ML Update A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine Vol. 5; No. 50; 11-17 Dec 2002
WIND UP THE DISINVESTMENT MINISTRY! While the attention of the whole country remains riveted on the impending Gujarat elections and Parliament sessions are marked by a very limited presence of MPs, often without any quorum, the central government has gone head with declarations of more disinvestment plans. On Monday, December 9, disinvestment minister Arun Shourie informed both houses of Parliament about his government's plans to divest the state's ownership in two petroleum companies of strategic importance: HPCL and BPCL. A few months ago, it was over the proposed disinvestment in these companies that differences within the Sangh Parivar and also among NDA allies had come into the open and the issue was shelved for the time being till the cabinet reached a consensus. The announcement made by Shourie is therefore presumably premised on a backroom family deal. According to the deal, the disinvestment proceedings have been put off till March 2003. Also, while HPCL shares will be sold through strategic sales, BPCL shares would also be sold to BPCL employees at a reduced rate and to other divested companies. Clearly, the government is trying to sell the deal through deception. The proposal to sell shares at one-third the market price to company employees defeats the very logic of 'free market' where the highest bidder is supposed to prevail. Obviously, it is a political decision aimed at confusing and silencing the public sector workers and employees who have been steadfast in their opposition to disinvestment. As long as workers buy shares as private individuals and have no say in the management of a company, selling of shares to individual workers can by no means be equated to any kind of workers' control or management. It is just another way of privatising a public sector unit. The government has been totally silent on the most contentious issue of creation of private monopolies. While Shourie wants to keep out ONGC from bidding for HPCL shares on the plea that ONGC being another public sector company, acquisition of HPCL shares by ONGC would not help achieve the real goal of privatisation - the government no longer tries to hide the fact that disinvestment is just another name for privatisation - his ministry has no proposal to bar the private petrochemical giant Reliance which already enjoys a 70 per cent market share in the petrochem sector thanks to its earlier acquisition of IPCL. The government has also not responded to the opposition argument that the HPCL and BPCL were created through two Acts of Parliament and tehrefore any alteration can only be made by Parliament and not through mere executive orders. Far from answering these twin concerns - creation of private monopoly and bypassing of Parliament - Shourie's announcement has only made them more urgent. For the Sangh Parivar ideologues of pseudo-swadeshi and also for pseudo-socialists like George Fernandes, the disinvestment debate may just be a proxy war between those who are currently rooting for the Ambanis and those who are opposing the Reliance at the moment for a variety of reasons. All of them are however expert acrobats and the glue of power and a bit of patronage from the Reliance can easily see them change sides from Reliance-baiters to Reliance-retainers. For the working class and for every well-wisher of this nation and its economy, the disinvestment debate is however two serious a matter to be left at the mercy of the Sangh parivar and its family friends known as the NDA. Majority holdings in sectors like oil and aluminium are strategic economic levers and not family fortunes of the Sangh Parivar that the Vajpayee government can sell away to this or that corporate giant. Let us tell them once and for all that they can strike any deal among themselves, they can also try and bypass Parliament with tacit support from the Congress, but there is no way they can bypass the people. Let the working class and every other section of the working people prepare for a showdown to resist the proposed disinvestment move in March. REMEMBERING VM On 18th December we will observe fourth death anniversary of Comrade Vinod Mishra, who left us on December 18, 1998. This supreme architect of Party's historic recovery and resurgence, took over the strenuous responsibility of leading the Party at a much younger age after the martyrdom of Comrade Jauhar (Subrata Dutta) in a heroic battle in Bhojpur on 29 November 1975. That was the period when the Party had just begun to reorganise after heavy setbacks of the early 1970s. Comrade VM led the Party from the Second to the Sixth Congress, from its initial phase of re-organisation to its maturing into an all India formation, from a small fraction of CPI(ML) to a unified and strong all India Party of the Communist Revolutionaries capable of combining all forms of struggles and organisations suited to our conditions and determined to march ahead towards revolutionary democracy and socialism. Comrade VM's pathbreaking and insightful Marxist analysis of the Indian society and his broad vision of communist unification will remain an inexhaustible source of inspiration and guidance for all sincere communists. As he said in October 1998, "The agenda for rebuilding the third front on a revolutionary democratic basis should be taken up by the forces of the revolutionary Left. There are enough social and political forces that will respond to this call in the changing political situation. Even in the CPI congress, the overwhelming sentiment was in favour of building a broader left alliance, which the leadership tried to derail by confining it within the ambit of so-called communist unity with the CPI(M). Erstwhile socialist forces are in a disarray after the Samata joined the BJP bandwagon and so are innumerable other forces that are all eagerly waiting for a fresh bid to rejuvenate the whole concept of the third front. We have already renewed our appeal for a left confederation and the ongoing campaign, "oust saffron, save the nation", must be transformed into a positive campaign for a Third Front.", the recently concluded 7th Party Congress of CPI(ML) renewed its pledge to carry forward the vision and mission of Com. VM. Red Salute to Comrade Vinod Mishra ! CPI(ML) Pledges to Combat Communal Fascist Forces The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) observed December 6, the day vandals of VHP and Bajrang Dal had brought down the Babri Masjid in broad daylight in 1992, as "Anti-Communal Fascism Day" and organised marches, demonstrations, conventions and extensive mass contact programmes at all important centres throughout the country including Chennai, Kakinada, Bhubneshwar, Kolkata, Guwahati, Diphu, Tripura, Patna, Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ludhiana and many other cities. In New Delhi, a march was organised from Supreme Court to Mandi House which was led by Party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya along with Party Central Committee members Swapan Mukherjee and Rajendra Pratholi. The marchers later joined the programmes undertaken by Aman Ekta Manch and other democratic organisations as a gesture of broader Left-democratic unity against the threat of communal fascist forces in the country. Addressing the public meeting just before the march at Tilak Bridge crossing Dipankar Bhattacharya said that between December 1992 and December 2002, the fascist offensive has completed a whole trajectory from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad and the BJP has made it clear that it will always use the power only to advance its agenda of a fascist Hindu Rashtra and all outfits of the Sangh Parivar remain wedded to that strategic agenda. He also accused the Congress and most of India's centrist and regional parties which had lent legitimacy to the BJP's fascist agenda by acquiescing with the BJP. The Congress has recruited disgruntled elements from the Sangh stable as its candidates in assembly elections in Gujarat. He said that such ex-servicemen of the Sangh army can do no better than accusing the BJP of reneging on its declared caus e of Ram Mandir and Hindu Rashtra! The battle between the BJP and the Congress in Gujarat has been reduced to a contest between two shades of saffron. Comrade Dipankar reiterated that only the Left has consistently challenged the saffron and within the Left, a principled and determined opposition is being brought by the CPI(ML). The Party has laid its greatest emphasis in exposing the real saffron agenda of fascist dictatorship and, most importantly, on mobilising the masses in a powerful resistance to the fascist challenge. Besides New Delhi, Party organised a march in Patna and effigies of Advani, Ashok Singhal and Uma Bharti were burnt in Kakinada (AP). While in Uttar Pradesh, marches and pickets were organised at many places. In Lucknow, CPI(ML) and All India Muslim Forum held a joint dharna in front of state assembly demanding a new notification from the government in the Babri Masjid case to punish the culprits. Addressing the dharna Comrade Akhilendra said that the Congress can never become an alternative to the BJP and it is only the Left and democratic forces which can provide a viable alternative against communal fascist ideology. Dharna was also addressed by All India Muslim Forum President M. K. Sherwani and many other CPI(ML) leaders. The Party also held a Secular March in Varanasi and a Dharna in Kanpur. In Jaipur, CPI(ML) organised a joint dharna at Ram Niwas Bagh with PUCL, Janwadi Lekhak Sangh, AIPWA, AICCTU and some cultural organisations demanding arrests of L K Advani, M.M. Joshi and Uma Bharati and speedy trial in Babri Masjid demolition case. CPI(ML) STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE SELL-OUT OF HPCL & BPCL The CPI(ML) has strongly condemned the central government's decision to divest the equities of profit making public sector enterprises, HINDUSTAN PETROLIUM COMPANY LTD AND BHARAT PETROLIUM COMPANY LTD and termed the decision an effort of the BJP to sell-off country's economy and people's interests. The Party has asked the central government to step down if it is not able to safe-guard the national economy MARCH IN MANINAGAR, GUJARAT On December 9, leaders and activists of many Left and democratic parties and organisations held out a march under the banner of "Oust BJP, Defeat Modi" in Maninagar to appeal to people to ensure a total defeat of Narendra Modi. Modi is contesting elections from this assembly seat. The CPI(ML) Liberation 's Gujarat In-charge Ranjan Ganguly, Unity Initiative's leader P. K. Murthy, veteran Gandhian Chunnibhai Vaidya, Prakash Shah, Indu Kumar, CLI(ML)'s Hiren Gandhi, TU leader Ashim Roy, writer Dr. Swaroop Ben, Father Moses of XISS, Wilfred of INSAF, Women leader Damayanti Ben Parikh, Prof. Nisar Ahmad Ansari, etc. led this march. SOME FACTS ABOUT THE 7th CONGRESS PARTICIPANTS The house assembled at the 7th Congress of the Party was the largest house so far in the CPI(ML) history. Of the 697 delegates, 147 were from urban/rural/working class background and 401 were from rural background mostly from poor and lower-middle peasantry and rest of the delegates from urban background. There were six delegates from among overseas Indians. Then there were 20 observers. Apart from the delegates and observers, there were five special observers from fraternal communist organisations in the country. This house was also graced by the presence of 19 guests from fraternal parties/organisations abroad from almost all the countries in South Asia bordering India and from countries like Australia and Norway. Out of the total delegates elected through Electoral Colleges, 478 came through District Electoral Colleges, 56 through Industrial Committees and various Departments, 41 through Party's central and state Head Quarters and 22 belonged to committees in Party's various organs. Among those who unfortunately could not attend the congress, Comrade Babudhan Kisku, a young 24-year whole timer comrade hailing from toiling tribal peasantry, departed forever on 26 November. The Congress paid its heartfelt condolence in memory of this fine fighter for the cause of oppressed people. Two other comrades, Dilip Mondol, member of Jharkhand State Committee of CPI(ML) working in Dumka district, Arijit Mitra, member of Party's West Bengal State Committee, editor of cultural magazine 'Nabanna ', had to be admitted to hospital for serious illness. Comrade Tirupati Gomango, another comrade hailing from tribal peasantry origin, secretary of Rayagada District Committee, is still in jail in connection with false cases imposed on him during ongoing agrarian movement. Of the total attendance, 70 delegates, around 10%, were women. The average age of the house was 42 which is slightly higher than the earlier congresses. Keeping with our party traditions, there is an overwhelming majority of whole time comrades among the delegates, numbering 531. Among the total delegates, 310 have been incarcerated for varying periods. Maximum jail term served by a delegate is 14 years. Two other comrades have also been in the prison for more than 9 years. 60 delegates have suffered prison sentences between 1-4 years and 25 have been in the jail for 4-9 years. For most of the comrades, however, the sentence was for less than one year. Out of the total delegates, only one attended the first Congress and other four comrades attended all the previous five congresses since the 2nd congress. SOLIDARITY MESSAGES FOR THE 7th CONGRESS OF CPI(ML) The greetings were received from many communist parties expressing solidarity with the CPI(ML) movement. The Communist Party of Phillipines, while congratulating the CPI(ML) for its past achievements, wished a great success for the 7th Congress. It said that the Congress is being held "at a time of great disorder in the world. This situation offers great challenges and great opportunities. US imperialism is becoming more and more arrogant, bellicose and destructive. It is intensifying its plunder of the world. But the people are also rising up in resistance. .. the bankruptcy of imperialist globalization masquerading as "free market" globalization is being exposed ... In the oppressed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, industries are destroyed and agriculture is ruined. Millions of workers, peasants and white-collar employees are further impoverished. Their democratic rights are suppressed, their protests are met with fascist violence as in Gujarat." It further added, "India is a big country in a strategic region of the world. The advance of the revolution in India has worldwide importance in the people's struggle against imperialism and for socialism." The Philippines Workers Party (PMP-merger) has said in its message that the "Imperialism's offensive is being met by increasing peoples' resistance. We are extremely heartened by the developing strength of the mass movements against imperialism. The class struggle is intensifying and the stakes are high. Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya's statement at the Asia- Pacific Solidarity Conference in Australia this year encapsulates our line of march: "We have a war to fight and a world to win". The CC of the Workers Communist Party (AKP), Norway, conveyed its warmest greetings to the 7th Congress and the Anti-war rally held at the end of the Congress. The AKP has described the current situation in the world in its message as "in this time of war-mongering from the leading imperialist power, the USA, revolutionary parties all over the globe have some common main tasks". The solidarity messages were also received from MLPD, Germany, PRD, Indonesia, Romanian Labour Party, socialist Party of Malaysia, WPB, Belgium and Italian Marxist Leninist Party. The Editorial Boards of Proletarian and Asian Marxists Review have and International South Asia Forum (INSAF), based in Canada, have also sent its greetings to the 7th Congress. The Central Committee of the CPI(ML) expresses its heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all of them and reasserted its commitment to fight to defeat imperialism and all forces of reaction hand in glove with the fraternal parties and organisations and the working people all over the world. 7th CONGRESS PAYS HOMAGE TO MARTYRS The CPI(ML)'s 7th Congress paid homage to its leaders Vinod Mishra, Nagbhushan Patnaik and Anil Baruah along with many other senior leaders, like Taqi Rahim, Bachchan Singh and Prithviraj Singh, who departed during the period between 6th and 7th Congresses. The 7th congress also paid its sincere tributes to more than 200 of its martyred members and activists -- 24 of them killed by police during various political agitations; 51 by PWG in bihar and Jharkhand, 14 by MCC in Bihar and Jharkhand, 35 by groups like UPDS, ULFA, and goons supported by parties like CPM and RJD; and 122 by various criminal-feudal gangs including Shahabuddin's. The Congress also paid homage to nearly 163 sympathisers who fell to bullets of Ranvir Sena in Bihar. It condoled the deaths of nearly 250 members who departed forever due to illness, in accidents or died a natural death. It also paid homage to departed communist leaders like Indrajit Gupta, Geeta Mukherjee, EMS Nambudiripad, Tridib Chaudhary, Chitta Basu, Kondapalli Sitaramaiah and Bhaskar Jadhav; leaders like Dutta Samant and Kapil Dev Singh; and cultural personalities like Nagarjun, Vamik Jaunpuri, Ramvilas Sharma and Kaifi Azami. The 7th Congress mourned the death of all those who fell victim to communal fascist forces' onslaughts in India and US aggression world over. A LTTER TO FRIENDS FROM THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CPI(ML) Dear friends, We have the pleasure to inform you that the Seventh Congress of the CPI(ML) has concluded successfully at Patna. The Congress was attended by more than 750 delegates from 22 states and Union Territories of India. We also had a good number of fraternal delegates from countries like Norway, Australia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal, and overseas Indian delegates from Canada, US, Britain and Thailand. The inaugural session on 25 November was attended by nearly 2,500 people. Apart from paying homage to departed CPI(ML) leaders Vinod Mishra and Nagbhushan Patnaik, other Left leaders and hundreds of CPI(ML) members and others who have laid down their lives for the people since the Sixth Congress of the Party held at Varansi in October 1997, the inaugural session also felicitated many veterans of the communist movement. The session resolved to intensify efforts not only for unity of all Left forces in the country but also for closer cooperation with other streams of people's movement in the country. Over the next four days (26-29 November), the delegates discussed the report presented by the outgoing Central Committee which identified the Party's tasks in the developing international and national situation and on the diverse fronts of the movement ranging from the agrarian and working class struggles to student-youth struggles, women's movement and the cultural front. The report was adopted unanimously with some amendments. The final report will be printed shortly in various languages. The Congress elected a 41-member Central Committee and the CC, in turn, re-elected Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya as the General Secretary of the Party. The Congress ended with a befitting finale with tens of thousands of people attending the concluding session on Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan. The session was addressed jointly by CPI(ML) leaders as well as Left leaders from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This resolute and refreshing expression of cross-border solidarity stood in sharp contrast to the ruling classes' politics of jingoism and communal divide. The success with which the Party Congress has been held was made possible thanks to an intense mobilisation of our entire Party and the unstinted support and cooperation we have received from the people of Bihar and from friends like you all over the country. We hope we would continue to receive your support and cooperation in carrying out the decisions of the Party Congress. We are aware that we have a very crucial and challenging period ahead in defending freedom, democracy, basic human rights and the vision of a socialist future in the face of a heightened imperialist-fascist offensive. We are, of course, confident that our unity and determination will see us through and the forces of the people will prevail over the onslaught of the enemies. With warm greetings of solidarity, Central Committee, CPI(ML) ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cpiml.org ____________________________________ _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
