Oust the Government that Kills,
Smash the System that Starves

Even as Kashipur of Orissa continues to rock the nation's dilapidated conscience, the focus has shifted to Dharwar of Karnataka with more and more cases of indebted farmers committing suicides getting reported in the national media. The Prime Minister of the country however does not have the time to visit any of these places. He is busy with his widely publicised conclaves with the Ambanis and Goenkas, and Tatas and Birlas, talking about labour reforms and tough governance. A highly respected journalist has expressed his outrage by pointing to the shocking contrast between mountains of foodgrains and oceans of hunger. We could as well talk of mountains of callousness and crime that must be drowned in oceans of anger and resistance.

This callousness is not confined to the rulers in distant Delhi; the local satraps too display it in repulsive abundance. Take the case of Naveen Patnaik. All through August his government kept dismissing reports of starvation deaths with their disgusting arguments of food poisoning. To prove starvation death you have to show an empty stomach, but the deceased of Kashipur had their stomachs filled with their staple diet of mango kernels! And don't ask why on earth the people of Kashipur took to eating mango kernels. Naveen Patnaik has a ready answer: eating mango kernels is their food habit, lifestyle, culture and what have you! Emperor Patnaik could as well proclaim starvation as the birthright of his over-privileged subjects!

When his smug slumber was shaken by the uproar in the media, he introduced a novel scheme of barter: one kg of rice would be doled out in lieu of one kg of mango kernel! It was only after he and his ministerial colleague got some taste of the boiling anger of the people of Kashipur that he withdrew this obscene offer. His officials reel off starvation death statistics without any qualm of conscience - according to reports published in the weekly newsmagazine Outlook, Orissa's neo-Malthusian babus are even talking in terms of 'annual targets' of starvation deaths!

Recurring famines used to be a hallmark of British colonial rule in India. Even after Independence, the question of food security remained a major national concern for the first two decades. The advent of the much-trumpeted green revolution was presented as the final answer to the problem of hunger and food security. Today once again famine stalks this land. One after another, citadels of green revolution crumble under the staggering burdens of heavy debts, soaring input prices, frequent crop failures and declining returns. All those bourgeois economists, who have spent a lifetime mocking at Marxists as worshippers and distributors of poverty, are now left with no answers as the problem of distribution poses the biggest stumbling block to even sustaining the present production levels. The more the government tries to target the public distribution system, the more it announces fancy schemes like Annapurna and Antyodaya, more starvation deaths are reported from newer parts of the country. It now turns out that as many as sixteen of India's 28 states have not identified the BPL population entitled to subsidised supply of food grains. It is also clear that the present PDS rates (50% of the so-called economic cost) are unaffordable for the BPL population. If starvation deaths are to be stopped, the public distribution system has to be revamped on a war-footing. Free rations must be provided to the 50 million people on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder, who are trapped in the vicious cycle of destitution, starvation and lethal epidemics. Agricultural labourers and all other sections of unorganised sector workers who do not receive living wages must all be defined as constituting the BPL population and they must be provided foodgrains in larger quantities and at cheaper rates than what the so-called targeted public distribution system (TPDS) currently provides.

Food security is the primary foundation of national security. The Vajpayee government must not be allowed to endanger it and deny our starving and toiling millions their basic right to food and survival.

CPI(ML) Statement Condemning Terrorist Strikes in America

The CPI(ML) strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist strikes in New York, Washington and elsewhere in the US, which have claimed thousands of human lives. No sane person can ever support or even condone terrorist actions causing such enormous devastation. At this hour of great shock and agony, we express our total solidarity with the American people.

The US, which did not have to suffer any major loss during the two world wars and other major conflagrations in the twentieth century, has for the first time been subjected to devastation of such mind-numbing magnitude. The incredible collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, partial destruction of the Pentagon and forced evacuation of the White House have shaken the very notion of American invincibility.

While condemning the terrorist acts, peace-loving people the world over therefore will also have to be watchful against any possible military retaliation and acts of counter-terrorism on the part of the Bush administration. At a time when the agrieved people of all countries are getting increasingly organised and even globally united against the havoc being unleashed in the name of globalisation, terrorism must not be allowed to divide the ranks and derail the anti-imperialist popular quest for freedom and democracy.

Massive Peasant Rally in Mansa AIKSS Holds Its Session in Punjab

"The government is surrendering before the imperialist dictates of WTO and ruining the lives of Indian peasantry. This will not be tolerated. This peasant convention appeals to all peasant organisations in the country to step up their resistance to force the government not only to oppose the new round of WTO proposed to begin at the forthcoming Doha meeting but even to withdraw from the imperialist-controlled WTO." This and many other resolutions were passed at the massive convention-cum-rally held at Mansa on 10 September. The convention was hosted by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) and participated in by the representatives of peasant organisations throughout the country including All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (AIKSS).

Around 6-7 thousand peasants, mainly from Mansa, Faridkot and Ferozpur districts of Punjab and Jind district of Haryana, came to attend the convention with BKU flags and banners and also with CPI(ML), AIKSS, AISA, RYA, and AIPWA banners. Most impressive aspect was women's participation in an unprecedentedly large number. Popular singer "Jidda" presented songs exposing Badal's misrule and depicting peasants' resolve to fight. The meeting was addressed by Pichhora Singh, president and Ruldu Singh, senior vice president of BKU, who emphasized that the government's anti-peasant policies are responsible for the present wretched conditions of the peasantry who have become so indebted that many of them find it hard to live. They voiced the resolve of Punjab peasantry to fight WTO and Indian govt. policies tooth and nail. Similar views on problems being faced by peasantry in Haryana were expressed by Ghasiram, leader of BKU (Haryana). Pawan Sharma, convenor of AIKSS, and Rajaram Singh, convenor of Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha called upon peasant organisations all over the country to join hands and put up a determined fight against WTO and Indian govt.'s surrender to imperialists and multinationals. They also raised problems of starvation deaths all over the country including Orissa, Maharashtra and Kerala and demanded from the government to food security which is the mainstay of self-dependence of country's economy. They demanded that the procurement policy as well as public distribution system must be revamped to serve the need of peasants and rural and urban poor. Ambarish Rai, Secy. of Purvanchal Kisan Sabha, Srilata Swaminathan and Mahendra Chaudhary of Rajasthan Kisan Sangathan, leaders of Kisan Sabhas including Ajit Das of West Bengal, Purushottam Sharma of Uttarakhand, Narottam Sharma of Chattisgarh, Devendra Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh, Sugandhan of Tamil Nadu, Bangar Rao of Andhra Pradesh, and Bidyadhar Patra of Orissa, PK Baby of Kerala and Pandit Rao Saware, peasant leader of Maharashtra also spoke at the convention. In the recent years BKU in Punjab has launched several remarkable agitations on the peasants' demand of debt relief and faced severe police repression. In one such incidents police attacked a village Maisarkhana of Bathinda district where people were badly beaten and even to this date a hundred of them including 20 women are in jail. When the police in order to extricate itself from the crime compelled the panchayat members and sarpanch to sign a paper to the effect that police committed no repression, Jasvinder Kaur, a woman Panch of the village refused to sign and resigned from her post instead. She was honoured for her bravery at the convention by Pichora Singh, president of BKU.

After the mass rally-cum-convention was over, AIKSS started its session, which concluded on 11 September. It was attended by members of the convening body as well as representatives of all peasant organisations including BKU. Pawan Sharma, the convenor, read out the report. After taking stock of the agrarian situation and government policies as well as programmes taken up by AIKSS in the meantime like signature campaign and 9-5 August "Vajpayee Hatao, Kheti Bachao" campaign, it was decided to focus attention on opposing the new round of WTO proposed at Doha ministerial conference in November. It was decided that a massive rally of one lakh peasants will be held on 9 November, the opening day of Doha meeting, before Parliament in Delhi to oppose Indian govt.'s surrender before the WTO. Peasant organisations from all over the country, including those from Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab, are expected to participate in the rally along with AIKSS.

AISA Held Public Meeting on Nationalism in JNU

The JNU unit of AISA carried a month-long debate campaign with the ABVP challenging their patriarchal, jingoistic nationalism with the collective nation-building process undertaken by the toiling masses of the country. It culminated in a public meeting on 7 September, which was addressed by Dhrub, Secy. of the JNU unit of AISA. In the meeting, Uma Chakravarty spoke on "Women and nationalism", Gautam Navalakha on "the Kashmir Question" and Achin Vanaik on "Nationalities and Nationhood". The meeting was attended by more than 200 students.

Oppose Rajnath Singh's Reactionary Quota Tactics

The report of Social Justice Committee set up by Rajnath Singh's Govt. in UP to fix the reservation quota for most backward sections is nothing but a feudal reaction, it has nothing to do with the movement for social justice. The report is in fact an assault by Hindutwa forces on the progressive politics, in an attempt to weaken the social justice movement, otherwise how could one explain the reduction of quota for the poorest scheduled tribes from 2% to 1%? It is a patently false argument that their population is only 1%. The demand to include tribal communities like Kol, Chero, Kharwar, etc. among scheduled tribe and and Vanvasis (Mushahars) among scheduled castes has been turned down. There was no need to tinker with the quota for SC/ST, but the report has even divided that. It is claimed that population was taken as the basis for allocating reservation quota. How then the demand for 8% quota to backward Muslims was accepted? Why Jats were kept in a separate, more backward category, separating them from Yadavs? In fact the report has no relation with the ground realities. To expose and oppose this hoax of social justice by Rajnath Singh, RYA and AISA have decided to stage a state-level dharna before the Assembly in Lucknow during its proposed short session to be convened this month.

Police Attack on Party Fact-finding Team in UP

A Party fact-finding team visiting Laubari Kalan district of Naugarh block of Chandauli district, which included Party state committee member Sudhakar Yadav and Naugarh Block Pramukh Basmati Kol, was attacked by police. The team had gone there to unearth true story behind the killing of three villagers on 1 September in that village. The Party's UP State Committee has launched a written complaint against the attack with the UP Home Secretary. Against this repression, a powerful protest march was organised on 7 September at Chakia of Chandauli district, which was led by Party State Secy. Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh. The protest march was attended by over 2,000 villagers from the area.

Central Law for Contract Labour Demanded

Nirman Mazdoor Union, U.P., affiliated to AICCTU, staged an impressive dharna in front of UP Assembly in Lucknow on 7 September demanding a central law for construction workers. The meeting held at dharna place was presided over by the Union President Com. Shiv Kumar and conducted by Secretary Com. Mahesh Pal. Party State Committee members Com Lal Bahadur Singh and Dinkar Kapoor and State AICCTU Secy. Ramesh Singh Sengar addressed the meeting. A memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister after the meeting.

AICCTU Meet in Peeniya

A preparatory cadre meeting for the forthcoming 5th conference of AICCTU was held at Peenya, Bangalore on 2 September. Addressing the meeting Com. Kumarasamy came down heavily on the increasingly retrograde judgements by the Supreme Court in line with the policies of globalisation. He particularly pointed out a recent judgement which says regularisation of contract workers was not mandatory for the employers. In view of the conference the meeting planned to undertake a fortnight-long campaign from Sep15-30 against the anti-labour legislations. The meeting was presided over by Com. Govindarajan and conducted by TM Poonacha. The representatives from various factories including Srinivas, Krishnappa, Devaraj, Nataraj, Vijaya Kumar and Basavaraju presented their work report for a discussion.

Police Assault on Youth Condemned

CPI(ML) strongly condemned police lathicharge and firing on unemployed youth assembled at Arrah in Bhojpur of Bihar for getting recruited in the Army on 6 September. Demanding release of youth arrested there, the Party blamed the govt. for its failure in checking unemployment and administrative corruption in recruitment, which gave rise to discontent among youth. Similar incidents have taken place earlier at Chhapra and Darbhanga. AISA and RYA brought out marches to vent out their wrath against this incident at Arrah on 6 and 7 September and held street corner meetings at various points of the town.

Dalit Woman Paraded Naked in Vanenur

A CPI(ML) fact-finding team comprising Com. Shankar, CC member, and E Ramappa, SLT member, visited Vanenur, Bellary districtof Karnataka on 3-4 September, where a dalit woman was paraded naked on 26 August for the reported help she lent to a dalit boy to marry a girl from a Valmiki community, which is in ST list. However, the perpetrators of the crime were allowed to go scot free. The team has demanded to take stringent action against the culprits and also against the police Inspector. The culprits belong to landed gentry and are patronised by KPCC president who hails from this district. The team also exposed the gender discrimination in our law books because there is no provision under PCR to punish the perpetrators of this barbaric act.

Party and AIKSS Team Visits Kashipur

A CPI(ML)-AIKSS fact-finding team comprising Com. Rajaram Singh, convenor of Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha, Khitish Biswal, Secy. of Party's Orissa State Leading Team, Bidyadhar Patro and Dandapani Mohanti, peasant leaders in Orissa visited Pitajori, Bansomuda, Bodomari Bhatta and Kuchaipada villages of Kashipur block in Rayagada district where adivasi peasants are dying of starvation. The team found that people here get work for only three months throughout the year, so they have nothing to eat for at least six months. They consume mango kernel for three months and tamarind seed powder for another three months every year. The team found that even after news of starvation deaths hitting headlines in newspapers, neither Navin Patnaik nor Atal Bihari had bothered to visit the place and see for themselves the plight of poor peasants in Kashipur.

The fact finding team led by Com. Rajaram Singh also met the District Collector and demanded introduction of food for work scheme at least for 3 months every year, permanent solution to hunger and medical facilities at panchayat level and irrigation facilites for cultivation. Moreover, the government should ensure adivasis rights over forests.

Fifth Assam State Party Conference

The Fifth Assam State Conference of CPI(ML) was held at Com Vinod Mishra Bhavan (Saheed Bhavan) of Saheed Anil Baruah Kshetra (Nagaon) from 8 to 10 September. A colorful procession was brought out in the first day, which covered the main roads of Nagaon town. It was followed by an open session, addressed by Com. Swadesh Bhattacharya, PB Member of the party, who was also the chief guest.

Delegate session was conducted by a presidium comprising of Com. Harendra Nath Borthakur, Subhas Sen and Bhadrawati Gogoi. It started at 4 pm of 8 September, where Com. Rubul Sarma, Secretary of the outgoing state committee placed the draft work report. In all 95 delegates including 20 women from 10 districts attended the Conference. Of them 25 were whole timers. There were 6 guests as well. The delegates discussed and debated in a free and frank way on the questions related to independent left assertion and updating of partys initiatives and subjective efforts. It also stressed on taking joint programme on common issues with other left parties towards developing left and democratic unity. The Conference passed a 10-point resolution on the issues of democracy, corruption, privatisation, price rise etc. and condemned the centres decision of general amnesty to the military. It condemned the Tarun Gogoi Govt.'s move of privatising the Assam Tea Corporation, demanded immediate holding of panchayat elections, defined solution Tribal Problem, boundary to the Missing, Tiwa and Bodo Council and holding of election to these council. It proposed for developing joint struggle against globalisation and corruption and price rise. The Conference was attended by Com. Mrinmoy Chakravorty as Central Committee observer, Com. Jayanta Rongpi & Nand Kishore Prasad as guests.

Campaign against Dalit Killings in Bihar

CPI(ML) started a week-long People's campaign against massacre of dalits in Patna, Jahanabad and Nalanda districts of Bihar from 6 to 13 September. It will culminate in effigy burning programmes to be held at block centres on 13 Sep. On 14 Sep., there will be a large mass meeting at Masaurhi to oppose killing of dalits. On that day, marches will be taken out from various places in Patna, Jahanabad and Nalanda, which will converge at Masaurhi. It is to noted that just within the last month more than 20 dalits have been killed in two villages of Maraudha and Datmai of Patna district. Party said that along with Ranvir Sena, upstart feudal gangs belonging to Samata Party and RJD have also started taking part in massacres of dalits.

Statewide Agaitation on Flood and Drought

CPI(ML) in Bihar mobilised broad masses of the people in processions, demonstrations, dharnas at all district centres on 3 Sepember to push its demand of declaring the whole of Bihar as a famine-hit state. Exposing the dirty game played by governments in Delhi and Patna, Party demanded serious implementation of food for work scheme, conducting relief and rehabilitation work on a war footing in the famine-hit areas and a check on corruption and embezzlement in relief work. The Party also raised the demand of a resolving this long-standing problem of Bihar on a permanent basis. The march in Patna was led by Com. Nand Kishor Prasad, PB member, Ramjatan Sharma, state secy. CC members KD Yadav and Saroj Chaube, local leaders Manohar and Murtaza Ali. Reports of similar demonstrations are there from other towns.

Suraj ke Waris Staged in Lucknow

Bahuroopi Natya Manch, a theatre group of Lucknow staged a drama Suraj ke Waris (Heirs of the Sun) in coordination with Jan Sanskriti Manch on 31 August. he play is based on Vasant Kanetkar's play in Marathi (translated by Vijay Bapat in Hindi). The venue Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium was packed to the capacity. The play was directed by Vimal Thakur, dress and make-up was looked after by Ajanta Lohit and Vijaya Thakur. The play which was originally written in 1980 depicts degeneration in bourgeois politics and ideology in the post independence era and lays bare the irony of dream and reality and distortions in values there. In all 7 male and 3 female artists performed their roles and music was directed by Abhijt Majumdar and Antara Majumdar. The stage was decorated by Vimal Thakur and others, light directed by Ramnarain Das.

JSM stages Play in JNU

Shivalaya Ka Pret, (The spectre of Shiva temple) a play directed by Hadi Sarmadi was staged by JNU unit of Jan Sanskriti Manch at Jhelum Lawns in JNU on 8 September. Staged by 8 male and 3 female artists, the play is related to the exploitation of child labour in handicraft industries who get "liberated" but lacking proper rehabilitation go back to villages and witness feudal oppression there. This experience widens their vision about society and finally they understand necessity to change the whole society with a revolutionary perspective. More than 500 students watched the play with rapt attention and highly appreciated it.