Between Vajpayee’s arrival from his European tour and Advani’s departure for his ongoing trip to the headquarters of the Anglo-American imperialist axis, the country has been treated to an interesting family drama. The family in question is the country’s ruling family aka the Sangh Parivar. On the face of it, the high drama had all the trappings of an intense power struggle between the Prime Minister and his deputy. But beyond that, it also carried all the marks of the quintessential Sangh pattern of political succession and intricate division of labour.

It all came to the fore around the time when the BJP leadership went into a huddle in Hyderabad to launch Mission 2004, the party’s dream of winning 300 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls to ensure an independent majority for the party. Indications were made by none other than the party president Venkaiah Naidoo that the BJP would fight the 2004 battle under the joint command of Lauh Purush (iron man) Advani and Vikas Purush (harbinger of development) Vajpayee. While Murli Manohar Joshi described these epithets as Naidoo’s own coinage without any organisational endorsement, a senior RSS spokesman rushed to Naidoo’s defence. According to him while the whole country knows Advani as Lauh Purush at least for the last one decade, evidently for his role as the chief instigator behind the demolition of Babri Masjid, Vajpayee has earned the recognition of Vikas Purush during his five years as the Prime Minister!

Vajpayee’s reflex to this salvo fired by Naidoo was absolutely quick and spectacular. Addressing his European audience he repeatedly offered to become a martyr for his peace initiative vis-à-vis Pakistan. Peace with Pakistan or renunciation from politics became his newfound motto. And when his cabinet colleagues went to congratulate him on his return from Europe, it was time for Vajpayee to fire his surest salvo: “I am neither tired nor retired, but the party will fight the next elections under Advaniji’s leadership.” The party and the cabinet, the RSS and the allies, all are now busy reiterating their loyalty to and faith in Vajpayee’s leadership. Naidoo is now running for cover as political observers prepare a list of people, from Kalyan Singh to Govindacharya, who had to pay a heavy price for challenging Vajpayee.

Meanwhile, we also have this statement made by five of the Ayodhya accused directly naming Advani for instigating the demolition of Babri Masjid. Coming in the wake of the filing of fresh chargesheets by the CBI in the demolition case, this statement has naturally refuelled the demand for removal of Advani from the Union Cabinet. Is this statement a fallout of the leadership tussle inside the BJP or are the two just a coincidence? BJP watchers would continue to speculate on this subject.

The BJP is certainly not free from internal leadership struggle or even differing approaches on different issues. But it is simplistic to look at it as an RSS versus BJP contrast or conflict. Vajpayee is as rooted in the RSS as Advani, and for all their contrasting styles, the two have been working in tandem for decades. Regardless of the present controversy about the projection of the leadership hierarchy, Advani remains the chosen political successor of Vajpayee as has been made clear by his elevation to the specially designed post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Indeed, the Vajpayee-Advani contrast also reflects a complementarity at work. Advani instigates the demolition of Babri Masjid, Vajpayee deplores it but remains ever devoted to the temple agenda. Vajpayee talks peace with Pakistan, Advani wages a constant war of words. Vajpayee preaches Raj Dharm to Modi, Advani certifies him as the best Chief Minister of Gujarat and India. Vajpayee tours Europe to propagate his ‘initiative for peace with Pakistan’, Advani strikes strategic deals with Washington over issues like sending Indian troops to Iraq and arranging US military bases in India. Balancing the two ‘Purushes’ and their inflated images in a dynamic equilibrium may at times prove rather tricky for the managers of the Sangh Parivar, but the people of India have no dearth of suitable labels for the two. And the litterbin of Indian history has enough room to accommodate both of them with all their accumulated titles.

The role of LK Advani as the biggest conspirator and instigator in the Babri Masjid demolition case has been open knowledge in the country. Following the filing of fresh chargesheets against Advani and his two other ministerial colleagues MM Joshi and Uma Bharati by the CBI in the ongoing special court hearing, five of those accused in the case have now specifically admitted to have demolished the Masjid at the behest of Advani and other senior BJP leaders present on the spot.

In view of this most serious allegation, the CPI(ML) Central Committee demands immediate removal of LK Advani and MM Joshi from the Union Cabinet. In a fax message to the President of India, Party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has noted that the status of the two Union Ministers has now become absolutely untenable. He has called upon the President to advise the Prime Minister for immediate removal of Mr. Advani and Mr. Joshi from the Union Cabinet. The fact that Mr. Advani has been allowed to hold on to the office of the Union Home Minister in spite of being chargesheeted in the case has already caused enormous damage to the international standing of India as a democratic country and to the cause of justice. The Party has also appealed to all secular democratic forces to mount popular pressure on the Vajpayee government to ensure that exemplary punishment is meted out to the ringleaders of the Babri Masjid demolition case.

The CPI(ML), along with CPI(M) (Punjab), MCPI and Forward Bloc, held a mass convention against violence on dalits on June 8 in Jallandhar and strongly condemned the recent attack on dalits in Talhan village in Punjab, on June 5, and role of the police and said that the state government is directly responsible for this incident. The convention demanded resignation of Chief Minister Amrinder Singh and a thorough probe into the matter.

On June 5, an aggressive mob attacked dalits in Talhan village killing at least one and injured more than 20 people. Tension between dalits and upper caste was brewing in the area for a long time. The immediate cause of 5 June incident was the claim of the dalits over representation in the affairs of a local Gurudwara. Although the Sikh religion had done away with the repressive caste system centuries ago and it does not bar dalits from entering or holding positions in Gurudwaras, this particular incident amply demonstrates the persistent social domination of powerful kulak-led upper caste.

Despite having prior knowledge of this brewing tension, the state government and the local administration did nothing to stop it. This issue was also taken up with the National Commission for SCs and STs, but the Commission also remained idle. The police played a biased role on June 5 at Talhan when it opened fire on dalit protesters and helped the mob who were attacking the dalits and ransacking their property. Now when dalits are taking to the streets expressing their resentment and parties like BJP, Akali Dal and BSP are trying to make political dividends out of the situation, the Congress government in Punjab continues to show its utter disregard towards the safety and security of the dalits. Instead of arresting and punishing attackers and policemen, the administration is clamping curfew and suppressing popular protests. Though official jargons of ‘dalit empowerment’ and ‘social justice’ are becoming louder day-by-day, dalits are still struggling for their dignity and rights.

The Convention was addressed by CPI(ML) State Secretary Rajvinder Rana, CPI(M) (Punjab) leader Mangat Ram Pasla, J. S. Lyallpuri of MCPI and Jaswant Singh.

The first district conference of CPI(ML) in Sonbhadra was concluded with the slogan ‘Against Plunder and Repression by Mayawati’s rule and For Development and Democracy’ on May 29. The two day conference discussed in detail questions like transforming political impact of the Party into effective social and organizational base, to counter repression by feudals and the government, and political meaning of developing resistance struggles. It was came out during discussions that emphasise must be given to hard working and innovative work in contrast of routine style of work which generally leads to stagnation and affects the growth of mass organizations and that the resistance struggles can not be developed without intensifying mass movements.

The Conference was inaugurated by Sudhakar Yadav, member of the Standing Committee of the Party in UP while Ajanta Lohit addressed it as the observer. A thirteen member district committee was elected with Comrade Ram Gulli Chaturvedi as its Secretary.

The Communist Party of India (ML) has asked the Central government to include 'Namosudra' and other related castes of Uttaranchal and UP in the schedule of the constitution to extend them the benefits of the Scheduled castes. The CPI(ML) has criticized the ruling parties for serving only their petty political interests and not paying serious attention to the people's genuine aspirations otherwise this long pending genuine demand would have also been fulfilled along with the recent decision of the govt. to include many castes in the OBCs list.

A seminar on “Indian Revolution : Certain Burning Issues and Contending Strategies” was organised at Kottayam on 8 June. CPI(ML) Central Committee member V Shankar delivered a speech on the subject while John K Erumeli and Joy Peter initiated the discussion and O P Kunjupillai chaired it. Siraj from Lohia Vichara Vedhi, P O John and K K S Das from NDLF, Thomas Chacko of Rationalist Forum also participated in the discussion. The speakers felt that Kerala society is in turmoil as the effects of first round of progressive reforms have completed a cycle. In this backdrop, BJP’s attempts to gain control on SNDP (Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam), to divide the society along casteist and communal lines; Trishul distribution, Morad killings, etc cannot be viewed in isolation. The meeting held CPI(M)’s opportunist politics responsible for such a negative turn in the state politics.

The Safai Mazdoor Union (Sanitation Workers Union) in Allahabad Municipal Corporation went on strike on May 3 against decision of the Corporation to lay off 700 casual workers and for payment of wages pending for months as well as of arrears. The Union was asking authorities to fulfill these demands for months and despite conducting a series of protest demonstrations, dharnas, etc., the authorities and the government attitude continued to be recalcitrant. In the end the union decided to go on indefinite strike which continued for many days braving all the repressive methods of the administration. The Municipal Corporation officials tried to divide the leadership failing which they threatened to invoke ESMA. All these anti-worker tactics to sabotage the strike failed before the exemplary unity workers showed. Other employees unions of the Municipal Corporation as well as many unions from outside Corporation, Allahabad unit of State Employees Confederation and various Left and democratic forces also came up to support the cause of the Safai workers. These events forced the administration to retreat and go for an agreement acceding to all the demands after 13 days of militant struggle. So long as the government makes retreat from pro-US pro-privatisation policies, it will come up time and again with still harder attacks on the workmen, straightaway or in disguise, there is no scope for complacency. The AICCTU now plans to expend its base and go for a state level Safai Mazdoor Confederation.

CPI(ML) Rayagada district unit in Orissa undertook a Jan Chetana Abhiyan (Mass Awakening Campaign) in two blocks and conducted a padyatra from May 15 to 28. The Padyatra covered 125 villages of Geedari and Ramannaguda blocks of the district and raised various issues related to agricultural labourers. A good response was observed during the campaign where comrades addressed hundreds of people daily in mass meetings and recruited new members into the Agricultural Labourers’ Association. District Secretary Comrade Tirupati Gomango and many others led the campaign.

A militant protest was held by residents of Bhaipura Ward of Ahmedabad in Gujarat under the banner of CPI(ML) against severe water scarcity, lack of sanitation and other problems. On June 6, more than three hundred people, 100 of them women, held out a demonstration in which people carried emptygharas (earthen pitchers) over their heads to show their resentment for not getting drinking water. Demonstrators broke the gharas in front of Municipal Commissioner’s office and handed him a memorandum. Besides asking for immediate availability of drinking water, the memorandum also demanded to solve the long pending problems of sanitation, regular cleaning of the streets in the area, to stop unauthorised occupation of public places by anti-social and powerful elements, and a proper survey of all houses and residential societies in the ward to counter the menace of illegal occupation by anti-socials. The protest was led by Shyambabu Sharma, Dashrath Singhali and H. J. Pagare.

The CPI(ML) and UP Khet Mazdoor Sabha successfully launched an agitation of Tendu Patta workers at Dudhi in Sonbhadra district of UP from May 6 to demand an increase in wages, payment of pending wages, and facilities for free health services, rest houses, drinking water at workplace, accident insurance, etc. An indefinite dharna was held before the DLM office which continued for twelve days despite repeated threats from police and administration. The dharna was called off only when the officials gave a written assurance to provide facilities for free medication, drinking water and make-shift rest houses for the tendu leaves workers at each point in the area.

The Party has criticized the Mayawati govt.for reducing the already meagre funds allocated for the medical facilities to these workers to half while spending crores of rupees to strengthen police in the name of containing MCC in the region.

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU)
And
All India Agricultural labourers Association (AIALA)
Appeals you to

OBSERVE

All India Demand Day

2^nd July

For
1) Comprehensive Central Legislation for Agricultural Workers.
2) 3% of GDP for Social Security of Unorganised Labourers.
3) Guaranteeing national level Uniform Minimum Wages for Unorganised Sector.
4) Guarantee Employment Throughout the Year for Unorganised Labourers.

AICCTU along with AIALA (Khet Mazdoor Sabha) will observe 2nd July as “All India Demand Day” to raise various issues pertaining to unorganised and agriculture sector workers throughout the country. The decision was taken in the backdrop of the proposed Bill for the unorganised sector workers which contains serious lacunae. This bill clubs together the agricultural labourers and the general unorganised sector workers while there has been a consistent demand for a separate legislation for agricultural labourers. Moreover, this Bill does not make the govt. responsible for the Social Security Fund for the Unorganised sector. Even a small country, like Sri Lanka earmarked 4% of GDP for social security where as our central govt. keeps only 1.16% of the GDP and that too for the organised sector only. Keeping in view the vast unorganised sector in India with abysmally low wages and no job security, it is the primary responsibility of the central govt to provide social security to the workers of this sector. To fulfill the rising aspirations of the workers for a dignified, better life and to check inhuman exploitation, the govt. must also declare a National Floor level Minimum Wage. The study group appointed by Second Labour Commission has recommended 4500/- as minimum wage at national level, but this bill is silent about this issue.

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The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in India has seen the future of agricultural ‘development’, and its name is Vision 2020. The bad news is that 20 million people will simply have to disappear. The plan is to turn this primarily agrarian state into a kind of Singapore in the space of 20 years ...Agriculture is the lifeblood of the Andhra Pradesh economy. What is being proposed is its industrialization on a colossal scale. Excess labour will be displaced by mechanization. Small farms will be rendered efficient by ‘consolidation’ into vast, plantation-style land holdings farmed on a contract basis for corporations. Many of the crops will be genetically modified. ... hybrid and commercial seeds replace seed-saving - currently 80 per cent of India’s seed is saved from the previous harvest ...This vast social experiment is seen as a vanguard project by its backers, the British Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank.

However, Vision 2020 makes no mention of the 77 per cent of the state’s small and marginal farmers who have landholdings of less than two hectares - let alone the sharecroppers and agricultural labourers. What it does say is that the number of Andhra Pradesh’s population working in agriculture will be reduced by 40 per cent.

A recent Government ‘white paper’ categorically states: ‘The outdated paradigm of small and marginal farmers in agriculture is no longer viable.’ The AP government calls this ‘voluntary liquidation’. In Chitoor, the Chief Minister’s constituency, ...government has entered into an agreement with an Israeli-owned corporation called BHC. ... The idea behind contract farming is this: farmers agree to give over their land to grow vegetables for the company, and the company provides the seeds, inputs and technology required to grow them. The farmer has to repay these inputs over time. In return for the investment, the farmer grows what the company says and sells it to them. Usually the farmer will be paid a regular stipend - like a wage - rather than for the produce itself.

‘...there’s been a huge migration of people out to Bangalore because there is no work.’ ‘this is also a way of displacing agricultural labour... At least 60 per cent of people in villages are surviving because of agricultural labour.