Missing Monsoon and Callous Governance

August is India's month of Independence. Come August 15, and the Prime Minister of India goes berserk announcing ambitious schemes and promising to transform India into an advanced and powerful nation. Year after year the country has been witnessing this 'royal' spectacle. And this year is going to be no exception. Yet it takes just one bad monsoon to expose the chinks in the Indian armour.

The monsoon today is India's biggest absconder. And there is no power on earth, including the world's sole and solitary superpower, the United States of America, which can force the extradition of this absconder. More crucially, if the monsoon plays spoilsport, there is still no technology in India which can irrigate the lands and keep agriculture going. Even after five and a half decades of independence, the fury of the rain gods invariably spawns famine.

This August, half of India is experiencing an unprecedented drought even as large parts of Assam and Bihar reel under devastating floods. None other than the Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Ajit Singh has informed the nation about the grim situation. He has listed as many as twelve states as drought-hit. But beyond this acceptance of a fact which is anyway known to the whole world, the government has shown absolutely no sign of being alive to the situation.

There are already reports of large-scale migration of labour to the cities. But where are the jobs? The stories of starvation deaths are also being repeated. The godowns of the Food Corporation are as usual full and the food grains rotting. But the governments still do not think that something needs to be done to stop those starvation deaths. To them, the idea of launching a massive food for work campaign remains an anathema as ever. The Vajpayee government works at electronic speed to disinvest public assets, but when it comes to tackling a drought by rushing relief and creating jobs, its pace would put even a snail to shame.

The failure of the monsoon and the consequent failure of crops will deepen the accumulating agrarian crisis. The unequal competition imposed by the WTO and the ongoing liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation of the infrastructural sector including power, petro-products, transportation and even water, have already subjected Indian agriculture to a severe test. Barring a small section of big farmers who can reap the benefit of corporate farming as collaborators of giant agro-business firms, agriculture is fast becoming a losing proposition for the overwhelming majority of people who depend on this sector for a living. The present drought will make the situation even more skewed against the rural poor. Reports indicate that big and powerful farmers do not even mind killing their smaller and weaker counterparts over the issue of water-sharing.

The question is however not confined to the realm of agricultural economics. It merely begins there. It is in times of such crisis that the state machinery too reveals its true colours. Take Orissa for example. On the one hand, we have shocking reports of severe drought and famine-like conditions from districts like Kalahandi and Koraput. In fact, these districts remain more or less permanently in the grip of such conditions. It is here that one can best understand the thoroughly man-made and institutional nature of the problem. The Orissa government of course cannot be expected to be bothered about these minor details. In the memorable words of journalist P Sainath, "Everybody loves a good drought". But the same Orissa government works overtime to suppress every sign of an agrarian unrest. In the southern Orissa districts of Kalahandi, Koraput, Gajapati and Rayagada, the administration has already arrested several leading peasant activists of CPI(ML) who have been fighting for access to land and other key inputs and for ensuring food security for the starving adivasis.

All of us must stand by the drought- and flood-affected people against this official policy of criminal indifference and brutal repression.

EC Urged to Have Best Appraisal of Gujarat Reality

CPI(ML) warned against saffron attempts to force early elections in Gujarat and reiterated that the overall situation in Gujarat is still far from normal; therefore early elections are unwarranted in that state. Party also urged the Election Commission to ensure that victims of the carnage in Gujarat as well as the organisations engaged in relief and rehabilitation work must have a direct access to the Election Commission team on its visit to the state so as to appraise it of the ground reality. "While formulating its views on Gujarat, the EC should keep in mind the various findings of citizens's bodies as well as key institutions like National Human Rights Commission and National Minority Commission regarding Gujarat genocide", the Party said, "if the Supreme Court, the EC, the media and the government want to stop the criminals from making a mockery of India's parliamentary democracy, first of all Narendra Modi's killer brigade must be deposed and president's rule be imposed in Gujarat, because fair elections are unthinkable under the continuance of Modi's caretaker regime". Denouncing the role of Gujarat governor Sunder Singh Bhandari, a hardcore RSS element, Party demanded a non-RSS governor for Gujarat and said, "Modi-Bhandari brigade must not be allowed to have any further free run in Gujarat".

Party also denounced the government for refusing to allow a team of Amnesty International to visit Gujarat. If the govt. and BJP are claiming that situation is normal, conducive for holding elections in Gujarat, why then are they afraid of allowing internationally reputed human rights organisation's visit there?"

Vajpayee Govt. is Responsible for US Intervention in Kashmir

Reacting to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement putting Kashmir on international agenda, CPI(ML) denounced the US establishment for interfering in Kashmir matters. The Party held Vajpayee-Advani govt. responsible for this because only they have engaged Washington as an arbiter in Indo-Pak controversy. The Party said, "our foreign policy has become an extension of the US policy for Asia. As a result, Washington is desperately trying to gain a permanent foothold in Kashmir.

The Party said, "when the saffron establishment is bending over backward to play host to sundry officials from Washington and London and even allowing military attaches of foreign missions to visit Kashmir almost on everyday basis, its hue and cry about US intervention on Kashmir holds no credibility."

Convention against Communal Fascism and Globalisation in Mumbai

Six left parties of ML stream jointly held one-day convention against Indian rulers 'Saffron jingoism and subservience to imperialism' at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan, Dadar in Mumbai on 20 July. A good number of intellectuals were part of nearly 1,500-odd audience. A large contingent of peasants from the border districts of Andhra Pradesh had arrived well before the convention who presented a spirited revolutionary cultural performance. Conducted by a 3-member presidium consisting of comrades PK Murthy, Sanjay Singhvi and Parveen, the convention was addressed by comrades KN Ramachandran of CPIML(Red Flag), Arvind Sinha of CPIML(Unity Initiative), Sardara Singh Mahal of CPIML(New Democracy) and Swapan Mukherjee of CPIML(Liberation), Ashok Manohar, General Secretary, Lal Nishan Party(Leninist), former Bombay High Court Justice Daoud and eminent intellectual Ashgar Ali Engineer.

The convention demanded the immediate implementation of Srikrishna Commission report on Mumbai riot, removal of ban on Anand Patvardhan's film 'War and Peace'. The convention adopted a 15-point resolution which strongly opposed the imposition of early poll in Gujarat and demanded removal of Narendra Modi Govt. It demanded peaceful resolution of Kashmir problem; putting an end to the repression and scrapping POTA; holding dialogue between India and Pakistan immediately without third Party intervention and demobilisation of troops along the border. The resolution further urged the Indian government to quit WTO; it unequivocally opposed the race of privatising public sector units and amending labour laws and demanded immediate implementation of agricultural labour bill, cancellation of all debt to peasantry and putting an end to saffronisation of culture and education. The convention gave a clarion call to build a nationwide movement against communal fascist offensive and globalisation for democracy and socialism.

CPM (Pasla) holds Massive Rally at Jalandhar

On 25 July CPM(Punjab) led by Com. Pasla held a massive colourful rally at Deshbhagat Yadgar Complex in Jalandhar attended by around ten thousand people from all over Punjab. Supporting the rally CPI(ML) Punjab unit also participated in it. The rally was addressed by CPI(ML) General Secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, Com. Mangat Ram Pasla, veteran comrade Jagjit Singh Layalpuri of MCPI and VP Saini of AIFB, among others.

Addressing the rally Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said: "it is heartening to note that the left has taken the lead in opposing the misrule of Amrinder Singh's Congress regime and CPI(ML) is whole-heartedly with the joint left move". He said that peasants of Punjab have been duped by green revolution for the past 30 years and now the situation has reached to a pass where they are compelled to commit suicide. Amrinder govt is bent on privatising electricity which will only add to the burden on the back of peasantry. Citing Delhi experience of constant power failure following privatisation he said that people would have to pay more for a much worse service. In Punjab the left has risen against exploitative policies and high-handedness of Congress govt. and with this united left move Com. Dipankar expressed his hope that Punjab will show the way. He also raised the issue of plight of toiling people coming from Bihar and UP getting no ration card, no right to vote in Punjab and said that the Left must ensure equality and dignity to them. He said that Com. Surjeet had asked him not to meddle in the internal affairs of CPI(M) in Punjab, to which he replied that Com. Pasla-led faction coming out of the official CPI(M) in Punjab was no more an internal affair of the CPI(M), it was related to the battle between two tactics in the left movement of India. Elaborating our Party's initiative in launching campaign against saffron fascism and imperialist globalisation on 26 June, Com. Dipankar appealed to the audience to join the massive "jail bharo" campaign in Delhi on the forthcoming August 9.

Police Firing on Bandh Agitators Condemned

On 24 July police indiscriminately fired on the agitators implementing 'Jharkhand Bandh' in support of the "domicile policy" of Babulal Marandi government, killing 11 persons and injuring dozens. While strongly condemning the police high-handedness, CPI(ML) said that the government has tried to break the unity of adivasis, peasants and workers, which is the cornerstone of progress in Jharkhand, only to cover up its all-round failure and complete loss of credibility, as corroborated by the BJP's defeat in Dumka by-election.

At CPI(ML)'s initiative, a meeting of various left parties, citizens and intellectuals was called in Ranchi on 25 July, which issued a peace appeal urging upon adivasis to guard against divisive political forces and opportunist leaders bent upon breaking the militant unity of adivasis with other toilers.

Bihar Irrigation Minister Should Resign

Party's Bihar State Committee demanded resignation of irrigation minister Jagadanand Singh for his failure to check flood situation despite being on the post for 12 years. Every year during the floods embankments get broken, rendering millions homeless and causing massive crop damage, but the government remains a mute spectator. The Party also demanded that relief work should be conducted on a war footing in Champaran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Madhubani, Sheohar, Darbhanga and Samastipur.

Struggle against Coca-cola in Kerala

At Plachimada in Palakkad district in Kerala a mass struggle is developing against Coca-cola because all the wells in and around Plachimada and a number of tubewells as well as large ponds in the factory campus have dried up causing drinking water problem. On 12 July Palakkad district solidarity front held a rally and a mass meeting at Palakkad. CPI(ML) Liberation, Porattur, SUCI, Rationalist Forum, Revolutionary Women's Movement, Jana Sanskriti, PUCL, Swaraj Keale, Sarvodaya Mandal etc participated in the programme. Com. Kanool represented CPI(ML) and RYA in the meeting. G Hema, GS Padmakumar, Vilayodi Sivankutty Shaji, Mohandas Master, Pudusseri Srinivasan, Karappadam Balakrishnan and Krishna Kumar addressed the meeting.

Landlord-mafia-police attack on rural poor in drought-hit Orissa

Once again Orissa is in the grip of drought. In particular, Kalahandi, Koraput and Bolangir of southern Orissa are the worst affected. Rural poor, particularly tribals are the worst sufferers of this calamity. As usual, their plight is non-issue in the eyes of the governments in Bhubaneshwar and New Delhi. Recently, this tragedy acquired another dimension, when the nexus of landlord-mafia-police started suppressing the poor demanding drought relief and right to the land, against which resistance of the rural poor has been developing. During one such resistance struggle Com. Jagat Pradhan, a Party leader sent to Kalahandi to organized tribals and other poor people for drought relief and other demands, was arrested by police on 25 July. He was implicated in false cases and sent to jail.

Gajapati and Rayagada districts of South Orissa, bordering Andhra Pradesh, have a long history of powerful land struggles. At present, illegal transfers of land from tribals, illegal control over ceiling-surplus land and public lands by landlord-moneylender-mafia nexus is a growing phenomenon in this region. Against this, land struggles have developed in Padampur Block of Rayagada district. Rural poor have seized several hundred acres of land from landlords who enjoy patronage of both BJP and Congress.

Alarmed by the growing mobilization of rural poor, the nexus backed by the government started launching assaults on rural poor and Party leaders and cadres organizing them. They are being arrested in false cases and jailed, the poor people are being harassed and threatened. On 24 July, Party leaders including district secretary Comrade Tirupati Gomango were arrested by army personnel camping at Padampur and implicated under false cases. Immediately around 500 persons gathered and reached the jail to meet him. Comrade Gomango addressed them and asked them to continue the movement. On 25 July 'rasta roko' agitation was held at various points. On 26 July a delegation led by Comrade DP Mohanty met the Collector and the SP to demand immediate release of the leaders. In a massive protest demonstration held at Gunupur on 29 July, around 2,500 people took part. It was addressed among others by Orissa Party Secretary Com. Khitish Biswal and CC member Com. Maleshwar Rao.

Demo against Police-Criminal Nexus in Bokaro

On 22 July around 300 people led by CPI(ML) staged a militant demonstration before Kasmar PS of Bokaro district in Jharkhand. Defying heavy police deployment the enraged people intruded inside the police station campus and held a mass meeting for hours together. The slogans of the demonstration were: Down with the high-handedness of Kasmar police, withdraw false cases against ML activists, etc. People belonging to Ghasi community who were victims of land grab by local tyrants also participated in good numbers.

In rural areas of Bokaro district Party is leading movements of adivasis against land usurpers, corrupt officials and middlemen who embezzle the development fund. The local MLA backs office-in-charge of Kasmar PS on the one hand and patronises MCC on the other. As a result police has implicated 13 of ML activists in a false murder case. A delegation led by Com. Devdeep Singh Diwakar, district Party secretary met DSP and handed him a memorandum demanding action against OC of Kasmar and withdrawal of cases against Party activists.

AISA Protests in Uttaranchal

Kumaon University students led by AISA have demanded the removal of vice-chancellor BS Rajput, a hard-core RSS man notoriously known for his involvement in many corruption scandals and sought an inquiry into his overall tenure. To press these demands hundreds of students held a protest demonstration on July 15 in Nainital around the call issued by the 'Save University Committee' formed by AISA. The protest faced a brutal police lathicharge during which dozens of students, including state AISA president Indresh Maikhuri and secretary Devendra Negi along with Mukesh Pant and Harish Dhami were injured. Police arrested more than a hundred students. This evoked a sharp reaction and condemnation from the people that forced the administration to release all the arrested students. State Congress president had to publicly apologise and the authorities had to take some action against the guilty officials. Meanwhile, AISA has called for "Kumaon Bandh" on 2 August against growing police excesses in the state.

Tamilnadu Party Held 6th State Conference

Tamil Nadu Party State Conference was held on 26, 27 and 28 of July in Chennai. In total 178 delegates (out of 193) and 30 observers from 20 districts participated in the conference held in Charu Majumdar Hall. Women constituted 17% of the delegates, there was a sizable representation of members from working class and agricultural laborers. Veteran comrade PA Arumugam hoisted the flag and Com. K Palaniappan paid tributes to the martyrs. The conference was presided over by a 5-member presidium comprising comrades Annathurai, Shankarapandian, Chandramohan, Mary and Thenmozhi and conducted by a 3-member steering committee with comrades Simpson, Vidudalai Kumaran, and Ramesh. Com Bhuvana presented the welcome address. Inaugurating the conference Com. Shankar, CCM called upon the delegates to intensify mass movements. A work report was presented for discussion which emphasised on building a powerful, independent left movement. Com. DP Buxi, central observer, called upon the delegates to build a powerful movement of the agricultural laborers and the rural poor. The conference also resolved to fight against the anti-workers policies of Jayalalitha govt and to enhance our role the local bodies. It was also decided to observe the August 9 'Jail Bharao' programme in major centers. The conference elected a 19-member state committee. Com. Balasundaram was re-elected as the Secretary. On 28 July the open session was held in the form of a convention on "Save democracy, save the nation, oust saffron forces", in which around 1500 people participated. It was addressed by Com. Balasundaram, Com. Mary, Com. Mahendran, state secretary of CPI, Com. Jayabalan, state committee member, SUCI, Com. Shanmugam, City Committee Secretary, CPI ML(Red Flag), Thirumavalavan of Dalit Panthers Of India, Haaja Kani of TMMK, who assured support to August 9 Jail Bharao Movement. Com. AS Kumar presided over the convention.

International Dept. of CPI(ML) Launches Electronic Newsletter

The International Dept. of CPI(ML) has launched an electronic newsletter on 28 July 2002. On this occasion, the Central Committee sent a note of warm greetings to the readers. It says: "This electronic newsletter marks the revival of a similar attempt made earlier by our late Comrade Narendra Singh who was based in the Netherlands. This time round, the responsibility is being shared by a group of comrades based in the US, UK, Canada and Thailand."

This newsletter does not intend to duplicate Liberation or MLUpdate, rather it seeks "to draw on them and complement these efforts in a way which will hopefully make for more meaningful communication between the CPI(ML) movement in India and its international friends".

It is hoped that "this newsletter will not only serve as a bridge of communication between the revolutionary movement in India and comrades and friends in the international communist movement and among the South Asian diasporic communities but also provide a forum for discussion on issues relevant to the movement in India and South Asia and also to the larger anti-imperialist anti-racist movement the world over".

Coming to the situation in India, it is noted that "The saffron brigade is waging a calculated war of fascist subversion and it has all the blessings of the Bush-Blair imperialist coalition. We are determined to intensify resistance by rallying all the class forces of democratic revolution and forging a broad-based and movement-oriented unity of Left and democratic forces. Right now we are in the midst of a countrywide "Save Democracy, Save Independence" campaign."

Recalling the significance of 28 July, Martyr's Day, it says, "We look forward to ties of closer cooperation in our common battle against imperialism and racism. We look forward to making more rapid strides towards our shared destination of socialism and human progress."

OBITUARY

CPI(ML) expressed its grief at the sudden demise of Krishna Kant, vice president of India. Condoling his death Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that Krishna Kant will be remembered not only as a freedom fighter but also for his bold opposition to 'Emergency' and his concern for democratic rights.