Who Is Afraid of Fighting Criminalisation of Politics?

In recent years the entry of professional criminals into parliamentary politics has assumed alarming proportions. Call it criminalisation of politics or politicisation of crime, this cancer in our body polity is now a glaring feature of Indian politics. No governments are formed nowadays in states like Bihar and UP without a number of hardened criminals gracing the cabinet of ministers. Links between the underworld and the so-called 'political class' are however no less intimate in economically advanced states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. And if one includes scamsters and preachers and practitioners of communal violence, crime-politics nexus has been the bedrock of successive central governments in the last one decade, with the BJP, of course, taking the cake.

If there is one stream of politics which remains by and large free from the cancer of criminalisation and corruption, it is only the Left stream. But then the Left still remains a 'marginal' current in the so-called 'mainstream' of Indian politics. Short of a revolutionary transformation, no sensible citizen therefore realistically expects a dramatic overnight cleaning-up of the Augean stable of criminalised politics in India. But cannot at least a beginning made, here and now?

The Supreme Court on 2 May issued an order directing the Election Commission of India to ask every candidate seeking election to Parliament or a state legislature to furnish information on affidavit about charges of criminal offence framed against him and details of assets and liabilities and educational qualifications of the candidate. The EC accordingly issued an elaborate order on 28 June in exercise of Article 324. The order empowered the returning officer to reject any nomination on grounds of incomplete or inaccurate details.

The Government of India now stepped into action. Following an all-party meeting on 8 July, the Union Law Ministry circulated a draft bill proposing an amendment to the Representation of People Act 1951. In the draft bill, the Law ministry came up with the idea that any candidate against whom charges are pending in a court in two heinous offences will be debarred from contesting elections. Intriguingly, the category of heinous offences excluded a whole set of offences conviction for which invites disqualification under the existing law (e.g., incitement of communal frenzy, profiteering, hoarding, dowry offences etc.) while including offences charged with Section 120 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war on the government, a standard accusation levelled against every 'separatist' or 'extremist' or inconvenient political opponent) or provisions of the POTA (the taste of which MDMK leader Vaiko is currently relishing in a Tamil Nadu prison for making speeches in support of LTTE).

While circulating this bill to keep up the pretense of fighting criminalisation, the BJP itself was however not willing to really push it through. The all-party meeting convened on August 2 therefore witnessed a ready consensus between the BJP and the Congress to dump this provision and stick to the existing provision of disqualification on conviction and not merely on the basis of charges framed. An amendment will however still be made to prevent the Supreme Court or EC from interfering with basic electoral laws and to uphold the electorate's right to information. The public will obviously ask as to whatever happened to criminalisation?

Lack of information has never been the basis on which criminalisation of politics has flourished. Criminals who win elections are not unknown or little known figures, their notoriety has never been a state secret. The problem is the government is bent upon clubbing criminals and political activists who are invariably charged with criminal offences in our system. What is needed is a law that will identify notorious history-sheeters as a distinct category and prevent them from becoming law-makers.

The government's refusal to deal with the issue of criminalisation of politics will only strengthen cynicism and fuel the urge for strong, despotic action (judicial or military) against the corrupt and criminalised 'political class'. And that, we must remember, is a recipe not for purification of politics, but for fascist or autocratic subversion of parliamentary democracy.

CPI(ML) Statement on Jammu and Kashmir Elections

While opposing Washington's insistence on American monitoring of Jammu and Kashmir elections, CPI(ML) believes that the onus of ensuring the credibility and transparency of the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir rests completely on the government of India and also the state government of Jammu and Kashmir.

There can be no denying or disputing the fact that the elections held so far in the state have as a rule suffered from an extreme lack of credibility and transparency. In fact, the lack of legitimacy and credibility of periodic elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been a major factor behind the Kashmir question.

Welcoming the announcement of elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Party, therefore, calls upon the Election Commission to make sure that the elections held in the state are free and fair and every elector's right to vote or not to vote is fully respected.

Growing Reign of Terror on Poor People by Feudal Estate-Mafia-Police Nexus in West Champaran in Bihar

The district of West Champaran, known not only for Gandhi's Satyagraha, but also for acute poverty with dozens of giant feudal estates, has come into serious discussion in Bihar. The district is witnessing a growing reign of terror on poor people, particularly the agrarian labourers, by the feudal estates-mafia-police nexus. The hard fact is that both the ruling RJD and the main opposition BJP are engaged in fuelling this anti-poor campaign. The whole anti-poor operation which is going on for last two-three months is to check the rising waves of struggles of agrarian labourers. The CPI(ML) and the Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha (BPKMS) leaders, activists and supporters who are leading these struggles are on the hit-list of feudals, criminals and police-administration. They are being arrested and jailed. Villages are being raided. Poor are being terrorised and their small houses are being looted. More than 20 poor villagers have so far been killed in this anti-poor operation.

Recently, on Aug 2, police attacked the CPI(ML) office located at Chanpatia in the district and arrested CPI(ML) State Standing Committee member com. Virendra Gupta and other leaders including comrades Nawal Kishor Kushwaha and Sunil Kumar Rao. This arrest has accelerated the anger of the poor and toiling people. Protests are being held at several centres in the state against this feudal-police action. In Patna, a protest-march has also been held on Aug 3 led by CPI(ML) State Secretary com. Ramjatan Sharma. Comrade Sharma alongwith BPKMS leader com. Rameshwar Prasad reached West Champaran on August 4 and met the people who are bearing the brunt of feudal-police attacks. A large protest meeting was also held at Narkatiaganj on August 6.

A few days ago, on July 30, criminals enjoying patronage of the feudals shot at com. Ram Kishan Oraon, a Party cadre at Mandiha village under Gaunaha PS. He is in serious condition at PMCH in Patna. On July 31, another Party cadre Com. Mukhlal Mukhia was shot dead. Despite the protests by the angry poor villagers, police remained silent. Instead of arresting the killers, hundreds of police reached Mandiha village and created havoc. Poor villagers were brutally assaulted, women and children were beaten up. Police injured more than 50 people. When villagers started resisting it police opened more than 15 rounds of fire and arrested 18 people including two women. They were mercilessly beaten up following which a villager Maharaj Diswa died and another Dharban Manjhi got seriously wounded. Months of June and July had also seen several such incidents.

The feudal estates of Shikarpur, Dumaria, Vilaspur and Pakri Durbar are leading this anti-poor operation. The criminal gangs like the one Markandeya Pande gang and the police are in the service of feudal estates. The terror is increasing . But, the poor and agrarian labourers have also pledged not to get terrorised despite continuous attacks on them. They have started organising themselves in a bigger way for the next phase of decisive battle.

The People's War Group (PWG) has once again adopted a suicidal course of action in some areas of Bihar where it has got some influence. Its current motto is to wage war on the CPI(ML) and strengthen links with the reactionary class forces. In some pockets of Patna and Jehanabad districts, it has left itself to the mercy of the the RJD, ruling party in Bihar. No doubt, the RJD and mafia-feudal forces are using it brilliantly against the CPI(ML). The PWG has virtually launched a reign of terror against the poor and toiling people. The notorious gangsters like Vijay Singh, Bind Singh, Shivraj Singh, etc. of old private armies of kulaks and feudals like Bhumi Sena and Kisan Sangh have now become the key operators of PWG. The CPI(ML) Patna district committee held a massive dharna at Patna on July 26 to make the people of Bihar aware of the ugly designs of the PWG. Large number of rural poor as well as peasants from several villages of Patna district joined this dharna. Several demands were raised in this dharna. The prominent one is to institute a judicial inquiry on PWG-RJD links. The people who attended the dharna also demanded suspension and punishment to the police officials including Naubatpur PS Incharge who are with the PWG. They also demanded immediate arrest of all the criminals who were with landlord kulak armies earlier and now have joined the PWG.

It is really interesting to know that the CPI(ML) which is engaged in spearheading several powerful movements on the question of land, wage, social dignity and democratic rights is facing attacks of the state machinary, communal fascist forces and other reactionary groups in several region of different states, be it the eastern UP, Jharkhand, vast areas of Bihar or even West Bengal. At number of occasions, the CPI(ML) has appealed to the PWG type groups to shun their suicidal designs and join the vast ranks to give a fitting reply to the feudal and fascist forces. When the saffron establishment banned them, CPI(ML) was the first to strongly oppose that. When UP police killed their activists in Bhawanipur in eastern UP, CPI(ML) launched a powerful agitation in which dozens of its leaders and activists were arrested and jailed. For the CPI(ML), it is the time to resist the forces who publicly declare communists as their number one enemy, but, unfortunately, for the outfits like PWG it is the time to go all out against the CPI(ML)-led movement. Whose purpose the PWG is serving? Each and everyone who does not like any tussle between the CPI(ML) and the PWG must ask the latter to answer this question.

Agrarian Labourers' Protest in Lucknow

Hundreds of agrarian labourers from Lucknow, Sitapur and Lakhimpur Khiri in Uttar Pradesh marched to the State Assembly in Lucknow on July 29 and staged a protest dharna for their demands like restoration of rights on lands allotted to the agrarian labourers, a minimum daily wage of Rs. 58, withdrawal of state govt's order which slackens Dalit Act, guarantee of work for at least 100 days in a year, declaration of whole state including Lucknow zone as drought-affected and waiving of all loans on the agrarian labourers. The dharna was addressed by com. Krishna Adhikari, the state President of Uttar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha (UPKMS) and other leaders including comrades Jawahar Lal, Shivkumar, Radhey Shyam Yadav and Rajesh Sahni. A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was also submitted. Next day a delegation of UPKMS met the Lucknow Commissioner of Police, held the first round of negotiations on the problems facing the agrarian labourers of the zone and gave a one-month time to him for redressal. This protest programme also condemned the police action in which CPI(ML) Naugarh block Incharge com. Ramkrit Kol was arrested and jailed while continuing an indefinite dharna on eleventh successive day at Chakia in Chandauli district to protest the ongoing police repression on poor people in the area.

Advocates Express Concern on Human Rights in UP

First state conference of the Progressive Advocates' Association, held in Lucknow on August 3, demanded the constitution of State Human Rights Commission. The Conference also dwelt upon several important issues like democratisation of the judicial system and defence of human rights. A number of advocates from ten districts of the state participated in the conference.

Fifth State Conference of AISA in Uttar Pradesh

AISA held its fifth state conference on 25-26 July at Lucknow University's DPA Hall. 70 delegates from 11 centres participated in it. It was inaugurated by Sunil Yadav, AISA General Secretary. The Conference addressed several issues like massive fee hike, cut in seats, dwindling employment and increasing saffron attacks on education and democracy. The Conference elected Rakesh Singh as its President and Manish Sharma as Secretary.

Protest against Demolition of Slum in Delhi

Hundreds of CPI(ML) activists and supporters were arrested in Delhi on July 29 while holding a protest-dharna against the demolition of a slum at Shakarpur Pusta in East Delhi by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the police without any prior notice or alternative arrangement of rehabilitation. The protesters were detained at IP Estate Police Station for hours. Agitators held a protest meeting inside the PS and condemned the police action. The meeting was addressed among others by Delhi State Secretary com. Rajendra Pratholi, Party state committee member and AIPWA leader com. Sunita Singh, and leader of Delhi Jhuggi Jhopri Sanyukta Sngharsh Samiti com. Shashikant. AISA leaders from Delhi University and several activists of AIPWA, RYA and AICCTU also joined this protest action and addressed the meeting.

'Save Democracy, Save Independence' Campaign in Andhra Pradesh

CPI(ML) has launched a vigorous campaign at several centres in Andhra Pradesh as a run-up to the August 9 'Jail Bharo' agitation. The campaign is addressing burning issues of the rural poor in the state and opposing the policies of the TDP government, a junior partner of the saffron brigade. CPI(ML) held three big public meetings at Kakinada (July 28), Yalleshwaram (July 29) and Tuni (July 30) which were addressed by Party CC members comrades N. Murthy and Bangar Rao. In Krishna district impressive cycle rallies were organised at two places covering many villages.

Protests Against State Repression in Dinajpur

The CPI(ML)'s Dinajpur district unit organised a protest campaign against increasing state repression in WB. It was demanded that the guilty police officials responsible for the death of Abhijit Sinha be punished and Kaushik Ganguly who is still in jail be released. An inquiry into the police firing incident at Chandmoni Tea Estate was also sought. An effigy of CM Buddhadev Bhattacharya was burnt at Raiganj and demonstrations were organised at many places in the district.

Also in Dinajpur, AISA and RYA staged a big dharna to protest the killing of a fourteen year old dalit boy by the police in its lock-up. A section of journalists also joined in solidarity.

Gujarat Victims Facing War Conditions, Says NHRC Chief

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mr. J.S. Verma, while speaking at a round table conference in New Delhi on August 4 on Combating Communal Hatred, came out with his observations on Gujarat. He said that those who had been rendered homeless in Gujarat were still unable to go back or were afraid to go back or both, part of the reason was that 'we as a people are unconcerned about anything, unless it touches us directly'.

The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mr. Verma said that the homeless people of Gujarat were facing war conditions as they had suffered the pain and hardship of those caught in a conventional war. They had lost their families and property and were struggling to live with a semblance of human dignity in the face of adversity. He said that those who stoked the fires of communal hatred got tacit support from several official quarters. The result was an orgy of orchestrated violence against Muslims and loot and arson of their property, which left one and a half lakhs of people homeless.

The NHRC Chief said that the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee must translate his rhetoric into action and bring back tolerance and normalcy in the country.

Is the Election Commission listening?

Join August 9 'Jail Bharo' Agitation

Friends,
The first phase of the 'Save Democracy, Save Independence' Campaign which we had launched from June 26 National Convention against Communal Fascism and Imperialist Intervention is going to culminate in a massive nationwide 'Jail Bharo' agitation on August 9. So far, the Campaign has evoked widespread response in several parts of the country.

The issues and challenges, which the Convention had addressed, have become sharper now with the rightist offensives on Gujarat, Kashmir and Ayodhya becoming more strident and alarming. This August, half of India is experiencing an unprecedented drought even as large parts of Assam and Bihar reel under devastating floods, the government has shown absolutely no sign of being alive to the situation.

Yours support and participation has been crucial in broadening the movement at several occasions. This time also we hope that you will join us at 'Jail Bharo' agitation on August 9, the sixtieth anniversary of Quit India movement, to give a fitting reply to the saffron brigade which is vitiating our national life and compromising our anti-imperialist legacy. A large number of individuals and organizations who had attended June 26 convention have already given their consent to join this August 9 programme.

A short protest meeting will be held at Jantar Mantar on August 9 from 11.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. before courting arrest at Parliament street Police station.

Central Committee CPI(ML)

[We appeal to all Delhi based ML UPDATE readers, comrades and friends to join this August 9 'Jail Bharo' agitation with their friends and colleagues.]