The ceasefire hypocrisy of the Vajpayee government seems to have reached a dead end on the streets of Haigam and Srinagar. On 15 February even as hundreds of protesters had gathered at Haigam to demand the body of one Jaleel Ahmed Shah, who had been killed in police custody, the army opened fire on the unarmed demonstrators, killing five and injuring several others. As waves of protest hit downtown Srinagar, the guns of the armed forces continued to roar. Yet defying curfew and braving army and police bullets, some 25,000 protesters succeeded in reaching Haigam on 18 February to participate in the fateha ceremony of those killed in army firing two days ago.
It is said that it was the first time in nine years that the valley witnessed a spontaneous mass outburst of this magnitude. And in the era of cable television, the nation did not have to rely merely on the BBC or reports cited from the foreign press to have a glimpse of the explosive situation in the valley. For once, the cries of 'azadi' and the roar of army fire reached every ear that cared to hear. And for once, Vajpayee's routine accusation against Pakistani provocation sounded absolutely hollow. How long can we go on turning a blind eye to the custodial killings and rapes? How long can we go on accepting this paradox of claiming Kashmir to be an inalienable part of India while treating all its anguish and aspirations as inspired by Pakistan? How long can we tolerate this hypocrisy of ceasefire at gunpoint?
Mere announcement of ceasefire or extension of its period does not mean anything. Ceasefire can become effective and meaningful only when it is backed by a set of necessary confidence-building measures. Devoid of measures like an end to the culture of custodial killings and rapes, amnesty to the imprisoned youth and exemplary punishment to the guilty officials of the armed forces, and an early resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, the politics of ceasefire was bound to ring a hollow note. And now the bursts of army fire in Haigam, Sopore, Baramula and Srinagar have opened our eyes to the sordid reality of state repression.
The hypocrisy underlying Vajpayee's politics of ceasefire in Kashmir had, however, also been exposed earlier by his aggressive statement over Ayodhya and the meek surrender of other partners of NDA. The very formation of the NDA, the nation was told, was rooted in the BJP's retreat over the three controversial issues of Ayodhya, Kashmir and uniform civil code. Yet when the BJP chose to revive the Ayodhya agenda in a most calculated manner, the NDA partners obediently fell in line. This must have recharged the nagging Kashmiri doubt over the saffron gameplan to scrap Article 370, thereby reinforcing Kashmir's sense of insecurity and alienation. How can the alienated Kashmiri youth repose any trust in Vajpayee's ceasefire offer if army guns continue to roar in the valley and the Prime Minister defends the demolition of Babri Masjid as an emphatic expression of national sentiment?
As Srinagar burns, Haigam continues to haunt our democratic conscience. For the hypocritical Vajpayee regime, Haigam may provide just the necessary excuse to announce a formal end to ceasefire, but the country has much more at stake. Haigam should make every democratic Indian feel ashamed and angry. India. The martyrs of Haigam are crying out for justice. Democratic India must honour this cry and wage an uncompromising battle against the killers in uniform. Only a shared battle for justice and democracy can provide a real basis for Kashmir's integration with the rest of the country.
Condolence Message...
(Text of the condolence message sent by Party GS Com. Dipankar to Com. AB Bardhan, Gen. Secy. of CPI on the sad demise of Com. Indrajit Gupta on 20 February)
Dear Comrade,
Just now we got the shocking news that Comrade Indrajit Gupta is no more. On behalf of the CPI(ML) Central Committee and our entire membership, I deeply mourn the demise of Comrade Indrajit Gupta. With his honesty, sacrifice, graceful personality and impeccable record as a parliamentarian,
Comrade Gupta inspired generations of Indian communists and democrats.
In an era of widespread corruption and degeneration, he remained a role model for all who believe in clean and value-based politics. We shall also remember him for his passionate commitment to the cause of secularism, democratic rights and broader unity of Left and democratic forces.
While paying our homage to the departed leader, we extend our condolences to you and other leaders as well as the entire membership of the Communist Party of India. We share your deep sense of loss and sorrow. We also share your resolve to carry forward the unfinished mission of Comrade Indrajit Gupta.
Eternal glory to the memory of Comrade Indrajit Gupta!
Party Press Statements...
Party GS Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya issued this statement while condemning the US-British attack on Iraq:
"CPI(ML) joins the international voice of protest to denounce the bombing of Baghdad by American and British aircrafts. The attacks on civilians including women and children have once again unveiled the ugly and barbaric face of the US foreign policy.
By authorising air strikes against Iraq within weeks of his assumption of office, George W Bush has renewed the American agenda of establishing absolute imperialist hegemony in a unipolar world. And by colluding with the Bush presidency of US in this act of aggression, the Blair government has reiterated Britain's strategic commitment to the US foreign policy.
On behalf of the anti-imperialist people of India we express our solidarity with the brave people of Iraq and appeal to all forces of peace and democracy in India to rise in indignation against the aggressive Bush-Blair axis."
Demanding of the government to dismantle the Constitution Review Commission instead of extending its tenure, Party GS Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said in a statement, "The whole exercise right from the formation of this commission to the recent move on the part of the Commission to circulate the so-called Constitution Papers to mobilise opinion in favour of restricting democracy and converting multi-party system into an essentially bi-party arrangement is aimed at subverting the existing parliamentary democracy in India." He appealed to all democratic forces and concerned citizens to fight for expanding and deepening democracy in the country.
News from the fields of struggle...
In a press conference held at Constitution Club on 19 February, while releasing the "Appeal for launching a national initiative against globalisation" signed by more than 70 prominent social activists and academicians, a handout signed by Party Gen. Secy. Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya, former member of Planning Commission and Secretary of Finance SP Shukla, Socialist ideologue Surendra Mohan, Navadhanya leader Vandana Shiva, People's Science Forum activist Dinesh Abrol, public sector union leader K Ashok Rao, Convenor of Janwadi Chetna Manch Chandigarh Dr. MS Randhawa and Gen. Secy. of Punjab Unit of CITU Com. Chandrashekhar was released, which says:
In a few months' time the country will be witnessing the completion of a decade of the so-called 'new' economic policies of liberalization, privatization and globalisation. While the promises accompanying the policies - faster growth, greater exports, and more efficient industries adding up to a prosperous and competitive economy - all remain undelivered, the economy has been stumbling from one major crisis to another. Lakhs of retrenched and redundant workers, thousands of sick and closed industrial units, mountains of foodgrains rotting away in FCI godowns and reports of peasant suicides and starvation deaths pouring in from one state after another portend an explosive situation.
Far from promising any solution or even diminution of the crisis, the budget session of Parliament has opened today amidst official alarms of a 'harsh budget' and inspired leaks about a further dose of 'daring reforms'. And we all know that come April 1 and the government will do away with the last restrictions on imports. Adding to the heat of globalisation are some insensitive judicial verdicts and the covert and overt moves launched by the government to truncate democracy.
Against this backdrop we are organizing a People's Conference against Globalisation in Delhi from 21 to 23 March. Reflecting the urge for forging a broader unity and understanding among various forces pitted against globalisation, the conference will seek to critically assimilate the experience of several popular campaigns and mobilizations witnessed over the last one decade. It will bring together a wide array of activists, academics and concerned citizens representing a broad rainbow ranging from communist revolutionaries and socialists to radical Gandhians and new social movements. This will be the first time that such diverse shades of popular resistance will come together with a view to launching a national initiative going beyond the electoral calculus.
While the first two days of the conference will have intensive deliberations on the overall nature and impact of globalisation as well as its implication for key areas of the national economy and polity, there will be a larger assembly of activists on the third day which would also mark the 70th anniversary of Bhagat Singh's martyrdom. Walden Bello, noted Filipino economist and campaigner against the neo-liberal offensive of multinational capital and multilateral institutions like IMF, World Bank and WTO, is expected to deliver the keynote address in the inaugural session of the conference which will be presided over by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer.
Denouncing the bombing of Baghdad by US and British aircrafts, CPI(ML) activists and supporters held a protest march on February 19 in Delhi and burnt the effigy of US president Geroge Bush. The march started from Jantar Mantar and went up to Parliament Street Police Station where it was stopped by the police. The march was led among others by Rajendra Pratholi, Secy. of Delhi Party Committee, Ranjit Abhigyan, member of Central Secretariat, Rajiv Dimri, Santosh Rai, Jeeta Kaur and Suneeta.
In Bhilai of Chhattisgarh, Party activists and sympathisers took out a demonstration and burnt the effigy of George Bush. It was led by Com. Rajaram, Central Committee member, Com. Shambhu Singh, Secy. of Bhilai unit, Com. Jagnarain Chaudhry, Miri and Chauhan of AICCTU and Com. Brajendra Tiwari.
A meeting of trade union leaders from various public sector industries -- bank, LIC, railways, RMS, electricity etc. in Uttar Pradesh was held on 18 February at Party office, Lucknow to take stock of the impact of the pro-multinational economic and industrial policies of the ruling class on workers. The meeting was attended by Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, State Party Secy. and Com. Nihaluddin, veteran leader of bank employees union, State AICCTU Secy. Ramesh Singh Sengar, SN Singh, Phool Chand (RMS), BK Singh (LIC), Chandrabhan Gupta (Bank), Shyam Ankuram from Railways and others.
Speakers in the meeting opined that while the ruling class is deliberately privatising and dismantling all public sector enterprises, the established trade unions are not coming forward to put up a viable resistance against these onslaughts, rather they are demoralising the workers by terming these policies as irresistible, ultimate and without alternative.
To counter this it was felt that estabilshing close links and live communication among forces fighting relentlessly against these policies and providing a platform for united response and to build effective and united resistance against the anti-working class policies was the need of the hour. To achieve this, Shramik Pratirodh Manch was formed and a 9-member committee was formed with Com. Shyam Ankuram as convenor.
Jan Sanskriti Manch Lucknow held a 'discussion on story' programme in Lucknow on 6 February in which Mohan Thapalial's story The diary of Gunendra Ganju (Hindi) was read out and discussed. The story reflects the pain and aspirations of Kashmiri people in a sensitive manner and brings out in bold relief the fact that without an active participation of Kashmiri people it is not possible to resolve Kashmir tangle. The programme was presided over by writer Anil Sinha and conducted by Ajay Singh, Gen. Secy. of JSM. Prof. Ramesh Dixit, Ajanta Lohit, Shyam Ankuram, Kishor Kaushal, Krishnamohan Saxena and Ganga Prasad were among those who expressed their opinions after listening the story.
In Samastipur of Bihar, Party District Committee organised an open, mass seminar on "Challenges of new century and resurgence of Marxism" on 13 February. It was addressed by Party Gen. Secy. Com. Dipankar, Bihar State Secy. Com. Ramjatan Sharma and Ramji Rai, Editor of Samkalin Lokyudh. The approach paper was presented by Com Jitendra, Secy. of Party District Secretary.
Com. Braj Kishor Singh, Party candidate from Dinara Assembly constituency in Rohtas district of Bihar and Com. Vir Bahadur Ram were killed by MCC armed goons on 16 February while they were touring the area in propaganda for coming Panchayat elections. Com. Pawan Sharma, CC member and Com. Ram Nagina Ram, district convenor of Agrarian Labour Union and other leaders reached the spot and organised a road block on 17 February for the whole day. The leaders accused police of patronising the killers and demanded their immediate arrest and compansation to the deceased.
At the call of peasant association and Khet Mazdoor Sabha in Uttar Pradesh, people in different districts staged demonstrations at the district headquarters and towns on 14 February. At Duddhi subdivision of Mirzapur, the place adjacent to the site of Gulab's killing, as well as at Chunar, around 1,000 gathered in demonstration. At Robertsganj of Sonebhadra district, people will continue the dharna till 28 Feb. In Chandauli district, demonstration was held also at Sakaldiha and Chakia apart from the district headquarters. Hundreds of people participated in demonstrations held at Ballia Sadar, Sikandarpur, Puranpur (Pilibhit) and also in Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar and Nighasan (Lakhimpur Kheri). Protest day was also observed in Lucknow, Allahabad and Kanpur.
District conference (2nd) of AIPWA was held on 11 Feb. at Darulshafa Common Hall in Lucknow. Speaking as chief guest Shivani Verma, state president of AIPWA demanded reorganisation of state women's commission in the light of increasing repression on women in the state. The conference was inaugurated by Ajanta Lohit, State Secretary. Shobha Singh, president of the district unit presented the report and the conference elected a 32-member district council. Shobha Singh was reelected president and Durgesh Malhotra as Secretary. The conference called for strengthening women's movement against globalisation and communal fascism.
AICCTU organised a daylong Padayatra( march on foot) on 18 Feb. at Govindpuri-Okhla industrial area in Delhi under "Oust Vajpayee, save the workers and save the nation" campaign. It was led by Rajendra Pratholi, state Party secretary, Com. NM Thomas and Ranjan Ganguli, state president and secretary of AICCTU, Santosh Roy of DTC Workers' Unity Centre, Roopnarayan of General Kamgar Union and others. The campaign is against the ongoing closure of the industrial units and other fascist designs of the BJP led central and congress govt. in the state. Passing through the streets of Govindpuri, the padayatra culminated at Bhumihin camp - one of the largest slum clusters in South Delhi. At the end, NM Thomas and Santosh Roy addressed a mass meeting.
Revolutionary Youth Association and AISA activists staged a demonstration and burnt the effigies of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Transport Minister at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Terminal on 15 Feb. to protest against killings of common people by blue line buses in Delhi, holding it as an outcome of policy of privatisation of essential services. The demonstration was led by AISA Gen. Secy. Sunil Yadav, Delhi incharge Srikant, RYA Delhi Secy. Shashi Bhushan and Ram Abhilash.
In Mahanandapur-Nandangram villages of Itahar PS in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, a mass meeting was held on 6 February, called by more than 50 comrades who have recently left CPI(M) and joined CPI(ML). Com. Ajit Das, District Party Secy., Ganesh Chhetri, Taslim Ali, Maqbool, Shivani Mandal etc. addressed the meeting. It was presided over by Com. Patras Soren. As the meeting was over, the police waiting so long in the wings launched attack on the participants and beat Adivasi comrades, apprehended three of them, snatched their banners and festoons and put them in police lock-up. This has given rise to wider protest in the area.
In response to the call of safeguarding the rights of the peasantry, a mass meeting was held at Balaigaon school ground on 7 February. It was addressed by Com. Ajit Das, Sushanta Sarkar, Bablu Soren, Binandan Burman, district secy. of West Bengal Peasant Association, and Gobind Burman. Com. Ramakanta Mahato presided over it
In both the meetings speakers opposed intrusion of multinational capital in agriculture and demanded that BJP govt.'s new anti-peasant policy must be stopped and all the agreements with the WTO be scrapped. They also demanded proper prices for the peasants and Rs.62 per day to agrarian labour and work round the year for them.
Paschimbanga Krishak Samity, peasant wing of CPI(ML) in West Bengal held a convention on 17 Feb.at Zila Parishad Hall, Bardhaman, against imperialist penetration in Indian agriculture. Com. Krishna Pramanick, state secretary of PKS, placed an approach paper before the convention dealing on the disastrous impact of penetration of multinational capital in our agriculture. He noted that Indian small and marginal peasants have to sell their commodities far below the production cost and the agriculture market are going under control of multinational companies. This has created a crisis in agriculture and small and poor peasants are forced to leave cultivation. The most sufferers are the agriculture labourers as they are loosing their employments and wages. The multinational companies have also started controlling pattern of agriculture through modern bio-technology.
It particularly expressed deep concern for the flood-affected poor peasantry of W.B. as they have not received any support from govt. The approach paper demanded (a) Ban on multinational capital's penetration in agriculture and withdrawal of BJP govt's new agricultural policy, (b) Cancellation of all anti-peasantry black treaties with WTO, (c) Agricultural products be purchased by govt. at a remunerative price, (d) Ensuring " Food for Work " programme and expanding PDS and (e) Compensation to flood affected peasants and weavering their agricultural loan. The convention was addressed by peasant leaders from FB, SUCI, COI(ML), CPI(ML)ND and SSC. From our part com. Sajal Adhikary, leaders of Paschimbanga Krishak Samity,(West Bengal peasant union) spoke in the convention.
As a consequence of Indian Govt.'s "new" agricultural policy based on liberalisation and globalisation policies as well as the unjust conditions imposed by the WTO agreement, peasants are pitted in an unequal competition against multinational trading companies and are fighting a grim battle for life. In various parts of country they have taken the course of protest movements. To take stock of these developments and devise ways and means to put up a united struggle against these onslaughts, left and democratic peasant leaders and cadres are assembling in an all-India conference at Faizabad on 2-3 March. On 3 March there will be a rally. Contact:Dinesh Singh, CPI(ML) Office, Shram Bhawan, Jamunia Chowk, Faizabad-224 001.
