FOOTSTEPS OF ADVANI'S 'DREAM STATE'

Even as the Vaiko affair reigned supreme in Jayalalitha's Tamil Nadu, last week the spectre of the semi-fascist terror of the 1970s was back haunting Buddha's Bengal. On 4 July night, Kaushik Ganguly, a professor with the Rajabazar Science College of Kolkata was picked up by the police from his North Kolkata residence. Around the same time Abhijit Sinha, a young official with the Central Excise Department was also whisked away by the police. They were subjected to illegal detention and brutal torture and taken to Midnapore district, not by the city police but by a police team from Midnapore. Sinha, whose father-in-law is a police official, was released after a day but the detention and torture had taken its toll and the next morning he was discovered lying dead on the railway track near Dum Dum railway station. Both Ganguly and Sinha were accused of being in league with the People's War Group. Ironically, when the PWG was banned under POTA, the LF government had condemned the move and gone on to declare that the outfit would not be banned in West Bengal.

In the 1970s, West Bengal and especially Kolkata had witnessed police brutalities that would have put even the British colonial era to shame. Illegal detention, third degree torture and custodial death had become the order of the day. The arrest of Ganguly and the torture and subsequent mysterious death of Sinha therefore rocked the democratic conscience of Bengal and the government was immediately greeted with loud protests from all corners of the state. Intellectuals, activists and students and colleagues of Ganguly and Sinha were united in calling for a judicial inquiry and an immediate halt to this highhandedness of the police. But the arrogant leaders and 'rulers' of the CPI(M) would have nothing of it. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and chairman of the LF, Biman Basu, in fact went on to cast criminal aspersions on intellectuals who would not 'disclose' their politics and yet demand democratic rights! True to its anarchist style, the PWG reportedly retaliated by killing some CPI(M) functionaries and their bodyguards in Midnapore. This understandably put a lot of people who had been condemning police repression in a state of discomfiture, but in no way did it reduce the gravity of the crime of the police and the West Bengal government.

As protests continued to roar in Kolkata, a similar incident took place right in the heart of the national capital. Journalists and activists who had assembled in a meeting to discuss the situation in Nepal and develop solidarity between the forces of democracy in India and Nepal were detained and interrogated by the police. While the Indian journalists and activists were released after three hours of interrogation, four Nepali journalists who were also present were deported to Nepal where their fate is anybody's guess. Following the visit of King Gyanendra of Nepal and pressure from the US, the Government of India has launched a new witch-hunt against the millions of Nepali citizens who have been studying and working in India for years. In the name of curbing Maoist insurgency in Nepal, the government of India has forged a repressive nexus with the autocratic monarchy of Nepal on the one hand and the US imperialists on the other hand. The Bush administration increasingly sees Nepal as a key area on its global map of so-called war on terror. Ironically, the CPI(M) central leaders in Delhi condemned the crackdown on activists of Indo-Nepal solidarity forum, but kept mum on the police brutalities in West Bengal. In the eyes of the CPI(M) leadership, interrogation of journalists in Delhi for their alleged association with Nepal Maoists is murder of democracy, but subjecting pro-PWG intellectuals in West Bengal to illegal detention and third-degree torture and even driving them to death is sheer responsible governance! In this 'dialectics of doublespeak', they are in competitive company with the NDA leaders who themselves have framed POTA defying countrywide opposition, but now decry the arrest of Vaiko as a case of motivated misuse of POTA. Consistent democrats cannot have multiple yardsticks for measuring democracy. Whether it is Mayawati's UP or Jayalalitha's Tamil Nadu, Naidu's Andhra or Buddha's Bengal, the echoes of Advani's 'dream state' must be drowned everywhere in roars of determined protest.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY POLIT BUREAU MEETING OF CPI(ML)

1. Save Democracy, Save Independence Campaign : The PB heard reports of the June 26 convention in Delhi and some other centres. The campaign has evoked good response from a wide range of democratic forces and individuals and we now must ensure that it has a befitting culmination on August 9 in the form of a massive jail bharo campaign. The jail bharo campaign should be organised all over the country ensuring effective mobilisation of our own party forces as well as participation of other Left and democratic forces.

2. Situation in Gujarat and J&K : The PB took stock of the situation in Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing concern over renewed tension in Gujarat in the wake of the Rathyatra, The PB stressed the need to foil the BJP game plan of holding early elections in Gujarat. The PB called for intensification of the campaign for punishing the guilty and restoring a sense of peace and security in the state before the state goes to polls. The PB condemned the latest massacre of women and children in Jammu as a heinous attempt to create a communal divide in the state. The central and state governments with all their aggressive rhetoric have completely failed to address the explosive situation in the state and reduce the level of violence and insecurity. The RSS-inspired clamour for a communal trifurcation or fragmentation of the state and heightened interference of imperialist forces as exemplified by frequent visits by American and British officials are only vitiating the atmosphere and deepening the crisis. The PB called for release of all political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir and withdrawal of Armed forces (Special Powers) Act and reduction in the disproportionately high deployment of military and paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

3. POTA and Vaiko's Arrest: Vaiko's arrest and reported plans by the Tamil Nadu government to ban the MDMK under POTA have only confirmed the widespread apprehension that POTA could come in handy as an instrument of suppression to target the political opponents. Vaiko's case is attracting so much attention because he belongs to the ruling coalition at the Centre and also because this is being seen as a case of the act straying from its original targets - so-called 'Islamic terrorism' and 'Leftwing extremism'. But POTA has already been invoked to ban other organisations and detain innocent citizens and activists of the democratic movement without inviting a murmur of protest from all the parties who are questioning the application of POTA in the case of Vaiko and MDMK. The PB called upon all consistent democrats to use the Vaiko episode to demand an outright repeal of the very draconian framework of POTA.

4. Bifurcation of Railway Zones: The PB blamed the irresponsible, non-transparent and ad-hoc manner of decision-making which has now become a characteristic feature of the NDA government for the current controversy surrounding the proposed bifurcation of the Eastern Railways and creation of new railway zones. The politics of internal squabbles of the ruling coalition have brought West Bengal and Bihar to the brink of a thoroughly avoidable emotive discord. The real issues affecting the quality of railway services in the country concern the serious decline in public investment and rapid downsizing of this sector which used to be the biggest provider of jobs in the government. The present controversy does not touch the core of the problems like downsizing, disinvestment and the concomitant lack of emphasis on expansion of railway tracks and trains so as to increase travel facilities at affordable fares for ordinary passengers. The PB called for mounting pressure on the government to redress these real grievances of the people, complete all pending projects and stop creating discord between the people of Bihar and West Bengal on the issue of bifurcation of existing zones and creation of new zones.

5. Violation of Democratic Rights: The PB expressed grave concern over the growing violation of democratic rights and incidence of police highhandedness in different parts of the country. In particular, the PB condemned the witch-hunt launched by the West Bengal government in the name of curbing Naxalism with the police opening fire with impunity on workers and subjecting intellectuals, activists and innocent citizens to illegal detention and brutal torture. The PB also condemned the arbitrary detention and interrogation of journalists and civil liberties campaigners in Delhi and the deportation of Nepali citizens by the Indian government.

CPI(ML) PROTEST DETENTION AND ARREST OF CIVIL LIBERTY ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS

CPIML) strongly condemned the detention, interrogation and arrest of civil liberty activist and journalists including Gautam Navlakha, Pankaj Singh, Anand Swaroop Verma and Dr. Anoop Saraya in New Delhi on 11 July and said, "This police action is a blatant threat to democratic rights and civil liberties in India". The Party also questioned the justifiability of the move to deport four Nepali citizens including Partha Chhatri, Maheshwar Dahal, Aditi and Moti Prasad.

CPI(ML) said that these activists had assembled in defence of democracy in Nepal, but their experience exposed the sorry state of democracy in India. The Party appealed to all democratic forces and believers in democracy to adequately respond to this blatant threat to democratic rights and civil liberties.

BHOPAL GAS VICTIMS MARCH TO PARIAMENT

On 10 July, student organisations and street theatre groups including AISA participated in the Parliament March called by National Campaign for Justice in Bhopal. The rally was communicating the demands and the spirit of the fight through songs, plays and slogan-chanting. A puppet of Home Minister Advani with movable arms saluting to an American flag with corporate logos of Carbide, Dow, Dupont etc replacing the stars set the tone. The march started from Mandi House and was participated in by hundreds of activists. A delegation of four, including the hunger strikers, met with Mr. I.D. Swamy, Minister of State for Home Affairs and submitted a memorandum arguing against the CBI's application for withdrawal of case against Union Carbide.

CPI(ML) PROTESTS DEPLOYING JOES AS JHARKHAND GOVERNOR

Protesting against appointment of RSS man M Rama Joes as the Governor of Jharkhand, Party's Ranchi-Gumla-Simdega-Lohardaga Committee staged a one-day dharna in front of the Commissioner's office in Ranchi on 15 July. Presiding over the dharna, secretary of the committee Com. Anant Prasad Gupta said that the NDA alliance is laying bare its fascist fangs but the people of Jharkhand already have the experience of compelling Prabhat Kumar, a man accused in Babri Masjid demolition case, to resign on the strength of their movement. Once again the same situation is there and all the left and democratic forces should unitedly take to the street on the demand of withdrawal of M Rama Joes. The meeting was also addressed by comrades Vishwanath Prasad Gupta, Sankeshwar Mahato, Sukhdev Munda, Jayshankar Chaudhary, Khudiram Munda, veteran communist and educationist Com. Brajendra Mishra.

CONVENTION AGAINST ANTI - PEOPLE REFORM POLICIES IN ASSAM

On 12 July a joint convention against recommendations of the Committee on Fiscal Reform (COFR) was called by 8 Left parties of the state, viz, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), SUCI, RCPI, RSP, JD(S) and Samajwadi Party in District Library Auditorium, Guwahati. The convention was attended by around 1000 activists and it was conducted by a presidium of 8, taking one leader from each party. In the presidium Com. Shubhasish Bhadra represented CPI(ML).

Speaking on behalf of our Party Com. Naren Borah condemned the anti-people recommendations of COFR for suggesting pay cuts, cut in the govt. grants to colleges and universities, cut in the number of posts in govt. deptts. and increase in taxes and revenues, hike in college and university fees, hike in medical expenses.

The convention decided to launch a joint movement against anti-people reform and organise a massive rally on this demand during the winter session of Assam Assembly. Convention was also addressed by AICCTU and other central trade union leaders and the secretary of Guwahati University Teachers' Association.

TRADE UNION CONVENTION TO PROTEST ANTI - LABOUR POLICIES

A day long convention was held by eight central trade unions, viz., AITUC, CITU, INTUC, UTUC, UTUC(LS), TUCC, HMS and AICCTU on 15 July in Delhi to protest against anti-labour policies. A one minute silence in memory of riot victims of Gujarat and the victim of the recent massacre The convention was addressed by leaders of several trade unions and federations. On behalf of AICCTU, Com. NM Thomas was in the presidium and Com. Swapan Mukherjee addressed the convention. Leader of independent trade unions like Dada Samant of Kamgar Agadhi had come from Bombay and leader of Bangalore based Joint Action Forum of PSUs also addressed the convention. Others who were present in the convention include Com. Biren Kalita from the Northeast-based Coordination Committee of Oil workers and NTC leaders from Mumbai and Kanpur. The following action programme was adopted:

19 Aug 2002: Pledge for carrying on struggle against economic policies.
19 to 24 Aug. 2002: Public awareness Campaign
23-24 Sep. 2002: District level mobilisation
18-23 Nov. 2002: State-level joint rallie
8 January 2003: Massive satyagraha in all the states.
Third day of Budget Session, 2003: March to Parliament

AIPWA DEMONSTRATION IN PATNA

Protesting against increasing incidents of oppression, around 500 women under the joint banner of AIPWA, AIDWA, Bihar Mahila Samaj, Tehriq-e-Niswan, Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, staged a militant demonstration on 10 July before Bihar Assembly. The women had placards in their hand showing "Stop the increasing incidence of rape" "Ensure safety for the students of Dental College", "Strictly implement the dowry law", etc. The procession was stopped at R-block where Com. Saroj Chaube, Shashi Yadav, Anita, Damayanti Sinha, Lila Verma and Ram Pari of AIDWA, Ayesha Khatoon of Tehriq-e-Niswan, Kanchan of Bihar Mahila Samaj, Ratna Sinha and Paro Devi addressed the processionists.

AGRARIAN LABOURERS STRIKE IN CHAMPARAN

In several villages of Shikarpur PS in West Champaran of Bihar, agrarian labourers have launched a strike movement on the question of minimum wages. Criminals backed by Kisan Sangh and feudal touts fired upon striking agrarian labourers on 6 July in which five persons including a woman got seriously injured. In some villages agrarian labourers are being dragged out of their houses by Kisan Sangh criminals. In Mahuawan village, it was Rajesh Mishra and his goons who opened fire. CPI(ML) has demanded immediate arrest of Shekh Sagir, Rajesh Mishra and their goons. The information of the strike and possible violence was sent to the labour inspector and local police station. It was because of connivance of criminals and Kisan Sangh the police took no action against them.

CPI(ML) DELEGATION MEETS NHRC ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN WEST BENGAL

To bring the issue of growing incidence of police high-handedness and violation of human rights in West Bengal to the notice of the National Human Rights Commission, a three member Party delegation led by WB State Secy. Com. Kartik Pal met the NHRC on 12 July. Giving details of the police brutality and violation of human rights, the delegation sought NHRC's immediate and appropriate intervention to stop this disturbing trend and restore the full democratic rights of citizens.

The memorandum says, "On 25 June midnight the police arrested Abhijit Mazumder, secretary of Darjeeling District Committee of our Party from his Siliguri residence without any warrant. The next morning the police opened fire on the workers of Chandmoni Tea Estate near Siliguri in a bid to evict them and killed two persons and injured several including women and children. This was preceded by police firing on jute workers of Ganges Jute Mill in Hooghly district and beedi workers in Suti Police Station area of Murshidabad district."

The memorandum adds, "On 4 July Prof. Kaushik Ganguli of Rajabazar Science College was picked up from his Nager Bazar residence by a team of Midnapore district police and subjected him to illegal detention and torture. Around the same time Abhijit Sinha, a young official with the Central Excise department was also whisked away by the police and subjected to harrowing torture. He was taken to Baguihati PS of Kolkata and then again to Salbani PS of Midnapore and on 7 July he was discovered dead under mysterious circumstances on the railway track near Dumdum railway station.

The memorandum to the NHRC says that "the incidents of indiscriminate police firing on workers and illegal detention and torture of citizens have raised the spectre of the dark days of 1970 in West Bengal when a reign of unmitigated police terror and repression had been let loose in the state. A powerful demand has been raised from all the quarters in the state calling upon the state government to halt this witch-hunting in the name of curbing Naxalism and institute a judicial enquiry to bring the guilty to the justice. The state government has however turned down the demand for judicial inquiry on the floor of the State Assembly."

In the memorandum hope was expressed that the NHRC would use its good office and help the people of West Bengal in defending their democratic rights in the face of such arbitrary and high-handed police action.

Earlier, on 9 July Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya had sent a letter of protest to West Bengal chief minister on this issue.

'BARA MARCH' HELD IN BIHAR

On 6 July "Bara March" was held in order to rehabilitate the displaced persons of Bara village in Naubatpur block of Patna district. This march was led by Com. Rameshwar Prasad, general secretary of Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha. Ranvir Sena and PWG both attacked this march. To protest this attack on peaceful march, a massive protest meeting was called at Naubatpur Block Grounds. Addressing this meeting Com. Rameshwar Prasad said that although Laloo-Rabri govt. had proclaimed to give 4 cent land to the rural poor as household site, but the poor people of Bara have been evicted from their own village. The Ranvir Sena, PWG and police all have forged an alliance to this end. Rameshwar Prasad said that PWG claims itself to be a communist organization but it beats people, destroys their homes and hearths. PWG has indulged in criminal activities. But CPI(ML) will go to any extent in case the poor are stopped from dwelling in this village. The meeting was also addressed by Shivpujan Yadav of Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha, Vidyanand Vikal, Akloo Paswan, Gopal Ravidas etc who raised the demands that OC of the Naubatpur PS Dilloo Lohar must be sacked, police camp be withdrawn from Bela-Tarari, licenses and weapons of those involved in firing should be confiscated, and displaced persons must get proper compensation. The displaced persons of Bara have been conducting gherao of Naubatpur block office since 6 July. More than 150 women and men taking part in this gherao are braving hunger under the open sky. In the course of gherao, a 15-day old son of Sanjay Majhi and a 10-day old daughter of Om Prakash Pandit died due to hunger on the spot. CPI(ML) has handed over a memorandum to the DM on deteriorating condition of the rural poor sitting in Naubatpur block premises since 6 July.

WOMENS DEMONSTRATION IN ASSAM

Nagaon district committee of All Assam Pragatisheel Nari Santha staged a demonstration at Deputy Commissioner's Office at Nagaon on 18 June to protest increasing incidence of repression on women, rape, murder, etc. The demonstrators sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Dy. Commissioner in which citing a number of incidents it is stated that after the month of April offences against women have been alarmingly on the rise. The memorandum has indicted the administration for taking a passive role in nabbing the culprits and punishing them. The demonstrators demanded life imprisonment to the rapists and put a check on arbitrary behaviour of the police.