In this Issue
The UPA's New CMP of Unified and Unfettered Repression
As Union Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the previous NDA government, LK Advani had dubbed Naxalism ‘the worst enemy of the Indian dream'. As Prime Minister of the Congress-led and Left-backed UPA government, Dr. Manmohan Singh has now identified Naxalism as the greatest threat or challenge to India 's internal security as well as the Indian ‘way of life'. This demonstration of Congress-BJP consensus on ‘governance' and ‘domestic politics' comes close on the heels of Advani's offer of bipartisan cooperation after Sonia Gandhi accused the detractors of her government's pro-US policies of ‘communalising' India's foreign policy, and coincides, remarkably enough, with the ‘Bharat Suraksha Yatras' taken out by Advani and Rajnath Singh.
The PM's address to the conclave of chief ministers of Maoist-affected states marks a new high point in the Indian state's ongoing campaign against what it calls Leftwing extremism. It is also impossible to miss the fact that the articulation of this new official strategy of ‘tough and stern action' is accompanied by a high-intensity media campaign aimed at raising a countrywide Maoist scare and thereby manufacturing a public ‘consent' for greater repression. Newspapers and television channels in almost all languages are awash with stories about the military prowess of the Maoists and how their operations and ‘control' have now extended to 40% of India 's territory and 35% of the country's population and so on and so forth.
Outlining his strategy of ‘walking on two legs' – rapid development and pro-active policing – Manmohan Singh has acknowledged that there is a growing ‘sense of alienation and deprivation' among large sections of the rural poor, especially among tribal communities fuelled by a host of factors including “exploitation, artificially depressed wages, iniquitous socio-political circumstances, inadequate employment opportunities, lack of access to resources, under developed agriculture, geographical isolation, lack of land reforms”. What he can however never acknowledge is that this sense is rooted in and driven by a growing reality of mass deprivation and disparity, and that this reality is being daily aggravated by the ongoing neo-liberal policies of his government. His prescription for tackling this ‘sense' therefore entails a greater injection of the very mode of ‘governance' and ‘development' that has led to the present situation.
Manmohan Singh has been more emphatic and specific with regard to the other aspect of his two-pronged strategy, viz., pro-active police response. And, here he talks not just of ‘sense' but reality. He points to the growing militarisation and superior army-style organization of the Maoists and wants all wings and layers of the state to adopt a concerted strategy and coordinated approach to make sure that “all responses on our side [are] guided by this new reality”. In particular, he wants state governments to set up dedicated anti-Naxal wings under ‘capable officers' on the lines of the ‘greyhounds' in Andhra Pradesh, undertake joint operations under unified commands and improve ‘intelligence gathering'. Most importantly, he calls for “measures to protect policemen from undue harassment for actions taken against Naxalites”.
The record of all anti-Naxalite operations till date has been replete with instances of systematic violations of democratic rights and blatant harassment of ordinary citizens. In the 1970s it was the anti-Naxalite repression campaign of the state which eventually culminated in the infamous Emergency. Draconian laws like TADA and POTA have been used either to fix political opponents or terrorise common citizens. There are any number of examples of detention and even conviction of activists of peasant and agricultural labour organizations and trade unions and innocent dalits, adivasis and members of minority communities, not only while these acts were in force but even after these laws have supposedly been withdrawn in the face of widespread evidence of human rights violations. It is indeed remarkable that instead of calling for protection of human rights, Manmohan Singh calls for protecting policemen from ‘undue harassment' – a euphemistic call for giving the police total immunity from charges of human rights violations.
Manmohan Singh has also mentioned possible foreign links of the Indian Maoists, describing the Maoist insurgency as being antithetical to ‘our democracy, our way of life'. This is a standard way to seek legitimacy for indiscriminate repression. During the McCarthy era of anti-communist witch-hunt in the US , all progressive ideas and individuals were denounced as being Un-American! Even today, Bush invokes the so-called American way of life to invade and occupy once sovereign countries like Afghanistan and Iraq . The BJP and the Sangh have perfected the art of perpetrating the worst kind of communal violence and state repression in the name of defending their ‘Indian dream'. And now Manmohan Singh too invokes ‘our democracy, our way of life' to initiate a major state-led assault on the democratic rights of the aam aadmi.
On the occasion of Party Foundation Day, April 22, let us Rededicate ourselves to the cause of Indian Revolution! |
It is true that the Maoists themselves usually express scant regard for the democratic rights of other people including the opprsessed and deprived people in whose name they claim to be operating. Their acts of political killings and massacres of ordinary people, including large-scale killings of dalits, adivasis and Muslims, are patently indefensible. By indulging in sensational military activities devoid of any mass political agenda, they leave the masses unorganised and defenceless in the face of the repression unleashed by the state. But in spite of all these follies of the Maoists, democratic forces can certainly never give the state a licence to wage a war on people's liberties and rights in the name of tackling the Maoist insurgency. Enhanced vigilance and active defence of democratic rights can be the only answer of the people to the emerging UPA agenda of unified and unfettered repression.
Reports and Activities
CPI(ML) Launches ‘Ensure Justice, Guarantee Jobs' Campaign in Bihar CPI(ML) has launched ‘Ensure Justice, Guarantee Jobs' campaign since April 17, pressing for the restoration of Amir Das Commission, Job Cards for all poor under NREGA, political solution instead of police repression against extremist organisations, adequate measures to combat communal forces as well as the forces of caste oppression and other democratic demands. Senior Party leaders will sit on hunger-strike in Patna on April 20 for 48 hours. Explaining the perspective of the ‘Ensure Justice' Campaign, Com. Ram Jatan Sharma, State Secretary of Bihar, said that Nitish Kumar rode to power on ‘Nyaya Rath', promising to do away with the injustice of Laloo Raj. However, functioning under BJP pressure, Nitish government is turning into an instrument of injustice to the poor. Its most glaring proof is the fact that the government, in mysterious haste, announced to disband Amir Das Commission, which was constituted to inquire into the nexus of political parties and Ranvir Sena, the armed outfit of feudal lords, responsible for a number of massacres of dalit agrarian labourers.
The announcement came at a time when the Commission was close to submitting its report. Obviously, the move was meant to save the skins of those notorious politicians of BJP and other parties who patronised the Sena and thus were responsible for the most barbaric injustice and cruelty, perpetrated on the poorest of the poor of Bihari society. In complete violation of all democratic norms, the government, conspiratorially kept mum throughout the Assembly session and hurriedly made the announcement, the very next day after the conclusion of the session! So much so about the ‘Nyaya- Raj' of Nitish Kumar! Along with this the demand for the restoration of Amir Das Commission, the issue of proper implementation of NREGA will be the focal points of this campaign.
Second Phase of Right to Employment Campaign in UP
Beginning second phase of Right to Employment campaign on April 10, Com. Akhilendra Pratap, State Secretary CPI(ML), addressed several gatherings in Gorakhpur , Deoria and Kushinagar districts. Now, meetings are taking place in various pockets of Lucknow division. During the campaign, all major democratic issues are being raised along with the employment question viz. proper implementation of NREGA, ensuring job cards and BPL cards for the poor, doing away with the ration- cut in BPL scheme, waiving off the loans of the poor peasants, ensuring irrigation for lands, separate reservation quota for MBCs, proportional reservation for dalits, OBCs, Minorities and women as per their ratio in the population. After covering Sitapur, Lakhimpur and Hardoi, this phase will come to an end. The campaign had begun on Feb.23 from Sonbhadra district, which after covering Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli districts, was concluded in Varanasi on March 10.
AIALA Activists Stop Work in several Block HQs of Jharkhand
Recently AIALA launched campaign to stop work at various block HQs in Jharkhand, protesting against irregularities in the implementation of NREGA. In an open letter to the Secretary, Rural Development, Com. Janardan Prasad, General Secretary, Jharkhand Mazdoor Kisan Samiti(JHAMKIS) said that it was just a beginning and warned that if even this limited right of employment was not ensured, labourers will be forced to go to any extent to secure it. He alleged that even 10 % of the applicants have not been issued job-cards, let alone providing it to all those who were unemployed. In some districts the irregularities and callous attitude of the administration had crossed all limits. In Bagodar of Giridih district, around 16000 out of 32000 forms i.e. half of the registration forms submitted, are missing, according to the administration. In Palamu, the district administration declared construction of 5600 water tanks but nowhere their selection was made through village Panchayats. Moreover, in the past, nowhere this scheme had succeeded in water storage.
AIALA Protests against Malpractices in NREGA Implementation in UP
On April 15, AIALA units organised protest programmes in various centers of UP against the dillydallying of State Government in the implementation of NREGA. The protestors alleged that the scheme, supposed to provide livelihood to the poor, has been sacrificed at the alter of rampant administrative corruption.
AIALA activists organised demonstrations at block HQs and stopped work there in many districts including Chandauli. In Robertsganj of Sonbhadra road was blocked by around 300 agricultural labourers and activists. It was lifted only when the SDM came and accepted the memorandum.
AIALA Activists Stage Dharna in Bihar
On April 17, massive dharna-demonstrations were organised at several block HQs all-over the state, in Bihar , as part of the ‘Ensure Justice, Guarantee Jobs' campaign. In these protest programmes, thousands of agricultural labourers participated. RYA-AISA Burn Effigy of Mulayam Singh
RYA and AISA activists burnt effigy of UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh in front of UP Assembly House, demanding extension of employment Guarantee Scheme to cover the unemployed urban youth also. Accusing him of betrayal on the issue of unemployment allowance, they termed his recent declaration regarding allowance to all registered unemployed graduates, an election stunt. They declared to organise Rojgar Adhikar March on May 1.
Party Conferences in Delhi
Recently, Party District Conferences in East Delhi and North-West Delhi districts took place. Com. Rajendra Pratholi, State Secretary Delhi, called upon the party members to strengthen movement against eviction and assault on the livelihood of the people. Partial Victory for Bhopal Gas Victims
Across the street at Jantar- Mantar, the Bhopal activists too broke their hunger strike, since they won three demands - a time-bound plan for delivery of safe drinking water; a scientific assessment of the spread of toxic contamination; funds to address all health issues related to the tragedy. But the PM, shamefully, refused the two most crucial demands: to prosecute Warren Anderson and to blacklist Dow Chemicals! Far from it, Dow is all set to invest in two huge petrochemical complexes – in Haldia in West Bengal and Vizag in Andhra Pradesh – with help from none other than the Planning Commission! Manmohan's unbreakable commitment to killer corporates is nakedly obvious. Will the West Bengal Government at least respond to the Bhopal activists' call and blacklist the mass murderer Dow Chemicals and resist Dow's investment in Haldia?
Gas leakage in Kannodia Chemicals KIlls 6 Workers
Prompt Intervention by AICCTU
Recently, 6 workers were killed in Kannodia Chemicals factory in Sonbhadra, UP, due to leakage of Chlorine gas. It was result of criminal acts of omission and commission on the part of management and administration. They, even did not provide masks to the workers and there was no arrangement for the maintenance of the chlorine cylinders. While, the pocket trade unions, patronised by the management, were trying to diffuse the agitation of the workers and strike a deal, convenient to the management, workers vehemently opposed them, thanks to the prompt intervention by AICCTU leaders Com. Dinkar Kapoor and Com. Mari. Later, under tremendous pressure of the workers, the District Magistrate summoned the deputy Labour officer and in their presence an agreement was signed, accepting the demands of the workers.
From Fast to Fight – Struggle Continues Against Manmohan's Betrayal and Modi‘s lumpenism !
As Medha Patkar broke her 20-day fast on April 17, surrounded by hundreds of supporters, she was very clear that this was no victory. Rather, she was breaking the fast to intensify the fight – the two-week fight for truth and justice that the Supreme Court had imposed on the Andolan. And as she took on Modi, she poured shame on Manmohan – for succumbing to pressure from Modi's lumpen threats and his 5-star fast, rather than standing true to his ‘human face' promises and heeding the voice of the 20-day hunger-strikers and his own Ministers' report.
In the Supreme Court, the Government of India placed an affidavit stating that it would ensure completion of rehabilitation in 3 months. However according to the 3 Ministers' Report, based on their on-the-spot investigation, the rehabilitation work will take at least a year. The UPA Government lied in court and contradicted the word of its own Ministers, to placate Narendra Modi!
The Supreme Court did state that it would stop dam construction if it was found that rehabilitation had not taken place in compliance with its rules. The Ministers' Report categorically stated that all claims of rehabilitation in MP had been mere ‘paperwork' with no relevance to the ‘situation on the ground'. But, amazingly, the Chief Justice himself dismissed the report of the Central Ministers as an ‘ocular impression' based on just two days' visit – but never enquired why no one from the Government or the R&R sub-group had ever visited the Valley for a longer visit before clearing the decision to raise dam height!
The Supreme Court delayed the next hearing till May 1, stating that a decision was impossible in a “charged and emotive atmosphere”, and also branded the ongoing protests as a threat to “unity and integrity of the country”. Such observations were also heard in the Clemenceau case – and it is a new and dangerous trend on part of the Court, to muzzle protest by claiming that it endangers the judicial process.
The Supreme Court has declared that the Prime Minister is empowered to act anytime to take a decision in the matter. As the dam height increases daily, and the danger of endless delays by the Court is a real possibility, Why is Manmohan Singh abdicating his responsibility to act?
Modi spent the last couple of days uttering open threats of mass violence. BJP supporters destroyed the NBA's office in Baroda . The Gujarat Congress only indulged in competitive lumpenism. By aligning with Modi, the Congress and UPA have lost the right to call itself ‘secular' or ‘democratic' – and its talk of ‘aam aadmi' and ‘human face' are a bitter and black joke. The entire political establishment stands exposed; the Congress' unity with BJP on anti-people and pro-corporate models of ‘development' stand exposed; the impotence of CPI and CPI(M) in forcing Manmohan Singh to pay heed to the just demands of the movement and uphold the rule of law, in view of fascist hooliganism of Modi brigade in Gujrat, stands exposed and even the real nature of the Courts stand exposed – the fact that one can expect little but lip-service and dilly-dallying at best from the Supreme Court.
The last month's Andolan on the streets of Delhi have united a remarkable range of people's movements and democratic forces – and these forces will certainly take on Modi's violence and Manmohan's betrayal in the days to come
Popular Uprising in Nepal
As tens of thousands of Nepalis took to the streets in the largest demonstrations and clashed with the police on the 11th day of general strike on April 16, the Seven Party Alliance decided to launch a non-cooperation movement to end the feudal monarchy. Meanwhile King‘s new year‘s day offer of ‘democracy', to hoodwink the masses got exposed by his crude response when on Monday, the general strike entered the 12th day. Police fired tear gas shells at a rally of more than 10,000 ethnic people comprising Gurungs, Thakalis and Newars of Pokhara. More than one hundred people were injured when police indiscriminately opened fire, fired tear gas shells and baton charged at a peaceful rally in Chabahil in Kathmandu . Some 12 people sustained bullet injuries. Security forces opened fire on a crowd in southern Nepal , killing one and seriously wounding five. In 12 days, six innocent lives were lost to the Royal bullets, several hundreds were injured and scores of protesters jailed. Amidst royal repression, the indefinite general strike surged ahead as a real mass movement embracing workers , peasants, students and professionals, and attracted traders, civil servants and the lower ranking officials and also brought crack in the bureaucracy. The movement entered into a higher phase of sustained popular uprising in the form of non- cooperation movement.
In this context, Seven-party alliance said in an appeal: “As part of a non-cooperation movement against the autocratic royal government, we call upon the taxpayers not to pay any kind of taxes to the government and also for consumers not to pay anything for water, electricity, telephone or other services,” They asked people to pursue the principle of “no representation, no taxation” and appealed to Nepalese abroad not to send their remittances to the government and asked labourers to boycott production works in the industries, where Royal family members are involved.
The Maoists extended support to the parties' economic blockade against the government. In a statement they said that the ongoing movement had already become a collective movement of entire, real democratic forces. “This movement is not just to change the power equation but to bring about a total change in state mechanism towards forward-looking outlet”, the statement said.
Seven human rights organisations have demanded for formation of new government comprising of the seven agitating political parties and Maoists, dissolving the prevailing royal regime.
With more experience, maturity and militancy as well as more clarity, consistency and capability than 1990s, full of hope, this movement, independently, would surge ahead to its logical end. Meanwhile, the solidarity movement of Indian people with Nepalese people‘s struggle for democracy, is growing in various forms side by side with the international solidarity movements. At this juncture, any foreign intervention for manufacturing some sort of hybrid system, as in 90s, may only complicate the situation and it must be resisted resolutely at all costs.
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