility for the enormous and life-threatening burden of price hike imposed on the poor who were battling hunger as it is. After the agrarian crisis, the price hike is the most glaring expression of the impact of the Government’s policies of globalisation on the lives of the poor. The UPA Government’s statement that inflation was a global phenomenon could hardly be a defence. Rather, if the Government itself was admitting that globalisation was forcing India to import steep rises in prices, it is the Government’s task to cushion and protect India’s people from such globalisation.
The CPI(ML) said that the steps taken by the Government so far in the name of tackling the price hike were superficial and highly insufficient and barely scratched the surface of the real crisis. The CPI(ML) has demanded that the Government take certain urgent emergency measures to cushion the impact of inflation:
• Expansion of PDS to bring 25 essential commodities under universal coverage;
• Immediate suspension of all corporate tax exemptions and increase in food subsidy;
• Increase in Minimum Wages, taking the minimum announced by the 6th Pay Commission as the basic floor-level wage for the entire country across all sectors.
• Stern measures to curb hoarding and profiteering
• The Government must stop protecting hoarders and black-marketeers, and must also release all activists arrested in the course of movements against black-marketeering, and withdraw all cases against them.
The CPI(ML) has launched a nation-wide fortnight-long campaign against price rise, highlighting the above demands, starting on April 15 and culminating on May Day (May 1 2008). As part of this campaign, the CPI(ML) will hold agitational programmes all over the country.
Construction Workers in Delhi March Against Price Rise under AICCTU Banner
Flagging off the CPI(ML)’s fortnight-long campaign against price rise, construction workers in Delhi marched under the banner of All India Central Council of trade Unions (AICCTU) to the Delhi Secretariat from Bhagat Singh Terminus today. Raising spirited slogans, they protested against skyrocketing prices; against the rampant deaths of building workers in prestigious areas like the Comonwealth Games Village and Delhi Metro; against denial of basic rights of citizenship as well as the welfare benefits due to construction labourers, and demanded urgent measures from the State and Central Governments to protect poor unorganised workers in the national Capital. The processionists sat on a dharna at Samta Sthal in protest when they were stopped by the police. A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Delhi was also given by the protesters.
Addressing the dharna, CPI(ML) Delhi State Secretary Rajendra Pratholi highlighted the Party's demand for urgent emergency measures to cushion the poor from the impact of inflation. He also criticized the government of Delhi as well as the Central government for protecting hoarders and black-marketeers.
The AICCTU Delhi State General Secretary Santosh Rai termed the Delhi Government a killer of workers, blaming it for the high death toll of building workers: be it in building collapses, or due to epidemics or accidents in the highly unsanitary and unsafe labour camps set up for the Commonwealth Games Village and Delhi Metro. The other speakers at the rally said that the Delhi Government was projecting the Commonwealth Games as Delhi's pride, but in fact the hell-holes in which labourers were being forced to live in the national Capital were an international shame and scandal. The Delhi Govt. is wooing huge amounts of corporate capital towards the Games; while denying even the basic minimum legally guaranteed rights to the workers and forcing them to live in inhuman conditions. The Delhi Govt. is not interested in protecting the constitutional rights of the Construction Sector workers and all labour laws are openly being violated by the employers, and now this steep and sudden hike in prices has left them to face further hardships. The construction sector has been left in the hands of the mafia under full government protection.
The General Secretary of Delhi Building Workers Union VKS Gautam asked why building workers were being denied the status of citizens in the city, and demanded that the Delhi Govt. bring all construction workers under the BPL umbrella; issue voter I-cards to them; include them in the ESI Scheme; and take full responsibility for their health, education, housing etc. He said that the Delhi Building Workers’ Board has proved itself to be a complete failure in its sole objective - which is to protect the rights of the construction workers. Hardly 1% of building workers are registered under this Board. Construction workers' activists from various parts of Delhi addressed the meeting and spoke of their struggles. CPI(ML) Central Committee members Kavita Krishnan and Sanjay Sharma, AICCTU National Secretary Rajiv Dimri, Delhi Building Workers’ Union leaders Surendra Panchal, Amarnath Tiwari, CPI(ML) State Committee member Uma Gupta and many others also addressed the mass meeting.
Strong Mobilization of Left-Democratic Forces Against Akali Govt.'s move to ban Rationalist Literature
In Ferozpur on 7-04-08, a 3000 strong mobilization of people from various peasants, agrarian labourers, student and youth organizations assembled in front of DC office ferozpur, to protest against the Govt.'s move to ban the rationalist literature in Punjab, and to get the cases registered against the Sangh Parivar (RSS) activists who marched with bare swords through the streets of Fazilka, Bathinda and Moga to terrorize the Rationalist Society activists and also assaulted the Rationalist Society activists at Fazilka.
The dharna was organized by a joint committee formed by the CPI (ML) Liberation, CPI(ML) New Democracy, CPM (Pasla), Rationalist Society, RYA, Lok Sangram Manch, Democratic Employees Front along with many other left, democratic and Political groups.
It is noteworthy that the current move of the Govt. has come after the demand for the said ban by the BJP MLA from Fazilka. The speakers at the rally denounced this attack while noting the succumbing by the Badal Govt. to the forces of communal fascism which is trying to lift its head in the state by using its position in the ruling combine and called for an all out and joint attack on the fascist forces by all the democratic and left forces.
The State Leading Team of Punjab has started its protest and campaign against the spiralling prices of even the commodities of minimum daily needs which has made it difficult, for not only the poor man but also the sections of middle classes, to meet the bare minimum requirements of two meals a day. This has deflated the balloon of tall claims made by the central budget. CPI (ML) Liberation burnt the effigies of the Central and State Govts. at many of the distt. Head Quarters on 15th April.
An Open Letter To The Speaker Of Lok-Sabha
Regarding the Installation Of The Statue Of Shaheed Bhagat Singh In the Parliament
(Abridged version of an open letter published by Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) Punjab, to the Speaker, Lok Sabha, regarding the debates being carried out on the installation of a statue of Bhagat Singh in the Parliament.)
Honourable Speaker Sir,
This letter is in the light of the Parliament's decision to get a statue of 'Shaheed Bhagat Singh' installed in Parliament House. All the members of our Parliament may be boasting in their constituencies that their votes were there behind this decision, but we are astonished how this Parliament managed to forget Bhagat Singh for 60 years. If this decision came as a token of tributes to the great martyr, then, should we deem that earlier our Parliament did not find him fit for the honour?
Now when this process has eventually been initiated, we demand that the Parliament immediately hold a Debate/Discussion on "The Life, Contribution And Thought Of Shaheed Bhagat Singh", where non-members and intellectuals should also be allowed to participate. When the masses of India are already involved in this debate, and scores of intellectuals have conducted researches into the topic, then how could it be that Parliament 'representing' the same masses adopted the resolution to install the statue of the Great Martyr, without a debate? Rather, we feel it is to avoid this very debate that the statue is being installed. You are trying to ossify Bhagat Singh. Your move is to honour him as a character of history, so as to avoid honouring him as an ideologue, as a visionary of a socialist India instead of the India which the ruling class has built- where profiteering leads, starvations and suicides follow.
Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt voiced the concerns of India in the British-Indian Parliament when the elected leaders of the Congress, sitting inside, failed. In contrast to the muted and restricted protests of these Congress leaders against draconian and anti-labour bills, Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt threw voice bombs 'to make the deaf hear'. In order to truly honour their heroic action, the statue should reflect its context and their revolutionary vision.
1. The pose should be realistically that of figures throwing the bomb.
3. B.K Dutt's statue should also be there along with Bhagat Singh, to mark the historical fact.
4. The slogan "Long live revolution", and "Down with imperialism" be inscribed on the statues in all Indian languages.
5. The statues should be inaugurated on 8th April of coming year, the day when the Martyrs threw the bomb in the Parliament.
- Revolutionary Youth Association
Workers' Hunger Strike in Coimbatore
Pricol workers held a hunger strike in Coimbatore on 5th April to stress their demands and demanded the Government intervene on their issue and sort them out immediately. Before this they met the legislators of Coimbatore and asked them to raise their issue in the Assembly. They also invited them to address their meeting. Dr.Senthil, MP from PMK attended the hunger strike. He assured that he will ask PMK MLAs in TN to raise their issue in the Assembly.
Comrades Kumarasami, All India President, AICCTU, N.K.Natarajan, State General Secretary, AICCTU, Sekar, State Secretary of Workers Rights Forum, Lakshminarayanan of Solidarity Forum and Dhukaram of Ashok Leyland also spoke among the agitating workers.
