Beyond the Battle of Baba vs Brinda:
Issues of Privatisation Threatening Public Health
In the course of a labour struggle in Baba Ramdev’s Divyajyoti Pharmacy, Brinda Karat announced that human and animal bones were being used in the medicines produced in Ramdev’s factory. This dramatic revelation of the skeletons (literally) in Baba’s cupboard did not have the effect of embarrassing the Baba and showcasing the violations of labour laws and consumer-rights regulations in his factory. Rather, the Sangh Parivar as well as ‘secular’ figures like Laloo and Mulayam entered the fray, and the issue was posed as a classical battle between the ‘Irreligious Brinda’ and the ‘Indigenous Baba’, with the Baba being portrayed as a victim of an MNC conspiracy. Baba Ramdev himself reproduced the age-old Sangh rhetoric of Communists being anti-national enemies of Indian traditions and agents of ‘foreign’ corporates.
In the shadowboxing between ‘MNCs vs Swadeshi’, and ‘Communists vs Tantriks’, genuine issues of public health in India seem to have been forgotten. We need to ask the Sangh, as well as Laloo and Mulayam – why did they not ban MNCs from profiteering from people’s sickness, when they had the power to do so? Why did they instead preside over the privatisation and commercialisation of the public health sector, turning health into a playground for private and multinational profiteers in states where they enjoyed power? No Government in India in the era of liberalisation has invested to strengthen public health – whether to promote research in Ayurveda or to expand people’s access to public hospitals. Instead, all have promoted the unbridled dismantling and commercialisation of the public health system.
The question we all need to ask is: can we allow our Governments to withdraw from health sector and leave people to the mercies of the MNCs on the one hand and the Babas on the other? Alternate medical practices like yoga, ayurveda, unani and so on have their relevance and role – but no honest practitioner of these traditions would claim that they can replace the institutions of public health. Mulayam Singh ought to be asked: if Baba Ramdev has the answers to all questions of health, why didn’t he rush in to save thousands of children in UP from a terrible death and even more terrible life of retardation due to encephalitis?
During the British Raj, the discourse of cultural nationalism asserted that the colonial control over all aspects of public national life mattered little – as long as Indians maintained their ‘spiritual’ superiority. Today, it suits those in power to promote a similar kind of cultural nationalism, which projects yoga, ayurveda etc… as India’s answer to globalisation and MNCs. In other words, people are encouraged to imagine: ‘So what if the poor can no longer afford AIIMS, so what if the Patent Amendment Act will allow MNCs to charge astronomical costs for medicine – we’ve got Baba Ramdev as the panacea of all ills!’
We have resisted the attempts of Governments to allow MNCs to use Indians as guinea pigs for dubious and dangerous contraceptives like Norplant. Can ‘faith’ be any excuse to exempt ayurveda or other indigenous practices from the same public scrutiny and accountability that we demand for allopathic drugs and practices? Be it an allopathic drug or an ayurvedic preparation – people have the right to know what its ingredients are, and that it has been tested and found safe for consumption.
The RSS and its forerunners were all too happy to talk of ‘spiritual superiority’ and ‘cultural nationalism’ while collaborating with British colonialism and betraying the freedom struggle. Today, their slogans of swadeshi cannot hide the fact that they have the worst track record of selling out national interests to MNCs. Recall that the only achievement of Vajpayee’s first 13-day tenure in power was to hastily sign a shameful deal with the notorious Enron! The ‘cultural nationalists’ of the Sangh would do well to remember that in contrast to their legacy of betrayal, it is only the Communists who have inherited the legacy of genuine anti-imperialist nationalism, and who continue to resist imperialist economic and political domination today. By playing poster boy for the anti-national forces of the Sangh, and indulging in sexist rhetoric against women leaders of the Left while his supporters led a shameful attack on the office of a Left party, the Baba has proven to be a political pawn rather than a pious seer.
It is also an unavoidable fact that the CPI(M)’s own soft-pedalling on the issues of both Hindutva and liberalization created a favourable pitch for the right-wing camp. In the first place, why did the CPI(M) not target the Congress Government in Uttaranchal for failing to implement labour laws and consumer rights laws in the Baba’s factory? Instead, CPI(M) chose to play to the liberal middle class Hindu sentiment by targeting the Baba for ‘hoodwinking vegetarians’ by using human and animal bones in his medicines! This plank backfired badly, and the Baba and his supporters proved to be far more adept at manipulating liberal Hindu sentiment. In fact, the dangers of playing with the ‘fire ‘ of liberal Hindu sentiment were most apparent in the fact that CPI(M)’s own Bengal leader Subhash Chakravarty ended up rushing to the defence of the Baba! In the face of the VHP offensive, the CPI(M) chose to beat a strategic retreat, reiterating that the issue was primarily one of workers’ rights in the Baba’s factory, and sidestepping the virulent attack by the Sangh Parivar on the nationalist credentials of Communists. In the whole debate, the CPI(M) has also chosen to avoid cornering the BJP, Laloo, and Mulayam on the question of privatisation of the health sector and MNC stranglehold over the drug industry. The irony is most apparent when one sees where the protagonists of the Baba vs Brinda battle stood in that very real battle between MNC Patents and the Indian people. The BJP-NDA pushed the Patent Amendment Act dictated by WTO in its own tenure; the UPA in its tenure, supported by the CPI(M), voted to pass it in Parliament!
To pose the issue as that of yoga/ayurveda vs allopathy is to create a smokescreen for the real issue at hand. National interest can only mean informed and universal accessibility of people to the best of medical care, both allopathic and indigenous. Any attempt to reduce nationalism to obscurantist rhetoric against the Left must be resisted tooth and nail.
CPI(ML) Investigation into Kalinganagar Killings in Orissa
Party Observes Bandhs in Orissa and Jharkhand in Protest
As if a 'New Year Gift' to the TATAs, the Orissa police at the behest of TISCO mercilessly butchered 14 tribals and injured many in Kalinganagar industrial area of Jajpur district on January 2. One of the biggest police massacres of recent times, the incident is symptomatic of the developmental 'model' of the era of the liberalisation-privatisation-globalisation policies.
A joint investigation team of CPI(ML) led by Comrades Kshitish Biswal and Subhendu Sen, the Party State Secretaries of Orissa and Jharkhand respectively, and Rajaram, member of the Central Committee, along with Orissa State Committee member Radhakant Sethi, Human Rights activist Diwakar Behuria and Mahendra Parida, visited Kalinganagar on January 4.
Expressing solidarity with the tribal people, CPI(ML) joined Orissa Bandh on Jan. 7, called by left parties and Adivasi Adhikar Morcha. Also, CPI(ML) units organised protests in various parts of the country including New Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, and many other states.
As per the findings of the investigation, Tata Company started construction on the site on January 2 without payment of compensation and assurance of providing jobs to the affected people. No prior information was given to the tribals about the commencement of the work. So tribals started gathering there, to inquire about it. It seems Tata personnel, in collusion with the administration had already hatched a conspiracy to suppress the tribals. A dozen platoons of police force were already deployed there. Even the landmines were planted near the construction site. As the tribals approached the venue, many of them were injured in blasts.
Soon the police started tear gas shelling, which was resisted by the frightened people with their traditional weapons. In the ensuing police firing 12 tribals were killed on the spot and later 2 others succumbed to injuries in a hospital in Cuttack.
Many people are still missing and some are lying in hospitals. Out of those killed, hands of 6 persons were chopped off. According to the tribals, it was done by police after killing them, in order to create terror and panic among the protesters. The bullet marks on head, belly and other upper parts of the body was clear indicator that firing was aimed at killing the people and not just stopping them, as claimed by the government.
If we go into the background, Navin Patnaik govt. acquired 5000 acres of land covering the tribal inhabitated Jajpur district under Industrial Development Organisation (IDO). Some 15 companies including Tata and Jindal groups are to be established there. The land acquired is much more than what actually needed by these companies. When tribals opposed the acquisition of their lands, Govt. promised them jobs and huge amounts of compensation. But later though some of them were given very little compensation a majority got nothing, and as far as jobs were concerned they were asked to wait till the plants are commissioned. Since there has been no land survey in the area after 1966, many of the tribals don't have any documentary evidence to prove their ownership over the lands.
Obviously, there was a series of protests by the adivasis. Much before January 2 incident there was a massive protest against the construction of 'Maharashtra Seamless' on July 18, '05.
After this brutal repression the police had also arrested some 30 tribal people including 20 women. Though the compensation amount was raised to Rs. 52 thousand per acre from Rs. 35 thousand per acre after the protest, but tribal population was unable to get compensation due to lack of papers for their land. Actual cost of the land can be judged by the fact that the Banks are providing loans to the companies by mortgaging same land at the rate of 20 lakhs per acre.
In October 2005, Ravi Jarika, leader of anti-eviction/displacement Morcha was arrested in Bhubaneshwar when went their to attend an anti-eviction convention. He is still in jail. Thus it is obvious that Jan 2 massacre was part of a well orchestrated design of Patnaik Govt. to suppress this movement.
It was also found that land was given to companies at the rate of Rs. 3,36000 per acre while tribals were offered only Rs. 52 thousands as compensation.
In New Delhi, a citizens' protest was held on Jan 6 in front of Orissa Bhavan where a memorandum was submitted through the resident commissioner which demanded resignation of Navin Patnaik from Chief Ministership, criminal proceedings against administrative and district officials involved in firing, immediate restitution of tribals lands and compensation to the families of those killed and injured. Over 27 organisations including Forum for Democratic Initiative, AISA, AICCTU, PUDR, IFTU, etc. participated in this protest.
Reports
Nationwide Protests Held against Govt.’s Decision to Cut Foodgrain Quota for BPL and Antyodaya Scheme Families
All India Agricultural Labour Association (AIALA) and All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) organised nationwide protests on January 10 to oppose the central government's decision of cut in food subsidy for the most poor by decreasing monthly foodgrain quota for the BPL and Antyodaya ration card holders. AIALA and AIPWA have demanded immediate roll-back of this decision as this will affect millions of poor at a time when they are already burdened by the negative impacts of government's neo-liberal economic policies under the influence of WTO dictates.
In New Delhi, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) held protest at Jantar Mantar. The protest was led by AICCTU General Secretary Swapan Mukherjee and AIPWA General Secretary Kumudini Pati. Addressing the protesters, speakers condemned the central government’s decision to cut subsidy in Public Distribution System and increasing the issue price of food grains for APL families and said that this decision has been taken at a time when an agrarian crisis of very serious kind has engulfed the rural India and crores of rural and urban poor are reeling under the specter of starvation. This step is another attack by the UPA Govt. on the poor in order to tread ahead on the path of pro-corporate pro-MNC economic liberalisation policies. When almost every youth has been rendered unemployed by the government's policies in rural as well as urban India, amidst government claims of a 'strengthening economy', this decision has explicitly told that the UPA government has no concern for the most productive and largest section of country's population - toiling workers and the poor peasants. The women are the most affected lot with such insensitive and anti-people steps. CPI(ML) Central Committee member Prabhat Kumar, Delhi State Secretary Rajendra Pratholi, AICCTU Secretaries Santosh Kumar Roy and Rajiv Dimri, AIPWA leader Uma Gupta and many others also addressed the protesters.
Similar protests were organised by AIALA in various state capitals and district headquarters in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, etc.
In Bihar, protest demonstrations were witnessed in almost all district headquarters and important centres. In Patna protest was led by K.D. Yadav and Saroj Chaube. Protests were also held at many places in Arwal, Jahanabad, Buxar, Biharsharif, Ara and Begusarai. AIPWA units held protest marches and mass meeting at many places.
In Uttar Pradesh, AIALA observed a protest day on 8 January where Manmohan Govt.'s effigy were burnt in various districts including Sonbhadra, Sitapur and Pilibhit. Protests were also held on Jan 10 many places. Rajasthan unit of AIALA has called for protests on 16 January against this decision of the government.
Programmes to Commemorate First Martyrdom Day of Com. Mahendra Singh
January 16 will mark the first Martyrdom Day of Comrade Mahendra Singh. The CBI investigation into his murder is yet to come out with anything substantial. Deepak Verma, the then SP of Giridih and Ravindra Rai, BJP leader and ex-Minister in Jharkhand Govt., the two main accused who masterminded the killing of the beloved leader of the masses, have not even been interrogated till date. However, frustrating the designs of the assassins, people of Bagodar and Jharkhand are marching ahead on the path shown by Com. Mahendra Singh. To pay tributes, in a befitting manner, to the revolutionary leader and to mount pressure on the government so that the real culprits are brought to book without further delay, CPI(ML) has organised programmes in Bagodar, New Delhi and other places.
Statues of Comrade Mahendra Singh will be unveiled at Khambra, his native village, and at Bagodar. A massive rally will also be held in Bagodar. This will be addressed by Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya and other leaders and prominent personalities. A collection of Com. Mahendra Singh's selected speeches in Jharkhand Assembly will also be released on this occasion.
In Delhi , a convention will be organised on 'Protection of Democratic Rights in Jharkhand and punishment to the killers of Mahendra Singh'. This is to be held in IMA (Indian Medical Association) Hall at ITO, Delhi .
In the Zilla Panchayat Election in Pilibhit
CPI(ML) District Panchayat member in Pilibhit, Kishanlal, Advocate, who was elected in the recently, abstained from voting for the District Panchayat President's post. In the absence of any honest and serious candidate CPI(ML) district unit decided not to vote for any, as all in the fray were trying to woo supporters with their money and muscle power. Horse-trading, money-power and even kidnapping were employed by the prospective candidates. Our comrades defied all these pressures and declared to continue CPI(ML)'s campaign against these representatives of anti-people, anti-working class parties inside the district panchayat.
Kashmir - Various Aspects
(We reproduce excerpts from a write-up by Rajendar Sachar, President, PUCL and Ex-Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi )
For far too long, the progress on talks between Govt. of India and Kashmiri leaders is in limbo. Though Indo-Pak talks are taking place on Sir Creek and Siachin glacier, they do not seem to have made any progress. But what is more discomforting is the almost total lack of contact with Hurriat and other Kashmiri leaders like Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah on the ongoing talks. I feel this is unfortunate because gradually the field is being left open and attempts are being made to fill it by US sponsored lobby of spreading confusion by projecting sometimes a division into 5-7 regions theory and sometimes putting it as a self-governing region.
I have strong reasons to believe that if in India Govt. and Kashmiri people arrive at mutually satisfying solution even President Musharaff would welcome it because then he could not be accused by his critics of letting down Kashmiri people. But in order that a satisfactory end to the present Kashmir imbroglio is reached, a real change in the perception of all will have to take place. First Pakistan and Kashmiri leaders must accept that the part of J&K on Indian side is sacroscanct and non-negotiable. Further, considering the price that J&K has paid in terms of human misery during these 2 decades of militancy and alienation that has been built-up, it would be illogical for Indian leadership to hope that talks can take place within the parameters of the normal State-Centre relationships.
The only question is since the settlement has to be on the ground level, the settlement though it may proceed on the basis of “sky is the limit”, has to be terrafirma, i.e., it must have its base on the firm foundation and the basis must be such which even the Govt. of India should be able to sell to the country.
Frankly, I have no objection even to the use of the word “self-government” (after all this phrase was 1919 Govt. of India Act) so long as it is not understood in the sense of a UN phraseology which means self-governing territories which are under the over all supervision of UN or placed in trusteeship under some particular nation. That is why when self Govt. is used for both parts of J&K, the suggestion obliquely seems to be as if both Pakistan and India should jointly manage and have control over J&K as one unit. Such a suggestion is worse than the disease and conceals the unspoken thought of USA Govt. that the disagreement between the two will automatically give USA functioning under UNO cover to take decisive if not exclusive role in this region - an eventuality which no self-respecting Indian or Pakistani can tolerate or permit.
Of course, so far as the borders between the 2 parts of J&K are concerned, they can be made as porous and as free as between USA and Canada or even like as at present in the European Union. People belonging to each side should have no problem not only in traveling but in even having trade with each other.
In order to further reassure the people of J&K Central Govt. would agree unilaterally to withdraw all Central legislations which have been extended upto date to J&K. It will then be upto to the J&K legislature to pass new laws or apply those laws with suitable modifications as they feel necessary. Some well meaning people react adversely to this suggestion on the ground that this would be creating special category unlike the other parts of the states. But why should it surprise anyone because J&K is a special case and is so recognized in our Constitution by Article 370. This suggestion of mine is only putting life to the original content of what Article 370 meant.
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