Recall Buta Singh from Bihar

In March 2005, President’s Rule was deemed as a matter of constitutional compulsion in Bihar. But with every passing week, President’s Rule has been reduced to nothing but an authoritarian puppet show. Even as the monsoon session of Parliament extended the tenure of President’s Rule by another six months, Bihar Governor Buta Singh is busy giving every norm of parliamentary propriety and constitutional decorum a hurried burial. After his patently controversial decision to dissolve the State Assembly, which is currently being examined by the Supreme Court, Singh has dealt a paralyzing blow to the state administration by transferring as many as 17 IPS officers in a most arbitrary and non-transparent manner.

Central to this mega reshuffle is the decision to transfer the young SP of Siwan, Ratn Sanjay, who has earned considerable public support and sympathy by displaying a rare courage and determination in taking on the well entrenched criminal network of Shahabuddin. It may be recalled that Sanjay’s posting as the SP of Siwan had been effected at the behest of the Election Commission of India in the middle of the February Assembly elections after the EC had observed major administrative lapses in the first phase of the elections. Siwan heaved a huge sigh of relief under Sanjay’s tenure as SP and for the first time Shahabuddin and his gang felt the heat of not only popular resentment and resistance but also a degree of administrative action.

The Gopalganj and Siwan DMs have long been shifted away from the scene. Now with Sanjay’s transfer, Buta Singh has clearly expressed his readiness to ‘re-dedicate’ the Siwan administration to the service of Shahabuddin. Buta Singh defends the transfers in the name of ‘administrative exigencies’, but his decision has landed Bihar into a state of administrative paralysis and anarchy. Once again, it is in Siwan where this sordid state of affairs stands most nakedly exposed. The new SP chosen for Siwan has refused to accept his new assignment and the district does not have a police chief at the moment.

The anarchy caused by Buta Singh’s absolutely authoritarian and partisan decision is also visible at the highest echelons of the administration in Bihar. The state Chief Secretary Mr. GS Kang has made his displeasure public by proceeding on long leave and returning all his official facilities. The Home Secretary and DGP have also made it clear that they remain opposed to this arbitrary order. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has thus clearly misled the Rajya Sabha by attributing the Bihar transfers to a ‘committee decision’. The ‘exigencies’ mentioned by Buta Singh are not administrative but political. The whole world knows that the transfers have been ordered to suit the political interests of the RJD and Buta Singh has thoroughly compromised the dignity of his office by acting as a political agent of the RJD-Congress combine in Bihar. The demand for his recall is therefore absolutely just and democratic.

Everybody blames corruption and crime as the two biggest banes for Bihar. Corruption and crime, however, cannot and do not thrive in a vacuum. Corruption and crime in Bihar are clearly nurtured and sponsored by the state. Buta Singh has only confirmed this truth by his omissions and commissions. His refusal to recommend a CBI inquiry into the ‘flood relief scam’ and his insistence on transferring the SP of Siwan are two sides of the same coin. They both reflect the state’s unwillingness and inability to disturb, let alone combat, the equilibrium of corruption, crime and power. The humiliation routinely heaped upon top IAS and IPS officials in Bihar shows that the state is not prepared to brook any sign of constitutional courage and commitment in its own administration. And the state here means not just the ‘local state’ in Bihar, but also the all-India state, which is afraid of facing the people and the reality of Bihar without the ready assistance of a pliant and partisan administration and grateful mafia syndicates.

The popular demand for immediate recall of Buta Singh from Bihar and a stay on the transfers therefore goes much beyond the bureaucratic concern for administrative propriety. It is rooted in the people’s anger against the reigning equilibrium of crime and state-power; it reflects Bihar’s urge for change, for freedom and democracy.

CPI(ML) Memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner

01 - 08 - 05

To,
Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan
New Delhi

Sir,

You must be aware of the large-scale transfer of Superintendents of Police ordered by the Governor of Bihar. The decision to transfer able and upright officials of the like of Sanjay Ratn who had displayed rare courage to expose and combat the well entrenched criminal network of infamous RJD MP Md. Shahabuddin and pack the entire state administration with officials recommended and approved by the RJD top brass has raised serious apprehensions in the public mind regarding the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The decision has been taken in an absolutely arbitrary and non-transparent manner forcing the Chief Secretary of Bihar to proceed on leave. The DGP too has vented his strong reservations about the whole process. The decision has only reinforced the public perception that the process of criminalisation in Bihar is sponsored by the state and that the system cannot brook signs of administrative courage, commitment and integrity in its officials.

The EC has expressed concern over the role of the state administration in the last Assembly election held in February 2005 and ensured, in the middle of the elections, a change of guards in the administration of sensitive districts like Siwan and Gopalganj. The changes had a salutary effect on the subsequent phases of the elections and were appreciated by the people at large not only in the concerned districts but all over the state. The changes are now being systematically undone and the morale of the administration to combat criminalisation and corruption is being steadily weakened and destroyed.

If urgent steps are not taken to stop the systematic subversion of the administration in Bihar and reverse the reshuffles undertaken at the behest of the erstwhile ruling party in the state, the EC's assurances regarding 'free and fair elections' in Bihar would lose all meaning. We therefore urge you to intervene in the ongoing affairs of Bihar , stay the transfers and make sure that elections in Bihar are not allowed to be manipulated with the help of a pliant and partisan administration.

Awaiting adequate and early action.

Yours truly,

Dipankar Bhattacharya
General Secretary

Ram Jatan Sharma
Secretary
CPI(ML) Liberation Bihar State Committee

AICCTU Observed 'Chetawani Diwas' against Attack on Honda Workers

All India Central Council of Trade Unions observed 'Chetawani Diwas' on August 1 allover the country to protest the police and administrative repression on Honda factory workers in Gurgaon. AICCTU has demanded from the Prime Minister to apologise to the nation on 15 August in his Independence Day speech for this ugly incident which saw a deliberate design by the Haryana Chief Minister and central Home Minister to safeguard the vested interests of the multinational companies openly involved in illegal and unconstitutional exploitation of the workers in the country.

Protests were organised in many state capitals and important industrial centres including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Patna, Guwahati, Lucknow, Varanasi, Sonbhadra and Port Blair in Andamans. Programmes were also taken up in almost every district of Bihar while Coal Mines Workers Union in Jharkhand organised protests in Dhanbad, Nirsa and Hazaribagh.

In Delhi, a joint protest dharna and demonstration was held at Jantar-Mantar by AICCTU, CITU, UTUC (LS), UTUC, and TUCC which was also addressed by CPI(ML) MLA in Bihar and All India Agricultural Labour Association's General Secretary Rameshwar Prasad. He emphasised on the united struggles of workers, peasants, students and youth and other sections of society fighting against the policies of liberalisation and police brutality. The dharna demanded the removal of Haryana Chief Minister, dismissal of DC and SP of Gurgaon, Criminal action against Honda management and withdrawal of cases imposed on the Honda workers. Speakers condemned the 'agreement' reached between the Honda management and workers with the active mediation of Haryana CM and termed it an outcome of intimidatory tactics of Honda management and Haryana's Congress governement. Speakers also condemned Congress President Sonia Gandhi of shedding crocodile tears while her party actively safeguarded interests of Honda at the cost of the workers.

In Guwahati a protest against this barbaric incident was held on July 28 by CPI(ML) and AICCTU and the effigy of Haryana Chief Minster was burnt near DC office. Members of AISA and AIPWA also participated in this protest. Another protest was also held at Tinsukia town.

Conference of Maharashtra Rajya Sarvshramik Mahasangh

Over 3000 activists and representatives from all over Maharashtra, defying trying circumstances caused by heavy rains, attended the founding conference of Maharashtra Rajya Sarvshramik Mahasangh at Pune on July 31. Workers, both men and women, reached in an impressive procession to the venue of the conference.

The Conference was presided over by a veteran of the trade union movement in Maharashtra Madhukar Katre, who is also the President of the Lal Nishan Party. Swapan Mukherjee, General Secretary of AICCTU, was the chief guest. Recalling the glorious tradition of struggle in Maharashtra he congratulated the delegates for attending the meet in such large numbers defying the havoc caused by rains. He hoped for a new rising tide of struggles under red flag in the state and appealed to make the All India Countrywide General Strike called by central trade unions a grand success in Maharashtra.

Resolution of policy line was proposed by BS Kerkar which called for the formation of an united center of working class struggles throughout Maharashtra. The Conference also passed eight other resolutions which included the one in which brutal police attack on Honda factory workers in Gurgaon was condemned. The Conference at the outset observed silence for a couple of minutes to condole the deaths of hundreds of people due to heavy rains in Maharashtra. The Conference called upon all the working people to donate a day's wages for relief to the flood affected.

The venue of the Conference was named as "Comrade AD Bhosle Nagar" and "Comrade Ashok Manohar Hall". The Conference adopted a new constitution for the new federation and elected a team of office bearers with Bheemrao Barsod as President and Mukta Manohar as General Secretary.

CPI(ML) Demands Recall of Bihar Governor Buta Singh

CPI(ML) has accused the Bihar Governor, Buta Singh, of acting in a thoroughly biased, unjust and unconstitutional manner and politically exploiting the state bureaucracy at the behest of Lalu Prasad and some top Congress leaders sitting in Delhi. "Instead of undoing the misdeeds and crime of the previous RJD rule in the state, Buta Singh is only strengthening the forces of corruption and crime in Bihar.", CPI(ML) said and demanded from the UPA govt. to recall this governor and send a new Governor without any active political affiliations in the state. Party held statewide protests in Bihar on 2 August against this decision.

On Framing of Charges against Advani and Others

Commenting on the setting up of charges against Advani and other Sangh and BJP leaders in the Babri Masjid demolition case by a CBI Special Court, CPI(ML) has said, "now it is the responsibility of the government in the centre to see that the judicial process reaches its logical conclusion and that all those responsible must not go unpunished."

"The charges are framed after a delay of thirteen years, such a long wait in itself is a mockery of justice. But now, when the charges have been framed, the central government must act to ensure that the judicial process doesn't get vitiated and Advani and other accused are punished adequately for the gruesome crime they had committed thirteen years ago. This is necessary for the sake of credibility of judicial process and constitutional accountability and, more importantly, for secularism in the country." CPI(ML) said.

CPI(ML) Demands Removal of the Railway Minister

While expressing grief over the loss of lives in the blasts that rocked Shramjeevi Express on July 28, CPI(ML) has said, "Laloo Prasad's primary task is to politically misuse the resources of the Railways, instead of giving priority to the passengers' lives. As far as Railway safety is concerned, it is left totally unattended. Such a Railway Minister must be removed immediately."

"Common people were immensely suffering under previous NDA government while the latter was busy in promoting its 'India Shining' propaganda, the present Railway Minister is also following the same path by its own version of 'Railway Shining' and misusing resources for vested political ends and entirely ignoring the important question of passengers' safety.", Party said.

Arrest the Feudal Gang Kisan Sangh Members

CPI(ML) has strongly protested the incident of attack on party supported agricultural labourers and rural poor in West Champaran district in Bihar on July 28 by a feudal gang Kisan Sangh which gets political patronage from Congress-RJD combine. One woman was killed and many were injured in this attack. Party has demanded immediate arrest of all criminal who were involved in the attack.

Peasants' Dharna in Jhunjhunu

CPI(ML) organised a dharna on July 18 before the District Collectorate in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan to protest the hike of petroleum products and electricity tariffs. The dharna criticized the centre and state governments for continuing to pursue liberalisation policies and demanded waiver of loans of poor peasants. Hundreds of peasants took part in this programme. This dharna was organised as a concluding event of a campaign which covered nearly 30 villages in the district.

Party Central Committee member Prabhat Kumar addressed the dharna where he condemned the UPA Govt. for betraying the mandate and continuing the economic policy of earlier NDA govt. It was also addressed by Party's State Secretary Mahendra Singh, Khet Mazdoor Sabha leader Phoolchand Dheba and Kisan Sanghathan's Ramchandra Kulhari.

Peasants in Rajasthan are facing various kinds of state repression in places like Kaharwas, Gharsana, Sohel, Kanchanpur and Shriganganagar and Tonk - when they come forward to oppose these anti-people policies.

Protest against Police Atrocities in Palamau

Party organised Panki Bandh in Palamau district of Jharkhand on 9 July to protest the attacks on CPI(ML) leaders by the local thana incharge in a deliberate and targeted manner.

This time when thana incharge of Panki manhandled and misbehaved with Party's district committee member Kamlesh Singh, the people came forward to support the bandh call and sent a clear message that the administration must stop the feudal repressive tactics against the CPI(ML) which is spearheading a relentless battle against the criminal-bureaucrat-politician nexus in the district.

Judiciary Sending Saviours Behind the Bars

Thousands of people protested before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Barnala in Punjab on July 21 to demand justice for the three leaders - all members of "Kiranjeet Kand Action Committee" - who are falsely implicated in a murder case and sentenced for life imprisonment by the sessions court.

This action committee came into existence when a 17 year old schoolgirl, Kiranjeet Kaur, of Mehal Kalan, was raped and murdered in July 97 by some influential landlords with strong political connections. Police booked the killers only when it came under pressure through massive public protests. Later, four of the killers were sentenced to life imprisonment. But, during the trial the culprits hatched a conspiracy and implicated three members of Kiranjeet Kand Action Committee in a murder case. Although police found all implicated members innocent in its inquiry, which was held after a series of public protests, the sessions court continued its partisan role and on March 30 declared life imprisonment for the three leaders - Narayan Dutt, Manjit Dhaner, and Prem Kumar.

The rally was addressed amongst others by dramatist Gursharan Singh, Datar Singh and Sukhdarshan Natt of Democratic Employees Front, Ruldu Singh of BKU (Ekta) and CPI(ML) District Secretary of Mansa Bhagwant Singh Samaon.

Dalits Resist Assault on Mandir Entry

In Bandara block of Muzaffarpur district there was a marriage ceremony in the dalit family of Vimla Devi, a panchayat ward member. On June 24, dalit women of the village, led by Vimla Devi, and the bridegroom went to Kali temple for the worship. But the kulaks of the village, who are supporters of JD(U) started beating and abusing them with derogatory remarks saying 'these lower caste people have polluted the temple'. Led by one relative of the block pramukh of Sakra, they drove dalits out of the temple premises. The police refused to register the case and sided openly with the kulaks. However, dalits too refused to yield. Led by CPI(ML), there was a massive dharna of dalits and poor at the DM office. Same day DIG visited the spot. The kulaks retreated and dalits won the battle of temple entry. However, culprits were not arrested. To press for the demand of their immediate arrest, AIPWA organised a dharna. All dalits and poor of the village have now joined the Khet Mazdoor Sabha.

Protest against Privatization of Oil Fields in Assam

Protest against handing over of oil fields of Assam to foreign companies is picking up in Assam . UPA Govt. is going to implement the NDA’s decision of handing over resourceful Amguri Oil Field under ONGC to a Canadian Company. Similar attempts are on to hand over an oil field to a British Company. Left parties including CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M) and their trade union organizations and mass organizations are launching a movement against UPA Govt’s anti-national policy of handing over oil fields to foreign companies. On 20 July joint protest programmes were held in different places of the state including Amguri and Guwahati and demanded to stop the hand over.

Earlier, the Oil Field Protection Struggle Committee (Tailyakhetra Surakhya Sangram Sammittee) held a mass convention on 9 July at Amguri of Assam on the issue of privatization of Amguri oil field of Assam . The Convention strongly opposed the Govt. decision of hand over to Kanar Research Ltd. a multinational Company of Canada and demanded immediate withdrawal of Govt. decision.

Wage Agreement for Beedi Workers of Murshidabad

After a series of agitational programmes like bandh and rasta roko, and nine consecutive meetings among the trade unions including AICCTU and CITU, factory owners and the government, a new wage agreement was reached with Rs. 41 per 1000 beedis against the existing rate of Rs 38. Although trade unions demanded the new rate at Rs 50.

However, matter was resolved at the 9th meeting held at Writers’ Building in the presence of state labour minister Md Amin and the Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta whose insistence led TUs to accept the paltry increase in labour charges.

The local AICCTU unit has criticized the wage agreement saying that from the very beginning of the negotiations, the state government’s attitude was to please the owners.

Manmohan Singh's Effigy Burnt in Lucknow University

AISA activists took out a march and burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Lucknow University campus on 11 July in protest against his speech at Oxford which eulogised the brutal British raj. The protesters condemned the PM for denigrating the prestige of the martyrs of freedom movement and demanded an unconditional apology from him.

RYA Initiatives in UP

RYA organised protests in several district headquarters in UP on 1 July against continuing police repression on youth and other sections of society. The protest dharna held in Lucknow also protested the recent incidents of attacks on women in Lucknow .

AIALA and RYA activists blocked the road in Raibareilly for four hours in protest of police-feudals attacks on the poor. Hundreds of people sat on a dharna in Ballia. Effigy of the UP Chief Minister was burnt at Varanasi and a student-youth convention was organised in Orai.

Shahid Divas Observed

Comrade Charu Mazumdar was remembered at a meeting held at State Party Office, Guwahati.

In Tinsukia Shahid Divas was observed by holding a procession in the town and organising discussions on the contributions of the revolutionary leader.

AIPWA Protest in Jadavpur University

The All Indian Progressive Women association organised a protest march on July 11 against the police torture on the JU students and demanded to punish the officials.

OBITUARY

Comrade Ramnaresh Singh died on 20 June '05 due to an injury inflicted on him in an accident. He remained a committed communist throughout his life after joining the undivided CPI in his youth. He left his teaching job and became more involved in the movement. At the time of Naxalbari he left the CPI(M) and was one of the founders of CPI(ML) in Begusarai district. On many occasions he faced police repression and was sent to jails. He was also the Begusarai District President of IPF.

Edited, published and printed by S. Bhattacharya for CPI(ML) Liberation from U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi-92; printed at Bol Publication, R-18/2, Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-92; Phone:22521067; fax: 22518248, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org