From: "cpimllib" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: CPI(ML) Press release ! CPI(ML) TO ORGANISE COUNTRYWIDE POWELL-GO-BACK PROTEST ON 15 JANUARY (handout issued by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya at press conference held in Kolkata on 11 January 2002) In its recently concluded meeting in Kolkata from 7-10 January, the CPI(ML) Central Committee has taken strong exception to LK Advani's visit to Washington and the parleys being held there with FBI and CIA officials. Earlier, Advani had paid a similar visit to Israel and Advani's current trip to Washington has also been preceded by Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres' visit to New Delhi. The Central committee has expressed grave concern over these visits and strongly denounced the underlying saffron vision of a US-Israel-India axis. The Central Committee has called upon all state and district units of the party to organise countrywide protests on January 15 against the forthcoming visit of Colin Powell. The party will appeal to all democratic and peace-loving Indians to mount pressure on the Indian government for reversing its present policy of downgrading and disrupting diplomatic ties with Pakistan in the name of a diplomatic offensive. Weakening of India's direct ties with Pakistan is only emboldening and enabling the US to deepen its intervention in the subcontinent which can only prove suicidal for the basic interests of both India and Pakistan. The Central Committee has also opposed the re-promulgation of POTO as well we central government's moves towards imposition of war-taxes on the people in the form of enhanced excise duties and the proposed hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices. Strengthening of the country's defence calls for immediate removal of the Tehelka-tainted coffin thieves from the defence ministry and services including the infamous defence minister George Fernades and not pumping of more funds. The CPI(ML) will build up nationwide public opinion against war hysteria and arms race. The party's Nalanda unit has already been conducting a vigorous campaign in this direction in the Lok Sabha constituency of the defence minister. The January 15 Powell-Go-Back protests will mark the beginning of a countrywide campaign against the growing imperialist and communal fascist danger to the Indian Republic. The campaign will continue till the Republic Day eve on 25 January when the Party will renew its pledge for a secular and democratic India. The Central Committee also discussed the party's electoral preparations in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab. While the party will independently contest nearly thirty seats in UP and ten seats in Uttaranchal, in Punjab it will field some half a dozen nominees as part of a broader electoral understanding with CPI(M) dissidents and MCPI. The Central Committee congratulated the people of West Bengal on the unprecedented success of the January 10 bandh called in protest against hikes in essential service charges and the proposed repressive legislation POCA. The success of the bandh has not only expressed popular resentment against the anti-people policies of the state government, it has also highlighted the possibility that with sincere resolve and timely initiative, Left forces can occupy the oppositional foreground in the state and relegate the TMC to the background. Recently a bandh on similar issues was held in Tamil Nadu and yesterday Kerala too witnessed a strike on similar grounds, The CPI(ML) leaders have only exposed themselves by following double standards in different states. It is an irony of history that the CPI(M)'s opposition to the bandh in West Bengal was shared by the BJP and the Congress and its pro-market policies are now being applauded by the same bourgeois opinion makers and corporate sector which have otherwise been critical of the Left. The logic of power and the cause of the people are now at loggerheads and the CPI(ML) is determined to espouse the cause of the people against all odds. Sanjay Sharma Incharge,Central Office _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
