Who is Going to Bell the BALCO Cat?

No doubt the BJP-led Union Government has been all along acting in a most brazen manner, still the act of selling majority shares of the public sector Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) to a private company Sterlite has now landed it in considerable embarrasment. The move that was rushed through in Lok Sabha in the wake of Union Budget has suffered an ignominious defeat in the Rajya Sabha where NDA clearly lacks a majority. Then, making mockery of the whole issue, Chhattisgarh Govt. made an offer to the Union Govt. to have BALCO majority shares for Rs.552 crores, Rs.50 lakh more than what Sterlite has offered. Had Ajit Jogi been really sincere, he would have pre-empted the deal much earlier, even before the sale was announced. Because the deal involves much more basic issues than what is being projected by the Congress, in the Lok Sabha Sonia Gandhi was not serious enough in showing her full strength, which became evident from the fact that against the deal only 119 votes were cast.

Even if the customary allegations of kickbacks worth hundred crore rupees are put aside as an exercise in politicking, however, this first major disinvestment deal has triggered many uneasy posers, some of which have been identified by Justice Rajinder Sachar and the nation's opinion must be sought on these. The first one is regarding the monopoly position that the private enterpreneur will acquire out of such deals. Controlling BALCO by virtue of its 51% equity holding, Sterlite will now control more than 20% of the aluminium market, which will be violative of the MRTP Act, even in its present truncated form. The same will be the case with other beneficiaries of such wholesale disinvestment deals. Secondly, almost all public sector mines or plants are situated in tribal areas and the land that was given on lease to public sector companies was actually acquired by displacing tribals, extracting sacrifice from them in the name of building national wealth. How can the government now justify the transfer of this inalienable property of tribals to the private companies? Thirdly, there may arise a dispute regarding any specific disinvestment decision between the state and the centre. If the centre obstinately pursues with its disinvestment decision like the present BALCO case, this will invariably send centre-state relations to irreparable jeopardy.

More importantly, the earlier premise behind privatisation, that the public sector was an avenue of loss-making, a white elephant, has just sublimated. Now disinvestment is the logic behind disinvestment. Profitable or no profitable, the government does not want to run public sector. This is a policy option. So even if a public sector enterprise is making profit today, the government will not make any further investment to upgrade or modernise it, because that will go against disinvestment policy. So in future these units are destined to make losses. In view of this bleak future, let us sell them now. This is the logic being offered for wholesale disinvestment. Therefore, the question is not of this or that deal, the debate that has really come up centres precisely on disinvestment policy itself, on public sector, on the question of national self reliance and economic sovereignty.

And there the credibility of Congress as well as some others stands questioned. In 1995, when Congress was ruling both in Madhya Pradesh and the Centre, 11-B mines in Bailadila of Bastar district, explored and developed by National Mineral Development Corporation, was transferred to Nippon Denro, a Japanese corporation. The disinvestment commission itself was constituted by Deve Gowda govt. supported by Congress. Unless they realise the past mistake and take an about turn with regard to the whole gamut of privatisation-liberalisation-globalisation policies, it will not serve the purpose and the opposition to the steps taken by BJP-led Govt. will continue to lack sincerety.

It is only Left which has the alternative policy perspective opposed to the abovesaid gamut of policies. So the Left cannot busy itself gossiping around in Parliament focussing on the nuances of a particular deal, because that runs the risk of getting rallied behind the immediate, pragmatic parliamentary oppositional routine. Left should instead concentrate on building up public opinion on the larger issue of economic policy and try to steer the parliamentary debate along this line. The BALCO issue has certainly provided a significant opportunity. Let us intensify the debate on economic policy from our own, socialist and nationalist perspective.

Com. Dipankar Released, "Save Democracy, Save Jharkhand" Rally in Ranchi on 14 March

Jharkhand Govt. was at last compelled to release CPI(ML) General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya and 40 other protestors. The public prosecutor in Ranchi Sessions Court had to admit that the case is not criminal one as filed by the police and administration. When Com. Dipankar and other comrades came out of jail on 7 March night, thousands of people who had come from various districts of Jharkhand greeted him on his release.

Party will now intensify movement for withdrawal of false cases. Party has announced to hold 'Save democracy, save Jharkhand' rally on 14 March. Party has termed this release a consequence of nationwide democratic discontent against anti-democratic attitude and design of BJP government. Addressing a press conference in Ranchi after his release on 8 March, Com. Dipankar expressed gratitude to leftist, socialist and other progressive-democratic forces and citizens who have strongly condemned BJP government and voice their opinion.

CPI(ML) Member of Lok Sabha Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, intervening in Zero Hour on 7 March, raised the issue of arrest of 41 protestors in Ranchi including Dipankar Bhattacharya in the Lok Sabha and demanded their release. It was supported by other left parties as well as RJD MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. CPI(ML) organised protest programmes throughout the country on 7 March, including Delhi, and organised chakka jam in the whole of Bihar.

CPI(ML)-ASDC Rally in Assam

More than 12,000 people participated in a massive rally called jointly by CPI(ML) and ASDC in Guwahati on 12 March centring on the slogans "No autonomous state, no rest", "Build a progressive democratic Assam". The meeting was chaired by Chandrakanta Terang, president and Hemsing Tisso, General Secretary of ASDC. Speaking as the chief guest, Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that under the BJP rule police raj has been clamped all over the country including Jharkhand and U.P. and new economic policy is being bulldozed upon people. Even as the NEP is being implemented in a backward state like Assam, people are deprived of any development. In this situation, he said, Left-led third front against communal BJP and reactionary Congress(I) is the only need of the hour in Assam. He appealed to CPI and CPI(M) to join this initiative taking lesson from the past 5-year experience in Assam. Justifying the autonomous state movement he said that autonomous state is a democratic right of the people but it can only be acquired through a protracted movement under the collective leadership of CPI(ML)-ASDC.

Addressing the rally Com. Jayanta Rongpi, Party CC member and MP, said that Congress(I) and UPDS in connivance with renegade Holiram have tried to sabotage the autonomous state movement but the struggling people of Karbi Anglong foiled all their attempts, which proves that they can't stop the autonomous movement nor can they detract the leadership from achieving the goal, because we are prepared to sacrifice anything. Com. Rubul Sharma, Secy. of Assam State Committee said that the failure of AGP-led four party alliance has cleared the ground for the emergence of communal BJP and reactionary Cong(I), who are again trying to befool the people of Assam. He appealed to the people to take the coming election as a preparatory phase of a long-term struggle. Dr. Ranoj Pegu of Mising Memag Kebang, Com. Prakanta Warisa, MP and Tiwa leader Com. Rimal Amsi also addressed the rally.

The rally adopted 10-point resolution, including implementation of Art.244-A of the Constitution and creation of an autonomous state comprising Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills; solution of the Bodo problem by negotiating with Bodo leaders and granting effective autonomy based on Schedule VI of the Constitution to Mising, Tiwa and Rabha; scheduling of the Tea Tribes, fixing Rs.49 as daily wages to them and also awarding Sundays as paid holidays; instituting judicial enquiry into the illicit links between Cong.(I) and other politicians with ULFA and UPDS, and make the enquiry public. The Rally condemned the barbaric repression unleashed on rally participants in various parts of Karbi Anglong by UPDS goons, who are followers of renegade Holiram. It also condemned the killing of JM Basumatary and attempt on the life of the Chairman of the District Council Mr. Daniel Teron, and demanded a judicial enquiry. Cultural programmes from various tribes mainly Rabha, Bodo, Karbi, Dimasa, Hmar, Kuki, Naga, Tea-Tribes, Assamese and Bengali were also performed at the occasion.

National Conference of Railway Gangmen at Jhajha

National conference of railway gangmen and engineering workers was held on 26-27 February at Jhajha (Danapur Division, Eastern Rly.). The conference focussed its protest against disinvestment and contractualisation of railways proposed in the rail budget. In the Union Budget too, a plan to oust grade IV employees from public and govt. services is there. Already a good number of posts are being abolished every year and now corporatisation is being introduced. The main demands of the gangmen are : railway employee status to gangmen, 6-hour day for track maintainer, minimum basic wages at Rs.3,350, employment to a ward after retirement, making casual gangmen permanent and facilities at par with other railway employees. The convention was attended by engineering workers from Danapur, Dhanbad, Asansol and Mughalsarai divisions of Eastern Rly., Samastipur and Narkatiaganj divisions of North-Eastern Rly. and Delhi division of Northern Rly. Pradeep Jha, Convenor of Mazdoor Ekta Manch, CM Singh, GS of AIREC, Avinash Sharma and Rabi Sen, president and secretary respectively of Railway Artisan Staff Union participated as guests. It was inaugurated by Com. Iswari Prasad, vice president of AIREC. Com. Vasudev Mahto, Birju Bhagat and Triloki Sharma composed the presidium and Com. Lalit Mohan, Secy. of AIREC Danapur division and Com. Sukhdev, Advisor, conducted the conference. An 11-member central executive with Com. Harinarayan as president, Com. Basudev Mahato as secretary and Com. Teklal Mahato as treasurer, was elected. Com. Ishwari Prasad and Sukhdev were appointed advisors.

8 Central Trade Unions to Observe All-India Protest Day on 21 March

Eight central trade unions namely AICCTU, CITU, AITUC, UTUC, UTUC(LS), TUCC, INTUC and BMS have come together to declare all-India protest day on 21 March against the Union Budget. The proposed budget which recommended the amendments in Industrial Dispute Act to implement "hire and fire" policy and amendment in Contract Labour Act to do away with abolition and regulation of contract labour will be one of the main issues of the protest. The wholesale privatisation and closure of public sector and massive downsizing of employees will be the other major point. Doing away with FCI signalling winding away of PDS and rise in excise for cotton yarn and garments which will affect the handloom and small-scale industries are also main issues to be focussed. The Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions decided to hold conventions at state and district level up to May and will soon finalise the dates for nationwide strike against the policies of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation.

CPI(ML) Strongly Protested Dalit Massacre in Mirzapur in UP

CPI(ML) has strongly condemned the massacre of at least 15 dalits and adivasis by UP Police, in league with local feudal and mafia elements, in Bhawanipur village of Marihan P.S. of Mirzapur district on 9 March. Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, Secy. of UP State Committee rushed to the spot on 10 March. He said that the recent victory of the CPI(ML) candidate Smt. Basmati Kol for Block Pramukh post in this area has proved that Party's influence among dalits and adivasis is spreading fast and it is to suppress this influence that the alarmed local gentry and police have resorted to massacres in the name of extremism by MCC etc. Party has demanded from the NHRC to immediately intervene into this affair. Party will oppose this massacre in the name of "fake encounter" and observe black day on 14 March throughout U.P.

Joint Working Class Initiative in Pondicherry

In Pondicherry, 15 medium and small scale unions including Shaw Wallace, Mcdowell, S&S Switchgear etc. led by an ex-MLA of CPI(M) Com. DK Ramanujam, AICCTU and Hindustan Lever Employees Union met on 8 March as a first step towards unification of working class in Pondicherry. The meeting gave birth to Pondicherry Trade Union General Council with S Balasubramanium as convenor and DK Ramanujam and Rajendran as co-convenors. The Council has decided to organise a massive workers rally on 25 March.

AISA Memorandum to President of India

Police has arrested three persons including Ashish Mishra, former ABVP candidate for the post of president of Lucknow University Students Union on the charge of operating ISD and arranging telephone conferencing among dubious persons in Jeddah, Dubai and Mumbai robbing BSNL lakhs of rupees in a single day. AISA National Council has sent a memorandum to President of India and Union Home Minister to order CBI enquiry into the matter to thoroughly find out the ABVP leaders' links with ISI. The memorandum is signed by Sunil Yadav, General Secretary and Rakesh Singh, U.P. State President of AISA. Earlier, a senior police officer had asserted having concrete proof of BJP minister Raghuraj Prasad Singh's relations with ISI. In this light, the leaders said, if CBI enquiry is not ordered, AISA will gherao the BJP govt. and expose the anti-national character of Sangh Parivar and BJP.

Ranchi Arrest Protested

In Pondicherry, around 80 activists including 25 women led by Com. Balasubramanium protested against arrest of Com. Dipankar and others in Ranchi. In Karnataka, the statement demanding unconditional release was signed by Laxminarayana of PUCL, Venkatramaiah, CPI State Secy., Rati Rao of Samata (women's organisation), veteran communist Laxman Rao, PA Kumar of Marxist Study Circle, Jaya Simha, convenor of Kannada Shikshana Vedike, trade unionist C Bala Krishna, Vishambhar Pati of Platform against Nuclear Weapons and others.

First Conference of Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha in Bhojpur

The founding conference of Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha will be held at Agiaon in Sahar block of Bhojpur district on 26 March. It will be inaugurated by Com. Ram Naresh Ram, Party PB member and leader of CPI(ML) Legislature Party. Party PB member Com. Swadesh Bhattacharya will be the chief guest. A massive meeting will also be held on the same day to be addressed by Com. Rameshwar Prasad, convenor of BPKMS, Latafat Hussain of AICCTU, Chandradeep Singh and Siddhnath Ram. The conference will focus on minimum wages, land reforms, welfare schemes, central legislation on agricultural labourers and massacres by private armies like Ranvir Sena.

CSW Protests Govt.'s Anti-Labour Policies

Centre of Steel Workers (CSW) affiliated to AICCTU in Bhilai expressed discontent on NCJS suspending the strike on 27-28 February without getting any concrete result on the wage issue. It is to be noted that for the four years the wage agreement has been kept pending in the NCJS meetings whereas the govt. is going ahead with its conspiracy to downsize labour force by bringing in VRS and CRS, and sell SAIL units at a throwaway price. To protest these policies and the surrender by the constituent unions of NCJS, CSW organised a meeting at Boria Gate of Bhilai Steel Plant(BSP) on 28 February. Earlier on 27 February workers burnt the effigy of NCJS at BSP main gate.

Anti-Budget Programmes in Mansa, Punjab

More than a dozen mass organisations including Mill workers Association of Mansa, BKU(Ekta), AICCTU, Palledar Union, Agriculture Labour Union etc. along with our Party held a seminar against budget on 9 March. On 12 March they took out a rally participated in by 1000 people in Mansa town, which was addressed by Sukhdarshan Natt, Rajvinder Rana, Harbhagwan Singh and others. The speakers opposed anti-working class provisions of the Union Budget-2001.

Thanks to All Who Stood With Us

On 2 March, just the next day of police lathicharge on Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya and other comrades in Ranchi and their subsequent arrest, ex-Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh condemned the incident and in the public meeting on 3 March at Faizabad he even said that Marandi govt. must apologise for this undemocratic behaviour. SP Shukla, former Finance Secretary also publicly condemned Com. Dipankar and other comrades' arrest in Ranchi. Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, ex-Navy Chief too condemned Jharkhand government for brutal action, while participating in the rally. Other speakers too spoke in solidarity with CPI(ML).

Medha Patkar, leading activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan, who happened to be in Ranchi attending some other programme, went to Ranchi Jail to meet Com. Dipankar to express her solidarity. Prabhash Joshi, Justice Dawood, Chittaranjan Singh of PUHR who were also present in Ranchi at the time attended protest programmes organised by Party.

In Delhi, Surendra Mohan, Justice Rajinder Sachar, Swami Agnivesh, Vijay Pratap participated in the dharna organised by Party at Jantar Mantar on 7 March. They also addressed the gathering. Surendra Mohan also organised a signature campaign to condemn the arrest of Com. Dipankar and his colleagues. It was signed, among others, by ex-Union Minister Madhu Dandwate, Dr. YP Chhibbar and Dinesh Abrol. Yogendra Yadav, National Secretary of Samajwadi Jan Parishad condemned the Ranchi repression and demanded unconditional release of Com. Dipankar and others.

Com. AB Bardhan, General Secretary of CPI condemned the arrest of Com. Dipankar and sent a message to Party central office. It says, "Our Party strongly condemns these repressive measures which bode ill for the future of democracy under BJP rule in Jharkhand. We demand the release of Com. Bhattacharya and other comrades and withdrawal of cases."

S. Anitha, on behalf of South Asia Solidarity Group, sent a letter to President of India demanding the release of Dipankar Bhattacharya and other activists of the CPI(ML) "immediately and unconditionally."

Farooq Tariq, General Secretary, Labour Party Pakistan expressed shock at "the news of Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya arrest alongside with other comrades and the treatment by the jail authorities". Com. Dipankar's letter from jail will also be translated and printed in their Weekly Mazdoor Jeddojuhd.

Exit Policy Through Backdoor

While wholeheartedly welcoming the Union Budget-2001, apex industry associations pointed out that this would restore the 'feel good' factor which was missing in the previous two editions. They expressed their belief that the speedy implementation of all the steps enumerated by Mr Sinha would be the key for future reforms. Why they felt so good? What did they really have in mind saying this?

According to Mr. Sinha, the freed capital faces rigidity of labour market because of "rigidities in our labour legislation", due to which an employer feels constrained to fire the worker at will, to exercise "labour flexibility". Therefore, in the Budget he proposes to change Chapter VI-B of Industrial Disputes Act (IDA) in such a way that the employer can effect lay off, retrenchment and closure even without approval from govt., provided the workforce does not exceed 1000. Till now this limit was 100 workers. With the amendment it will cover the overwhelming majority of the national workforce. This is nothing but laying the foundation of "exit policy", as some of the commentators have rightly observed. Repeal of Sick Industrial Companies Act will help in closing the factory and throwing the workers at will. On the other hand, to guarantee the employer full freedom to hire the worker, the rigidities in the Contract Labour Act will be removed for outsourcing without any restriction. Contract employment can be extended to all work by removing the core and non-core differentiation. These laws will be tabled in this very session.

These crucial changes in the labour laws are aimed at both downsizing and outsourcing, both hiring and firing freely as well as closing here and opening there, throwing the whole workforce on the street at any moment. Related with these statutory changes, the proposed Ashraya Bima Yojana for providing partial relief to the labourers who lost the jobs, clearly suggests that by the end of this year millions of workers in organized sector would be pushed out of the job. No need of nurturing any illusion for VRS!

Besides these legal reforms, through other measures such as downsizing the govt., freezing govt. recruitment, abolishing banking service recruitment board, extensive outsourcing and restructuring and modernisation in spinning, powerloom, garment industries, etc., the government is to bring a change of structure of Indian labour with a massive underpaid,casualised or contract segment. The irony of the fate is that to achieve this, the government even bypassed even its own Second Labour Commission appointed to identify the changes needed in the labour laws.