Awaiting the February Fallout

As we write these lines, UP is getting ready for the last and most crucial phase of the Assembly elections. The exit polls, however, already seem to be confirming what had been predicted by several pre-poll opinion surveys. All indications point to a massive defeat for the Akali-BJP alliance in Punjab, while UP seems all set for yet another precariously hung house. Even in the newly carved out hill state of Uttaranchal, the sailing does not seem to be any smoother for the saffron establishment.

Vajpayee virtually conceded defeat quite early in the day when in early February he said that the results of the Assembly polls would not have any impact on the stability of the NDA government at the Centre. This, after the BJP went all out to reduce the entire poll agenda in these states to the single issue of terrorism and anti-Pakistanism! A defeat for the BJP in these states can only mean, among other things, a popular rejection of the saffron line of combating terrorism through POTO and collaboration with the US imperialism.

Advani too admitted as much when in his February 18 press conference in Lucknow he said he was only 'optimistic' and not confident about BJP and its allies securing a majority in the UP Assembly. His furious and obsessive fulmination against Pakistan and Musharraf in the press conference would make you feel as though elections were being held not in Uttar Pradesh but in Pakistan and Advani was fighting against Musharraf to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan!

Advani's disciple and outgoing Chief Minister Rajnath Singh in fact went so far as to say that his defeat would construe a victory for Musharraf! The Sangh Parivar at large too seems reconciled to the possibility that the days of not only the UP government but also the NDA government at the Centre are also numbered. Hence the desperation with which the VHP has raked up the Mandir agenda.

The political focus in Lucknow and Delhi has already shifted to possible games of post-poll numbers. Another opportunist tie-up between the BJP and BSP is once again on the cards. In this election, the BSP set a new record in giving tickets to upper caste criminals and accommodating all kinds of feudal reactionary forces. It remains to be seen how far the BSP can hold this motley combination in the electoral aftermath. By all indications, the next few days, possibly weeks, will witness intense horse-trading and political wheeling-dealing for the formation of government.

To be sure, the eastern region of UP has also witnessed the beginning of a red resurgence in this election. On becoming Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh had identified Naxalism as a key challenge before the saffron rule in the state and he virtually clamped down a reign of unmitigated police terror and repression in the districts of Eastern UP, especially in the Chandouli-Sonebhadra-Mirzapur belt. Electioneering in the region has also been marked by the same spate of state repression combined with feudal and mafia violence. Yet, defying all this, tens of thousands of landless agricultural labourers, poor peasants, artisans and toilers covering the entire dalit-adivasi-minority social spectrum have begun to rally around the revolutionary red flag of the CPI(ML).

As the fallout of the February elections begins to crystallise, revolutionary communists will have to go all out to harness this new potential of a red resurgence. As the communal fascists play their Mandir mischief, revolutionary democratic forces will have to take the lead to offer a determined resistance to this fascist campaign. As heads begin to roll in Chandigarh and Lucknow, more heads are destined to follow suit elsewhere. In the aftermath of February, let the country encircle and oust the thugs in Delhi.

CPI(ML) Calls for EC's Intervention in Eastern U.P.

Com. Dipankar addressed a press conference in Delhi on 19 February in which he revealed that out of grave concern over the growing incidence of pre-poll intimidation of the oppressed rural poor in the Chandauli-Sonebhadra-Mirzapur region of Eastern UP, the Party has submitted an urgent memorandum to the Election Commission demanding immediate transfer of the DIG of Varanasi and SSP of Mirzapur who are violating every code of conduct to harass and persecute CPI(ML) candidates, activists and supporters. The memorandum has pointed out that free and fair elections are absolutely impossible with such anti-poor feudal-minded police officials at the helm.

Rajnath Singh government of Uttar Pradesh has declared these districts as Naxalite-infested and has virtually unleashed an unbridled reign of police repression to curb the growing assertion of landless agricultural labourers and downtrodden dalits and adivasis. The CPI(ML) has been the only party challenging the police-feudal mafia terror in the region, as witnessed in Party's consistent campaign on Bhawanipur massacre issue.

Com. Dipankar also revealed that defying this reign of terror and repression, tens of thousands of dalits and adivasis have risen in struggle for their basic rights. Thousands of people thronged the party's election rallies. Therefore Rajnath Singh government has begun to threaten CPI(ML) activists and supporters with dire consequences, he said. He also cited the recent case of abduction of a 10-year old girl by police in Naugarh.

He appealed to democratic rights organisations and the print and electronic media to closely monitor the election process in the Chandauli-Sonebhadra-Mirzapur region on February 21 and ensure that the oppressed rural poor are not disenfranchised.

Memo to the EC on Eastern UP

A memorandum to the Election commission was sent on 19 February on the situation of eastern UP where administration and police are acting against CPI(ML) in an open and declared way. Earlier the DGP of UP had stated that CPI(ML) is "political shelter" and "armour" of the 'Naxalites', now the whole police force in the region has been set against us and in pursuance of this bias, no security guards have been provided to any CPI(ML) candidate in the whole eastern UP despite submitting written requisitions. The DIG of Varanasi range summons Party activists to Police Station and threatens them, forces them to sign a bond without any reason. In Rajgarh constituency of Mirzapur, a house owner is not only threatened by the police for letting his house to CPI(ML) for opening Party's election office but actually implicated in false cases. The administration falsely issue a notice alleging that the candidate had violated Sec.144 while submitting nomination. The police even obstructs Party leaders from raising the issue of human rights concerning Bhawanipur massacre during the election propaganda. Party activists conducting propaganda are put in lock up for several days for just no reason. People coming to attend election meetings are harassed and flags and banners are taken off. In Chandauli, Sakaldiha and Dhanapur, the administration refuses to give permission for election meetings. In Sonebhadra, slogans written on the walls of houses with consent of the house owners are wiped clean by the police force. In Bhatpar Rani of Deoria, the CO reaches Party's election office to terrorize the Party workers and hired vehicles of Party candidate are seized, Party comrades and even the driver is beaten in police station.

Apart from these instances, a general campaign of police repression in the name of search operations is going on in the villages under support base of CPI(ML) to intimidate the voters. In one such ghastly incident, police from Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts raided Bholahi-Bhardua village under Naugarh P.S. of Chandauli district on February 15, 2002 in the name of searching for arms. They particularly ransacked a dalit tola of 9-10 household and caught a 10-year old girl Sheela d/o Ram Dular, tied her by a rope and hung her inside a well. Thereafter the police took away the girl and since then the girl is missing. Such inhuman repression is going on over the support base of CPI(ML).

In this light, the memorandum demands from the EC to closely monitor the polls particularly in Mirzapur-Sonebhadra-Chandauli region, immediately suspend the DIG of Varanasi, the S.S.P. of Mirzapur, the SHO of Marihan PS in Rajgarh.

Election Rallies in Uttaranchal & UP

In Uttaranchal, Party GS Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya addressed six mass meetings at Srinagar, Someshwar, Ramnagar, Nainital, Lalkua (Dhari) and Dineshpur (Pantnagar) in which he asserted that the Congress is no alternative to BJP and in fact there is no opposition in assemblies and parliament as neither SP nor BSP can provide the alternative. During 14 months of BJP rule in Uttaranchal, mafia's grip has strengthened over the administration. Almost all parties are trying to sideline the basic issues affecting the people.

Com. Rajaram Singh, Party's deputy leader in Bihar Legislative Assembly, accompanied Com. Dipankar throughout the tour and addressed mass meetings, beside Com. Raja Bahuguna, CCM and Incharge of Uttarakhand unit of Party.

Coming to UP, Com. Dipankar addressed an election meeting at Barkhera. He was accompanied by Com. Krishna Adhikari, CC member. In Eastern UP, Com. Dipankar along with Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, State Secy. addressed massive election rallies, participated in by thousands of people, in Chakia, Rajgarh, Chunar, Zamania, Sikandarpur, Mughalsarai and Allahabad West.

Protest Demo at Chapra PS in W.B.

Party's Nadia Distt. Committee and Krishimajur Sangram Samiti organised a militant mass protest and gherao of police officials in Chapra police station against the illegal detention of Com. Thandu Sheikh and six other comrades from agricultural labourers, who have been arrested on false cases, tortured by the police and sent to jail. Addressing the gathering Com Subimal Sengupta, Kajal Duttagupta, Sajal Pal, Bijoy Saha and Biman Biswas warned that if the charges against the comrades are not dropped, CPI(ML) will soon organise Nadia Bandh.

Protest meetings by BCMF-AICCTU

BCMF-AICCTU organised protest meetings in Mahadeo Jute Mill (Bally) and Angus Jute Mill (Bhadreswar) respectively on February 4 and 8. Thousands of workers assembled in the meetings burnt copies of the black agreement recently signed by the official trade unions. Com. Basudev Bose and Atanu Chakraborty, along with Jute worker leaders Com. Amal Chatterjee, Susil Ghosh and Batakrishna Das addressed the meetings. They appealed to the workers to participate in Feb. 12 rally to submit a memorandum to the CM demanding fresh agreement.

Against the downsizing in Joy Engineering Works in Kolkata, a protest meeting was held in Banshdroni on Feb. 10. Now only 80 out of 942 workers-employees will have their jobs, rest will be forced to accept VRS. Com Mantu Ghosh, Gen. Secy. of Joy Mazdoor Union and Com. Basudev Bose appealed to the workers to launch a united militant movement against this anti-worker policy of the management.

Convention to Oppose Anti-people Health Reforms

The newly-formed "Concern for Health" organised a convention on Feb. 11 at the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata opposing the recent reforms in Govt. health services in West Bengal. Inaugurating the convention Prof. P.K Sarkar, Director of the School, pointed out that one of the conditionalities attached to the loan received by the WB Govt. from the World Bank is that the hospital charges must be raised. Dr. Subir Ganguli, president of IMA West Bengal branch held that the health reforms and charge increment were totally unjustified and anti-poor. He appealed to the medical community to get organised and join the people's movement against increase in hospital charges. Dr. Jaganmoy Panda spoke for the Forum and Dr. Debasish Dutt chaired the convention. The convention resolved to hold a series of mass awakening campaigns against the anti-people reforms in Govt. health service.

Dharna by DTC Workers

DTC Workers' Unity Centre organised a mass dharna at the headquarters at I.P. Estate against the Delhi Govt. move to privatise and introduce contract system in a big way in the DTC. The dharna was organised following a fortnight-long campaign during which gate meetings were held at all major bus depots throughout Delhi. The meeting was addressed by Com. Swapan Mukherjee, Gen. Secy. of AICCTU, Com Rajendra Pratholi, Delhi State Party Secy., Com. Santosh Roy, President and NM Thomas, Gen. Secy. of DTCWUC, Com. Sankaran and other leaders. Com. VS Shukla conducted the dharna. A memorandum was submitted to the Chairman after the dharna.

In Delhi, mass meetings were held under 'Exposure Campaign' meant at exposing the anti-poor and anti-labour policies of BJP and Congress at Shashi Garden, Bhikam Singh Colony, Shakarpur Pushta, Vinod Nagar, Geeta Colony and Narela.

Mahila Adhikar Rally in Bihar

Mahila Adhikar (Women's Right) Rally was held at state level in Patna on 12 February on the main issues of security, employment and development. Around 4,000 women marched from Gandhi Maidan to Income Tax Square where a meeting was held, addressed by the main speaker Com. Kumudini Pati, Gen. Secy. of AIPWA, and also by Saroj Chaube, president and Shashi Yadav, secretary of its Bihar unit, Kunti Devi of Khet Mazdoor Sabha, Bharti S Kumar and Dr. Aman of Tehriq-e-Niswan. In Bihar, incidents of rape, abduction and other atrocities against women have been on increase even in the year of women empowerment. Even women representatives elected to panchayats were beaten by police, e.g. Leela Devi of Dulhin Bazar in Patna district. Speakers warned that if this menace is not checked, AIPWA will intensify its movement against the Govt. They also demanded resolution of unemployment problem that has further aggravated with the introduction of harvester combines forcing agrarian labourer women to opt migration. Speakers also demanded that in panchayats seats must be reserved for women also for the key posts of Mukhiya or chairperson and corruption related to development fund must be immediately checked.

Women's Torchlight Rally in Rajasthan

On 14 February AIPWA in Jaipur, along with other left and democratic women's groups and other concerned citizens, took out a torchlight rally at night to Badi Chaupad, a busy square in the centre of Jaipur, to protest the growing atrocities on women and the negative role of the police and administration in taking any concrete action. Protesters carried placards and shouted slogans all along the route. At Badi Chaupad a public meeting was held addressed by various women's leaders including Com Srilata, President of Aipwa, in which she drew attention to the fact that 14 February was being celebrated as Valentine's Day and 'love' was not only being commercialised by the rich in meaningless acts of increased consumerism but was being equally meaninglessly opposed by the saffron brigade. Both these extreme groups were, at the same time, also responsible for the terrible exploitation of women and their present degraded conditions and that if women were to be truly 'loved' it is not with roses and diamonds but by giving them equality, freedom and security! A joint memorandum was also given to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan demanding positive action for the safety and security of women in the state.

Vigorous Campaign for March 14 Rally in Bihar

In Bihar, Party committees have geared up preparations for March 14 "Save Democracy" Rally in Patna. For thousands of Party cadres, activists and sympathisers, it is time for making painstaking efforts for massive mobilisation. Propaganda campaign for the Rally is being taken to every nook and corner of the state. The Rally is against the systematic subversion of democracy in Bihar as well as in the whole country, against the state-sponsored mafia-feudal-police attacks on the masses. The rally is for the heightened assertion of the poor and toiling masses, for development and democracy, and for building a new Bihar, a prosperous and democratic Bihar. The preparations for Rally had begun on Feb 1, when a state-wide cadre convention was held, attended by 5000 cadres form all the 35 districts of the state. Mass organisations of the Party have also intensified their campaign to make the rally a historic one. Party state Committee has distributed one lakh leaflets, lakhs of handbills, 75,000 posters and around a thousand appeal letters.

According to the reports upto Feb 18, Party leaders are undertaking padyatras in every district and addressing village-level mass meetings. Number of such meetings is around 100 to 150 in districts like Nalanda, Jahanabad and Bhojpur; but the campaign has spread to many more villages. Similar reports have come from Patna, Rothas, Buxar, Kaimur, Nawada, Muzaffarpur, East & West Champaran, Darbhanga, Siwan, Gopalganj, Vaishali, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, Purnea, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura. At Runni Saidpur in Sitamarhi and in Vaishali, padayatras were attacked by local feudals and criminals but Party cadres put up resolute resistance.

All Party senior leaders, including PB members Com. Ram Naresh Ram and Nand Kishor Prasad, CC members Com. Amar, Saroj Chaube, Pawan Sharma, KD Yadav and Com. Rameshwar Prasad, Gen. Secy. of the Khet Mazdoor Sabha, Com. Prabhat Chaudhary, State Standing member, and Com. Rajaram Singh are leading campaign in various district. Other Party leaders have also joined the padayatra in their respective blocks.

Student-Youth March Against Bhagalpur Firing

Thousands of students and youth from various centres of the state marched to Bhagalpur on 14 Feb. amidst heavy police deployment in the town. A mass protest meeting was held at Teachers' Training College ground and once again demanded suspension and arrest of the DM and the SSP of Bhagalpur as well as the Vice Chancellor of Bhagalpur University. Leaders warned the Rabri-Laloo Govt. to mend their ways or else face the wrath of students and youth. AISA and RYA along with several other left student-youth organisations had called for 'March to Bhagalpur' after their successful call of Bihar Bandh on February 6. However, the ABVP and the ruling RJD's student-youth organisations had from the beginning supported the authorities' move of fee hike and tried to save the VC. 'March to Bhagalpur' was led by RYA leaders Mithilesh Yadav and Kamlesh Sharma and AISA leaders Suraj, Dharmendra and Navin.

Fast Unto Death in Jharkhand

Com. Mahendra Singh, CC member and MLA of Jharkhand is on fast unto death since 16 February to secure justice and proper compensation to the victims of Lewatanr as well as to get the culprits arrested. This has imparted a new energy to the movements against govt.-sponsored repression and violence. After Topkara, Doranda, Banjari and Kurpania, the incident of Lewatanr has laid bare the police raj features of Marandi Govt. This village of 150-odd Santhal households, situated in Bokaro district, was raided by CISF jawans on 15 January 2002, who mercilessly thrashed people including children, women and old aged ones, looted their property and raped a number of women there. Despite promises of quick action, the administration has not arrested a single person so far.

Party GS Com. Dipankar in a statement from Varanasi warned the Govt. that in case it fails to take the required steps, CPI(ML) along with democratic-justice loving forces will intensify the movement. In the meantime MCC (AK Roy), Displaced Panchayat (Bokaro), Ranchi University Teachers Association, Jharkhand Ulgulan Manch, etc. have expressed their support to the movement. The Party staged a "Bokaro March" on 14 February to warn the administration that in case the administration fails to punish the culprits and give compensation to the victims, the MLA of CPI(ML) will start fast unto death on 16 February before DC Office at Bokaro. Starting his fast Com. Mahendra Singh said that although budget session of the Assembly is important, more important is to secure justice to the victims of Jharkhand and put the criminals endangering the dignity of Jharkhandi women behind the bars. AIPWA had earlier organised a human chain in protest to this incident.

Under pressure the Chief Minister had to go to Lewatanr the next day of the fast unto death. Answering a question regarding the fast, the speaker falsely stated that victims have been paid compensation. In order to intensify the movement, Party's Jharkhand State Committee has held state-wide dharna on 18 February. Continuous dharna is going on in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamu and Dumka, the four divisional headquarters of the state. In the next phase, North Chhotanagpur Bandh has been proclaimed on 22 February. According to the latest reports, the Govt. claimed that warrants have been issued and compensation has been sanctioned. But Com. Mahendra Singh said that only when the culprits are sent to jail will he break the fast.

Oppression of Muslims in W. B.

A party team led by Com. Meena Pal and Basab Ghosh visited Swarupnagar on 6 Feb. to have a first hand information from the Muslim masses and madrasa people about the continuous raids and harassment campaign conducted by W.B. police in the name of nabbing 'Muslim terrorists'. The team met the local residents and madrasa teachers who were arrested 'mistakenly'. The people in that area are under psychological pressure and even panic. Three of the madrasa teachers revealed that a large contingent of police force entered the madrasa without any permission from the school authority and arrested three teachers. They were bonded by a rope, handcuffed and dragged out of the school. They are ABTA members and even CPM sympathisers, but of their 'Hindu' comrades intervened to rescue them from the police. Taken first to Basirhat and then to Bidhannagar police stations, they were abused in a communal filthy language, and not given any food or water till the next evening.

They were interrogated for "foreign terrorist links". Though the chief minister has withdrawn his anti-Muslim, anti-madrasa statement after loud protests from all quarters, police raids are still continuing in that area. Even the CPM's MLA who happens to be a Muslim failed to protect or organise the Muslim masses against police harassment due to the pressure from above.

Kolkata District Party Committee decided to organise series of public meetings in Tiljala, Topsia, Khidirpur - the thick Muslim populated areas where police harassment of innocent Muslim masses has not abetted.

Not only in South Bengal but also in North Bengal police harassment of Muslim masses is going on. After arresting of one so-called ISI agent in border region near Bangladesh, the police raided the Muslim dominated areas in Siliguri, dragged innocent people to police stations and asked them of their "foreign links" and "foreign funding". Against this backdrop the Siliguri Town Committee organised the Muslim masses in a struggling forum -- Sangrami Mohalla Utthan Committee in Ward No. 6 of Siliguri municipal area. The Committee distributed thousands of leaflets and held a mass meeting there on 6 Feb. Com Abhijit Majumdar and Com. Mujammal Haque spoke in the mass meeting and asked the people to keep vigil against police activities. They urged them to hold immediate protest programmes and call the Party in case any illegal arrest is made in the area or any innocent person is caught and tortured by the police in the name of terrorist.