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While international financial institutions, multinational corporations and the big bosses of India Inc. are waiting for the first budget of the new government to be tabled in July, there are already signs galore for the people at large to sense the direction in which the government is all set to proceed. As if the common minimum programme itself had not sufficiently spelt out this direction, the new government used the President’s address to the first joint session of Parliament to send some more reassuring signals to anyone who might have taken the government’s ‘human face’ noise seriously. The doubts that the government’s commitment to lend a human face to the reforms might push the government into a ‘populist spending spree’ were promptly put to rest by the President when he said that “the precise content and phasing of programmes will depend on both the availability of resources and the pace of improvement of the absorptive capacity of various sectors.”
In addition to issuing this general warning regarding the implementation of the CMP, the President’s address also provided the first official interpretation of the verdict of the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The address placed the verdict in the limited context of “establishing the rule of law and repairing our secular fabric”, thereby freeing it from having any implication for the government’s economic and foreign policies. Even as the President’s address borrowed copiously from the CMP, one could already see the beginning of a process of editing it in respect of certain crucial details. There was no reference in his address to any legislation for agricultural labourers. Nor was there any general assurance against privatization of profit-making PSUs. And in the domain of foreign policy, the address chose to emphasise the strategic dimension of India’s closer engagement with the US.
The dominant theme of the first parliament session was therefore to emphasise the continuity of policies despite a change of guards at the Centre. The BJP and its allies predictably made a lot of noise about the induction of tainted ministers in Manmohan Singh’s ‘otherwise clean’ cabinet, and predictably enough, the government and its allies sought to justify the inclusion by pointing out the example set by the NDA regime itself! The issue of chargesheeted ministers thus only served to highlight yet another case of continuity in the domain of political culture. There were some media allegations about the NDA government’s mishandling of the Kargil war, but Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quick to bail out the Vajpayee government on this score, once again reassuring the ruling classes that the government would not promote any ‘unwarranted debate’ on matters of national defence!
Beyond the confines of this brief session of Parliament, we had Foreign Minister Natwar Singh assuring the Bush administration about the Indian Government’s readiness to take a fresh look at the question of sending Indian troops to Iraq. Addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Singh expressed his ‘delight’ at the new UN resolution on Iraq which merely extends the period of American occupation of Iraq till 2006 and reiterated his government’s determination “to work closely with the US Administration to take the Indo-US partnership forward in all areas.” Then there was Kamal Nath, the new Minister of Commerce, telling the US-India Business Council in session in Washington “You can rest assured that there will be a host of privatization opportunities for you”. Even Arjun Singh, the impeccably ‘secular’ Minister in charge of Education who began with a lot of noise about detoxification of education now prefers to soft-pedal the issue of changing the curriculum and the communal history textbooks introduced by the previous government. The minister is now evidently more interested in attracting foreign investment in the arena of higher education!
The CPI and CPI(M) leaders tell us that they would play the role of a watchdog to oversee the implementation of the CMP. In a signed article published in People’s Democracy, Sitaram Yechury contrasts this watchdog role to that of a lap dog, even as he cites the CPI(M)’s record of extending unstinted outside support to a series of ‘friendly’ governments at the Centre. But there were little signs of this self-appointed watchdog role in the first session of the 14th Lok Sabha. There was no attempt whatsoever on the part of the CPI(M)-led Left to pin the government down on any of the ‘early signs of departure’ from the CMP. The Left moved no amendments to the motion of thanks on the President’s address. Perhaps one should not expect a disciplined watchdog to bark too often in the solemn surroundings of Parliament.
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Bihar has got the dubious distinction of having criminal gangs of different hues. Almost all such gangs have the political blessings of the ruling party, RJD. Be it the Ranvir Sena, launched by notorious feudals of Bhojpur or the MCC-PWG or several other criminal hordes operating on caste lines ... all these gangs are getting regular support and patronage from the RJD leadership.
This trend has become alarming with the formation of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre, particularly with Laloo Prasad becoming the Railway Minister. Not only that the murders and loot have increased in trains, criminal activities have also increased alarmingly in villages and towns in Bihar as if forces of darkness have attained a freehand. But, no doubt, there is a silver lining among these dark clouds. In several areas, common masses have also started coming out on the streets against this state patronised crime and anarchy.
Here we are reporting three separate incidents occurred in Bhojpur district where the people chased the criminals and punished them.
It was 12.30 at noon on 9 June when notorious criminals of the area, Lalnath and Devendra, claiming as the MCC leaders, killed a CPI(ML) supporter Sukesar Ram at Sendaha in Terari block. But within hours one of the killers, Lalnath, was spotted and caught by the people in Ara town and punished to death. He had reached Ara in search of a safe shelter after committing the murder, but was spotted by the people. The moment the killer was recognised, hundreds of people ran spontaneously and nabbed him. He was severely beaten and drowned in a canal nearby. He died in the canal.
It may be noted that in fact MCC or PWG have no base at all in Bhojpur. Some notorious criminals belonging to RJD have overnight started calling themselves as PWG or MCC leaders. Whatever it is, one thing is certain that this is another game-plan of the ruling class of Bihar to suppress the growing assertion of the rural poor in Bhojpur.
Second incident took place on 10 June in Charpokhari block of the district. Anil Ram, son the retired teacher Ram Chandra Ram, a Party supporter, was returning home by a bus. In the bus he had a minor scuffle with three people belonging to Ranvir Sena. At Mallore, when Anil Ram stepped out of the bus, all three criminals followed him and one of them shot Anil Ram dead. This time again, people chased and caught hold of two of the killers when they were trying to flee after the shooting. After a severe beating they were handed over to the police. One of them identified as Raviranjan Rai son of Shatrughan Rai of Bagar, succumbed to injuries when on the way to Ara while the other one, seriously injured, is getting medical treatment under police protection at Sadar Hospital Ara.
The third incident took place on 12 June. Three criminals killed a boy Sonu, son of Narayan Pandit, an old Party supporter at Abarpul. Sonu was an auto-rickshaw driver. Hundreds of people soon chased the killers and succeeded in nabbing two of them. They were done to death. People did everything they could to save Sonu, but he died while on the way to hospital. Agitated over the death of their friend and colleague, all auto-rickshaw drivers went on a day's strike in protest.
CPI(ML) mourns the death of Sukesar Ram, Anil Ram and Sonu and expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. The Party salutes the people of Bhojpur for their bold resistances and heroic fight against this all pervading criminalisation.
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An armed squad claimed to be of PWG killed Comrade Bikram Paswan in Rabda village of Daltonganj district in the night of 8 June. They forcibly took away Comrade Bikram outside the village in the calm of the night and brutally beat him up with lathis. As soon as Party members and other people in the village organised themselves to put up a resistance, killers fled from the spot. Comrade Bikram succumbed to injuries when he was being taken to the hospital.
Apparently, as the local people say, there is no reason as to why Bikram could be the target of the PWG. However, people in Rabda village have launched movement against local feudal-lord and RJD MLA Girnath Singh to free the lands from his illegal occupation. For quite sometime CPI(ML) is leading this movement. Girnath Singh has been resorting to all sorts of frauds and adopting sinister designs to suppress the movement of the agricultural labour and rural poor. Earlier, he had formed 'Sunlight Sena'. But it could not withstand in face of people's militant resistances. And, now, same armed gang claiming to be PWG has come up to protect lands under his possession and to teach poor villagers a lesson who dare to rise up to carry forward the land struggles.
This has been the same story being repeated umpteen number of times at many places in Bihar and Jharkhand where either 'PWG' or 'MCC' comes in open support of some domineering feudal-politician, who generally belongs to ruling RJD, and targets CPI(ML) leaders and cadres. Both of these outfits, in fact, extended their support to politicians of ruling parties during last LS elections, simultaneously calling for election boycott, and asked people to cast votes in their favour. Sometime last year, 'PWG' goons opened fire on hundreds of people assembled in a massive people's panchayat. This was organised by CPI(ML) against Inder Singh Namdhari, then Speaker in Jharkhand Assembly, to denounce his illegal occupation on lands and repression of rural poor by his henchmen.
CPI(ML) condemns these criminal acts along with the ruling BJP govt.'s acts of protecting the illegal land holdings of Girnath Singh and its prevailing nexus with criminals, feudal Senas and such outfits which is intended to curb growing people's resistance under the banner of the CPI(ML).
We express our sincere condolences on Comrade Bikram's demise.
The CPI(ML) has strongly protested the killing of three of its activists, Comrades Vidyasing Kathar, Ramsing Hanse and Joyram Rongphar, in the night of 9 June in Amlong village in Hamren of Karbi Anglong in Assam by an armed gang claimed to be "UPDS-pro talk". The armed gang entered into the village, asked the villagers to assemble, and showered gun- fire, and killed 3 persons for not voting Elwin Teran, the man who betrayed the autonomous movement and joined Cong(I) but contested election on ASDC(U) ticket. Those who voted Cong(I) were spared.
The 'UPDS- protalk' is essentially a gang of surrendered militants who are allowed to keep sophisticated weapons to spread terror. The CPI(ML) expresses deep concern over the State-sponsored terrorism coupled with the sinister game of killing Karbis by Karbis being perpetuated by the ruling classes, Congress in particular, to sabotage the autonomous movement in Karbi Anglong.
This terror is continuing for last 15 days in village after village in Hamren Sub-division. So far four CPI(ML) supporters are tortured to death. Earlier Krishna Rai was killed on 23 May at Durbintila near Jirikinding. More than one hundred have been injured and a number of CPI(ML) offices burnt down. People are so brutally terrorised that nobody is willing to speak about these incidents. In spite of several protests not a single culprit has been brought to book and this has emboldened the UPDS to carry out more such operations.
The CPI(ML) calls upon the Karbi people to foil the dangerous game plan of the ruling classes to divide the Karbi masses and transforming karbi Anglong into killing fields, isolate the Congress-BJP agents from within the movement and unite to resist all attacks on the autonomous movement and to advance the autonomous state demand movement to its logical end.
A protest march was held on 15 June in Dispur, capital of Assam, which was participated by hundreds of people who demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and restoration of normalcy in Karbi Anglong. They said that the Central as well as the state government should come to senses, stop patronising the armed outfits, take positive steps to bring back normalcy in the hill districts immediately.A five-member delegation led by Rubul Sarma and Jayanta Rongpi met the Chief Secretary, Assam in absence of the Chief Minister and handed over a memorandum. Protest programmes were also held at Tinsukia, Borgang and Sonitpur.
The Party has declared to further intensify the agitation till the demands are met and repression on CPI(ML) members and supporters is stopped. A 12-hour Karbi Anglong & N C Hills Bandh will be observed on 18 June. While a month-long mass awareness campaign is to be conducted from 20 June to 20 July which will also be joined by several cultural activists and youth, students and women's organisations. A People’s Assembly will be held at Diphu on 7 August.
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Armed UPDS goons have been unleashing a reign of terror on CPI(ML) cadres and supporters in Hamren Sub-division since the declaration of recently concluded Lok Sabha election result. During election campaign period armed UPDS cadres openly threatened people of facing serious consequences if they voted for CPI(ML) and forced people to vote either for ASDC or for Congress. Armed with polling station wise computerised result sheet of Lok Sabha election and of course brandishing AK series rifles marauding gangs of UPDS are now swooping down, village after village, those known to have voted for CPI(ML).
The modus operendi of the UPDS gangs reveal total absence of existence of law and order authority in the district. Group of 10-12 fully armed UPDS goons in battle fatigues arrive at a given village usually in the evening and identifies CPI(ML) supporters by calling names from a register they use to carry. Then they order the identified villagers to organise a feast for the group. The feast must be a grand one with meat, wine and everything. After that the victims are asked to lie down in the ground with face downwards. And then, while few armed cadres stand guard the rest carry out beating and torturing the victims till the gang leader is satisfied. This usually goes on till the feast is ready to eat. After the feast those victims who are still in a position to stand up shall be ordered to sing and dance to entertain the gang. Those who can't stand are ordered to be carried away by the fellow villagers. After the 'cultural show’ is over, the leader will sermonise the villagers with following advice
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UPDS was compelled to take this course of action because the villagers voted for CPI (ML) and defy the order of UPDS who wanted them to vote for Elwin Teron, the ASDC candidate.
- To resign from CPI(ML ) henceforth and submit the resignation letter to local ASDC secretary.
- Not to inform police or anybody. Not to take the injured one to hospital. And to bury quickly any one who dies due to the beating.
- They will come again to monitor if their order is followed this time or not.Interestingly, after one or two days of the incident a district leader of ASDC visits the village to complete the formality of forming a ASDC village committee in the village and issues a press release that CPI(ML) supporters have joined the ASDC.
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Rajasthan unit of the Party held a two-day class in Udaipur on 11-12 June. Comrade Srilata Swaminathan delivered her lecture on the basic principles of Marxism and Comrade Mahendra Singh spoke on the post-election scenario and the tasks before the Left and on strengthening the Party.
Similar class was also organised in Jhunjhunu district from 15-17 June which was addressed by Party Polit Bureau member Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya. Comrade Bhattacharya spoke on the role of the revolutionary stream represented by the CPI(ML) in the communist movement in India. He emphasised that the Party must gear up to lead the people's aspirations for a Leftward shift in Indian politics. He asked the comrades to update the understanding of class differentiations and contradictions in today's Rajasthani society to play a better and bigger role in the present political situation.
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Patna unit of AIPWA held a one-day dharna in protest against an incident of rape and murder and demanded arrest of all the accused who are roaming freely in the town despite being named in the FIR and threatening the family members of the deceased. Speakers condemned the Rabri Devi govt. for deteriorating law and order situation and increasing attacks on women. Family members of the victim, Vinita, were also present in the dharna. AIPWA announced to continue the agitation till the rapists were arrested.
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AISA protested the Bihar govt. and the University administrations for overturning their own decision regarding reservation for students passed out from Bihar School Board for University admissions. This recent decision will adversely affect thousands of poor students. AISA held a protest march on 7 June in Patna and burnt the effigy of the Vice Chancellor. A Demand-Day was also observed on 10 June throughout Bihar to highlight AISA's demands which include rectification of saffronised syllabi and removal of pro-saffron people from top posts in various academic institutions, privatisation of education, guarantee of employment, enactment of right to employment as a fundamental right, etc.
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CPI(ML) units held protest demonstrations at many places, including Patna, to condemn the hike in prices of petroleum products. The Party strongly criticized UPA govt. for taking this anti-people decision and has demanded withdrawal of the hike. Increasing prices just before the budget presentation is a continuation of NDA regime's practice of undermining Parliament on important matters.
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Iraq’s interim Deputy Foreign Minister was killed on June 12, marking a new phase in the resistance War between the puppet Government installed by the US and Iraqi guerillas. On June 9, Iraqi guerillas unsuccessfully targeted interim Deputy Health Minister, Ammar Safar, in this Sunni-dominated stronghold. Last year after the American entry Iraq’s “de-Ba’athification committee” had dismissed 30,000 people, who formed the core of Iraq’s skilled workforce because of their allegiance to the former President Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party. Now, anticipating a surge in resistance attacks, the frustrated interim Government is trying to fortify itself by inducting thousands of former Ba’athists in the military, Interior Ministry and educational institutions through a major policy reversal of ‘re-Bathification’ to make Iraqis kill Iraqis for the US. Many Iraqis see the new government as composed of American puppets and collaborators to continue the colonization by proxy. However, many prominent Sunni as well as Shia clerics have urged to rise up against any foreign nation tempted to join the US-led multinational forces after Iraq receives sovereignty.
Anti-War Coalition Slams UN’s Iraq Resolution
The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), an umbrella anti-war group of India, said on June 12, that the latest UN resolution on Iraq was “a shameful capitulation to the US" by the world body. Any endorsement of this resolution by the Indian government, let alone sending of troops, “represents a betrayal of the Iraqi people, of elementary principles of justice, and of an independent Indian foreign policy”. Resolution 1546 “recognises as ‘sovereign’ an interim government set up after June 30 that, like the Governing Council, is established effectively by the US and not the UN”. “It legitimises an illegal, US-dominated occupation force as a UN-mandated ‘multinational’ force and endorses this occupation at least until December 31, 2005 when an elected ‘transitional government’ is to be established.” Pointing out that any removal of US-led troops before then by the interim Iraqi government is subject to Security Council authorisation - where the US can exercise its veto -CNDP said the resolution endorses ultimate US and not Iraqi or UN control over the deployment and use of “the occupying ‘multinational’ forces”. Reducing the so-called sovereignty into farce, Article 27 of the resolution allows all US-organized contracts for oil companies before June 30, 2004 to continue to have immunity from any scrutiny by the interim Iraqi government.
Next International Protest on June 30
On June 30, there will be demonstrations in many cities and countries, the day of the so-called “turn-over of sovereignty” in Iraq. The UN Security Council resolution passed this week through a combination of U.S. threats and hidden deals endorses the “formation of a sovereign Iraqi interim government” headed by CIA asset Iyad Allawi, which states that on June 30 “the occupation will end” and Iraq will regain its “sovereignty.” In reality, more than 175,000 US-led troops will continue to occupy Iraq, at least till the end of 2005.
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