Following Richard Armitage's visit to Islamabad and New Delhi, it is now being claimed that the tension between India and Pakistan has now eased a bit and the danger of a war has been minimised. Washington has informed Islamabad that New Delhi is agreed on a partial restoration of diplomatic ties as well as a certain reduction in the level of deployment of armed forces along the LoC. If implemented, these measures would indeed be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Indians and Pakistanis and the subcontinental diaspora spread across the world.

But this is indeed a big 'if'. Defeated in the February and March elections and thoroughly isolated over the genocide in Gujarat, the BJP has managed to regain some political initiative in the current climate of war hysteria. Gujarat has been relegated to the inside pages of newspapers. The party has managed to retain Goa with a marginal edge. And now in Maharashtra, the Sena-BJP combine is making a desperate bid to topple the Congress-NCP government. The BJP would therefore try its level best to sustain the present state of hysteria. Indeed, peace and friendship with Pakistan is antithetical to the BJP's essential political design.

While welcoming any reduction in Indo-Pak tension, we cannot ignore the growing danger of imperialist involvement in the region. It is indeed ironical that the Bush and Blair administrations, two of the biggest suppliers of weapons to the region, are being lauded as brokers for peace. Even some critics of Washington have joined the pro-US chorus describing the US intervention in the present crisis as a 'benign' move on the part of the world's sole superpower. They naturally see no harm in 'welcoming' the growing US role in the subcontinent. How easily do they forget the history of American imperialism in which the US has almost always used such benign covers to strengthen its strategic stranglehold over various regions.

In the midst of this war-hysteria, some interesting findings emerged from an opinion poll conducted in Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian affiliate of the renowned British opinion poll agency MORI. It is not known who commissioned the poll, but it was done with the express permission of the Union Home Ministry. The opinion poll shows that only 6% respondents would prefer to join Pakistan. The poll also showed that 76% people remained opposed to another Indo-Pak war over Kashmir; 86% see free and fair elections as a step towards solution of the Kashmir problem; 87% want direct talks between the Indian government and the people of Kashmir; and 92% oppose any further fragmentation of the state on religious lines.

To the NDA government, which has never been confident of Kashmir's commitment to India, the poll outcome must come as music to its chauvinistic ears. But the real message of the poll is that Kashmir does not want war, and that Kashmir wants a peaceful and secular political solution through dialogue and fair democratic elections. The poll has also exposed the utter incongruity of New Delhi's obsession with the Pakistan factor. While the Indian government habitually reduces the Kashmir question to one of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, only 6% people in the state really have Pakistan on their mind!

Rest of India should echo this voice of peace, sanity and democracy emanating from the trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India must be pressured to adopt concrete measures like demobilization of troops and resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. And to set the stage for free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir, state repression must be brought to an end and general amnesty granted to all political activists who are currently languishing in Indian jails.

The CPI(ML) will hold 'anti-war protests' on June 13 in state capitals and major centres of the country with the call of 'No more war between India and Pakistan', 'Indians and Pakistanis need peace and not war', 'India and Pakistan must resume direct bilateral dialogue to defuse tension' and 'Say no to Bush-Blair's imperialist intervention in the sub-continent'.

The anti-war action programme includes peace marches and demonstrations. CPI(ML) has appealed to all peace-loving people and forces to join the anti-war protest on June 13 in Delhi and elsewhere to reflect the genuine voice of the peoples of the two countries.

Four left and democratic parties in Pakistan including the National Workers Party, Labour Party of Pakistan, Communist Mazadoor-Kisan Party and People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto Group) have also decided to hold such anti-war programmes on June 13 in Lahore and elsewhere in Pakistan.

Sharply hitting at the increasing institutionalisation of Bush-Blair intervention in the subcontinent, Party called upon all peace-loving democratic and patriotic Indians to reject it in no uncertain terms. Describing the reported proposal for the deployment of a US-UK special force to monitor the LOC as 'deeply disturbing', the CPI(ML) said, "both the US and UK are busy fuelling the already growing arms race in the subcontinent. They are also guilty of aggravating the war-like build-up in the region by calling back their diplomatic staff and asking other tourists to return. All this amounts to nefarious imperialist intervention in the region."

The Party said, "The present crisis follows largely from India's refusal to break the diplomatic deadlock and resume direct bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. With bilateral diplomatic channels being successively closed down and war-hysteria between the two countries reaching a crescendo amidst free exchange of nuclear warnings, the arrogant rulers of India and Pakistan are only inviting greater external interference. Peace-loving people in India and Pakistan must therefore exert greater pressure on their rulers for an early resumption of bilateral dialogue with a view to de-escalating tension and keeping the imperialist powers at bay."

Chandigarh Rally : Movement in Solidarity to Struggling Haryana peasants

At the call of CPI(ML) and All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (AIKSS), Protest Day was observed at various places on June 5 in solidarity with the movement of the farmers in Haryana. In Rajasthan, day-long dharna was held by CPI(ML), AIKSS and Rajasthan Kisan Sangathan at Jhunjhnu where homage was paid to the peasant martyrs of Jind, Haryana. Com. Phulchand Dhewa, Jhunjhnu Distt Secy of CPI(ML), RKS distt. President Subedar Guljhai Lal and secy. Ramchandra Kulhari addressed the meeting. A memorandum addressed to Governor of Haryana was handed over to the Distt. Collector. At Mansa in Punjab, Party activists staged a dharna at the district collecorate that was addressed by State Party Secy. Com. Rajvinder Singh Rana, BKU senior vice president Ruldu Singh, Com. Bhagwant Singh and Harbhagwan Bhikhi. In U.P., dharna was staged by Terai Kisan Sabha at district HQ of Pilibhit and a memorandum signed by Alauddin Shashtri, convener, Ramchandra Verma and Moolchand Gangwar was sent to Governor of Haryana.

Com. Rajaram Singh, Co-convenor of AIKSS and Party MLA from Bihar, Com. Mahendra Chaudhary, Secretary of Rajasthan Kisan Sangathan and Com. Prem Singh, Party incharge of Haryana visited the village Kandela in Jind district to express solidarity with more than ten thousand debt-ridden peasants led by Ghasiram Nain-led BKU who have been staging rasta roko agitation for more than one and a half month, demanding cancellation of electricity tariff. The leaders also addressed a large rally, participated in mostly by Punjab people, that was held in support of Haryana peasants' struggle on 7 June at Matka Chock, Chandigarh. The rally was called by BKU(Ekta), Punjab, Kirti Kisan Union, AIRPF, Lok Sangram Morcha, Inquilabi Kendra, Lok Chetna Manch, Milkmen Dairy Union, PSU and Punjab unit of RYA. It was addressed by Pichora Singh Siddhupur, president of BKU(Ekta), Hardev Singh, president of Kirti Kisan Union, Nardev Singh of AIPRF among others. Prior to the meeting the potesters burned the effigy of Haryana chief minister Chautala.

Com. Rajaram Singh said that the agitating peasants have no money left to pay huge electricity bills and this is an outcome of the failure of green revolution and the policy of globalisation. Chautala should fulfil promises made to the peasants at election time instead of unleashing terror, which is totally unjustified and condemnable. Cautala should learn from Badal who has recently been overthrown by people of Punjab, he said. The demands include judicial enquiry to probe the truth behind the repression; compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the next kin of farmers killed in the agitation and Rs. 2 lakh for the injured; immediate implementation of the January 31 agreement between the BKU and Haryana government; unconditional release of farmers arrested during the agitation; and withdrawal of police cases and registration of criminal cases against officials after the judicial inquiry.

Around 4000 agricultural workers organised under the banner of Paschimbanga Krishi Mazur Samiti (W.B. Agri. Lab. Assn.) held a rally and mass demonstration at Esplanade in Kolkata on 30 May. Two big processions marched out from Sealdah and Howrah stations highlighting the main demands of the state agricultural labourers, namely, a comprehensive legislation for agricultural labourers by the LF govt., guarantee for minimum wage, fresh publication of BPL chart and withdrawal of proposed anti peasant agricultural policy by the State Govt. The Samiti also highlighted plight of the peasants in the state, who are forced to distress sale as they are not getting the minimum support price.

Addressing the meeting Party State Secy. Com. Kartick Pal strongly criticised the LF govt. for not providing adequate support to the agri. labourers to get their govt. fixed minimum wages even though the state has been under left rule for the last 25 years. He also appealed to the people of Bengal to foil the Bangla Bandh called by Trinamul Congress on 7 June and Congress on 14 June. Com. Srikanta Rana, Com. Basudev Bose of AICCTU and Com. Biman Biswas also spoke at the occasion. The meeting was presided by Com. Sajal Pal, president of the Agricultural Labourers Association. A memorandum highlighting the demands of the agricultural labourers was submitted to the Chief Minister of W.B.

A peasent mobilization was organized by Chandrapur block Krishak Parishad in Panikhaiti, near Guwahati on May 24 on the demand of issuance of Patta to the peasants. It was presided over by Com Basanta Kalita, Manteswar Rahang and Krishna Bahadur Chetri. At the beginning the Block secretary of the peasant organization Com. Kamal Bodo put forth the purpose of the mobilization.

Rubul Sarma, Party State Secy., Lila Sarma, Convener of Sadou Asom Krishak Parishad, Pankaj Das, CPIML Guwahati City Secy, Junu Bora, State AIPWA vice-president, Loknath Goswami, General Secy of Sadou Asom Janasanskritik Parishad, Viren Kalita, State President of AICCTU, and some local prominent persons and peasent activists delivered their speech. It was attended by 300 peasants from different villages of the block.

The meeting opposed the indiscriminate eviction by the forest department and asked the government to stop the eviction unless there is no arrangement for rehabilitation of the people who have been living here for 20-30 years. It further demanded for settlement by issuance of pattas.

The meeting resolved to intensify the movement for pattas and development and to launch struggle against indiscriminate eviction.

AICCTU Tamil Nadu state unit observed protest day against TN ESMA made as law by the state legislature, on 4 June. The protest was led by Com. S. Kumaraswami in Chennai and all other state office bearers of the state unit in 15 districts. The protestors also called upon the people to rise against the communal fascist NDA govt's war-mongerings.

The law, harsher than the central ESMA, stipulates that those who participate, instigate or give financial aid to the strike will be punished with 3 years imprisonment. While the central legislations prohibit lock outs and make it punishable, the State ESMA says nothing about this. On these grounds, TN AICCTU has challenged this law as unconstitutional. The case was argued by com. S.Kumaraswami on 7 June and the case is coming up for disposal of the stay petition on 14th June.

RYA held a public meeting at Municipal Park on 24 May decrying corruption prevailing in all the departments, especially the malpractices in the matter of ticketing system where sand collectors have become the sole agents in distribution of ship tickets and also backdoor appointments in the PWD disregarding the rights of the local youth.

Presided over by the RYA president Com. Arvinder Rai Sharma, the meeting was addressed by comrades Satyanarayana, Tata Rao, NKP Nair and SK Wazid. They held Congress responsible for the present state of affairs in the island.

On 20 May, 8 left and democratic parties including CPI(ML)-Liberation, CPI, CPI(M), RCPI, SUCI, RSP, Janata Dal (S) and Samajwadi Party staged a protest dharna and a meeting at Judges Fields in Guwahati. Participated in by over 1,000 persons, the meet was addressed by Party State Secy. Com. Rubul Sharma, CPI(M) state Secretary Hemen Das, CPI National Council member Pramod Gogoi, Ambu Bora of RCPI, Bimal Nandi of SUCI, Paresh Barua of RSP, Rakhal Dasgupta of JD(S) and Bhubaneswar Barman of SP. Com. Rubul Sharma said that it is not just a communal riot in Gujarat, it is implementation of its fascist agenda by BJP. Only left forces can give a determined rebuff to this communal fascism. At the end of the meeting a procession was taken out from the meeting place to Panbazar Dighli Pukhuri.

On 24 May, a dharna was staged by West Bengal Krishak Samiti before the DM Office in Raiganj of North Dinajpur district in West Bengal demanding adequate support to paddy and proper wages to agri. labourers. They also demanded compensation from the government for the crops damaged due to hailstorm. On 27 May, a mass meeting was called by CPI(ML) at Raiganj, addressed by Party District Secretary and peasant leader Com. Ajit Das, comrades Ganesh Chhetry, Bablu Soren, Pranesh Mahato, Basthu Hasda and Binoy Barman.

From April to June, AIPWA conducted a nationwide campaign against BJP's saffron terror, during which leaflets were distributed, signatures collected and dharnas and demonstrations held at various places. AIPWA also participated in the peace march held in Ayodhya. In Rajasthan, during the campaign skirmishes took place here and there with BJP activists. A workshop was also held in which around 30 activists participated.

On 5 June, a dharna was organised at Patna in Bihar. At Darbhanga, about 150 women took out a march. Marches were conducted also in Samastipur and Jahanabad. In Jharkhand, a demonstration was held in Ranchi, participated in by around 500 women. In Delhi, a march was planned from Ferozshah Kotla to Jantar Mantar. Large contingent of police obstructed the route by setting up barricades at Ferozshah and although the women activists struggled at the barricades for half an hour the march could not proceed. The meeting held there was addressed by Com. Kumudini Pati, GS of AIPWA and Suneeta, Delhi convenor. In U.P. too some meetings were organised. In Assam, the AIPWA held a joint protest in Guwahati along with AIDWA, NFIW and YWCA. A memorandum to the Prime Minister was handed over to the DC.

Com. Kumudini conducted a campaign tour of the southern states of Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry from 25 May to 5 june. In Hyderabad the second conference of CGHS Women's Wing was held on 27-28 May. Apart from Com. Kumudini, leaders of AIDWA and SUCI's women wing also spoke. In Vijayawada, a meeting of AIPWA activists was held. In Chennai, AIPWA activists as well as CGHS Women's Wing held their meetings. In Pondicherry, meetings were held among women handloom workers, agrarian labourers and immigrant Nepali women. An AIPWA team comprising Com. Geeta Das, Saroj Chaube, Suneeta and Kumudini Pati is leaving for Gujarat on 12 June.

Hundreds of Canadians of South-East Asian origin held demonstrations before Indian and Pakistani High Commissions in Ottawa on 9 June 2002 against growing warlike situation in two countries as "the govts. in India and Pakistan are in full military preparation for a war which will have catastrophic consequences for the region as well as the world in general", they also protested massacres of minorities in Gujarat.

In an impressive show of unity, the UK-based Indians and Pakistanis joined hands and called upon the leadership in the two countries to pull back from their current standoff, start "meaningful'' negotiations to resolve the Kashmir dispute and end the nuclear arms race in the region. They also protested the "continuing'' British arms supplies to India and Pakistan, and demanded a "blanket'' embargo saying the present policy based on Britain's commercial interests made a "mockery'' of its claim to pursue an "ethical'' foreign policy. The demand was supported by the Campaign Against Arms Trade, an independent group of British pacifists whose supporters include Labour and Liberal Democrat activists.

Hundreds of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans held a peace rally outside Downing Street on 8 June and later submitted a memorandum to the Indian and Pakistani High Commissions voicing their "deep concern'' at the prospect of war. The memorandum, jointly addressed to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the President, Pervez Musharraf, chastised them for threatening to plunge the subcontinent into a war.

Representatives of 15 India-Pakistan groups, organised under the umbrella of the South Asia Solidarity Group, signed the memorandum and joined the "human chain'' outside Downing Street. In a separate petition to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, they urged him not to let his government push India and Pakistan "further towards nuclear destruction'' and suspend arms supplies to the two countries.

Amrit Wilson, a spokesperson for SASG, said expatriate Indian and Pakistanis in Britain would continue to campaign jointly on issues such as war and communalism.

Join

'National Convention against Communal Fascism'

June 26, 2002
Mavalankar Auditorium,
Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
at 11 A. M.

Save
Democracy
Campaign !

June 26 to August 9
To culminate in militant
nationwide protests on August 9

against

Communal Fascism

Join in thousands in nationwide Anti-War protests on June 13

DEFUSE THE THREAT OF INDO-PAK WAR
RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

Join

'National Convention against Communal Fascism'

June 26, 2002
Mavalankar Auditorium,
Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
at 11 A. M.

Save
Democracy
Campaign !

against

Communal Fascism

Join in thousands in nationwide Anti-War protests on June 13

DEFUSE THE THREAT OF INDO-PAK WAR
RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

Indians and Pakistanis Need Peace, Not War

Say No To Bush-Blair's Imperialist Intervention in the Subcontinent

Join

'National Convention against Communal Fascism'

June 26, 2002 Mavalankar Auditorium, Rafi Marg, New Delhi. at 11 A. M.

Save Democracy Campaign !

against

Communal Fascism

Join in thousands in nationwide Anti-War protests on June 13

DEFUSE THE THREAT OF INDO-PAK WAR RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

Indians and Pakistanis Need Peace, Not War

Say No To Bush-Blair's Imperialist Intervention in the Subcontinent

June 26, 2002
Mavalankar Auditorium,
Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
at 11 A. M.

Save
Democracy
Campaign !

DEFUSE THE THREAT OF INDO-PAK WAR
RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE