In this Issue
Today’s Ekalavyas Won’t Take Mutilation Lying Down!
A savage and barbaric assault by powerful Congress-backed Jat landlords has left Bant Singh, Dalit leader of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha (AIALA) in Mansa, Punjab, with both arms and one leg amputated. Remaining leg is also in danger. On January 5, Sarpanch Jaswant Singh and former Sarpanch Niranjan Singh of Jhabbar village conspired a attack on Bant Singh. Critically injured, Bant Singh lay for 36 hours in the Mansa Civil Hospital , while the Hospital authorities, influenced by the Congress leaders, refused him any treatment. Eventually, he was taken to the PGI at Chandigarh , where his limbs had to be amputated since gangrene had set in, and his kidneys collapsed due to blood loss.
We were told that massacres of Dalits only happened in the hinterland of backward Bihar – not in ‘developed’ capitalist Punjab , harvesting the green gold of the Green Revolution. But Bant Singh’s story reveals the sordid reality behind the media image of the prosperous Punjab farmer on his tractor in a mustard field. Green revolution technology and ‘development’ has clearly failed to erode feudal social relations – on the contrary, feudal brutality has intensified in the wake of the crisis faced by the farmers themselves. Agrarian development in Punjab has not resulted in democratization – rather, it has concentrated land and resources in the hands of a small set of families close to the ruling class parties – Congress and Akali Dal. Agrarian labour, at the bottom of the ladder face destitution and desperate unemployment – along with social boycotts and brutal attacks on the basis of caste. Social dignity for Dalits remains a burning issue in Punjab – just as much as it is in Bihar or UP.
Bant Singh is known in his village and among his comrades as a singer of rousing protest songs. A sympathizer of the CPI(ML) movement for many years, he became active in 2000, in the course of a struggle against the rape of his then minor daughter by the goons who are close to Jaswant Singh and Niranjan Singh. The rapists were awarded a life sentence in 2002 after a legal and political battle waged by the agrarian labour organization and the CPI(ML). The attack on Bant Singh was probably an act of retribution for daring to achieve this bit of justice, and for continuing to be a leading organiser of agrarian labourers. Before January 5, Bant Singh was engaged in mobilising labourers as part of preparations for the National Conference of the All India Agrarian Labour Association (AIALA), at which he was one of the delegates from Punjab .
Hindu mythology tells the story of Ekalavya – the tribal youth who cut off his thumb on the demand of Dronacharya so that Ekalavya would not be a better archer than the kshatriya boys. Ekalavya, being a tribal, must have been a natural archer – but he was mutilated and robbed of his traditional skill and his right to self-defence and survival. Today, one gets the feeling that the story of Ekalavya is being played out again and again. In order to rob tribals of their only means of survival in Orissa – their rights over land, forests, rivers, they are not only shot dead for resisting, their hands, genitals and women’s breasts are chopped off in police custody. In Punjab , upper caste landlords chop off Bant Singh’s limbs. The graphic, horrific act of mutilation continues to be a weapon to ‘teach’ Dalits and tribals ‘their place’ – to warn them not to aspire for social dignity and rights.
When his comrades met Bant Singh in hospital, they broke down – but Bant Singh told them, ‘They’ve only got my limbs, I’ve still got my voice – I can still sing!’ As we salute Bant Singh’s courage and his spirit, as we feel outrage and anger at the brutality unleashed on him and his family of 8 children in which he is the only earning member, it seems that today’s Ekalavyas are not willing to give up their rights as ‘dakshina’ – and mutilation and barbarism can’t silence their songs and crush their spirit of resistance.
People thronged Bagodar town to pay tributes to Comrade Mahendra Singh 
Bagodar's Training College ground could not accommodate all the people who walked into to the town from different places to pay tributes to their beloved leader, Comrade Mahendra Singh, on his first anniversary of martyrdom on 16 January. The rally ground overflowed with thousands of women, men and children, with tears in eyes and red flags in their hands - who pledged to carry forward the dream of Comrade Mahendra Singh and not to take rest till his killers are punished.
The rally began after unveiling of two statues of Comrade Mahendra by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, one in his native village Khambra and another in Bagodar where the inaugural stone for Mahendra Singh Memorial Bhavan was also laid. People assembled in Khambra in a large number to welcome Comrades Dipankar, Swadesh Bhattacharya, DP Buxi, Subhendu Sen, Ramjatan Sharma and other leaders and after the inauguration of his statue they marched on foot towards Bagodar for the rally. Every house in Khambra and nearby villages was locked in the day as all have gone to attend the rally in Bagodar. Comrade Dipankar addressed the gathering and said that this beloved son of Khambra, Bhagat Singh of Jharkhand, had shown a way for the people of Jharkhand and his life will always be a source of inspiration for us. We have to march ahead on this path to build a new people's Jharkhand.
While addressing the rally in Bagodar, Comrade Dipankar said that NDA and Congress both are repressing common people to implement the anti-people policies. Comrade Mahendra Singh always talked of such a third front that can fulfil the aspirations of the poor and downtrodden. He also had said that if political parties fail then the people will themselves take up this initiative at the grassroots. Large number of people who have come to pay tributes to Comrade Mahendra Singh is an indication of the fact that BJP's days are now numbered in Jharkhand and left's agenda of a broader democratic front is not too far to realise.
He added that even after one year CBI is not able to identify the killers of Mahendra Singh while everybody present here knows well who were the culprits. This is not very unusual in the case of CBI as the latter prefers to satisfy political bosses in Delhi . This agency also hadn't brought to book the killers of Comrade Chandrasekhar in Bihar . It also failed to punish the perpetrators of anti-Sikh riots in Delhi , and those responsible for communal carnage in Gujarat . Now people will write a new history by overthrowing the killer rulers to avenge the killings of innocents and people's heroes. This is an occasion to send a warning to the killers of Comrade Mahendra Singh by pledging to finish the unfinished task for which he sacrificed his life.
Comrade Dipankar reminded of Mahendra Singh's tireless crusade to bring forward the real issues of development, especially the plight of tribals and poor as a very large number of them have been made 'development refugees' to benefit the contractors, middlemen, and multinationals. Now this point has become more pertinent in the wake of displacement of adivasis in Kalinganagar in Orissa. NDA is forcibly displacing people in Orissa and Jharkhand. While the Congress and BJP are competing in catching hold on the rich mines and other natural resources, the Govt. in Jharkhand has not conducted Panchayat elections only to subvert the democracy and people's rights. There is no development without the employment and security to life, added comrade Dipankar.
The meeting was also addressed by CPI(ML) MLA Vinod Kumar, Rajkumar Yadav, Janardan, Digambar Mehta, Sunita, UGDP MLA Bandhu Tirki, MSS leader Arup Chatterjee, CPI(M) State Secretary Gyanshankar Mazumdar and others. CPI(ML) Polit Bureau members Swadesh Bhattacharya, Nand Kishor Prasad, Kartik Pal, and DP Buxi were also present at the dias along with Ramji Rai, Ramjatan Sharma, Devdeep Singh Diwakar, Mohan Dutta, Subhendu Sen, Dayamani Barla, and Pawan Sharma. The meeting was presided over by Ibnul Hasan Basru and conducted by Manoj Bhakta.
The huge gathering in the rally has also given a glimpse of the future of people's movement in Jharkhand. Amidst the chanting of slogan 'Jharkhand Nav-nirman ke Vaaste, Mahendra Singh ke Raaste' (towards a new Jharkhand, on the path of Mahendra Singh), speakers called upon the people for an organised and more intense mass resistance against those who betrayed the dreams and aspirations of common masses who fought and made sacrifices during Jharkhand state movement. The rally passed eight resolutions condemning the anti-people measures by the BJP Govt. in Jharkhand and UPA Govt. in Delhi . Jharkhand Mazdoor Kisan Samiti (JMKS) declared to launch movement on the issues of the people and assured of much greater mobilizations in future for a new people's Jharkhand. All the speakers reiterated their commitment to spread the red wave of people's movement to every corner of the state.
A book "Vicharon Ke Yuddha Mein" - on the speeches made by Comrade Mahendra Singh in the Jharkhand Assembly - was also released on the occasion. The book was released by noted journalist and editor of Prabhat Khabar, Haribans.
Jharkhand Mazdoor Kisan Samiti (JMKS) also began its two-day state conference on Mahendra Singh's Martyrdom Day as a gesture of tributes as Comrade Mahendra's role was instrumental in founding and establishing the organisation which became a voice for the lakhs of rural poor and adivasis in the state.
Conventions held in Patna and Delhi on Mahendra Singh's Martyrdom Day
Convention in Delhi demands immediate arrest and punishment to Mahendra Singh’s killers:
A Citizens’ Convention on ‘Challenges Before People’s Movements’ marked the first anniversary of Comrade Mahendra Prasad Singh’s martyrdom. The Convention Hall was completely packed and the meeting went on well above three hours with packed auditorium. Those who spoke at the convention were Prof. Nandini Sunder, a social scientist and civil rights activist, N.D. Pancholi, senior lawyer and activist of Citizens for Democracy, Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Historian and eminent civil libertarian, Satya Sagar, journalist and film maker, and Comrades B.B.Pandey and Kumudini Pati, CCMs of CPI(ML).
Addressing the convention Comrade BB Pandey, editor of Party Hindi organ ‘Samkaleen Lokyuddh’ and an old associate of Mahendra Singh, recalled the martyr comrade’s role in leading various people’s movements since the seventies as well as his exceptionally brilliant contribution as a legislator of Bihar and later Jharkhand assembly representing the downtrodden people of Jharkhand. He elucidated the journey and transformation of a simple village youth anguished at the oppressive system into a well known revolutionary and Marxist figures of Jharkhand and Bihar . He recalled the course and process of tempering of Mahendra Singh into a Marxist revolutionary in its historical context. He also pointed out that at the behest of the vested ruling class interests, the CBI is not taking the correct course of unearthing the political conspiracy behind the murder hatched by the ruling BJP ex-Minister Ravindra Rai and the then SP of Giridih Dipak Verma.
The Convention condemned the BJP State Government in Jharkhand for protecting and promoting Mahendra Singh’s killers – SP Deepak Verma and BJP MLA Ravindra Rai, and criticized the CBI for keeping the two accused out of its ambit of probe. The Convention resolved to demand that Deepak Varma and Ravindra Rai be arrested without delay and brought into the ambit of the CBI probe. The Convention passed a six point resolution condemning the Kalinganagar massacre and mutilation of tribals in police custody, and demanded that the Naveen Patnaik Government step down in view of heinous crime. Another resolution condemned the Congress Government of Punjab for protecting the upper caste landlords who severely mutilated the arms and legs of a Dalit agrarian labourer leader, Bant Singh in Mansa district of Punjab, and demanded that the criminals be arrested and exemplary punishment be meted out soon and a compensation of Rs.ten lakh and an attendant for life long be provided to the labourer.
'Sankalp Diwas' observed in Bihar :
In Bihar , the first Martyrdom Day of Mahendra Singh was commemorated as 'Sankalp Diwas' in various parts of the state and pledges were taken to intensify the people's movement to fulfil the dreams of the martyrs. In Patna , a convention was held on 'Ideal People's Representation and Comrade Mahendra Singh'. The subject matter was initiated by Rajaram Singh, who said that the relevance of Martyrs like Mahendra Singh and his dreams has now become more important in the context of recent exposure of MPs taking bribes in camera. He said that murders of Chandrasekhar-Shyamnarayan in Bihar and of Mahendra Singh in Jharkhand has exposed the brutal and criminal face of those in power. Presiding over the Convention, KD Yadav said that Mahendra Singh taught ordinary people to visualise and fulfil their extraordinary dreams. Ex-DGP of Bihar DP Ojha said that martyrdoms of leaders like Mahendra Singh have always opened newer avenues of people's movements before the communist movement. Prof. DG Khan praised Mahendra Singh's efforts in protecting rights of tribal people where he was far ahead of many 'declared' tribal leaders in Jharkhand. The other speakers included Nivedita, a journalist, Dr. PNP Pal, Kumar Anil, Tota Chaudhary, Sambhunath Mehta, Anita Sinha, Kamlesh Sharma, RN Thakur and Saroj Chaube. Meena Tiwary conducted the proceedings.
A poster exhibition based on Mahendra Singh's poetry was also organised on the occasion. Programmes were also held in other states. A protest dharna was held in Haldwani, Uttaranchal.
Agricultural Workers Pledged to Avenge the Attack on AIALA Leader Bant Singh
Braving the rain and biting cold, thousands of agricultural labourers, poor peasants and youth thronged into a large field in Jhabbar village, on 16 January, in protest of the brutal attack on AIALA activist Comrade Bant Singh. The barbaric, inhuman and medieval attack by a section of neo-kulaks owing allegiance to Congress and with active support of local administration attracted wide range of anger and condemnation. Now Comrade Bant Singh is lying in struggling for his life in PGI, Chandigarh with both the hands and one leg amputated.
Through this massive protest meeting in the village of comrade Bant Singh, people of the area as well as those who came from other districts of Punjab expressed their anger and demanded exemplary punishment to the attackers and conspirators of this heinous crime. They expressed their solidarity with the dalits of Jhabbar and nearby villages, whom the landlords wanted to terrorise by attacking and physically crippling comrade Bant Singh. But contrary to the vile expectations of the attackers, Comrade Bant Singh with his severely mutilated and amputated limbs emerged a vibrant symbol of defiance and resistance against the oppression and injustice.
A large number of women and youth with their traditional arms in hands participated in the rally and the people were full of hatred against the perpetrators of this heinous act. People in the meeting were really felt carried away with the emotionally charged speech of Comrade Baljit Kaur, daughter of Bant Singh, who boldly asserted to carry forward the struggle for emancipation for which her father has made this sacrifice. Comrade Baljit herself was a rape victim of the same group of assailants when she was a minor, and it was that particular incident which actually started this whole saga of resistance and struggles.
The meeting was addressed by Bhupinder Sambhar and Gulwar Mohammad Goriya of CPI and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, Tarsem Jodha of Lal Jhanda Bhatta Mazdoor Union, Laxman Singh Semwal of Punjab Khat Mazdoor Union, Lahari Ram Balli of Samata Sainik Dal - he also served as Secretary to Late Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and the veteran dalit social activist Jai Singh. Nephew of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and noted Civil Libertarian Prof. Jagmohan Singh also addressed the meeting.
Comrades Malkiat Singh and Kanwaljeet from MCPI(U) who have played a pivotal role in taking care of Bant Singh in the hospital in Chandigarh as well as in building a public opinion among various sections of people, also came from Chandigarh with many youths to address this gathering.
All India Agricultural labour Association leader in Punjab Bhagawant Samaon conducted the meeting, while Punjab State Secretary of CPI(ML) Rajwinder Singh Rana and Central Committee member Swapan Mukherjee addressed the meeting on behalf of the Party.
The administration tried its level best to foil the meeting but failed in face of a stiff resistance. A large number of armed police with SP of the district stayed at the venue throughout the meeting while the ruling Congress party’s leaders and their agents continuously tried to put pressure on the administration to ban the meeting.
The meeting raised the following demands:
1. Immediate arrests of Sarpanch and ex-Sarpanch of Jhabbar who are the main conspirators and exemplary punishment to all the culprits.
2. Rs. Ten lakh compensation to the family of Bant Singh.
3. Permanent government job to the wife of Bant Singh.
4. Suspension and arrest of Dr. Purushottam Goyal and Station In-charge of Joga Police Station.
Organisations of agricultural and rural workers formed an Action Committee and declared to launch massive campaign and mobilisations in the belt of Mansa-Barnala-Raikot, covering the districts of Ludhiana , Sangrur and Mansa. This campaign will culminate in massive gherao of Secretariat in Mansa on 25 January to bring whole administration to a halt. And as the next step of the campaign, call for a total strike of agricultural and rural workers was also given by this massive rally for 25 March.
CPI(ML) and AIALA Demand Exemplary Punishment to Attackers
The Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, AIALA and CPI (ML) have declared to intensify the agitation if the demands are not fulfilled and present Sarpanch Jaswant Singh and Ex-Sarpanch Niranjan Singh of Jhabbar village are not arrested along with the other attackers immediately.
The attackers owe their allegiance to the ruling Congress. The attack was aimed at teaching a lesson to the dalits and to curb the struggle of agricultural labourers against the atrocities of the rural rich and politically influential people of the village.
Jaswant Singh and Niranjan Singh had instigated seven aggressors to attack Comrade Bant Singh on 5 January. Bant Singh is presently undergoing treatment in PGI, Chandigarh , where his two arms and one leg have been amputated due to gangrene caused by the barbaric attack and subsequest deliberate neglect in the hospital in Mansa. The remaining leg may also have to be amputated because of its deteriorating condition. Comrade Bant Singh has also suffered failure of kidneys due to excessive bleeding. His condition is still critical.
Comrade Bant Singh's left leanings developed out of a legal battle fought by him against the same people for raping his then minor daughter by goons of these families in 2000. The culprits were sentenced to life for the rape in 2002. During the period, Bant Singh became active in Mazdoor Mukti Morcha which was fighting against all kinds of atrocities and oppression of rural poor and agricultural labourers. A section of influential rural rich were disturbed by the growing assertion of the rural poor. Minor attacks have been conducted earlier but the 5 January attack was the last straw. The attempt on Bant's life coincides with growing activities of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha in view of the coming All-India Conference of the Agricultural Labourers Association to be held in Rajamundry on 30-31 January 2006, for which Bant singh was one of the 10 delegates from Punjab .
The CM of Punjab Capt. Amrinder Singh has turned a deaf ear to the plight of Bant Singh who is battling for life in PGI Chandigarh, which he was visiting on 12 January for other reasons. Despite being aware of the incident from media reports the CM preferred to ignore the condition of Bant, let alone visiting him in the Emergency Ward. He also did not care to meet Bant's brother, who was trying hard to take him to the victim's bed. The criminal negligence of the Mansa Civil Hospital can be gauged from the fact that while Bant had been admitted at 9 pm on 5 th January, the doctors did not even care to provide treatment for 36 full hours and he was bandaged only on the 7 th . On 8 th January his attendants were told that the hospital lacked facilities to treat Bant and so he should be removed to some other hospital. No reference was given to the PGI, Chandigarh , where proper treatment could be provided for his injuries.
Leaders of various mass organisations viz. Sukhdarshan Nath of Democratic Employees Front, Lakhwinder Singh and Mukhtar Massih of PGIMER Nurses Welfare Association, Ajit Singh of AICTU, Balbir Singh and Yagyanarain of CTU (Punjab) have demanded compensation for the family of Bant and exemplary punishment to the attackers.
In Delhi , Party has brought the matter to the notice of the NHRC and the SC/ST Commission with the request that cognisance be taken immediately. A delegation of Party leaders Prabhat Kumar, Kumudini Pati and Lal Bahadur Singh met the Chairperson of the SC Commission and the Registrar, Law, of the NHRC and placed the above demands. They were assured that immediate action would be taken. The delegation requested the NHRC to send a high level team to visit the patient and his village to ascertain facts of the case.
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