Calls upon the Party ranks and all concerned organisations and the people to join nationwide protests on March 15

The PB welcomed the worldwide explosion of mass protests against the threatened US-led war on Iraq as a very significant and inspiring turn in international politics. This marks the biggest mobilisation of popular forces against imperialist aggression since the days of Vietnam war. Rarely has the world witnessed a mass wave which has hit so many countries at a time and with such great intensity and sharp clarity. It is also remarkable that this movement has succeeded not just in articulating mass anger against war and the economic (related primarily to oil) and military-industrial interests and hegemonic design behind it, but also in transforming this mass anger into a tangible political pressure which cannot be disregarded by the arrogant Bush administration and its allies, the so-called 'coalition of the willing'.

The pressure can particularly be felt in countries whose governments have sided with the US-led war campaign. The power of the protest movement can also be assessed in terms of the fissures being witnessed in various Parliaments. In Britain more than 100 Labour Party MPs have voted against the Blair government's pro-war move while the Turkish Parliament has overruled the government's earlier decision to allow the US to use the soil of Turkey for opening a war front against Iraq.

The anti-war mass wave has also sharpened the inter-imperialist contradiction and strengthened the trend towards a multipolar world. Countries like Germany, France, Russia and China have so far strongly opposed the American war move. The Franco-German opposition has created a fissure in the framework of NATO and the US support in Europe is now concentrated mostly in what Washington calls 'new Europe' - as opposed to the old Europe which revolves around the Franco-German axis - comprising mostly countries of the former Soviet bloc and Eastern Europe. Governments of many third world countries are also extending quite active opposition to the war.

The NDA government of India has adopted a pro-US stance in the name of pursuing a middle road. Even at a popular level, the articulation of anti-war mass sentiment in India has been relatively weak in India which once again reveals the urgency of strengthening the anti-imperialist nationalism of the Indian people vis-à-vis the saffron brigade's campaign for 'cultural nationalism' or 'Hindu Rashtra'. As revolutionary communists we are determined to do all we can to build a powerful anti-war anti-imperialist campaign. The anti-war movement must reject war by all means - no matter whether the US can manage a UN approval or not. To express solidarity with the international anti-war campaign, all units of the Party will organise protests on March 15, the day anti-war activists have resolved to gherao the White House. We must remain ever alert and prepared to ensure that any US-led military action is met with prompt and powerful mass protests.

Besides welcoming the worldwide protests against threatened US war on Iraq (see front page), the Polit Bureau deliberations also included following points in its recently held meeting at Patna from 4 to 6 March.

Assembly Elections in Four States:

The Assembly Election results have marked a popular rejection of the NDA and especially the BJP and its anti-people policies and communal politics. While the North-eastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland have largely reflected the existing patterns, in Himachal Pradesh the BJP has suffered a major rout. The BJP's defeat came in spite of an aggressive campaign which saw Modi spew all his notorious venom and Advani and Vajpayee say everything in support of Ayodhya. The Congress campaign on the other hand was very defensive and the dominant voice emerging from within the Congress, especially from Congress-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is one of acquiescence and competitive communalism. The Himachal outcome has to be seen as a vindication of popular anger against the BJP's misrule marked by rampant corruption, growing unemployment and sky-rocketing prices.

Our direct participation in these elections was limited to only 9 Assembly seats of Tripura where Party nominees have polled a total of a little over 3,000 votes. This is the first time we contested so many seats in Tripura and in several new areas we have succeeded in converting our mass work among unorganised workers and tribal people into a primary political support for the Party. We must work harder to build on the possibilities that have opened up for the Party's advance in the state.

Economic Survey and the Annual Budget:

This year's Economic Survey has punctured the mythical bubble of economic growth. Contrary to false claims of 8-10% growth, the official growth rate has now come down to only around 4%. What is most alarming is that the agricultural sector, on which 70% of India's one billion people still demand for livelihood, has actually recorded a negative growth rate, it has declined by 3.1%. The survey has also recorded a sustained decline in employment growth rate which now hovers around only 1% which is just a fraction of the annual population growth rate of more than 2%.

Far from addressing the basic issues of employment generation, agricultural growth and economic recovery, the budget has granted additional concessions to foreign capital and to the corporate sector and consumerist sections of the middle classes. As for the overwhelming majority of the working people and for the state of the overall economy, the budget has only imposed additional burden by effecting a steep rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and fertilizers.

Economic analysts and political commentators have generally described this year's railway and general budgets as exercises in election-oriented populism. What is really significant is that even this populism has nothing to offer to the labouring and poor people. Present-day 'populism' is all about keeping the corporate secctor and the vocal sections of the middle classes in good humour. The political economy of this year's budgetary exercises is marked by complete exclusion of the toiling masses from economic calculations and more institutionalised absorption of the neo-liberal thrust of global capitalism.

We must organise and encourage struggles of the affected sections of the people - peasants and agricultural labourers, workers, unemployed youth, small savers and lower middle classes - against the adverse implications of the latest budget and demand reversal of the policies and roll-back of the price hikes. The recent demonstration of trade unions in Delhi has resolved to go in for a day's strike later during this budget session of Parliament. The party must extend full support to any such strike action and other agitations of the trade unions.

Intensifying Comprehensive Preparation for a Stronger Resistance:

In spite of the BJP's Himachal defeat, we must not underestimate the BJP or the severity of the fascist threat posed by the saffron brigade. In any case, the BJP has clearly stepped up its political offensive and the countdown has begun not only for the major Assembly elections coming up later this year but also for the next Lok Sabha election scheduled in 2004. The BJP's aggressive campaign revolves around Ayodhya and an accompanying series of issues and symbols geared towards its essential campaign for transforming India into a fascist Hindu Rashtra.

On Ayodhya the BJP is using all means to mount pressure on the judiciary. Advani's recent statement indicating the BJP's readiness to enact a legislation to facilitate the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya marks a significant departure from the BJP's earlier position that the Ayodhya issue should be resolved either juridically or through negotiations. The unveiling of a portarit of Savarkar, an early proponent of two-nation theory and of a Hindu Rashtra backed by a highly militarised, aggressive and regimented framework of Hinduism who was also prosecuted as an accused in the Gandhi assassination case, at the central hall of Parliament is quite in tune with the BJP's Hindu Rashtra campaign.

The BJP's NDA partners clearly do not have the guts to challenge the open violation of the so-called NDA agenda of governance. For all the secular rhetoric of Sonia Gandhi and Arjun Singh, the Congress too is essentially engaged in a an exercise of competitive Hindutva, trying to appropriate the BJP's issues and icons and defeat it at its own game. Far from exposing this suicidal political line of the Congress, the dominant view in the CPI(M) and the CPI seeks to forge an alliance with the Congress and various forms and platforms are currently being explored for this purpose. We must squarely oppose this pro-Congress orientation and combat all vacillation and wavering among the Left forces and boldly articulate the need for a Left-led democratic resistance, for a Left-led consolidation of democratic forces. To this end, we must initiate a process of active interaction with the whole range of Left forces.

We must step up our independent campaign against the fascist threat and the growing intervention of imperialism. To equip the campaign with suitable education materials and more organised information and analysis, the Party Central Committee will publish a series of popular booklets on topical subjects. These booklets will aim at x-raying the imperialist war machine and the intricate organic links between imperialism and the fascist project of the Sangh parivar, exposing the real meaning of the saffron thesis of cultural nationalism and invoking the legacy and vision of anti-imperialist progressive Indian nationalism to combat the fascist propaganda and analysing the gamut of economic policies and their disastrous impact on the living and working conditions of the people.

Fulfilling New and Pending Tasks:

The Polit Bureau heard reports of the meetings of various State Conmmittees, and different central departments and zones. The new year has begun amidst powerful movements in Bihar and Jharkhand. In West Bengal, on the eve of the panchayat elections mass disillusionment is again on the rise. In Assam, renewed effort has started to expand and strengthen our organisation among tea garden workers. Attempts are on in Karbi Anglong to revive the Autonomous State movement and energise the cultural and student organisations. In Tamil Nadu, there are some signs of a new initiative being unleashed on the working class and agrarian labour fronts. In Karnataka, two successful Marxist seminars have been held in February under the banner of IIMS in Mysore and Bangalore. An Oriya journal of the Party has just been launched in Orissa.

While welcoming this new determination and spirited efforts, the PB called upon the entire Party to take up the following tasks with still greater vigour: (i) Conducting organised study of the Party's 7th Congress Report down to at least block level
(ii) Completing membership renewal tasks latest by 31 March
(iii) Moving towards an all-India organisation of Agricultural Labourers on the basis of at least one million members and powerful and functional organisations in several states
(iv) Ensuring a new culture of systematic functioning, vibrant initiatives and expanding membership in all mass organisations
(v) Guaranteeing a circulation of 10,000 for Lok Yudh and at least 1,500 paid subscribers for Liberation (state units not having a specific target as yet must draw up their targets immediately)
(vi) Launching constituencywise preparation for the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
International Women's Day Observed by AIPWA

On 8 March, the International Women's Day this year, the month-long 'National Campaign against War and Communal Fascism, For Employment and Women's Rights' launched by AIPWA culminated with a call to stop the US war design against Iraq and halt the BJP's bid to polarise the country on communal lines. Apart from demanding immediate passage of women reservation bill, AIPWA raised the issue of women being thrown out of skilled organised work, being subjected to the most barbaric forms of violence and deprived of all their hard-earned rights - whether economic, political or social.

In Delhi, AIPWA and other women's organisations took out the procession from Feroz Shah Kotla grounds to Mandi House. Addressing the gathering there Srilata Swaminathan, AIPWA President, called for resolutely opposing US threats of war on Iraq. Hitting out at saffron fascist riot-mongers, she said that they have butchered and raped women in Gujarat and will do the same all over the country in the name of Ram Mandir, cow slaughter, conversions and the like. Women should not allow them to be used as fodder for this game and raise the slogan 'Trishul nahin, Rozgar chahiye'. She called upon women to resist violence and fascist terror through their organised might.

She demanded 'Women Reservation Bill' be passed in its original form in the present session. She said that the govt. policies will have an adverse impact especially on the working class women in urban areas and in agriculture.

In Bihar, thousands of women under AIPWA banner staged a demonstration before the chief minister Rabri Devi in Patna and expressed their wrath against rape, killings and abduction. Women from Samastipur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Jahanabad, Gaya, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Bhabhua, Baxar, Nalanda, Nawada and Bhagalpur also joined this demonstration. A women's rally well-decorated with banners and flags was brought out from Gandhi Maidan. Rallyists demanded release of women leaders and nurses arrested in Gaya and arrest of the killers of nurse Malti Devi. When the processionists were stopped at Hartali Chowk, they held a mass meeting there and demanded chief minister to come out and meet the agitators. The meeting was addressed by Com. Saroj Chaube, President of AIPWA Bihar unit, and other AIPWA leaders Shashi Yadav, Dr. Shahida Hasan, Anita Sinha and Prof. Bharati S Kumar. A memorandum containing 15-point charter of demand was handed over to the chief minister.

Women cultural activists and artists presented there programme at the meeting place. AIPWA leaders warned that if the chief minister does not fulfil the assurances given to the AIPWA delegation, women will go for chakka jam throughout Bihar on 25 March.

In Jharkhand, AIPWA organised a state-level seminar at Ranchi on 8 March on the topic "Condition of women under Marandi Rule and the Orientation of Women's Liberation Movement". The seminar was presided and conducted by AIPWA State President Gunni Oraon and Secretary Meena. It was inaugurated by Dayamani Barla from Jharkhand Ulgulan Manch and Com. Mahendra Singh, MLA was the main speaker. Other speakers included Malanch Ghosh from Committee for Struggle against Oppression on Women and Manorama Tirkey of Jharkhand Achara Mahila Samiti.

International Women's Day was observed in Rajasthan collectively by various women organisations by holding a mass meeting and cultural programmes at Ramniwas Bagh, Jaipur.

In U.P., a demonstration was staged in Lucknow before chief minister Mayawati challenging her pro-dalit and pro-women credentials.

In Assam mass demonstrations and cultural programmes were organised in 12 districts. The main issues were the high incidence of gang-rapes of minors and women by criminals and militants and the complicity of the law-enforcing machinery, as well as communal violence in the state. Such programmes were also organised in Chennai, Pondicherry, Vijayawada, Kolkata and Durg, and also in Punjab, Haryana and other places. Drought Relief Movement Launched in Andhra

In Andhra Pradesh, CPI(ML) State Committee recently took some bold initiatives on the drought issue. Responding to the call issued by State Committee Mandal level dharnas were held in several mandals of East Godawari, West Godawari, Krishna and Vishakha districts on 5 March in the first phase of the programme. In total dharnas were held in 18 mandals in which thousands of people participated, demanding the government to implement drought relief measures. Memorandum was submitted to the respective Mandal Revenue Officials and the officials were warned that Road Roko programme blocking the national highways will be launched if the demands are not met. Accordingly, Road Roko programme was conducted at two Mandal headquarters i.e., Yelleswaram and Kakinada Rural for 3 hours as the officials intentionally avoided to meet the people. It has been decided to continue the agitation till the demands are fulfilled. South Asia Solidarity Group Protests in London against funding of Communal Hindutwa Organisations

The London based South Asia Solidarity Group organised a torchlight procession in London on Mar 4 and demanded cancellation of registrations of Seva International and Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, RSS outfits working in UK. In a memorandum submitted to the Charity Commission of Britain, SASG has said that the Seva International and Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, registered in Britain as religious organisations, are collecting huge funds in the name of welfare activities which are being used to spread RSS's hatred campaign against minorities in India. These organisations are also spreading hatred among Asian communities in Britain through their local branches. It was demanded that Charity Commission should ban these organisations from collecting funds. SASG has deplored the fact that not a single person involved in Gujarat carnage has yet been punished so far. It has been reported that Seva International's income has tripled in last two years exceeding 21 lakh pounds. Taqi Rahim Memorial Lecture in Patna

Inquilabi Muslim Conference organised a Lecture on 'Challenges of Democracy and Indian Muslims' in the memory of Comrade Taqi Rahim on 9 March. Held at Anjuman Islamia Hall in Patna, the Lecture was initiated by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. While calling upon the democratic forces of all hues to defeat the fascist forces he stressed that the country needs a new type of mass politics. He said that millions of people in the West have refuted the theory of clash of civilisations by taking to streets opposing war. The anti-war movement has come up as a political force that even the US cannot ignore.

Com. Dipankar said that acts like the unveiling of Savarkar's portrait in Parliament and the Govt. suggesting to bring a bill to build Ram temple at Ayodhya underline the growing threat of fascism. He said that the communal fascists who are bent on reducing Muslims to second class citizens are also conducting a vicious campaign against communists who represent the future of the country. The democracy in India is facing a crisis of identity and only on the basis of a new freedom and new politics can it acquire a new identity through its struggle against fascist challenge.

The Lecture was attended by Shankar Sharan of Awami Ekta Manch, Hindi writer Prem Kumar Mani, Ibnul Hasan Basru, Khursheed Khair, Sartaj Ali, etc who paid tributes to the Com. Taqi Rahim. Savarkar Represents Hate Nationalism

Savarkar, the first person to 'theorise' Hindutwa and to advocate rape as a necessary component of Hindutwa nationalism, has been honoured with a portrait in Parliament Central Hall. Savarkar's portrait in Parliament is a symbol of BJP's blatant assertion of its model of poisonous, distorted "hate nationalism" - the model that killed Gandhiji, that held Gaurav Yatras to celebrate the rape and killing Muslim women by saffron mobs in Gujarat.

RSS-BJP, which has no history of participation in the freedom movement, is desperate to hunt for someone from the Hindutwa ranks, whom they can claim as a freedom fighter. And Savarkar is the only one whom they can prune and touch-up to fit the slot! But Savarkar's 'nationalism', too, is hardly an unadulterated legacy; Savarkar blotted his record of patriotism by his own actions.

His real self came into open after his re-arrest and trial, when he was taken to the Andamans in 1911. Before spending even a single year there, he sent a petition begging for release. In a letter dated November 24, 1913, he repeated this petition, promising to mend his ways, and become "the staunchest advocate ... of loyalty to the Government ... where else can the prodigal son return but to the parental doors of the Government?" Again in 1925, he sent a petition begging for release, and promising not to engage in politics "without the consent of the Government". By then, of course, he had produced his essay on Hindutwa (1923), and had emerged as a proponent of 'Hindu Rashtra' and his targets, in his writings as well as his politics, become the Muslims rather than the British. It became easy for him with his new-found 'Hindutwa nationalism', to keep his promises of cooperating with the British. He met Viceroy Linlithgow on October 9, 1939, as a leader of Hindu Mahasabha, and offered to collaborate with the British; this was the same month when Indian ministers in the provinces were resigning in protest. Linlithgow responded warmly, "Our interests were now the same and we must work together. Even though now the most moderate of men, he had himself been in the past the adherent of a revolutionary party ... But now that our interests were so closely bound together the essential thing was for Hinduism and Great Britain to be friends, and the old antagonism was no longer necessary."

If the Sangh's communal fascist agenda is to be defeated we must put up an uncompromising challenge to it on all fronts - its symbols, its language, its ideas and each of its acts of actual and symbolic violence needs to be vigilantly combated at every step.