ML Update 11 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 17, No. 11, 12 – 18 MARCH 2014

Confront Modi’s United Front of Corporate-Communal Thuggery

W

ith Lok Sabha elections less than a month away, we are seeing feverish political realignments all around. It is open season for the opportunists, with aya-ram-gaya-ram politicians switching parties at dizzying speed.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) of Raj Thackeray has declared its support for Modi as Prime Minister. MNS will field candidates against its rival and BJP ally Shiv Sena, but not against BJP.

The Modi campaign has taken the shape of a united front of a variety of unsavoury forces: the RSS and its constituent communal outfits; thugs of various hues including moral policing brigades, organisations implicated in Dabholkar’s killing, regional-chauvinists like Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena, and khap panchayats; and corporate houses. This gang-up includes godmen like Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (unfortunately Asaram has been eliminated from this line-up thanks to his being in jail charged with rape of a minor girl). Among the various opportunists who have made a timely strategic shift and joined this gang-up, we can also count the imperialist US Government, which has made an about-turn in its position and extended its tacit blessings for Modi.

Modi’s campaign has essentially been dominated by ‘theme Gujarat’ and ‘team Gujarat’, and the Gujarat Government’s resources being put at the services of Modi’s Prime Ministerial campaign. With Raj Thackeray’s support in addition to Shiv Sena’s, Maharashtra’s might has been added to Gujarat’s fuel power. Gujarat and Maharashtra are both arenas of corporate assertion and the corporate model of ‘development’, and Modi’s campaign has taken on the overtones of the corporate home base against more backward regions. Modi indicated as much by declaring that the ‘eastern’ states, associated with left and non-Congress non-BJP parties, needed to be brought in line with the ‘developed western states.’ It is ironic that Modi, bragging to the people of Bihar about the development model of the ‘western states’, forgets that his allies in Maharashtra are responsible for thrashing the migrant labourers from Eastern India, whose labour contributes in no small way to the corporate-led ‘development’ of those states!

Recent realignments are also revealing the hollowness and insincerity of the ‘Third Front’ being peddled by the CPI and CPIM. In less than a month since the 11-party grouping met in Delhi on 10 February, the Front is showing tears and strains. The AIADMK has coolly walked out of the Front leaving CPIM high and dry: clearly because Jayalalithaa would like to keep the option of supporting Modi (or Mamata), as the situation may demand, post elections. Clearly, such a Front cobbled together with parties without the slightest consistency or secular-democratic principles, cannot possibly offer any resistance to the BJP. In other states too, including Bihar and Odisha, the seat-sharing arrangements with JDU and BJD are seeing the CPIM and CPI cut a sorry figure. These developments hold a lesson for the CPI and CPIM. Time and again, their model of essentially opportunist alliances covered by the fig leaf of ‘secular front,’ ‘common minimum programme’ or ‘third front’ have not only discredited and tarnished the cause of struggles against communal forces and neoliberal policies. They have also contributed to a steady marginalisation, and erosion in the strength and credibility, of the Left. The fact that such alliances yielded some seats for the CPI and CPIM has helped to disguise it, but with time, the erosion and marginalisation has become unmistakeable.

To confront Modi’s united front of communal-corporate thuggery, we cannot possibly rely on political opportunists with a track record of promoting corporate plunder and complete lack of consistent anti-communal principles and practice. People’s movement forces and the Left, instead of passively relying on such opportunist and unprincipled forces and alliances, need to unite and boldly assert a robust agenda of democracy, justice, people’s rights, and reversal of anti-people policies.

AIPWA’s 9th West Bengal State Conference

The 9th West Bengal State Conference was held at Kolkata on 8th March, International Women’s Day. The Conference was held at the Bharat Sabha Hall, named the Aparajita Mancha for the occasion. The Conference began with the hoisting of the AIPWA flag and floral tributes to the martyrs. The Conference was marked by the active and enthusiastic participation of working women, students, and victims of gender violence.

Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA National Secretary addressed the delegates and guests, speaking about the need to assert the agenda of the women’s movement for freedom, dignity and rights, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. She spoke of Anna Hazare’s support to the Mamata Banerjee Government as an insult to the women’s movement, since not only had the Government been utterly callous in its response to a spate of rapes, and had even unleashed rape as an act of political vendetta, but had also presided over corruption scams like the Chit Fund scam that had caused rural poor women to commit suicide out of desperation.

The outgoing State Secretary Chaitali Sen presented the work report, highlighting the struggles for justice waged by AIPWA in a series of rape cases in the State, and the struggles for rights of working women.

AIPWA activists from amongst women workers and students, as well as survivors of gender violence, addressed the Conference. One mother of a minor girl who had suffered rape, spoke of the struggle for justice in the face of isolation and pressure – only to be met with hostility from the police, which delayed filing an FIR on the illegal pretext that the ‘medical report has not been prepared’, and the biased prosecution which weakened the chargesheet, making it possible for the accused to secure bail. Speaker after speaker bore testimony to the fact that the TMC Government had unleashed an offensive on women’s rights, and had tried to muzzle freedom of expression and the voices of resistance to patriarchy.

AISA activists enthused the gathering with the presentation of rousing songs. The gathering was also addressed by senior AICCTU leader and organizer of working women, Comrade Mina Pal, as well as other activists of AICCTU and AISA.

The Conference elected a 47 member Council and a team of office bearers – with Gouri Dey as President, Malina Baxi as Vice President, Chaitali Sen as Secretary, Indrani Dutta and Archana Ghatak as joint secretaries, Chandrasmita Goswami as Office Secretary, and Kalyani Goswami as treasurer. The Conference was followed by a spirited march from the venue to College Square, where activists addressed a street corner gathering.

Updates from TN

Left Cadres Switch to CPI(ML)

100 CPI party members along with 1200 mass organization members joined CPI(ML)and its frontal organisations in Tiruvellore district. With CPI and CPI(M) tailing behind AIADMK, these 100 members with more than 20 years of CPI membership in this region, as well as 1200 members of various mass organizations joined CPI(ML) at a Rally and public meeting organized by the party on various demands of the people on 5th March 2014. The programme was presided over by Com. Janakiraman, district secretary of CPI(ML). The rally demanded 1000 bed hospital at Sengundram, an Arts College, minimum wages of Rs.15000 to all working people, one ration shop to every 500 households, 3 cent house site pattas to all homeless people as promised by Jayalalithaa government, public toilets for women in market areas, pakka connecting roads to all villages, and an end to displacement of people in the name of road expansion. Speakers at the Rally included Party PBM Com. Kumarasamy, CCM Com. Bhuvana, and SCM Com. A S Kumar.        

CPI(ML) Candidate from Coimbatore

Comrade Chandran, a worker in Laxmi Machine Works and also Honorary President of district AICCTU was announced as a candidate for Coimbatore parliamentary constituency by CPI(ML) in a mass public meeting of 1200 workers. Com. Balasubramanian, District Secretary presided over the meeting. Com. Shankar, CCM introduced the candidate. Com. Balan, State President of Karnataka AICCTU also spoke. Com. Kumarasamy, PBM was the main speaker. Other speakers included Com. Bala Murugan, General Secretary of Shanthi Gears Union, Com. N K Natarajan, State President of AICCTU, Com. Janakiraman, district vice president of AICCTU and Com. Chandran, the candidate. The survivor of the ovum racket in Namakkal district and Com. Kathiravan, district committee member of CPI(ML) who were brutally attacked for exposing it, also participated in the meeting.

Dr. Ambedkar Union Branch at Karur

The Dr. Ambedkar Electricity Board Employees and Engineers Association affiliated to AICCTU opened its branch at Karur with an inaugural meeting on 26th January. Com. Balraj, state vice president presided over the function. About 70 employees from among sanitary workers to engineers, participated. Com. Ramachandran, district organiser, Com. Desikan State secretary and Com. Chandra Mohan, state vice president of AICCTU addressed the meeting. Com. Ramachandran, State President and Subramanian, State Secretary of the Association also spoke.

Campaign and meetings by RYA

From February 23–26, RYA organized campaigns at various places in Sanguvarchatram and Thirumangalam areas demanding closure of Tasmac (wine shops run by state government) shops, effective Lokayuktha in the state to combat corruption, provision of minibuses to connect all villages with main roads, upgrading Anna hospital into 100 bedded hospital with all facilities, and minimum wage of Rs 15000 to all working people. On February 24th the RYA team met the contract workers of Hyundai car Factory at their gate. The Feb 26th public meeting was attended by 250 youths and workers of this area. It was presided by Com. Rajaguru, district president of Kanjipuram RYA. It was addressed by Com. Kumarasamy PBM of CPI(ML), Bharathi, National secretary of RYA, Com. Iraniappan, district secretary of CPI(ML). Earlier thousands of signatures were collected from people on these demands and it was decided in the public meeting to hand over the same to the Chief Minister personally.

On March 3rd, when RYA cadres assembled in front of the Secretariat to hand over the petition with thousands of signature to CM, permission was denied by the police and all of them were arrested and lodged in a hall till the evening.

Again on March 4th, a group of RYA cadres planning to lay siege to the head quarters of Tasmac wine shop were detained by police and released in the evening. On March 5th again they decided to proceed to Chief Minister’s house to hand over the petition. There was a heavy police bandobust around the area and RYA cadres were again arrested and detained.

Updates from Karnataka

Com. Balan as Karnataka State President of AICCTU

Comrade S Balan, a reputed lawyer in Criminal Law and also one of the prominent trade union leaders in Bangalore joined CPI(ML). Com. Nirmala, a trade union and political activist also joined the Party. Com. Balan is a fighter for the cause of workers and is also leading trade unions of various categories of unorganized and contract workers including those in public sectors like HAL, BHEL, BEML, in government sectors like municipal workers, in companies like Stump Schhule, BOSCH, Race Course and also state level unorganised workers like Quarry and Construction workers, Computer operators, nurses, etc. In an AICCTU meeting held recently S. Balan was also chosen as the Karnataka State President of AICCTU while Com. Bharadwaj, was made the State General Secretary and Appanna as Secretary in a state level meeting of activists. The meeting also decided to hold the state conference of AICCTU in May, 2014.

Municipal Workers in Karnataka Demonstrate

BBMP Guttige Powrakarmikara Sangha (BBMP Contract Sanitation Workers Union), affiliated to AICCTU held a demonstration in front of the office of Labour Commissioner on 19 Feb. 2014 demanding monthly wages on par with workers engaged in same and similar work in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) under Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act, 1971.

More than 21800 workers are engaged in sanitation work in Bangalore by the BBMP; out of which more than 18700 workers are engaged by contractors and another 3100 plus workers are directly engaged by the BBMP itself.

AICCTU Intervention for Compensation to the Security Worker who Died inside the Factory

On 19th Feb, 2014, when a BOSCH company (German Multinational) employee Nagraj (security department - whose status of employment is disputed by the management) died inside the plant in mysterious circumstances, the attempt of the management and the police to cover up the case was foiled by the initiative of the AICCTU Karnataka State President and the leader of a section of contract workers' union. The police officials who initially targeted and threatened Com. S. Balan of dire consequences were forced to maintain restraint as hundreds of local people and a section of workers assembled near the factory gate. Ultimately, the body was allowed to be shifted out of the factory only after the management paid an on the spot cash compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to the victim's family.

The capital is so ruthless and brutal that an employee is not even paid the required honours even after his death. Without the intervention of AICCTU, the family of the deceased would not even have got a meagre compensation.

AICCTU IN NIMHANS Hospital, Bangalore

Unorganised workers of NIMHANS formed a union, 'NIMHANS Pragathipara Workers' Union', affiliated to AICCTU and its inaugual General Body was held on 22 Feb. 2014. The workers demanded same payment and other service condiitons for the unorganised workers engaged in same and similar kind of work; regularisation of all unorganised workers and bring them under the pay rolls of NIMHANS; Service weightage; Hospital care allowance and Risk Allowance in addition to Privilege Leave, Casual Leave and Government Holidays; mandatory ESI to all and entitlement for treatment in NIMHANS Staff Clinic; Recruitment of more workers to reduce the work burden on existing lesser number of workers and to stick to Patient - Worker Norms for hospitals, etc. The General Body decided on the Demands Charter to be placed before the NIMHANS administration.

Next to PGI, Chandigarh and and Lallaram Hospital in Delhi, NHRM and ASHA workers in Bihar, Jharkhand and other Hindi speaking states, AICCTU has organised contract workers of NIMHANS in Bangalore. After a decisive battle, PGI has won an order of 'Same payment for same work' which is roughly equivalent to 23000 being drawn by any government employee in the lowest grade of Group D. NPWU / AICCTU has also joined the Confederation of Central Government Hospital Employees and Workers.

Dr. Pradnya Rajesh Bhargave of NIMHANS SC/ST Welfare Association, V Muthukumaran, Legal Advisor to NIMHANS Employees Association, Ravi R, Vice President of National Tuberculosis Institute Non Gazetted Staf Association addressed the gathering along with Com. Shankar, All India Vice President, S. Balan, Karnataka State President, Appanna, State Secretary of AICCTU and Ranjani of All India Progressive Women's Association addressed the gathering.

The General Body also decided to send a Workers' Charter of Demands to be placed before the NIMHANS administration and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of central government for speedy resolution.

Com. Shankar condemned the anti-worker attitude of the central government and demanded NIMHANS administration for early negotiation with the union in order to resolve all outstanding issues of the unorganised workers.

Com. Balan called upon all workers to resort to the path of struggle to win over the demands.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is one of those handful of select medical institutions like AIIMS, Delhi, PGI, Chandigarh and JIPMER, Pondicherry. Recently, it has also won the status of a Deemed University. But, in spite of being a hospital run by the central government, none of the labour laws are in force. The central government, which is also an appropriate government, is showing utter neglect on unorganised workers' issues.

AICCTU in BEML, Kolar Gold Field, Karnataka

AICCTU held a convention of BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) central public sector workers at KGF (Kolar Gold Field) on 23 Feb. 2014 under the presidentship of Com. Balan, Karnataka State President of AICCTU. Mr. Bhupathy, Chairman of Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB), Mr. Cliffton of ALF (Alternate Law Forum), Shankar, Vice President, AICCTU addressed the gathering.

The convention was held in the context of BEML workers’ victory in securing an order from the Labour Commissioner advising the BEML Management to implement the Karnataka Government’s decision of giving ‘Service Weightage’ as per the Karnataka Government Notification No. CLA/CR-49/2010-11 dated 11 March 2013 and demanding same and similar payment for same and similar work under Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of the ID Act, 1947.

Com. Balan called upon workers to give a fitting reply to trading unions and to march on struggle to secure the benefits due to workers. He also traced the struggling history of BEML workers and the history of betrayal by the social democratic trade unions. He called upon workers to join the struggles of revolutionary trade union movement. Mr. Bhupathy, Chairman of CACLB elaborated the contours of abolition and regulation of contract labour and the act. Mr. Cliffton spoke on the issues related to ‘Same Payment for Same Work’. Shankar elaborated on the importance of renewed struggles to win over the due rights of workers.

AICCTU Demo for Service Weightage and Same Payment for Same Work

AICCTU (All India Central Council of Trade Unions) held a demonstration on 1st Mar. 2014 in front of Karnataka Labour Commissioner’s Office demanding implementation of ‘Service Weightage’ with retrospective effect and ‘Same and similar wages and service conditions for same and similar work’. Several unions of contract workers in public, private and government sectors, affiliated to AICCTU participated in the demonstration led by Com. S.Balan, State President of AICCTU.

The protest is organized with the primary demand of ‘Same Wages for Same Work’ as specified under the Central Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act, 1971 and on par with workers engaged in same and similar work in corporate and multinational companies like Bosch, ITC, L&T Komatsu, Kenmetal, Federal Moghul and Central public sectors like BEML, BHEL, HAL, State government run Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), hospitals, etc.. The same is the case with unabated agitations by health sector workers including 108 Ambulance Service, TB Control and HIV Prevention departments, etc.

In the era of Liberalization, Privatisation and Globalisation, the regular workforce is shrinking drastically and on the contrary, the contract and other exploitative forms of employment are expanding. Lakhs of workers are engaged by corporate and multinational companies in Bangalore on contract basis. None of these companies abide by the labour welfare laws. While both the contract and regular workers are engaged in works of same or similar nature, the contract workers are severely discriminated in terms of wages and service conditions. An increase of a ‘Service Weightage’ of 2 per cent of basic pay per year of service notified by the Karnataka State Government on 11 Mar. 2013 is not yet implemented, even after a year.

Com. S.Balan, State President of AICCTU called upon workers to intensify the agitation and demanded the labour authorities to play a proactive role in implementation of service weightage and same payment for same work. He declared that struggle will continue till workers get their due share of benefits.

Com. Shankar, All India Vice President of AICCTU and Central Committee Member of CPI(ML) (Liberation), In-charge of Karnataka called upon workers to march on streets and make the struggle as a broad based movement involving all contract workers in Bangalore. He also called upon workers to expand the movement so as to challenge the powers that be. He also emphasized on the importance of workers participation in trade union struggles and activities.

The Protest demonstration was also addressed by Com. Cliffton, advocate for ALF (Alternate Law Forum), Appanna, State Secretary, Somu, District President, Puttegowda, CPI(ML) District Secretary, District Committee Members Mohan from BOSCH and Ravikumar from Stump Schuule.

 

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: 22442790, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org

 2014 ലോക് സഭാ പൊതു തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ

   സിപിഐ (എംഎൽ)   പ്രചാരണ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളെ
  ഉദാരമായി പിന്തുണയ്ക്കുക 

 2014  ലോക് സഭാ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ 15 സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിലും മൂന്നു കേന്ദ്ര ഭരണ പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലും ആയി  60 ലേറെ സ്ഥാനാർഥികളെയാണ് സി പി ഐ (എം എൽ ) മത്സര രംഗത്ത് ഇറക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത് . ഏറെക്കാലം ആയി ജനകീയ സമരങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് സവിശേഷമായ തരത്തിൽ ശ്രദ്ധ പിടിച്ചു പറ്റിയ പ്രദേശങ്ങൾ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നവയാണ് ഈ മണ്ഡലങ്ങൾ എല്ലാം തന്നെ.  ഏത് വിധമുള്ള  പരീക്ഷണ ഘട്ടത്തിനു  മുന്നിലും പതറാതെയും ആത്മാർഥതയോടെയും  ധീരതയോടെയും ജനകീയ സമരങ്ങളിൽ നില ഉറപ്പിച്ചവരും  പോരാട്ടങ്ങളിൽ ജനങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം നിന്ന് വർഷങ്ങളുടെ  അനുഭവ സമ്പത്ത് ഉള്ളവരും ആണ്   സി പി ഐ (എം എൽ ) ന്റെ സ്ഥാനാർഥികൾ. കഴിഞ്ഞ 2009 പൊതു തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ  ഝാർഖണ്ഡിലെ ഒരു ലോക് സഭാ മണ്ഡലത്തിൽ പാർട്ടിയുടെ സ്ഥാനാർഥി രണ്ടാം സ്ഥാനത്ത് എത്തിയിരുന്നു . അത് പോലെ ബീഹാറിൽ ബഹുകോണ മത്സരമായിരുന്നിട്ടും ഏതാനും മണ്ഡലങ്ങളിൽ പാർടിക്കു മൂന്നാം സ്ഥാനത്ത് വരാനും അഞ്ചു ലക്ഷത്തിൽ അധികം വോട്ടുകൾ നേടാനും കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട് .

. തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് വേദികളിൽ സിപിഐ (എം എൽ )ന്റെ  സജീവമായ സാന്നിധ്യം ജനകീയ ജനാധിപത്യത്തിനു വേണ്ടി പാർട്ടി കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്ന കൂടുതൽ വിശാലമായ സമരവേദിയുടെ ഒരു വിപുലനം മാത്രമാണ് .1980 കളിൽ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പുകളുടെ വേദിയിൽ പാർട്ടിയുടെ രംഗ പ്രവേശം അടിച്ചമർത്തപ്പെട്ടവരും ഓരങ്ങളിലേക്ക് ഒതുക്കപ്പെട്ടവരും ആയ ദരിദ്ര ഗ്രാമീണരുടെ   അഭിലാഷങ്ങൾക്ക് പുതിയ ശബ്ദവും രൂപഭാവങ്ങളും നല്കി. ബീഹാറിലും ഝാർഖണ്ഡിലും ഏതാനും നിയമ സഭാ മണ്ഡലങ്ങളെ പ്രതി നിധീകരിച്ചതിനു പുറമേ പാർലമെന്റിലും ജനാധിപത്യ അഭിലാഷങ്ങൾ സാക്ഷാൽക്കരിക്കാനുള്ള പോരാട്ടങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ചു അവയെ ധീരതയോടെ ഉയർത്തിപ്പിടിക്കാൻ പാർട്ടിക്ക് കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്. 

പാർട്ടിയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന 2014 തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് പ്രചാരണം മുഖ്യമായും ശ്രദ്ധ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്  കോർപ്പറേറ്റ് കൾ തുണയ്ക്കുന്ന വർഗീയ ഫാസിസ്റ്റ് അജണ്ടയ്ക്കെതിരെയും,  കോർപ്പറേറ്റ്  ഭൂമികയ്യേറ്റം ,അഴിമതി,  വിഭവക്കൊള്ള എന്നിവയ്ക്കെതിരായുള്ള ജനകീയ ചെറുത്തു നിൽപ്പുകൾക്ക് അനുകൂലമായും ഉള്ള മുദ്രാവാക്യങ്ങളിൽ ആണ് .  വിലക്കയറ്റവും തൊഴിലില്ലായ്മയും സൃഷ്ട്ടിക്കുന്ന കോർപ്പറേറ്റ് അനുകൂല നയങ്ങൾ തിരുത്തി തൽസ്ഥാനത്ത്  ഭൂപരിഷ്കരണം, ജനപക്ഷ വികസനം, കൂടുതൽ തൊഴിൽ അവസരങ്ങൾ സൃഷ്ടിക്കാൻ പര്യാപ്തമായ വ്യവസായവല്ക്കരണം, ആരോഗ്യത്തിനും വിദ്യാഭ്യാസത്തിനും പാർപ്പിടത്തിനും അടിസ്ഥാനതല പൊതു സേവനങ്ങൾക്കും ഉള്ള ജനകീയ അവകാശങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക് പ്രാമുഖ്യം ഉള്ള നയങ്ങൾക്കായി പൊരുതുന്നതിനു വേണ്ടി സിപിഐ (എം എൽ ) നില കൊള്ളുന്നു .ദലിത് ജനതയുടെ അവകാശങ്ങളും അന്തസ്സും ഉയർത്തിപ്പിടിക്കുന്നതോടൊപ്പം തുല്യ അവകാശങ്ങൾക്കും സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന്നും  ആയുള്ള സ്ത്രീകളുടെ പോരാട്ടങ്ങളെയും ഭരണകൂട അടിച്ചമർലുകൾ ക്കെതിരെ ഭിന്ന ജനവിഭാഗങ്ങൾ നടത്തിവരുന്ന ചെറുത്തു നില്പ്പുകളെയും പാർട്ടി പിന്തുണച്ചുപോരുന്നു. ആണ്‍കോയ്മാ വർഗീയ മാഫിയാകൾ രാജ്യത്ത് അഴിച്ചു വിടുന്ന 

ഹിംസാത്മകതയെയും നഗ്നമായ മനുഷ്യാവകാശ ലംഘനങ്ങളെയും ചെറുക്കുക എന്നതിലും സിപിഐ (എം എൽ )ന്റെ  തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പു പ്രചാരണം ഊന്നൽ നല്കുന്നു. 

ഈ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടു സിപിഐ(എം എൽ ) മുന്നോട്ടുനയിക്കുന്ന പ്രചാരണപ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളെ  സാധ്യമായ എല്ലാവിധത്തിലും സഹായിക്കാൻ ഞങ്ങൾ ഈ രാജ്യത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങളോട് അഭ്യർഥിക്കുന്നു. സിപിഐ(എം എൽ ) നടത്തുന്ന രാഷ്ട്രീയ പ്രചാരണം പൂർണ്ണമായും ജനങ്ങൾ നല്കുന്ന സാമ്പത്തിക സഹായത്തെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നതാണ്. കോർപ്പറേറ്റ് സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളിൽനിന്നോ, മറ്റു ഫണ്ടിംഗ് ഏജൻസികളിൽ നിന്നോ സാമ്പത്തിക സഹായം  ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഒരു തരത്തിലുള്ള സഹായവും സ്വീകരിക്കാതിരിക്കുക എന്നതാണ്  സിപിഐ(എം എൽ ) ന്റെ നയം. 

പാർട്ടിയുടെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പു ഫണ്ടിലേക്ക്  ഉദാരമായി സംഭാവനകൾ നല്കാൻ  ജനങ്ങളോട് അഭ്യർഥന നടത്തുന്നതോടൊപ്പം വിലപ്പെട്ട സമയവും ആശയങ്ങളും നിർദേശങ്ങളും പങ്കാളിത്തവും സാധ്യമാവുന്നതിന്റെ പരമാവധി  ഏവരിൽനിന്നും  ഉണ്ടാകണം എന്ന് ഞങ്ങൾ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു .

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കേരള സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ലീഡിംഗ് ടീം മുഖേന സിപിഐ(എം എൽ ) 2014 തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പു പ്രചാരണഫണ്ടിലേക്ക്‌  സഹായം നല്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് താഴെപ്പറയുന്ന ടെലിഫോണ്‍ നമ്പറിൽ ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ശേഷം ലഭിക്കുന്ന അക്കൗണ്ട്‌ വിവരങ്ങൾ  പ്രകാരം ഓണ്‍ലൈൻ ആയി സംഭാവനകൾ ബാങ്കിൽ നിക്ഷേപിക്കാവുന്നതാണ് :

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ML Update 10 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol.  17             No. 10                                                                          5 - 11 MAR 2014

International Women’s Day 2014:

Bring Women’s Freedom Onto the Political Agenda

8 March – International Women’s Day – was born in the struggles that women factory workers in their thousands waged against bondage a century ago. Those women workers – in Chicago, in European countries, in Russia - protested against the exploitative conditions in which they worked. They were also the frontrunners of the movement for women’s suffrage: battling against the denial of political equality and citizenship for women.

In 2014, the legacy of those century-old struggles is as relevant as ever. Women workers continue to labour in exploitative and unsafe conditions – but the theatres of such exploitation have shifted from the US and Europe to Asian and African countries. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 2011 that consumed the lives of women workers in New York City, is being re-enacted as fires and collapses in garment factories in Bangladesh a century later. In India too women are employed, overwhelmingly, in the 3D (Dirty, Dangerous, Demeaning) jobs. And just as they are expected to do unpaid housework as a ‘selfless service’ in the home, the Government too asks them to work without a salary (for instance as ASHA workers) as a ‘selfless service’.      

Moreover, women in India are still denied political equality and citizenship. They are grossly under-represented in Assemblies and Parliament, and it has become clear that India’s ruling parties are committed to delaying and denying 33% reservation for women. But the denial of rights as equal citizens goes beyond this.

What is most shameful is that our representative bodies, our Governments, our ruling political parties, and even our Courts are unwilling to uphold our freedom to love or marry a partner of our choice. A Kerala Court has recently decreed that a woman’s right to marry a person of her choice is not absolute, and that parents have a say in their daughter’s marriage. Justifying a father’s action of detaining his daughter when she, a woman doctor, wished to marry a fellow doctor, the judge said, “the liberties guaranteed to citizens could not be stretched beyond limits and should not be used as a weapon to destroy social establishments.” The Supreme Court itself recently recriminalized homosexuality by rehabilitating Section 377. The conclusion is inescapable:  judges tend to see themselves as custodians of the ‘social establishments’ – of family, caste, community, homophobic and patriarchal morality – rather than of the Constitutional liberties.

Governments and ruling political parties are much the same. They are happy to talk of ‘women’s empowerment’ and ‘protection’ for women. But they are as a rule supremely unwilling to defend women’s freedom from patriarchal diktats. Last year, women protesters demanded azaadi – freedom – from ‘khaps, fathers, brothers.’ The recent statements by a range of political leaders defending khaps, shows that they have shut their ears – and their minds – to such demands. That slogan showed that for young protesters, ‘khaps’ did not just stand for ‘honour killings’. They were a metaphor for patriarchal and oppressive structures of caste, class, and community. They identified the ‘khaps’ in the daily restrictions imposed by parents and hostel administrations, in the pressure to obey caste/community restrictions in marriage, in the violence inflicted on dalit or Muslim men who love women of dominant communities, in Section 377, in moral policing by cops and outfits like Ram Sene and Bajrang Dal.  

Yet, we have seen leaders of Congress, BJP, and AAP, tell us that khaps are valuable social institutions, though these parties hasten to assure us that they will not defend acts of coercion or violence ‘if any’. When political parties act as advocates and apologists of khaps, they are telling us that the freedom and dignity of women and dalits really do not have much place in their vision of politics. On the contrary, patriarchal restrictions on women’s freedom have many political uses, especially to justify violence against vulnerable communities. We have seen the BJP use khaps to fan up anti-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar, in the name of ‘saving our women’ from ‘love jehad.’ Khaps have always branded women’s consensual love with dalit men as ‘rape’ and unleashed violence on dalit communities in the name of avenging hurt ‘honour’: this time Muslims were the target. The Congress too has long enjoyed the political support of the khaps, turning a blind eye to the violence they mete out to women and dalits. AAP justified violence against African women in the name of ‘protecting’ Indian women.  

The Kerala judge isn’t alone in legitimising the patriarchal idea that daughter’s Constitutional rights are not absolute, and that these can be violated by her father in order to ‘protect’ her from undesirable relationships. The BJP invoked the same idea when they faced with evidence that their Prime Ministerial candidate had deployed state machinery to stalk a woman. 

Every year on 8 March, we hear some lip service paid by Governments towards women. But women continue to be denied the simplest needs and services. This year, with Lok Sabha elections soon to take place, we need to bring women’s rights and needs onto the political agenda.  

We want no rhetoric about women’s greatness nor promises of ‘protection.’ We instead demand that Governments recognise their duty to ensure free toilets, medical care, education, and safe, regular public transport for women. We expect Governments to provide one-stop crisis centres and compensation and rehabilitation for survivors of gender violence. Children routinely face sexual abuse: is it not the Government’s job to provide safe child-care, especially in poor working class settlements? Why do Governments promote liquor addiction, with disastrous consequences for women? Liquor licences in residential areas should require the consent of the majority of local women.

We want Governments to stop behaving like patriarchal families, and stop asking women workers to work for an ‘honorarium’ instead of a salary. We want to know if Governments will commit to guaranteeing that women workers get equal pay for equal work, that minimum wages are raised, that ASHA and anganwadi workers get their full recognition and rights as government employees, that every work place has toilets, safe and healthy work conditions, and mechanisms against sexual harassment?

We have had enough of Governments encouraging police to do moral policing and crackdowns on consensual couples in the name of women’s protection. Instead, we expect Governments to ensure the accountability of the police, and to ensure strict action against police personnel who fail to do their duty. We also want Governments to stop protecting politicians, police and Army personnel who are accused of rape, and perpetrators of caste and communal rapes. From Chhattisgarh to Manipur to Kashmir, the impunity enjoyed by rapists in uniform, and the continued systematic rapes of dalit women all over rural India, the denial of justice to women raped in caste and communal massacres, exposes the reality of the politicians’ anti-rape rhetoric.

We want to know if Governments will scrap Section 377; enact laws against honour crimes and moral policing, and ensure state-run support centres for inter-caste and same-sex couples? 

From International Women’s Day, let’s foreground the above questions as a charter of gender justice, and issue a resounding call that in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, we’ll strive to elect those forces who are champions of this charter of struggle, and reject those political forces who continue to be custodians of patriarchal values.  

On Threats of War on Ukraine

Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its threat of war on Ukraine is condemnable. The use of Ukraine as a theatre for the tussle between Russia on the one hand and the EU and US on the other is a blow to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The uprising that forced Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych to flee was fuelled in part by genuine popular resentment against the corrupt and repressive leader. But the uprising was also backed by right wing forces backed by the EU and the US. For some time now, the US and EU have been seeking to expand their influence in Ukraine. One of the key aims has been to use Ukraine to bring the US-NATO military presence closer to Russia’s borders.

While Russia’s threats of war must be denounced and resisted, the double standards of the US and European countries towards this must be exposed. The latter have brazenly carried out illegal wars  and occupations, and have no right to sit in judgement on Russia. But the fighters for peace and democracy worldwide, who have consistently resisted all war-mongering and occupations, must demand immediate de-escalation of the conflict, withdrawal of Russia from Crimea, and also an end to attempts by the EU and US to expand NATO in the region.

On Field Trials of GM Crops

In February 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, under Jairam Ramesh, announced a moratorium on the commercial promotion of Bt Brinjal in India. The UPA, after much fanfare, claimed that it was ‘listening to the voices’ of common people, scientists and civil society in stopping the introduction of Bt Brinjal and genetically modified crops. Now, after just four years, the UPA has given up all pretence and has now once again surrendered to the corporate interests of big agri-business companies such as Monsanto. Environment Minister Veerappa Moily has allowed the field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in India – even as environmentalists, farmers, and several scientists have cautioned against this move.

Across the world, several issues regarding GM crops continue to be raised. Apart from the largely unknown health and safety impacts of GM crops, even the tall claims of ‘high yields’ and protection from pest damage for instance have been proved to be highly questionable. Even the science of genetically modified crops continues to evolve, the UPA seems hell bent to run roughshod over all concerns and push through GM crops at all costs. Time and again, several environmentalists and experts in the field of agriculture have pointed out that the burning questions of food security, malnutrition and agrarian crisis cannot be solved through GM crops.

Moreover, even the Supreme Court appointed Expert Committee and the UPA’s own parliamentary standing committee on Agriculture has recommended against field testing of GM crops, given the widespread concerns over the health and environmental impacts of GM crops. From the experience of Bt Cotton in different parts of the country, it is clear that only huge multinational agri-business interests benefit from GM crops – making huge profits, establishing a virtual monopoly over agricultural inputs. Clearly, it is this dangerous unholy nexus between biotech agricultural companies and a subservient government that has resulted in the lifting of the moratorium on GM crops in India. CPI(ML) strongly condemns this move by the UPA.

On Extending OBC Reservation to Jats

The politically expendient move of by the Congress-led UPA Government, to extend OBC reservations to the Jats in nine states on the eve of Lok Sabha elections, makes a mockery of the principle of reservations.

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) unanimously rejected the proposal for reservation for Jats, finding that they are "not socially and educationally backward communities". In fact, the Jats are usually socially dominant communities. To extend OBC reservations to them in blatant disregard for the NCBC recommendations, in the absence of the well-established criteria for social and educational backwardness, is an injustice to other genuinely backward OBC communities, which will now find themselves having to compete for OBC benefits with the more dominant Jat community. The BJP has lost no time in upping the ante and demanding extension of OBC quotas to Jats all over the country, not just in nine states. Such competitive opportunism does deep damage to reservations as a tool of social inclusion and justice.

All India Kisan Mashasabha National Conference

The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha, held its second national conference on 24-25 Feb at Mansa (Punjab) where important questions like the agricultural crisis, agricultural land grabbing by corporate houses, and farmers' suicides were discussed.

Addressing the meeting at the rally CPI-ML General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that just before the Lok Sabha elections attempts are being made to focus all attention around the persona of aspiring PM candidates. But forces fighting for the rights of workers and farmers will have to do their utmost to endure that these elections are centred on the need to change those policies which for the past 20 years have destroyed the lives of the country’s farmers, workers, students and youth. He said that Ambani-Adani, all the national and multinational corporate houses, and the US want that after looting maximum benefits from the Manmohan regime, they can now loot even more if Modi comes to power. Ten years ago it was NDA government in power and farmers were committing suicide even then, mass murder was being perpetrated in Modi’s Gujarat, and the NDA was boasting of “India Shining”.  The Congress came to power with the slogan “Congress ka hath aam admi ke sath” but the Congress cheated the aam admi of his hard earned earnings. This time the Congress’ slogan is “Har hath shakti, har hath tarakki” but the hands and pockets of the working people are empty. Into whose hands then have the benefits of “tarakki” (progress) gone? Com. Dipankar stressed that the country’s farmers, workers and youth want their rights; the common people want their rightful space in democracy. The country has never faced the problem of not being able to form a government and have a PM but a government which does not solve the common people’s problems will not be allowed to run.

Com. Dipankar said that the Muzaffarnagar riots were an example of the BJP’s attempts to grab power through dividing the country. Farmers had to bear the brunt of the adverse effects of the riots. While the sugar cane farmer is in dire straits, the sugar mill owners are raking in huge profits. Advocating a pervasive unity among forces of struggle Com. Dipankar said that when power hungry forces are uniting to divide hearts and society, they can be stopped only by the cohesive unity of forces fighting for the rights of farmers, workers, dalits, adivasis, women, and minorities.

A day prior to this rally of farmers and farm workers, Modi had held a rally in Punjab. Comparing both the rallies, CPM (Punjab) Secretary Com.  Mangat Ram Pasla said that this working people’s rally is a befitting reply to Modi’s rally funded by the rich, blackmarketeers, land grabbers and drug dealers. Commenting on the Third Front Com. Pasla said that the CPI and CPM may win a few seats here and there by tagging on to corrupt opportunists like Mulayam, Nitish, and Jayalalithaa but principles will be sacrificed in the process. He said that a fighting Front of farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers is the need of the hour.

AIKMS National President Com. Ruldu Singh said that only 8% of the people in this country lead a life of comfort. These people have captured all resources including political power and factories. The other 92% farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers live in a state of want. Therefore we have to rise above caste and religion and convert this majority into a united class. If 92% are united for their rights, they can easily overcome the rich 8%. He stressed that land rights belong to farmers and not to corporate houses.

National General Secretary of Kisan Mahasabha Com. Rajaram Singh said that the economic policies of the last 20 years have pushed agriculture into loss and farmers into the quagmire of debt. The loot of agricultural land by national and multi-national corporate houses will increase the food insecurity in the country. The use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes is pushing the country towards starvation. He said that the country needs a Land Conservation Bill instead of a Land Acquisition Bill.

There was a time when Western UP was a stronghold for the kisan movement. But the recent Muzaffarnagar riots have changed this centre of farmers’ struggle into a land of riots. These riots have seen veteran kisan leader Mahendra Singh Tikait’s organization Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Union and his sons Naresh Tikait and Rakesh turn into riot leaders. These colours of the Tikait sons have broken the kisan union. Long time confidant of Mahendra Singh Tikait, Ghulam Mohammad Jaula, grieved by this riot-inciting face of the Tikait brothers, has broken away to form his own organization Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Manch. Addressing the rally in Mansa Ghulam Mohammad Jaula said that the Muzaffarnagar riots, which most affected workers and especially farm workers, were engineered for the sole purpose of electoral gains. Strongly conveying the message of communal harmony Jaula said that though his ancestors had changed religion generations ago, the blood running through his veins also was after all the blood of this soil. He stressed that mischief mongering forces could be defeated by the unity of workers and farmers.

Prior to the convention a mazdoor-kisan ekta rally was held in Mansa town in which thousands of workers and farmers participated. The rally started with the singing of revolutionary songs, after which a play “Boycott” written and produced by noted playwright and actor of Punjab Samuel John, was staged showing how the farm worker, beset by rising prices, asks the rich farmers to increase the “lavai” rates only to be rebuffed not only by the rich farmers but by everyone from administration to dharmagurus. Playwright Samuel John has rightly commented that the moment the workers stand up for their rights it is branded as a caste issue. The play shows how the rich farmers who are from the upper castes boycott the farm workers who come from the so-called lower castes and how the leaders of the workers are arrested on trumped up charges of being Naxalites and Maoists. The play ends with the message that the united struggle of workers and farmers will triumph in the end. Actor Balwinder, skilled in mono-acting, convincingly played the roles of farm worker, rich farmer Bakhtawar Singh, Granthi of the Gurudwara, and police personnel.

Farmers and workers, women and men who participated in the rally marched through Mansa town and the entire town echoed with the reverberations of their revolutionary slogans.

The delegates’ session of the kisan mahasabha began after the rally with the flag hoisting by veteran kisan leaders of Punjab Com. Gamdura Singh and Com. Kripal Singh Veer, whose entire lives have been committed to farmers’ struggles. Inaugurating the delegates’ session CPI-ML General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya said that the government has declared war on farmers in order to grab agricultural land in connivance with national and multi-national corporate houses. As land is a resource which cannot be reproduced, corporate powers are doing everything possible to evict farmers and grab their lands. The new Land Acquisition Bill is also a facilitator in this process of evicting farmers from their land. He stressed that this war which has been imposed upon the farmers can be won only through organizational unity. He said that during the Green Revolution only big farmers’ agitations were considered to be agitations but the kind of crisis looming over agriculture and farmers today can be fought only by organized struggles of small and medium farmers.

About 400 selected delegates from 15 States participated in the convention. Through their talks the delegates threw light on the special characteristics and problems faced by the farmers’ movement in the different States.

Com. Taramani Roy of the CPRM (Darjeeling) said that the government in place is constantly trying to break the unity of the democratic movement of the Gorkhas in Darjeeling. He pointed out that agriculture in Darjeeling is totally dependent on the rains, and the Gorkha people are also going through an identity crisis.

Com. Rajendra  Bhimji Bhauke of the Lal Nishan Party (Leninist) from Maharashtra told that the compensation for crops destroyed by wild animals given today by the government is still the same amount which was given during British times. He also said that agriculture used to be second in priority for water supply after drinking water, but now this priority has been changed and industry has been given second priority instead of agriculture. Com. Balbir Singh of the Jamhuri Kisan Sabha (Punjab) spoke in detail about the history of revolutionary kisan movements in Punjab and pledged to stand united with the AIKMS.

Leader of anti-POSCO agitation Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti shared his experiences of the movement with the convention. He said that governments are supposed to be for the welfare of the people but during the anti-Posco movement it became clear to us that this government does not care anything for us.

Concluding the discussion on the document Rajaram Singh said that it is the responsibility of the Kisan Mahasabha not only to fight for farmers’ rights but also for the equal rights of women and against caste and religious prejudices and all archaic and outdated values and beliefs.

At the close of the convention kisan representatives were elected to a 111 member council and 41 member executive to lead the farmers’ struggles in the country. Com. Ruldu Singh and Com. Rajaram Singh were re-elected President and General Secretary respectively. Various political and organizational resolutions were adopted by the convention which came to a close with the singing of “Hum Honge Kaamyaab”.

Hunger Strike  in Ambattur

Palanivel State Secretary of AICCTU and Bharathi, National Secretary of RYA , sat on an indefinite strike from 9 Feb 2014, demanding the state government to ensure Minimum Wage of Rs.15000 for all working people, house-site pattas to all without homes, 1000 bed Government hospital with modern facilities, Government’s Arts, science and medical colleges to Ambattur, higher secondary school for both boys and girls, removal of garbage dumping yard from Vanagaram, playground with all facilities and closure of Tasmac wine shop in the area.

The Fast was inaugurated by Chandran, Coimbatore District President of AICCTU and addressed by Jawahar, Honarary President of Tamil Nadu AICCTU, Thenmozhi, State President of AIPWA, Malarvizhi, State President of AISA and Sekar, City Secretary of CPI(ML) also addressed the gathering. Local people, prominent polical personalities, lawyers, students and workers  visited the fasting venue in hundreds daily and offered their support for the cause. Also a team of workers from MRF, President of Surface Transport Union, CPI(ML) state committee members Janakiraman and Iraniappan greeted them.

After a few rounds of talks with officials it was agreed to close down the wine shop immediately and they have promised to look into other demands. After a written assurance from RDO, both of them concluded their fast in  a well  attended public meeting on 13 February. The public meeting was addressed by Com Bharathi and Palanivel. Com Kumarasamy concluded the programme with a speech.

“Peoples demand” rally at Pudukottai

When CPI and CPM reached out  an electoral understanding with Jayalalitha and they portray Jayalalitha as Prime Minister in waiting, about 1000 people (majority of them women) with red flags thronged Pudukottai town raising slogans against Jayalalitha government in a Rally organized by CPI(ML) on various demands of the people of this district is a significant one.

The rally demanded announcing the district as drought hit and writing off of all agricultural loans of small and marginal farmers, cancellation of land and house tax, 300 days of work in MNREGA with legal wages, land and house site pattas for those who applied for, end to practices of untouchability prevalent in this district, punishment to forces of caste domination, adequate compensation for the family of Kumaravel who was the victim of accident in Singapore, protection to all those employed abroad, ensure fearless freedom of women, and to stop discrimination in government welfare schemes”.Rally culminated at District collector’s office where a memorandum was submitted.

Struggle for homeless in Kanyakumari

Struggle for House site patta for homeless people assumed significance on 26th January, with more than 700 people, mostly women assembled to march towards the land occupied by Ex-MLA  Appu Natesan. It was led by Antony muthu, District Secretary of the CPI(ML), while Balasundaram, CPI(ML) State Secretary flagged off the rally. Deputy Superindent of police and Revenue officials assured the protesters who dispersed dispersed with the warning that if their demand for land pattas are not met next round of struggle will be on a bigger scale.

Later, police booked cases on some 250 cadres of CPI(ML), AICCTU and AIPWA. 

OBITUARY

Tiruvellore district committee member of CPI(ML) Com.Raja passed away on 19 February 2014. He was also a state council member of AICCTU and state secretary of the construction labour union. He has served the party for more than two decades. He was affront in mass movements at Ambattur area with utmost dedication and hard work. Comrades in Ambattur area recalled his role in overcoming crisis during the course of the movements. His participation in meetings used to give encouragements to the participants. He used to give emphasis on ideological development of comrades along with developing struggles. He was always eager to help comrades overcoming their personal difficulties. When his family was reeling under severe financial crisis, he has not disclosed anything about it to the comrades. Party has lost a comrade with such a wonderful qualities and great dedication.

Comrades S. Kumarasamy, Bhuvana, A S Kumar, Janakiraman, Bharathi, Iraniappan, Jawahar, Thenmozhi, Malarvizhi all SCMs along with all district committee members and hundreds of people participated in his Funeral.

ML Update 09 / 2014

ML Update

A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine

Vol. 17, No. 09, 26 FEB – 04 MARCH 2014

Resist and Reject Political Opportunism

As the 2014 polls draw nearer, blatant political opportunism comes out in the open. Ram Vilas Paswan and his Lok Janshakti Party are now openly flirting with Modi. Udit Raj, Dalit leader of the Indian Justice Party, has already joined the BJP.

For the opportunists, anti-communalism is merely a convenient cloak that can be donned or doffed depending on the prevailing political winds. Nitish Kumar, who did not quit the NDA alliance in 2002, has broken his marathon alliance with BJP and now claims to be ‘secular’. Ram Vilas, who walked out of the NDA alliance in protest against the Gujarat genocide of 2002, is now cosying up to Modi. NCP leader Sharad Pawar too recently tried to indicate that the 2002 genocide was no longer an issue. Whether or not Ram Vilas or Pawar are merely seeking to increase their leverage with the Congress by showing that they have other options, the fact remains that ruling class parties have reduced anti-communalism to shameless, unprincipled opportunism. Earlier too, Chandrababu Naidu, convenor of the United Front, formed on a solely ‘anti-communal’ plank, had moved over to the NDA without a qualm. That history haunts us today, as the ‘Third Front has just held its meeting, and the CPI and CPIM are proclaiming this loosely cobbled coalition to be committed to resisting communalism and neoliberal economic policies. This ‘Third Front’ includes several parties who have been BJP allies or part of the BJP, some till very recently - JDU, BJD, AIADMK, and JVM(P) - and are now adopting a ‘secular’ posture. It also includes the Samajwadi Party which has mocked its secular pretensions by presiding over the worst communal riots and eviction of poor Muslims from villages in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining districts. Stitching together opportunists of various hues in the name of ‘anti-communalism’ can only erode the credibility of the essential, urgent struggle against communalism. And none of these so-called constituents of the ‘Third Front’ have any commitment to replacing pro-corporate economic policies with pro-poor policies. The BJD, for instance, is presiding over the worst forced land grab and corporate plunder in Odisha, unleashing repression on protesting adivasis and Left activists. To tout an alliance with such forces as an ‘alternative’ is a great disservice to people’s struggles against corporate plunder and communalism.

The Aam Aadmi Party claims to be above such opportunism – yet they too seem prone to reducing anti-communalism to selective posturing. Addressing Muslim academics and citizens at Indian Islamic Cultural Centre recently, Arvind Kejriwal observed that communalism is an even greater danger for the country than corruption. One wonders why the AAP can speak of this truth to an audience of Muslims, who are already acutely aware of the dangers of communalism because they are its worst victims, but will otherwise speak only of corruption, never of communalism? Why is the AAP calculatedly silent on the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, not far from Delhi and Haryana where the AAP enjoys considerable political strength?

Even as Modi paints himself as a ‘political untouchable’, and highlights his backward caste status, Ram Vilas and Udit Raj, like Mayawati in the past, are out to prove that Dalit interests can be compatible with the BJP. The truth is that the RSS, to which Modi and BJP owe allegiance, had wanted the anti-dalit, anti-women Manusmriti to be the Constitution of India. And Modi has, on record, described manual scavenging by Dalits as a ‘spiritual activity.’ So, subservience of Dalits is the reality of what BJP calls ‘samajik samrasta’ (social harmony).

Opportunism is also glaringly visible in the competitive posturing between JDU and BJP over the issue of Special State status for Bihar. In the wake of the formation of Telangana, Seemandhra has received the status of Special State. JDU has responded by calling a Bihar Bandh, and BJP a rail roko, in protest, claiming that this is a ‘betrayal’ of Bihar’s demand for Special State status. The question is: when Jharkhand was formed during NDA rule in 2000, why did BJP, and then NDA Minister Nitish Kumar, not ensure Special State status for Bihar? The same BJP and JDU, which turned a deaf ear to the demand for Special State status for Bihar when it was raised by CPI(ML) then, are today claiming to be champions of the same!

The role of the revolutionary Left cannot be to cobble together power-hungry parties in opportunist coalitions – it must be to powerfully assert the genuine struggle against communal fascism and pro-corporate governance, because only from those struggles can any genuine ‘Third Front’ actually emerge.

Bihar Bandh Demands Rollback of Power Tariff Hike,

Revision Of Socio-Economic Census, Cancellation of Liquor Licences

The Bihar Bandh organized by the CPI(ML) on 23 February to demand rollback of hike in power tariff, revision of socio-economic census, and cancellation of liquor licences was a huge success. The major National Highways passing through the State including the GT roads at Barachatti in Gaya and Kamabigaha in Aurangabad were blocked from early morning, markets remained closed, and rail traffic at several places was obstructed.

At 11 AM in the capital Patna, thousands of bandh supporters led by senior Party leaders took out a procession from the Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan. Passing through Fraser Road, Dak Bangla crossing and station circle, the march returned to Dak Bangla crossing where a meeting was held. Bandh supporters from various parts of the city poured into the streets of Patna sporting red headbands.

In Patna the bandh was led by Party State Secretary Kunal, Politburo member Dhirendra Jha, Samkaleen Lok Yudh Editor Braj Bihari Pandey, and other leaders. Addressing the meeting at dak Bangla chowraha, these leaders along with 1000 bandh supporters were arrested and detained at the local kotwali thana. Around 5000 activists were arrested across Bihar.

Bandh participants expressed anger against the fake power bills and steep power tariff proposed by the Nitish Government. They pointed out that first the government sent false bills to the consumers and then slapped false cases on about 4000 consumers.

The speakers said that the issue of government licences to run liquor shops in villages and the decision to encourage continuous increase in liquor consumption is destroying rural life and has a very adverse effect on socio-economic development.

CPI-ML leaders said that apart from the above issues there are complaints of grave irregularities in the ongoing socio-economic census in Bihar. There is a big conspiracy afoot to distort the census and thus deprive large numbers of poor from their due benefits. In Patna and other places urban poor, handcart and footpath vendors are being evicted in the name of removing encroachments.

At Darbhanga bandh supporters stopped the Sampark Kranti Express in the morning itself and prevented its running for an hour. At Jehanabad and Ara trains were stopped and traffic on these rail section was completely paralysed. Trains were also stopped at Jhanjharpur, Islampur, Hilsa and Muzaffarpur causing obstruction for hours.

In Ara district bandh supporters closed main roads at Hasan Bazar, Bihata, Piro, Sandesh, sahar, Bihiya, Shahpur, Gadhani, Koilvar, Charpokhli and other places. Traffic on the NH-30 at Ara was obstructed and in Ara town CPI-ML LS candidate RYA President Raju Yadav led thousands of bandh supporters on to the streets. Roads were blocked at Vikramganj, Karup, Godari, Nasriganj, Dehri, Tilauthu, Dinara and Sasaram in Rohtas district. In Kaimur the bandh had pervasive effect at Bhabhua, Durgawati, Kunjra, Chainpur and Mohaniya. 240 bandh supporters were arrested while making the bandh successful at Ekta Chowk in Bhabhua. At Dumraon in Buxar road blocks were done at Dumraon-Vikramganj road, NH-30 in Sonbarsa, NH-28 in Brahmpur and Dinara-Buxar road in Dhansoi.

At Siwan about one thousand bandh supporters took to the streets in town. Apart from this main roads were blocked in Mairwa, Guthni chowraha, Aandar, Raghunathpur, Hasanpura, Tarwara, Badahiya and other places. At Betiya the bandh had widespread effect in Betiya, Narkatiyaganj, Belwa, Manjhariya, and Mainatand. Roads were blocked at 5 places in Gopalganj, traffic was obstructed on NH-28 and about 100 people were arrested. Road jams were done at Mirganj, Bhore, Dighwa, Dighauli and other places in Vijaypur block. Motihari bazaar was totally closed. A meeting was also held at Meenabazar chowk. Major commercial establishments of the town remained closed. At Chhapra the Nagarpalika chowk was blocked by hundreds of people for 1 hour. At Vaishali a 200-strong procession marched from the Party office to station golambar and blocked station chowk.

In Patna district, Dhanrua, Masaudhi, Bihata, Naubatpur, Paliganj bazaars remained fully closed. At Arwal NH-98 (Patna-Aurangabad road) and NH-110 (Arwal-Jehanabad road) were blocked after which a meeting was held on the road itself, attended by 1000 people. Main roads were blocked in Kurtha, Kaler, Karpi and other places. At Arwal Party State standing committee member Com. Mahanand led the bandh programmes. At both Jehanabad and Dhanrua traffic on NH-83 was blocked. At Jehanabad the markets in Shaho Bigaha, Ghosi, Jehanabad, Hulasganj were fully closed. About 350 bandh supporters were arrested at the Arwal mod in Jehanabad.

At Gaya traffic was paralysed on the Gaya-Islampur road at Khijarsarai, NH-83 at Belaganj, Gaya-Chatrara road at Dobhi, and other places. Party activists were on the streets from early morning at Imamganj, Gudaru, Manpur and District HQ’s. 150 people were arrested at Belapur. At Nalanda bandh supporters poured into the streets in Silao, Biharsharif, Hilsa and Islampur. There are reports of the arrest of about 500 bandh supporters in Silao. At Aurangabad road blocks were done on NH-98 in Obra and Gaya-Daoodnagar road in Pachrukhiya.

At Madhuban, Madhuban-patna and Madhuban-Phulparas roads were blocked. At Darbhanga traffic was paralysed on NH-57, Darbhanga-Jainagar, Darbhanga-Samastipur, Lehariyasarai-Bahedi, Darbhanga-Supaul and other roads. At Muzaffarpur NH-57, Gayaghat and Bochaha and Muzaffarpur-Shivhar road at Meenapur were blocked. From early morning CPI-ML activists were on the streets in town. At Purnea, Purnea-Bhagalpur road and Rupauli and Birauli markets were fully closed. At Beguserai NH-31 and Ballia and Gadhpura roads were blocked. At Bhagalpur marches were taken out in support of the bandh at Bhagalpur, Jagdishpur, kahalgaon and Navgachhiya. 70 bandh supporters were arrested while blocking the NH at Bhagalpur where the bandh was led by CPI-ML CC member Com. Saroj Choube. The effect of the bandh at Sitamarhi was also pervasive.

Massive Peasant-Worker Rally Marks 2nd National Conference of AIKM

Panjab Kisan Union and Majdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab jointly organized a massive ‘Majdoor Kisan Ekta Rally’ at Mansa on 24th February to mark the second national conference of All India Kisan Mahasabha. The rally was presided over by Ruldu Singh Mansa, President AIKM, and Dipanker Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(ML) Liberation was the main speaker at the rally. The rally was also addressed by Mangat Ram Pasla, GS, CPM(Punjab), Gulam Mohammed Jaula, President, All India Kisan Majdoor Manch, Raja Ram Singh, GS AIKM, Bhagwant Singh Samao, President, Majdoor Mukti Morcha, Gurpreet Singh Rureke, GS of the brick workers' union Laal Jhanda Punjab Bhattha Majdoor Union (AICCTU).

Addressing the rally, Com Dipankar said that the ruling classes want to divert the attention of the masses from the real issue of reversing anti-people policies to that of choosing between individual leaders. He said that the people will have to thrust their agendas into the arena of political battle of 2014.

Comrade Pasla said that this rally of peasants and the agrarian workers is a fitting reply to the corporate funded rally organised by the ruling Akali Dal and BJP at Moga a day before. He also said that this is a time for the left and progressive forces to unite and advance the agendas of the working class struggle. He called upon the CPI and CPI(M) to distinguish clearly between friends and foes and not to go into opportunist alliances with discredited forces like Nitish Kumar, Jayalalita or Congress for a few parliamentary seats. A large number of delegates of AIKM from all over India were also present at the rally.

Anniversary of TU Strike: Workers' Protest Demanding Their Rights

Hundreds of workers gathered in front of City Magistrate Office in Noida (India) demanding the release of their fellow comrades falsely arrested during the nationwide trade union strike on February 21st 2013. Many workers belonging to various trade unions are still in jail and charged with false cases under the direction of UP Government to protect the vested interests of bourgeoisie industrialists. Also the workers protested against the exploitation under the hands of police-capitalists-government nexus and demanded their basic rights. The protest was organized under the banner of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and Revolutionary Youth Association.

The protest was addressed by Santosh Rai, secretary of the Delhi unit of AICCTU, Aslam Khan, National Vice President of RYA, Rakhi Sehgal, Vice President, Hero Honda Theka Mazdoor Sangathan, Dharuhera (affiliated to NTUI), Farhan, from AISA's Jamia unit, Shivji of AICCTU (Noida) and Hareram Yadav, AICCTU (Khoda) who was jailed last year on false charges during the trade union strike. Later the workers submitted a memorandum to UP Chief Minister through the city magistrate with demands including: (1) End contract labour policy in both public and private sectors, (2) Give a deadline to provide pucca houses for the people living in jhuggis, (3)  Implement minimum wages/15000/8 hours, workplace safety norms, along with other labour laws in all companies, factories, hotels and shops in Noida, (4) Ensure that employers provide identity card to all workers, (5) Enact laws to guarantee urban employment with the provision for assured employment for 200 days along with the provision to provide compensation in case of unemployment for sustenance, (6) Ensure speedy issuance of Social Security card for all construction workers, (7) Give deadline for giving licenses and dedicated space for all the hawkers, feriwalas, vendors and rickshaw-walas in Noida, (8) Implement existing laws for women workers under which they can avail all the facilities including crèche and toilets at the earliest, (9) Enact Domestic Workers Law along the lines of the laws for domestic workers in Maharashtra, (10) Start a Workers helpline to address the workers’ grievances and special squads to ensure speedy action on these grievances, (11) Increase the number of labor inspectors, factory inspectors, etc to ensure that labor laws are adhered to in work places and provide a labor court in every industrial zone, (12) Ensure proper organization of ration shops and provide ration cards to all citizens at the earliest along with action against ration card fraud, (13) Ensure proper drainage of dirty water in all the jhuggies-basties of the area along with cleaning, repairing the supply of clean water, and road repairs.

CPI(ML) Announces LS Candidate from Garhwal

The CPI-ML candidate from the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency for the 2014 LS elections will be Indresh Maikhuri. This was declared by Party State Secretary Com. Rajendra Pratholi at a convention organized by the party. Indresh has been a student activist, former President of the Garhwal University, and former National President of AISA. Trained as a journalist, Indresh writes regularly on many issues of people's concern, while being a whole time activist and member of the CPI(ML)'s State Committee.

AIPWA Convention

AIPWA held a Convention at Udaipur, on 'Women and Democracy', which was attended by a large number of women from different districts of Rajasthan, and also by many intellectuals from Udaipur.

The Convention was presided over by Srilata Swaminathan, National President, AIPWA. Speaking at the Convention, AIPWA Secretary Kavita Krishnan spoke of the need to break the shackles of patriarchy and struggle for women's freedom. She spoke of the political parties that continue to promote a patriarchal agenda of 'protection', which is a pretext to erode women's freedom.

AIPWA State President Bhanwari Devi said that women continued to be at the receiving end of feudalism and capitalism both. Usha Choudhary of Vikalp Sansthan said that women's struggle was to be recognised as human beings, not goddesses. Sarvatunissa Khan said that women are caught in cultural traps that exploit them. District Secretary of NFIW Sadhana spoke of domestic violence and the demeaning culture of 'kanyadan', and other struggles conducted in Rajasthan. Intellectual and activist Pragya Joshi spoke of the need for women to demand their rights and liberties as citizens, not only as human beings.

Delivering the concluding address, Srilata Swaminathan said that women's struggles are intensifying even as violence against women continues unabated. She spoke of what socialism means for the women's movement, and for the need for the women's movement to have a revolutionary perspective. CPI(ML) State Secretary Mahendra Choudhury, and others also addressed the Convention. Women students presented songs and a play on women's freedom. Convention was conducted by Sudha Choudhury, AIPWA's Secretary Rajasthan. Fakrunissa gave the vote of thanks.

Handloom Weavers' Rally in Puducherry

A rally of handloom weavers was held on 17 Febreuary in Puducherry. The rally was led by Com. S.Balasubramanian, State President of AICCTU, Puducherry. Hundreds of handloom Weavers mainly women workers took part in the rally. The rally passed through the main streets of Puducherry and culminated into a big demonstration infront of the state legislative assembly.

Com. P.Sankaran, Vice President, Com S. Motilal, State Gen. Secretary and com P.Murugan CWC member AICWF addressed the demonstrations. A delegation led by Com. S.Balasubramanian met the Chief Minister and submitted a charter of demands, including the demand for protection of handloom weavers, monthly minimum wages of Rs.15,000/, release of the outstanding amount of 2.5 core rupees to the apex Co-operative export development society, rebuilding of fallen sheds of Handloom Weavers society, Rs.10,000/- compensation to each woman worker who suffered due to roof collapse, gratuity, waiver of loans and a monthly pension of Rs.3000/ to handloom weavers, enhancing of rainy season relief, and free housing scheme.

Workers of NIMHANS Hospital, Bangalore, form Union

Unorganised workers of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) formed a union, 'NIMHANS Pragathipara Workers' Union', affiliated to AICCTU and its inaugural General Body was held on 22 Feb. 2014. The workers demanded same payment and other service conditions for the unorganised workers engaged in same and similar kind of work; regularisation of all unorganised workers and bring them under the pay rolls of NIMHANS; Service weightage; Hospital care allowance and Risk Allowance in addition to Privilege Leave, Casual Leave and Government Holidays; mandatory ESI to all and entitlement for treatment in NIMHANS Staff Clinic; Recruitment of more workers to reduce the work burden on existing lesser number of workers and to stick to Patient - Worker Norms for hospitals, etc. The General Body decided on the Demands Charter to be palced before the NIMHANS administration.

Dr. Pradnya Rajesh Bhargave of NIMHANS SC/ST Welfare Association, V Muthukumaran, Legal Advisor to NIMHANS Employees Association, Ravi R, Vice President of National Tuberculosis Institute Non Gazetted Staff Association addressed the gathering along with Com. Shankar, All India Vice President AICCTU among others.

The General Body also decided to send a Workers' Charter of Demands to be placed before the NIMHANS administration and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of central government for speedy resolution.

NIMHANS is one of those handful of select medical institutions like AIIMS-Delhi, PGI-Chandigarh and JIPMER, Pondicherry. Recently, it has also won the status of a Deemed University. But, in spite of being a hospital run by the central government, none of the labour laws are in force. The central government, which is also an appropriate government, is showing utter neglect on unorganised workers' issues.

Obituary: Red salute to Com. Kankar Majumder!

Com. Kankar alias our beloved Chaka of Durgapur passed away on 19th February, 2014 night in a Hospital. He had been suffering from a serious bronchial infection. He was nearly 72.

Coming from a lower middle class background he became a steel worker in Durgapur Alloy Steel Plant (of SAIL) during late 60s. He soon became a vanguard and fighting worker in the industry, and was drawn to the ongoing revolutionary struggle led by CPI(ML). He became a regular CPI(ML) activist since the early 70s. His crucial role and contribution in cooperation with a batch of worker party activists and supporters in Durgapur will always be remembered. This was especially significant during the 1972-78 period, which was one of tremendous crackdown and setback. Durgapur was one of the important theatres of struggle where the party was rebuilt from scratch, and the significance of an industrial worker becoming a party vanguard at a time of white terror cannot be overstated.

He was arrested in late 70s and after his release, he opted for being involved in mass open work as a worker. In addition to working class or TU work he was also attached with different socio cultural activities like the Kotnis Committee and the Indo-China Friendship Society.

We can never forget his fine qualities like simplicity, deep rooted faith in the party, caring human relations with all comrades, and dedication. Naturally, a large section of people from different walks of life spontaneously assembled at his funeral.

Long live Com. Kankar!

 

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: 22442790, e-mail: mlupdate@cpiml.org, website: www.cpiml.org