Enough Is Enough, Mr. Prime Minister

The sun will soon come out and signal a better tomorrow, said Prime Minister Vajpayee in his August 15 address to the nation from the ramparts of Lal Qila. Was he trying to reassure a thoroughly disillusioned nation of one billion people? Or was he just trying to reassure himself and his coterie called the PMO and his friends within the saffron establishment and NDA?

As far as the nation is concerned, it has had enough of Vajpayee's poetic rhetoric. While Vajpayee was delivering his address, life had virtually come to a standstill almost all over the North-East. Decades of accumulated backwardness and betrayal have thoroughly shaken the region's faith in the discourse that emanates from Delhi. On top of it, the combination of brutal army repression sanctioned under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the dirty politics of divide and rule pursued in the name of ceasefire has transformed the region into an explosive powderkeg. Agra having failed, and the cease-fire long over, Jammu and Kashmir is once again back to its normal routine of secessionist insurgency and indiscriminate state repression. Large parts of Bihar and Orissa are either reeling under floods or drought and famine stalk the land. The least that the government could have done was to announce a massive food for work programme, instead it has opened up newer avenues of corruption, and mismanagement by announcing a scheme for supplying cheaper foodgrains to religious organisations engaged in mass-feeding programmes for the poor!

For a country trapped in civil war and communal and criminal violence, and a people reeling under the combined weight of corruption, economic recession, financial ruin and sheer starvation, Vajpayee's stale and faltering rhetoric can hardly be a morale-booster, leave alone the question of any actual amelioration of real misery. But perhaps nobody expected any reassurance from a Prime Minister who only the other day was offering to resign. On the contrary, what the country witnessed during the week August 9-15 was a popular and powerful outcry for saving the country and its hard-earned independence from the clutches of the saffron regime.

Of course, Vajpayee's speech did convey his desperation to retain his throne and give his opponents and detractors within the Sangh Parivar and the NDA establishment a run for their money. Since Agra, speculations have been rife about Vajpayee's dwindling fortunes and Advani's rising stars. Opinion polls have hit the media with ratings that show Vajpayee hitting an all-time low with Advani almost breathing down his neck. Advani has considerably toughened his posture since the collapse of Agra. Almost everyday he is coming up with statements outlining his doctrine of an 'effective state'. When he is not talking about granting amnesty to the human rights violators in the armed forces, he is threatening to ban the Students Islamic Movement of India. In Sangh circles he is seen to be the man who 'saved' India by short-circuiting the Agra summit. Vajpayee also dropped a loud and loaded hint about the ongoing tug of war between the Sanghi avatars of Nehru and Patel when he told Parliament that Advani had sent someone to say whether he was really talking business or just having an idle gossip with General Musharraf!

It will of course be naïve to take a linear one-sided view of the power struggle within the Sangh Parivar. The joint appearance of RSS chief Sudarshan and Vajpayee over a book release function at the Prime Minister's residence on August 17 may well mean a temporary rapprochement. The NDA may also take a breather after the latest bout of and the Shiv Sena's sniping attacks against the PMO over the UTI scam. But all this crisis management exercises within the Sangh Parivar and NDA establishment are certainly not going to signal a better tomorrow for Vajpayee and his men. Doctored opinion polls and media manipulations cannot indefinitely lengthen the life of a hated anti-people regime.

There can be no better tomorrow with the saffron regime working overtime to destroy the country. For the democratic people of India, the message of August 15 has been loud and clear. Enough is enough. We must now prepare harder on the ground for a decisive showdown with the forces of saffron disaster.

CPI(ML) Polit Bureau Meeting Held in Delhi

Party Polit Bureau met on 17-18 August in Delhi and took many important decisions. It noted that the August 9 call for rail and road blockade and/or court arrest programmes under "Vajpayee hatao, Desh bachao" campaign evoked a good response. It also noted that "events like the failed Agra summit, the UTI scam and allegations of corruption against the PMO, the crisis in the North-East over the politics of cease-fire, the killings in Jammu and Kashmir and the growing rifts within NDA mark a critical juncture for the Vajpayee government. While Vajpayee's rating as Prime Minister and leader of the NDA coalition hitting an all-time low, Advani seems to have gained in stature and he is striking an increasingly assertive and aggressive posture. The balance within the Sangh parivar has become all the more delicate and the saffron establishment is hurtling from one crisis to another. From industry and agriculture to education and culture, the government is on the dock on all fronts. UP elections are only a few months away and with every passing day the battle lines are being drawn ever more sharply. The situation is therefore ripe for mounting a powerful mass offensive against the crisis-ridden saffron regime."

The Polit Bureau called upon Party ranks to carry forward the "Vajpayee hatao, Desh bachao" campaign linking it with the forthcoming conferences of Party committees and mass organisations and also with the elections in different states. In particular, the forthcoming rally and all-India meet of peasant leaders and activists at Mansa in Punjab (10-11 September), AICCTU's all-India conference (Dhanbad, 8-10 October) and the proposed peasant demonstration in Delhi in November would provide excellent opportunities for stepping up the mass political campaign for the resignation of the Vajpayee government, it noted. PB also directed to link membership campaigns of other mass organisations like AISA, RYA and AIPWA, and the conferences of agricultural labour organisations with this common thread.

Reminding the ranks that we have only another four months left for fulfilling the CC's call for recruiting a million members of our mass organisations, PB instructed all Party members working in mass organisations to step up their efforts for realising the membership targets.

The Polit Bureau emphasized that all-India initiatives taken by the coordination committee of peasant organisations such as signature campaign, Mansa conference and the November demonstration in Delhi can only be sustained on the basis of regular state and district-level activities. To this end, structures of peasant associations need to be formed and regularised at all possible levels (down to blocks) and while carrying on the all-India campaign against WTO, new agriculture policy and allied issues, peasant organisations should also adequately address local issues and problems.

The PB noted that during the 6-point campaign to strengthen the Party, when agrarian labour front was our focus of attention, in most of the cases "our achievement remained limited to recruitment of members and the task of organisation-building was left for a future date." Therefore the PB held that the task of building district- and state-level organisations must be completed by the end of this year so that some all-India initiative can be taken up in the coming year. The PB plans to conduct a countrywide campaign early next year on the question of round-the-year employment and wages of agricultural workers and other rural labourers, pressing once again for a central legislation for agricultural labourers.

As far as the Party membership recruitment is concerned the PB reminded Party committees to chalk out concrete planning for increasing the Party membership by 40% by the year end.

The PB approved the Party conferences of Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and All India Railway Party Branch. Conferences of Bihar, Assam and West Bengal State units are scheduled in August, September and November respectively. The PB reminded Party committees to pay serious attention to ensure delegates' fullest participation in a conference and the reports of Party Committees placed in these conferences should focus primarily on their work, concentrating on specific problems and questions confronting them in their respective areas.

It was decided that the next Central Party School may be held on November 27-30 at Nagbhushan Memorial Centre, Bhubaneshwar. It will be composed of all the CCMs and members of editorial boards of Central and State Party organs, one-fourth of members eleted by all duly elected State Committees (Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Delhi) and special committees (HDPC and AIRPB), two members each from State leading teams, and those nominated by CC, of which there is a limit for every state.

The syllabus for the school shall comprise broadly the following three subjects: (i) Globalisation and anti-globalisation struggles including the Indian experience, (ii) the Agrarian Question with special reference to the conditions and struggles of agricultural workers, the present agrarian crisis, the agrarian strategy and new agriculture policy, feudal remnants and development of capitalism in Indian agriculture, and (iii) some topical political and theoretical questions like communal fascism, regional parties and federalism in the era of neo-liberal economic policies, panchayati raj, caste and class, etc. The PB invited questions/debates/critical comments from whoever is interested in any of these subjects, taking Marxist literature as the theoretical background. The notes for the school will be prepared on the basis of the inputs received within September 30.

As the planned construction at Nagbhushan Memrial Centre, Bhubaneshwar is far from complete, the PB assessed that at least Rs. 5 lakh is needed to get the centre into a modest functional shape. The PB appreciated that comrades in Orissa have resolved to do all they can for this purpose, and appealed to all other State Committees and Party members, supporters and friends to extend their generous support in whatever form possible for this cause. Because, as the PB circular says, "We visualise the Nagbhushan memorial centre not just as a building to preserve the legacy of Comrade Nagbhushan but as an institution dedicated to promote progressive thought and practice in Orissa. "

CPI(ML) to Launch 'Anti-Famine Movement for Employment' in Bihar

Intensifying its movement against RJD-Congress govt. in Bihar and NDA govt. in the Centre, who are vying with each other in crushing the assertion of dalits and toilers and protecting mafia and feudal elements, CPI(ML) will launch "anti-famine movement for employment" in Bihar on 23 August. Gherao and demonstration will be organised at all block headquarters in the state on the demands of declaring Bihar as famine-stricken state, introducing employment guarantee and food for work schemes, along with other demands. It is to be noted that at present whole of Bihar is reeling under the grip of draught and flood.

Movement Against Police-Ranvir Sena

In Dulhin Bazar block of Patna district, police-CRP and Ranvir Sena goons launched a combined attack on CPI(ML) supporter peasants on 20 August when they were sowing paddy on the Khapuri Muth land., for which Party has been conducting struggle over 30 bigha of this land since 1990. When the villagers resisted the attack, police arrested Com. NK Nanda, Party distt. committee member, along with comrades Com. Vidyanand Bihari, a mukhiya, Rajeshwar Mochi, the block pramukh and Lila Verma, district counciller, and conducted lathicharge to stop the villagers from sowing threatening to perpetrate a massacre. The incident evoked a widespread resentment in the whole area and the Party activists brought out torchlight processions on the same day in many villages of Patna district to mobilise broad masses against police and Ranvir Sena. In protest, demonstrations will be held at all the blocks in this district on 23 August. In this block, it is noteworthy that Party-backed candidates performed better in the recently-held panchayat elections.

On Independence Day, Starved Woman Commits Suicide With Her Children

Chak Ahlad village of Bochaha block in Muzaffarpur of Bihar witnessed a pathetic incident on Independence Day this year. In the poor labourers' tola of that village, a woman Majma Khatoon, could no longer withstand the travails of destitution and starvation and committed suicide along with her six children aged from 3 month to 11 years in the night of independent day celebrations in the corridors of power. The suicide is just an indicator of the apathy shown by the so-called champion of social justice toward the poor. All the 60-70 Muslim families of the tola live below poverty line but no one has his name in the govt. list of poor people. No water, no govt. made houses. Party held a demonstration and a large meeting at Muzaffarpur on 18 August, holding Ramai Ram, RJD minister from this area responsible for the death and demanded his resignation and action against administrative officials.

Party Condemns Police Firing on Demonstrators

CPI(ML) condemned police firing at DM's office in Sheidkpura in Bihar on 20 August when thousands of people demonstrating against the murder of a trader. A demonstrator was killed in the firing, following which an indefinite curfew has been imposed in Sheikhpura. Party has said that the govt. can no longer suppress the voice of the people against corrupt-criminal administration by resorting to lathicharge and firing. It is to be noted that a few days back police killed 6 persons in the firing on a flood-victims' demonstration at Aurai of Muzaffarpur district. Party demanded sternest action against police and administrative officials responsible for the firing, arrest of the trader's killers and compensation to the victims. Party will organise a protest demonstration against the firing on 22 August.

Black Day Observed on Malayalam New Years Day

Chingam 1, the auspicious beginning of Malayalam calender year (the day Onam festivals begins), is officially observed as "Peasants' Day" in Kerala. This year, CPI(ML) unit of Palakkad district called upon the peasants to observe the day, which fell on 17 August, as "Peasants' Black Day", as a protest against the anti-peasant policies and measures of Central and State governments. Led by Com. Joy Peter, Secretary of Palakkad district Party unit, activists and sympathisers wearing black badges and carrying placards in their hand demonstrated at the official ceremony being held at Palakkad, distributed leaflets explaining why Party has been forced to observe this black day. They raised slogans like "Peasant-worship is a deception, while they are being starved to death", "abrogate all agreements which push down the prices of domestic agricultural products", "write off all the outstanding agricultural loans", "stop the import of palm oil, save coconut farmers", "provide insurance to paddy crops", "fight against globalisation, fight against Vajpayee-Antony governments".

Other peasant organisations, like "Infarm", also boycotted these celebrations and took out big rallies at Mannarkad in Palakkad and in Wynad.

Land Sezure Movement in Chandauli of U.P.

In Chandauli district, Biarath farm land movement is already well-known. Now the movement has also spread to Jaymohani, Sikandarpur, Dighwat, Kundalia and Mirzapur. In Jaymohni village of Naugarh, forest deptt. had given arable land pattas to adivasis displaced by Chandraprabha dam. But non-adivasi evil gentry have not only usurped this land but got it entered into land records against their names. Party has now started movement on the question of occupation of this land by adivasis. In Sikandarpur gram sabha of Niyamatabad block, a Rajput landlordhas 7 bigha ceiling surplus land under his occupation, which High Court has ruled as gram samaj land. On 24 July the rural poor led by Party captured this land and put the proposal for its distribution before the ADM. Landlords, patronised by Samajwadi Party district president, have threatened to resort to armed violence.But the poor people led by the Party are alert to beat back any such attack. In Dighwat of Sakaldiha block, gram samaj land spread over hundreds of acres is registered as a pond in land records. A handful of powerful Rajbhar families partonised by BSP have illegally held this land and they even made a futile attempt to get it legalised by High Court. Now, led by Party over 50 Rajbhar families and dalits have occupied this land and demanded from the tehsil administration to declare this land as arable and distribute it among the poor. The landholders are trying to terrorize the occupant landless labourers.

The struggle to capture arable land in Rasia forest of Shahabganj block is going on. More than 50 Mushahar families put up huts on this land a few days back and founded Sherpur basti there. In this movement, hundreds of Raidas families came out of BSP fold and joined our Party. The forest deptt. had to retreat after its repressive tactics failed. But kulaks and rich peasants in the nearby villages have set their eyes on the land. They tried to sow discord among our Party ranks on caste basis, but it was quickly resolved and it was decided that 80 Vanvasis and Dalits will get 1 bigha each, whereas more than 50 Vanvasi families will get 1/5 bigha each. Preparations of offering effective resistance to the possible attacks by landlords, evil gentry, criminal gangs and forest deptt. are going on.

PM's Attack on Christians

What "The Hindu" has rightly headlined as "An RSS Evening at PM's House", Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee once again revived the issue of "conversion". At the lowest point of his credibility, Mr. Vajpayee perhaps thought it was opportunity to please Sangh Parivar supremo so as to strengthen his case in the power struggle within BJP. While equating the riot-monger RSS cadres to zealous Christian missionaries, he disapproved of their "proselytizing" activities in the backward areas. Then he also painted the picture of RSS pracharaks as victims, pointing out that while the work of Christian missionaries in the North-East came in for much praise from the media, the recent killings of four Sangh activists by terrorists in Tripura had hardly received a mention. He simply forgot that the RSS is so notoriously known for its hate campaign and as such, their activities are seen in much different light from the activities of, for instance, Graham Steins. Very rightly, Christian leaders criticised Vajpayee, saying "Prime Minister's remarks will only encourage communal and extremist elements such as the Sangh Parivar." Mr. Concessao, the Chairman of North Region Catholic Council said, "Our anxiety is more because the statement was made at a function lauding the RSS. Such remarks ... will be seen as condoning the hate campaign and canards, lies and half truths being spread by the RSS and other units of the Sangh Parivar."

Although there are signals that the power struggle within the BJP between Atal and Advani has reached at an all-time high with Vajpayee even airing his intention to resign, equally important is the trend that all BJP leaders have chosen the same path of taking overtly communal posture in order to strenthen their position. Thus, whereas Advani is threatening a ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and backing the repressive military rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Murli manohar Joshi has stepped up his stratagems for communalising the education despite disstntion of some NDA constituents. Also, it seems that with the nearing of UP elections, BJP leaders are left with no option other than reviving Hindu card. However, BJP must know the Hindi proverb: "a wooden vessel cannot be mounted on fire twice."

Supreme Court Holds Govt. Responsible for Starvation Deaths

At last, Supreme Court of India was compelled to intervene on the matter of starvation deaths resulting from the inhuman stance adopted by the Centre and State governments. However, neither the Centre nor the States acknowledge any 'starvation deaths'. The closest they admit to is death on account of 'chronic malnutrition'. The same attitude has been adopted by the governments in the cases of starvation deaths in Kerala, Orissa, and even in Bihar. But this is not just a matter of a few deaths, there are an estimated 208 million under-nourished people in India, who are potential victims of starvation death. As much as 26% of the population has been identified as below the poverty line requiring subsidised foodgrains.

In this context, the Supreme Court observed on 20 August that it was the primary responsibility of the Central and State Governments to ensure that the foodgrains overflowing in FCI godowns reached the starving people and not wasted by being dumped in the sea or eaten by rats. The observation was made on a petition filed by PUCL. The Court also observed that "Mere schemes without implementation were of no use and what was important was that the foold shold reach the needy -- even if the foodgrains had to be given free, it should be done as no person should be deprived of food merely because he had no money." The PUCL petition was centred on right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

When the apex court of the country is holding the government responsible for starvation deaths, what right this government has to stay in power when it cannot defend the fundamental right of the people to live? In that case, the people have every right to snatch their right.

Kisan Convention in Durg

In order to mobilise peasants in signature campaign of All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, a kisan convention was organised on 15 August at Berla in Durg distt. of Chattisgarh. Around 250 peasants from various villages of Berla block attended the convention. Com. Narottam Sharma, Shambhu Singh, and others addressed the convention.