Modi's Road Show of Unmitigated Communal Venom

The thrice-postponed road show of Narendra Modi has finally hit the streets of Gujarat. It started on such a shrill and loud note that merely into the second day of the yatra Modi has already lost his voice. Twelve years ago another road show had rolled out from the state, which had left a bloody trail all over the country. This time around, the circus is slated to last less and it will not travel to other parts of the country. Thanks to television, the Modi opera will however still command a comparably large captive viewership.

In spite of the inescapable feeling of déjà vu, the head priest of that infamous bloodbath was not present to bless the launch of this latest saffron road show. The reason could be twofold. One, even Advani found it difficult to associate himself with the kind of lumpency and vulgarity that has now become Modi's trademark and that defines the spirit of Modi's Gaurav Yatra. Two, the BJP is unsure of the eventual outcome of its Gujarat gamble. So the Modi show was best left to be inaugurated by another leader of the same breed possessing an equally abrasive and abusive tongue. Who else but Rajnath Singh could have possibly certified Modi as the leader who enjoys the greatest and most fanatic kind of mass adulation in India? It now only remains to be seen whether in the forthcoming Gujarat election Modi would suffer the same fate as Rajnath Singh did in Uttar Pradesh.

Only recently Modi had launched such a vicious campaign against the Election Commission accusing the Chief Election Commissioner of hatching a 'Christian conspiracy' against his government of 'Hindu glory'. Now all his venom is directed against Sonia Gandhi, the only 'foreign' element continuing to bother the Sangh Parivar which has absolutely no problem with other foreign aspects like the growing penetration or domination of foreign capital or increasing Anglo-American interference in India's internal affairs. The worst kind of communal venom is also being heaped upon the hapless Muslim community in the state with Modi even going to the extent of saying that the relief camps needed to be closed down for Muslims were using it for increasing their population. And all this vicious communal propaganda is being carried out in the name of 'glorifying' Gujarat and expressing one's pride of being a Gujarati. Modi has not just taken a leaf out of Bal Thackeray's book, he would put even Thackeray to shame.

Indeed, never before has an election campaign in this country plumbed such abysmal depths of unmitigated barbarity. And playing ball with the BJP in this game is Vaghela's Congress. In fact, Vaghela's selection as the Congress president in the state was prompted precisely by the calculation that he is one man who is capable of paying Modi back in his own coin. Vaghela chose to launch his campaign from the same temple as Modi - his supporters say it is actually Modi who has intruded into Vaghela's traditional 'kshatriya' territory. Vaghela is not merely playing at Hindutva symbolism, he is openly soliciing RSS support for the Congress citing all the previous instances when the RSS has backed the Congress ever since the Congress lifted the ban on RSS soon after the assassination of Gandhi. The entire issue of justice for the genocide victims has been completely relegated to the background in this mad rush for the so-called Hindu vote in Gujarat.

The strident campaign against Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin, a settled fact of life which cannot be unsettled, is probably a ploy to make the Congress run more desperately for a 'Hindu' cover in Gujarat. The BJP-Congress electoral battle in Gujarat is turning out to be a no-holds-barred wrestling match between Modi and Vaghela and the RSS must be smiling happily to see this battle between two 'swayamsevaks'. Gujarat watchers cannot be faulted for believing that regardless of the final outcome of the Modi versus Vaghela match, the RSS seems destined to win. Clearly, the future of secular democracy in India and also in Gujarat can only be defended on the basis of a powerful movement and intervention of the Left and democratic forces.

CPI(ML) on Disinvestment in Strategic Sectors

Despite the fact that the Vajpayee govt. has deferred the controversial disinvestment plans for the HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.) and the BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.), there is no doubt that the government is bent upon pursuing its course of disinvestment and privatisation in all strategic sectors.

This has been proved by the report of a Planning Commission Committee which has recommended 100% FDI in several crucial sectors including oil refineries, oil marketing, petroleum exploration, airports, mining, banking and finance and enhanced FDI limits in insurance and small sector units. This report was a charter of reassurance to the US multinationals and other big investors who welcomed Vajpayee in America.

The CPI(ML) strongly opposes the government's disinvestment and privatisation plans and charges the government with reneging on its own declared policy of not pursuing the disinvestment in strategic sectors. The Party denounces the government for encouraging and creating private monopolies in strategic sectors.

CPI(ML) Condemns US-British Air Attacks on Iraq

The Party condemns the US-British air-attacks on Iraq and described it as a macabre Anglo-American celebration of last year's September 11.

Just as the US had utilised the terrorist strikes in September last year to unleash a global war of aggression, it is once again trying to utilise the first anniversary of September 11 to intensify this war to serve its own militarist ambitions.

September 11 was indeed a major human tragedy in the history of human civilisation. This vulgar exploitation of the first anniversary of September 11 is a brazen insult to the spirit of humanity.

CPI-ML Demands Speedy Trial and Punishment to Brahmeshwar

The CPI(ML) has launched an agitation in Bihar from September 9 to demand a speedy trial of the Ranvir Sena chieftain Brahmeswar responsible for tens of massacres in which hundreds of poor and oppressed people including children and pregnant women and old people were butchered with barbarity.

The Party held a massive dharna at Patna on 9 Sep. and demanded to constitute a special court for a speedy trial and capital punishment for Brahmeswar. The dharna was led by CPI(ML) state secretary Ram Jatan Sharma, leader of Party's legislative group in Bihar Assembly Ram Naresh Ram, CC member K D Yadav and State Secretary of BPKMS Rameshwar Prasad.

Addressing the dharna, com. Ram Jatan Sharma expressed utter surprise and anguish over the fact that Brahmeshwar is receiving a royal treatment in jail, as if he was the guest of the state, while the police tortures innocent poor in the name of naxalites and criminals and even kills many of them in custody under the Rabri Devi government, a so called proponent of 'social justice'. He said that despite all the efforts by the state government and Laloo Prasad to save this butcher, people will never forgive him and he will get the punishment he deserves. People will also not forgive Laloo for his criminal attempt to save Brahmeshwar and the Ranvir Sena will soon be drowned in the Sone river.

The Party has expressed apprehension that the Rabri Devi-led RJD government is trying to hush up the cases against him which is evident in the manner he was arrested/got surrendered by the government. The Party also demanded the completion of the probe by the Amir Das Commission, investigating the political links of Ranvir Sena.

The dharna was attended by thousands of agrarian labourers, dalits and poor peasants, who have been victimised by Ranvir Sena, from rural areas of Jehanabad, Bhojpur, Patna districts.

The speakers also condemned in strong terms the police attack on Jehanabad Party office and resolved to further intensify mass resistance against police repression. The next phase of this agitation will be organised at district and block level.

Mayawati Forced to Announce Formation of Human Rights Commission in UP

The democratic opinion of the people and concerned organisations prevailed over the government in UP. The Mayawati govt. was forced to announce that the Human Rights Commission would be formed in the state. The issue had got political importance in the light of the agitation launched by the People's Union for Human Rights (PUHR) in the state. The PUHR Secretary Brij Bihari had started fast-unto-death before state assembly in Lucknow from 2 Sep. The PUHR has been consistently demanding the formation of human rights commission in the state and the institution of CBI inquiry into the Bhawanipur massacre occurred on 9 March, 2001 in which the police had killed 16 poor peasants in the name of 'encounter with naxalites'.

This issue had also created furore in the state assembly. Several opposition leaders had raised the issue in the assembly. Amidst this mounting pressure, the Chief Minister of UP, Ms. Mayawati announced on 6 Sep. that Human Rights Commission would be formed in the state. Following this announcement, PUHR Secretary called off his protest. The Magsaysay Award winner Sandip Pandey offered him a glass of juice to break his fast. The PUHR has now demanded that only those people who are associated with the human rights movement should be made members of the proposed commission. They described the govt.'s announcement as a victory of their struggles. The PUHR has declared that the struggle for institution of a CBI inquiry into Bhavanipur massacre will continue. It also held a 'victory meeting' in Lucknow on 7 Sep. which was presided over by PUHR President Chittaranjan Singh. The meeting asked the Mayawati govt. to stop shielding the culprits of Babri Masjid demolition and said that the govt. must fulfill its minimum constitutional democratic responsibility and immediately issue a fresh notification for bringing the culprits of the demolition of the Babri Masjid to book.

Third State Conference of AIPWA in UP

Third state conference of AIPWA was held at Lucknow on 8 September. Around 700 women from several districts in the state took out an impressive procession from Charbagh to Vidhan Sabha before the formal inauguration of the Conference. It was inaugurated by AIPWA national secretary Saroj Chaube while Srilata Swaminathan, national President of AIPWA was the chief-guest. State Secretary of Women Federation Asha Mishra also addressed the conference. Delegates discussed the report presented in the conference by AIPWA state secretary Ajanta Lohit. The Conference focussed its deliberations on the role of women in struggle against communal fascism and globalisation. The Conference decided to organise a women's rally in eastern UP. It elected a 37 member state council and a 17 member state executive with Shobha Singh as President and Ajanta Lohit as Secretary.

Second State Conference of RYA in Uttar Pradesh

The second state conference of RYA was concluded in Lucknow on September 1. The conference, which was attended by 300 delegates from all over the state, discussed the issues of communal fascism, unemployment, police repression and starvation deaths in the state and decided to launch a powerful youth movement against communal fascist and anti-people policies of the governments in Delhi and Lucknow. An impressive march was also taken out in the town on this occasion. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, State Secretary of CPI(ML), inaugurated the conference which was addressed among others by RYA national President Mithilesh Yadav, RYA General Secretary Lal Bahadur Singh, Dr. Krishnawatar Pandey and Brij Bihari, PUHR President and Secretary respectively, AIPWA state secretary Ajanta Lohit and AISA state President Rakesh Singh.

The Conference elected a 35 member state council and a 13 member state executive with Md. Salim as President, Ram Kishore Verma as Secretary, Tilakdhari Bind as Vice-president and Afroz Alam and Madan Mohan Yadav as Joint-secretaries.

Protest Demonstration in Bhubneshwar

The CPI(ML) held a protest demonstration before Raj Bhavan in Bhubneshwar on 26 August and demanded immediate release of Party's State Committee member and a popular tribal leader, Tirupati Gomang and four other leaders, withdrawal of all the cases falsely implicated on them by the police-landlord nexus and immediate stop to police repression in the tribal areas of Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

A delegation led by Party State Secretary, Kshitish Biswal, met the Governor M. M. Rajendran and handed over a memorandum with above demands. A protest-meeting was also held in front of the Raj Bhavan.

Unorganised Sector Workers' Procession in Delhi

On 3 September, a procession was brought out in Delhi by unorganised workers including construction workers, workers employed in small, tiny and informal sector, employed in security agencies, daily wages workers under Delhi Transport Corporation, and hospital employees opposing privatisation of Moolchand Hospital. Organised by AICCTU Delhi State Committee and participated in by around 400 workers despite heavy rain, the procession started from Ferozshah Kotla Grounds and reached Delhi State Secretariat where a mass meeting was held. The participants raised issues concerning unorganised workers in Delhi, such as the housing question, voter identity cards, employment, dignity in workplace, etc. The meeting was addressed by NM Thomas and Santosh Rai, president and secretary respectively of Delhi unit of AICCTU, state Party secretary Rajendra Pratholi, General Kamgar Union leaders Ram Abhilash, Mahesh Singh, Mahant Rai and Rustam Ali, Sunita, secretary of East Delhi Party district committee and BKS Gautam, Delhi state committee member incharge of unorganised sector. Later a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister of Delhi government, which was received by the chief secretary.

The same day a meeting was held in Delhi of representatives of construction workers from Rajasthan, U.P., Bihar and Delhi and a national coordination committee of construction workers was formed. RN Thakur, national secretary of AICCTU was appointed its convener. The committee will work for mobilizing construction workers on all-India level and will soon bring out a propaganda booklet elaborating issues of construction workers.

Road Blockade by AIPWA

Nagaon district committee of AIPWA in Assam organised a road blockade in front of D C, Nagaon office on 26 August to protest against bus fare hike. After the blockade a 50-member delegation handed over a memorandum to the DC demanding immediate withdrawal of hike in fares. A road-blockade was also organised in Jorhat district against an incident of rape of a teenage girl on August 12.

The AISA unit of Nagaon while opposing bus fare hike, has also demanded a 50% concession for students. AISA protesters were arrested by the police while staging a road blockade in Barapujia on 29 August.

Tea Garden Workers Intensify Agitation

The Assam Sangrami Cha Shramik Sangh has launched an agitation on a four point demand charter at Jogibheta Tea Gardens in Jorhat district and has forced the management to come to tripartite negotiations after a long struggle. Earlier the management was reluctant to talk to the workers' representatives and did not respond to a successful strike call, a dharna and a gherao of the Labour Commissioner's office. Then union decided to organise a blockade which continued for eight days resulting in huge losses to the owners of the farm. This ultimately forced the management to reopen the estate and come to the negotiation table.

In another incident at Manomay Tea Estate, workers bravely resisted police 's illegal attempt of forcibly taking into costody two of their Union leaders without any offense with an intension to terrorise the workers, and forced the police to retreat when it had to face a militant gherao.

AISA in Delhi University Elections

The All India Students' Association has once again proved itself as the main centre of the Left among students of the Delhi University. While participating in DUSU elections, it raised the issues of communal fascism, privatisation of education and saffronisation of curriculum alongwith many issues of local importance in a its election campaign and secured more votes than the candidates jointly fielded by SFI-PSU on president and secretary's posts.

Make 28 September Ahmedabad Convention A Great Success!
An Appeal to All Secular and Democratic Indians

Gujarat Is No Laboratory for Fascist Experiments
Save Gujarat, Save India

First they used the Godhra carnage to unleash a series of well-planned anti-Muslim pogroms. Then they wanted to use the Gujarat genocide to intimidate the whole country into submission, enforce early elections and reap a bumper harvest at the hustings. But the fascist calculations seem to be going awry. Gujarat and India have stood up against the monstrous design of the Modi-Advani murder machine. In fact, except the BJP's American masters, the entire civilised world has condemned the Gujarat genocide in one voice. The call for dismissal of the Modi government has emerged as the foremost battle cry for all secular and democratic Indians.

Words of protest and indignation have also been backed by a good deal of positive action. Courageous journalists and committed activists have defied the VHP-BJP terror machine to expose the murky design and systematic execution of the genocide and highlight the untold plight of the thousands of victims. The working people and secular intelligentsia from all corners of the country have joined hands to organise relief and rehabilitation campaign against all odds. The Election Commission has refused to agree to the Modi government's mischievous plea for early elections. And now the Supreme Court has upheld the Election Commission's paramount authority in this regard.

Modi and his men now have no right whatsoever to govern Gujarat in any capacity. Imposition of President's Rule and its administration by a credible and non-RSS Governor is the crying need of the hour. The promise of rehabilitation has to be saved from turning into a cruel joke for the thousands of Muslim families who have either no place to return to or are being physically prevented from returning to the terror-stricken riot-ravaged remnants of what used to be their homes. And most crucially, for political confidence to be restored the killers, including the Modis, the Togadias and the Zadafias have to be arrested and punished without any further delay.

At this juncture, we the undersigned individuals and organisations, representing a broad spectrum of opinions ranging from revolutionary Communists to Socialists and Gandhians, are organising a convention in Ahmedabad on 28 September to raise and reflect on these key demands and strengthen the voice of democratic resistance against the communal fascist designs of the Modi-Advani clique. Activists and concerned citizens from neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan and also from Delhi and some other parts of the country are expected to join workers and activists from Ahmedabad and elsewhere in Gujarat to attend this convention and take out a united anti-fascist march for justice and democracy.

Gujarat cannot be allowed to be reduced to a graveyard of democracy and laboratory of fascism. Gujarat rejects the sinister peace and order of a graveyard. Gujarat covets the din and bustle of a living and civilised society where the common man and woman can pick up the threads of communal harmony, rebuild their lives and resume their struggle for justice and democracy in a climate of mutual respect and trust.

We solicit your valuable support and participation in every manner to make the convention and the march a reassuring success.