: > > >ML Update > >A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine >Vol.-3; No.-51; 27-12-2000 > > > >Editorial > >Let the New Year Hasten the >Total Rout of the Sangh Parivar > > >If the end of 1999 had been marked by the IC-814 hijack episode, Y2K comes to >an end with the stunning strike by a section of Kashmiri militants on the Lal >Qila. While the NDA government's Kashmir and Pakistan policies alternate >between cold war and hot pursuit, between the so-called soft and hard options >ranging from Vajpayee's bus diplomacy through Kargil war to the latest gesture >of ceasefire, it is evident that the NDA government remains as clueless >regarding Kashmir as ever. Meanwhile, for all the hard/effective state >rhetoric of Advani and other Sangh Parivar ideologues, Y2K will also be >remembered for the humiliating spectacle of the Indian state being held to >ransom by the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. > > > >The saffron regime is, of course, trying hard to project an image of India's >growing international stature with displays of strategic proximity to the US. >Internally, the might of the Indian state is sought to be demonstrated through >systematic persecution of the minorities and bulldozing of the sources of >livelihood and other democratic rights of the weak, disadvantaged, toiling >masses. The BJP is however desperate to camouflage its barbarity in the guise >of benevolence. Having all along denounced the 'individual' cult in the >Congress and all other personality-based parties, the BJP now projects the >Prime Minister as a benevolent emperor, who celebrates his birthday by doling >out welfare schemes for his hapless subjects like rural roads project (Rs. >60,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), additional food subsidies (Rs. >2,300 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana) and literacy plans (Netaji Subhash >Saksharta Mission). > > > >All these 'new clothes' are however only accentuating the emperor's nakedness. >The BJP's pretension to be a party with a difference, its claim to liberate >the society from terror, hunger and corruption, has all been exposed as a >cruel and ugly fraud on the nation. Consequently, resentment runs high among >vast sections of the society and in every corner of the country. Faced with >all round exposure and resistance, and with Assembly elections round the >corner, the BJP has returned to the magic wand of Ayodhya. The VHP and all >other Sangh Parivar vandals are readying for yet another bloodbath. > > > >Vajpayee of course maintains that his government would abide by whatever the >court says. The nation has once paid the price for misreading this deceptive >legalism of the fascists. The history of the rise of the Sangh Parivar has >been replete with instances of saffron transition from the parliamentary to >the extra-parliamentary and vice versa, of combination of independent >assertion with united front tactics. If once again the Sangh Parivar is >indicating its readiness to hit the streets, the secular-democratic resistance >must not lag behind. The RSS has remained banned for several years, often the >saffron zealots have been banished to political wilderness. But the Sangh >Parivar is yet to be handed over a decisive and comprehensive defeat. > > > >Let the new year hasten the process of a total rout of the saffron fascists. >Let the nation take a lesson from its biggest enemy within. If the Sangh >Parivar has been able to survive periods of isolation and partial defeat, it >is because of the opposition's uncritical reliance on legalism, and >confinement of popular resistance to narrow parliamentary confines. Beyond the >parliamentary world of shadow-boxing and the routine noise of third front, let >secular-democracy prevail over the fascists in the battle of the barricades. >Let the first year of the new century be a year of more resolute resistance >and more resounding victories. > > > > > >Party Launches >"Lutera Bhagao, Krishi Bachao" Agitation > > > >Party has appealed to all secular democratic forces to thwart the heinous >conspiracy of Sangh Parivar commanders like Vajpayee, Advani, Sudarshan, >Laxman and Uma Bharati through their web of false and misleading statements >and called for country-wide observance of December 31 as "Oust Saffron, Save >the Nation" day by burning the effigies of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in every >village and every nook and corner of the country. > > > >The extension of the ongoing economic reforms to the agricultural arena has >landed the country into an unprecedented agrarian crisis. Even as the >foodgrains rot in FCI godowns, millions of Indians languish in absolute >poverty, malnutrition and even sheer starvation, and large sections of small >farmers are being forced into distress sale, the government is effectively >subsiding the nexus of traders and millers or the foreign consumer. Against >this backdrop CPI(ML) will spearhead a "Lutera Bhagao, Krishi Bachao" (Oust >the Looters, Save Agriculture) campaign with a view to forging a militant >solidarity of the agrarian labourers and deprived farmers. The Party will >press for large-scale introduction of "food for work" programme to reduce the >pressure on FCI. An effective procurement system can only survive on the basis >of an expanded public distribution system and hence to save Indian agriculture >from the clutches of the MNCs and the nexus of private traders, hoarders and >other middlemen, the movement must address the question of vacating FCI >godowns and increasing the PDS offtake on a priority basis. > > > > > >2nd Death Anniversary of Com. VM Observed (Late News) > > > >Chattisgarh > > >A seminar was held in Bhilai on "Movement against Privatisation and Role of >Left". President of Madhya Pradesh Bank Employees Association Com. Rajan >Tumare, Prof. Som Goswami from Raipur, Loktrantic Samajwadi Party distt. >president Shyam Manohar Singh and Jagnarayan Chaudhry from AICCTU also >adressed the seminar. Com. Rajaram released "Chattishgargh Maley Samachar", >the organ of CPI(ML), Chattishgarh. > > > >Karnataka > >In Bangalore, an activist meeting was called in Peenya on 17 Dec. in the >memory of Comrade VM. Around 30 people participated. Com. Gopal spoke on "How >did our party evolve?". In the afternoon, a discussion on our approach to >globalisation based on Liberation articles etc was also held. On 18th, another >meeting was held in Mysore in which Com. Lakshmi Narayanan, Com. Rati and Com. >Puttaiah of 'Red Flag' also spoke. > > >Assam >A memorial meeting was organised at State Party office in Guwahati on 18 Dec. >Memorial meetings were organised at Nagaon, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, >Tinsukia and Barpeta. Karbi Anglong Party Committee organised a large memorial >meeting at Diphu. > > > > > >PWG : B-Team of Ranvirs > > > >After returning from Brahmachak of Jahanabad, where four Party supporter >comrades Sudhir Paswan, Subedar paswan, Ajay Paswan and Akhilesh Paswan were >killed by PWG gang on 18 Dec., an investigation team led by Party PB member >Com. Ram Naresh Ram and comprising Com. Satyadev Ram, MLA, Dr. Ramadhar Singh, >State Secy. of Kisan Sabha and Shah Chand of Inquilabi Muslim Conference, said >that the massacre of dalits was executed under police supervision. PWG has >effectively become B-team of Ranvir Sena in Jahanabad. The team demanded >immediate arrest of the culprits, 5 lakh compensation to the families of the >deceased and job to their dependents. > > > > > >Party Statement on Govt. Anti-people Measures > >The NDA goernment's move to reduce the government share in the equity of >nationalised banks from 51% to 33% is a clear step towards privatisation of >the banking sector. Nationalised banks in India have been systematically >looted by Indian monopoly houses and foreign MNCs in collusion with ruling >parties, with bad debts now amounting to as high as Rs.58,000 crore. Instead >of penalising those defaulters the government is stabbing the banking industry >in the back by rewarding the same private sector with 67% equity share of the >banks. Party congratulates the bank employees on their successful and united >countrywide strike and appeals to all sections of the working class and >democratic forces to foil the rulers' bid to break this financial backbone of >our national economy. > > > >The NDA government is toying with the idea of subverting the V Schedule of the >Constitution so as to denotify tribal land and enable foreign mining companies >and hotel chains to acquire vast tracts of tribal land for a song and displace >large sections of our tribal population. CPI(ML) warns the NDA government >against any such move which will be resisted tooth and nail by the Party and >other forces of tribal autonomy movement in the country. > > > > > >Initiatives in Karnataka > > > >A 'Discussion Forum' was organised jointly by Dalit Sangarsh Samiti (DSS) and >RYAat Harappanahalli > >taluk of Davanagere district on 17 Oct. Dr. DM Puttaiah and Gopal delivered >speeches on Dalits and Globalisation, Dalits and the left movement and the >path of dalit movement in Karnataka. Com. Ramappa moderated the discussion >while Manjunatha presided over the meeting. > > > >As a part of 'Strengthen the Party' campaign, a signature campaign was >conducted in various localities. Main issues were petroleum price hike, >demanding construction of a 'workers city' in contrast to the state >government's plan of a satellite city, minimum wage Rs.3500, free supply of >drinking water to all the people contrary to the govt's plan of inviting MNCs >to the water supply sector etc. apart from other issues of local concern. As a >culmination of the signature campaign, a memorandum was submitted to the >Chairman of the local municipal corporation by the party activists on 20 >October. > > >Party Opposes Electricity Bill > > >Party strongly opposes the proposed Electricity Bill, 2000 aimed at handing >over the power sector to foreign companies. If the Maharashtra experience with >Enron is any guide, power sector reforms will sound the death-knell for the >ordinary consumer and especially the crucial agriculture sector. > > > > > >Convention on Closed & Sick Industrics > > > >A convention on closed and sick Industries was organised by AICCTU on 14 Dec. >at Moulali Youth Center, Calcutta. It was addressed by Com. Chittabrata >Mazumdar of CITU, Gurudas Dasgupta of AITUC, Sunil Sengupta of UTUC, Shankar >Saha of UTUC(L.S.), Ajit Pandey, a leftist MLA and Basudev Bose of AICCTU. An >approach paper placed by Com. Atanu Chakraborty before the convention demanded >(a) withdrawal of new economic and industrial policy persued by Central Govt.; >(b) convening a special session of W.B. Assembly to deal with the problems of >closed and sick industries; (c) taking legal steps against the millowners, who >are not paying minimum wages to the workers; (d) giving punishment to the >owners, who are appropriating the funds due to P.F, E.S.I and Gratuity; and >(e) immediete tri-partite agreement in jute industries. > > > >Barring Com. Chittabrata Muzumdar, all other speakers supported the AICCTU >demands elaborated by Com Basudev Bose in the convention. > > > > > >Victory in P.F. Trustee Board Election > > > >In Mahadeo Jute Mill, Howrah, AICCTU affiliated union won majority of seats in >the P.F. Trustee Board election held on 15 Dec. This is the first victory in >W.B. in the election of P.F. Trustee Board in jute industries. Last time the >Board was run by CITU and INTUC delegates. During the strike last March, both >CITU and INTUC had withdrawn from struggle midway in the interest of the >owners. The election marks an indication of general isolation of CITU and >INTUC from the workers. > > > > > >March to Assembly in WB > > > >RYA organised a 'Mahakaran (Assembly) March' on 13 Dec. to present its 12 >point demand charter to the new Chief Minister of W.B. It includes publishing >a white paper on employment generation during the 24 years rule of L.F.Govt., >providing employment or monthly allowance of Rs.1000 to the unemployed, making >the self employment scheme viable, etc. More than 250 RYA activists led by >Joyatu Deshmukh started the march from college square and courted arrest at >Rani Rasmoni Road, when police blocked their advance. > > > > > >Convention on Women Reservation Bill > > > >On 21 Dec., WB unit of AIPWA organised a convention at BMPEU hall, Calcutta, >demanding the Women Reservation Bill be adopted by Parliament. Women's >organisation leaders Com. Rekha Goswami from CPI(M), Aparajita Gopi from FB, >Gita Sengupta from RSP, and Shefali Bhattacharya from CPI addressed the >convention. Com. Shukla Sen spoke on behalf of AIPWA. Presided over by Com. >Gita Das, the convention univocally condemned the BJP Govt. for dilly-dallying >with regard to the Bill and called for an effective movement to compel the >Govt. to adopt the Bill in the next session. > > > > > >Party Workshop at Arrah > > > >A district-level workshop was organised at Arrah in Bhojpur district of Bihar >on 24 Dec. to discuss new initiatives to be taken following the conclusion of >'Strengthen the Party' campaign. It was held at Nagri Pracharni Hall. In the >context of successes achieved in breaking the stagnation and overcoming >pessimism during the campaign, it was resolved to forcefully intervene in >panchayat elections and launch agitation on the issues of crisis in >agriculture. In his speech Com. Ramjatan Sharma, State Party Secy. elaborated >the two issues and exhorted the cadres to march ahead towards materialising >the new prospects. Com. Ram Naresh Ram, PB member appealed to the cadres to >live up to the legacy of Bhojpur and set an example before the whole country. > > > > > >Land Struggle in Raiganj > > > >On 21 Nov. peasants under Party leadership captured 16 bighas of land in >Soharai village of Raiganj PS in > >North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The land was under possession of a >rich and influential landowner who also happens to be millowner and trader. >Following a number of meetings, torchlight processions, peasants finally >occupied the the land, tilled it using tractor and planted seeds on it. When >on 2 Dec. the landlord's goons tried to seize back the land forcibly, they >were chased away by peasants. > >Same day peasants recovered 1.25 bighas of land from possession of a CPI(M) >supported rogue. > > > > > >National Youth Conference at Varanasi > > > >Revolutionary Youth Association held its 2nd conference at Shaheed Subhash >Mukherjee (Nagar Nigam) Hall in Vinod Mishra Nagar (Varanasi) on 23-24 >December. On 23 Dec. a youth rally was brought out which was led by Com. >Rajaram Singh, President and Lal Bahadur, Gen. Secy. of RYA, and other >leaders. Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, Secy. of UP State Committee also >attended the rally and inaugurated the conference. The conference resolved to >launch a popular movement against saffron rulers' conspiracy to sell out >country at the hands of imperialists. > > > > > >Chattisgarh Diary > > > >One day dharna was held in front of Vidhan Sabha in Raipur on 19 Dec., on 7 >point demand by CPI(ML), CPI(M) and Loktrantic Samajwadi Party(LSP). Immediate >drought rehief was the main demand. Com Rajaram, CCM was also present at the >dharna. > > > >A convention on contract labour was held on 19 Dec. at Joratarai Dundera, a >contract labour area in Bhilai. Good numbers of contract labourers from Bhilai >Steel Plant attended the convention. The convention was addressed by Com. >Swapan Mukharjee, Gen. Secy. of AICCTU, Jagnarayan Chaudhry, local AICCTU >leader, Shiv Kumar from Janwadi Mazdur Ekta Kendra and Bijendra Tiwari from >CSW. Com Ashok Miri, an AICCTU leader, presided over the convention. > > > > > >Meeting of Nagrik Sabha > > > >Mandawali Nagrik Sabha held its meeting on 24 Dec. and decided to hold "Vikas >Sammelan" (development conference) on 25 Feb. next year. In the course of >preparation locality meetings from 1-12 Jan., street corner meetings from >15-18 Jan. and development meetings on 4 and 11 in Chandra Vihar and West >Vinod Nagar will be held and membership campaign will be launched. > > > > > >Black Day Observed > > > >On 6 December, in North Dinajpur of West Bengal the District RYA held a >meeting and observing Black Day, brought out an anti-communal march under the >leadership of Taslim Ali, secretary of RYA. > > > > > >Party Decries Killing of Hindi-Speaking People in Assam by 'Extremists' > > > >Assam State Party Committee and AIPWA jointly took out a procession on 15 Dec. >in Guwahati to protest recent killings of Hindi-speaking people in Assam. >Participants came from Nagaon, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. The mass >meeting was presided over by Com. Naren Bora, SCMof CPI(ML) and addressed by >Com. Pankaj Das, SCM, Kanaklata Dutta, state AIPWA Secy., Bolindra Saikia, >state AISA secy., Prasun Chatterjee, state AICCTU vice president. > > > >On 9 Dec. Tinsukia District Committee of Party organised a representative >meeting of Hindi-speaking people. Com. Brij Pradhan presided over the meeting. >Party State Secy. Rubul Sarma and Tinsukia District Secy. Subhash Sen >criticised the role of Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad, a youth wing of saffron >brigade and appealed to Hindi-speaking people not to join communal forces. An >organisation named Janwadi Hindibhashi Manch was also launched, which will >work with CPI(ML) against communal forces. On 11 Dec., Tinsukia DC of Party, >RYA, AIPWA, Jan Sanskriti Parishad, Janwadi Hindibhashi Manch, United Platform >of Motor Transport Workers called a 10-hour bandh against the killings which >was a grand success. > > > >On 15 Dec., a citizen's meet was organised by CPI(ML) at Pathsala town of >Barpeta district. An artists' protest programme was organised by Jan Sanskriti >Parishad and Study Forum in Guwahati where prominent artists including Dilip >Sarma, Sudakshina Sarma, Pranbiram Barua, Malabika Bora, Nibedita Sarma, >Jimani Chaudhry, Khagen Mahanta, Loknath Goswami, noted dramatist Mahendra >Barthakur and noted poet Samir Tanti were present. Protest songs were recited >and recent killings were condemned in the meeting. > > > > > >Vamik Jaunpuri Remembered > > > >On the occasion of 2nd death anniversary of noted poet Vamik Jaunpuri, Jan >Sanskriti Manch organised a cultural seminar on 22 Novemebr at Jaunpur. >Addressing the seminar Uday Yadav, executive member of Jan Sanskriti Manch and >organiser of Dasta,Varanasi, said that Vamik was an uncompromising struggling >personality who put forth an ideal before the writers of the new generation >and his dream of revolution has now become the dream of a whole new >generation. Dasta and Jaunpur unit of JSM presented poems and songs of Vamik. >Posters carrying poems of Vamik were also displayed. In the morning, flowers >were offered at the grave of Vamik Jaunpuri. Vote of thanks was given by Ajay >Kumar, vice president of JSM. > > > > >International > > > > >General Strike in Uruguay > > > >A 24-hour general strike in Uruguay on Dec. 6 had wide support from public >workers, bank workers, teachers, >health workers and industrial workers. The strike was called by the country's >only labor federation, the Inter-Union Workers Plenary-National Workers >Convention (PIT-CNT), to demand more jobs and a more equitable budget, and to >protest the neo-liberal economic plan being imposed by the the ruling >coalition. Strikers demanded dignified wages, collective bargaining, respect >for union freedom, and the rejection of privatization. It was the second >general strike since President Jorge Luis Batlle Ibanez assumed office on >Mar.ch 1, 2000. > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for geopolitics. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
