ML Update
A CPI (ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol. 3; No.35; 6-9-2000
Editorial
Vajpayee's Week-Kneed Mission to Washington
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is off on a fortnight long trip to
the US. Some two decades ago, Vajpayee had visited the US as India's
external affairs minister to deliver the first Hindi speech from India
in the UN General Assembly. For two decades, the Sangh Parivar and
Vajpayee admirers have basked in the presumed glory of that great
'Swadeshi' feat. Now as Prime Minister of India's shameless saffron
coalition, the current US trip is being billed as one of Vajpayee's
biggest achievements during his prime ministerial tenure so far. The
nation will be waiting anxiously to know what swadeshi feats are
accomplished by Vajpayee in his present avatar during his current trip.
Ever since he sat on the PM's chair, Vajpayee has been sparing no
efforts to please his American masters. The economic policy of India had
already been modified enough to satisfy almost every major US demand.
Apart from removing the last few irritants on the economic front,
Vajpayee has been determined to redesign India's Kashmir policy and
foreign policy to subserve the US strategy of a unipolar world under
exclusive American domination. Clinton's visit to India earlier this
year revealed the endless extent of saffron slavery to imperialist
diktats. Since then Vajpayee has been religiously carrying on his
homework for his present US visit.
The shadow of US design has been most clearly visible in Kashmir. Even
as the NDA government summarily rejected the J&K government's plea for a
dialogue on the autonomy resolution adopted by the State Assembly, talks
were initiated with the Hizbul Mujahideen. And Vajpayee made his now
famous statement about his government's readiness to go beyond the
Constitution to meet the militants' demands. But the talks with the HM
soon broke down with New Delhi's refusal to involve Islamabad and
conditions in the troubled state have now once again slipped back to a
near-war situation. Thanks to the mischievous US guideline, New Delhi
has managed to burn its bridges with every major force in the valley and
conditions are just tailor-made for increasing US intervention in the
subcontinent.
On the economic policy front, too, the government has been working
overtime to appease the American masters. Even though actual US
investment in this country has not yet exceeded the $2.5 billion mark,
New Delhi is busy relaxing the last investment restrictions in every
conceivable field including publication and entertainment. The granting
of free entry to MNCs in the STD segment and the imminent
corporatisation of the department of telecommunications have rendered
India's vital infrastructural sector utterly vulnerable to US moves.
Meanwhile, disinvestment and privatisation have been progressing apace,
and in the name of removing the last vestiges of subsidies, key sectors
like agriculture, higher education and other public services of key
importance have also been exposed to the sinister design of imperialist
capital.
Indian corporate bosses and other custodians of US interests in India
are apparently quite disturbed by the reported knee troubles of Mr.
Vajpayee. The Prime Minister is suffering from osteo-arthritis. Doctors
ascribe it to old age, but saffron watchers attribute it to the Prime
Minister's well-known habit of kneeling down to imperialist pressures, a
habit he has religiously cultivated since his student-life in the 1940s.
But the Sangh Parivar is not undoubtedly worried: if Vajpayee finds it
difficult to fold his knees, he can always lie down in prostration. For
the sanghis, there can perhaps be no spectacle more 'swadeshi' than a
'glorious' feat of surrender to the American bosses. Every Indian with a
sense of national dignity and patriotic pride must stand firmly on his
or her feet to save the country from the ignominious fallouts of
Vajpayee's weak-kneed mission to Washington.
Condolence
Com. Gangadhar Yadav (35), a member of Party's Giridih District
Committee was killed by MCC, or Lalkhandies as they are called in
Jharkhand, on 4 September in the morning at Garmundo village in Saria
P.S. of Giridih.
Com. Siddhi Bind (30), Bhutnath Mahato (50) and Yadunandan Paswan (50),
three local Party activists, were murdered by PWG killers in Bistaul
village of Jahanabad on 1 September.
While expressing our deep shock on their martyrdom we share the grief
with their families and the comrades in the region. Party will not let
these sacrifices go in vain and will avenge the death of these comrades
by mobilising greater masses to fulfil their dream.
Commentary
BJP's Nagpur Session
At present BJP is the largest parliamentary party of our country and the
leading party of the ruling coalition. However, in 1999 the party got
2.3% less votes than 1998 elections even though a 25-party coalition was
there. Belying their fond hope to emerge as the single party with
absolute majority, the results put the seal on the realisation that BJP
has reached a plateau. Therefore, appointment for the first time of a
dalit as its president who gives a call to woo Muslims in his first
speech as the head of the outfit may carry some meaning for this party
of Hindutwa. The prime concern of the party, as Bangaru admitted, is
that "BJP has not yet become the preferred party of governance". Despite
being the leading party at the centre it is ruling only in two states
plus UP, where it faces a bleak future in the next elections. For a
ruling party like BJP, importance of holding the fort of UP, which would
despatch as many as 81 MPs even after its reorganisation, can be
belittled at their own peril. But the party has lost the magic mix of
kamandal with mandal, so now it is groping for some new hotch-potch.
Though Bangaru has appealed to dalits, Muslims and backwards in the same
vein, it is clear that the endeavour is aimed to make bridges with
dalits and Muslims, the traditional votaries of Congress. In a way, BJP
wants to accomplish a miraculous feat -- not only to replace Congress as
a "preferred party of governance" but even to win over its old
vote-bank! Naturally it needs a further dose of Hindu secularism. One
wonders whether treading on the footsteps of Congress tomorrow the BJP
leadership may appeal to liberal intelligentsia and the Left!
Protest & Resistence
Police Firing at Arrah on Party's 'Zabab Do' Rally
CPI(ML) held a massive "Zabab do" rally on 30 August at Arrah
Collectorate protesting against the killing of Com. Vishwanath Ram. It
was led by Party PB member Com. Ram Naresh Ram and ex-M.P. Com.
Rameshwar Prasad. The district administration acted on a pre-planned
conspiracy hatched at the behest of state govt. and the police first
resorted to an unprovoked lathicharge and then opened fire in which 3
Party activists got killed and a fourth was admitted to Patna Medical
Hospital in critical condition. Around 50 activists got injured and Com.
Ram Naresh Ram and Rameshwar Prasad too sustained lathi blows. The
demonstrators were also demanding probe on police firing at Hazaribagh.
In Hazaribagh, a woman was raped and later killed by criminals. People
protesting police callousness in this regard had blocked road at
Chauparan on 29 August. Police opened fire and killed 8 innocent people.
Apart from killing 3 students at Imamganj, police had treated women with
medieval barbarity in Jhanjharpur and Samastipur.
Party demanded judicial enquiry into police firing at Arrah, suspension
of DSP Prakash Mishra and Rajiv Ranjan and institution of murder case
under Sec.302 against them and punitive action against DM and SP. To
protest police highhandedness, Black Day was observed statewide on 31
August and a call was given to observe "Chakka Jam" on 2 September.
72 Hours Fast Against Imamganj Killing
Party CC member Com. Saroj Chaube and student and youth leaders
Com. Kamlesh Sharma, Shashi Yadav, Paramhans Kumar, Dhananjay Sharma and
Ranvijay Kumar sat on a fast for 72 hours from 29 August to 1 September
demanding suspension of Imamganj picket incharge UK Mishra, OC of
Paliganj P.S. Dilu Lohar, BDO of Paliganj and their arrest under Sec.302
and punitive action against Patna DM Amit Khare and SSP Sunil Kumar, and
release of AISA leader Sushil Kumar. The comrades broke their fast with
fruit juice offered by Party General. Secretary Com. Dipankar
Bhattacharya on 1 September.
Corporatisation of Telecom Dept. Criticised
CPI(ML) reacting on the Cabinet decision to corporatise telecom
department (DoT) said that the decision was taken under the pressure of
multinationals, US companies in particular, who are eager to complete
privatisation of the telecom sector. This step to please the American
masters on the eve of PM's visit will have an adverse impact on
country's telecom industry and its employees.
Demonstration Against Police Repression
CPI(ML) held a demonstration before D.M. office of Lakhimpur Kheri
district in UP protesting police repression on the family of a communist
revolutionary Com. Bechu asking him to stop it immediately.
Resistance to Feudal Oppression in Gonda
A Party cadre Com. Shivram had filed a report against some feudal goons
who had beaten a dalit youth on refusing to serve as a begar.
Consequently Com. Shivram was attacked by goons on 15 August at Paska
village of Paspur PS in Gonda. However, the BJP leaders who patronise
these goons pressurized police to register a case against Com. Shivram
under 307 Cr.PC. Against this CPI(ML) brought out a 12-km. march against
feudal oppression under the leadership of Com. Mahesh Singh and gheraoed
Paspur police station on 17 August. A mass meeting was also organised
which was attended by 300 persons. Ultimately the police was forced to
register FIR against the culprits under 307 Cr.PC and SC/ST Act.
Solidarity Movements
Party Protested Against Firing in Hyderabad
CPI(ML)-Liberation activists burnt effigy of Chandrababu Naidu's and
held protest demonstration at Parliament Street in Delhi on 30 August
against the repression and police firing on 28 August at Hyderabad.
Addressing the demonstrators Party PB member Swadesh Bhattacharya
strongly condemned Naidu's govt. for police firing on agitators
protesting the power tariff hike, saying that the incident has revealed
the real barbaric face hidden behind a much-hyped cyber state. CC
members B.B. Pandey and P.V. Srinivas, and Lal Bahadur Singh, Ranjit
Abhigyan, Rajiv Dimri, Ranjan Ganguly and Santosh Rai participated in
the demonstration.
In Calcutta, CPI(ML) and other 9 revolutionary left organisations
organised a protest march. At the end of the march the effigy of Naidu
was burnt. The March was led by Kartick Pal and leaders of other
organisations. While returning, 18 comrades were arrested. A fax was
also sent to the Governor, A.P. on behalf of 10 organisations demanding
judicial enquiry and adequate compensation to the families of deceased
and wounded.
Demo at Bihar Bhawan in Delhi Against Arrah Firing
Hundreds of Party activists and supporters held protest demonstration on
2 September at Bihar Bhawan. Police tried to stop the processionists
marching from Teen Murti but the demonstrators pressed forward shouting
slogans "Rein the unbriddled Bihar Police", "Hold judicial enquiry of
Arrah firing". Close to Bihar Bhawan they were arrested by the police.
The demonstrators were led by CC member Kumudini Pati, Rajendra
Pratholi, and others. A protest march was held in Calcutta against
barbaric police firing on peaceful agitation at Arrah, Bihar. The march
was led by Com. Basudev Bose, Arijit Mitra and others.
Initiatives
Convention for United Movement
On Sep. 1, CPI(ML) Liberation, New Democracy, PCC, Janashakti,
Unity Initiative, Communist Revolutionary Centre, COI (ML), Sramik
Sangram Committee, Marxist Forum and Sangrami Gana Manch organised a
convention at Calcutta for devoloping united movement against
imperialist onslaught, new economic policies, saffron onslaught and
anti-people policies of central and W.B. State Govt. Minimum aggrement
was reached on immediate issues. To counter the politics of killings and
terror unleashed both by TMC and CPI (M), political slogan to step up
class struggle was raised. On behalf of our organisation Com. Kalyan
Goswami spoke in the convention.
CPI(ML) Demands UP Govt.'s Resignation
CPI(ML) observed statewide protest day on 2 Sep. in protest of Padrauna
firing, Arrah (Bihar) firing and increasing incidents of barbaric police
repression on mass movements. Party demanded a judicial enquiry into
Padrauna firing on a silent procession on 29 Sep. and resignation of BJP
govt. which is refusing to hold an enquiry. On this day, Party staged a
dharna at GPO and submitted a memorandum to the Governor on killing of
dalits and police atrocities. In Kanpur, effigy of UP govt. was brunt
and in Pilibhit a dharna was staged before district headquarters. Party
State Committee team visiting Padrauna found that the police had opened
fire unprovokingly on agitating wokers of closed sugar mills, who were
demanding outstanding salary and sugarcane growers demanding long
overdue payment. Several students were also injured in the firing.
Earlier, Lucknow unit of CPI(ML) held a demonstration on 30 September to
protest against firing in Hyderabad on agitators belonging to 9 left
parties and burnt the effigy of Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of
Andhra.
Successful Chakka Jam ( Road Blockade ) in Bihar on 2 Sep.
Statewide 'Chakka Jam' ( Road Blockade ) called by CPI(ML) against
increasing incidents of barbaricpolice atrocities and particularly
killing of students at Imamganj and firing at Arrah, was completely
successful. In this course, police conducted lathicharge at Kursela
(Katihar), Raghunathpur (Siwan), Dulhin Bazar (Patna), Sheikhpura,
Rajauli (Nawada) etc., injuring around 50 comrades. More than 3000 Party
activists and supporters were arrested while enforcing Chakka Jam. They
include Party CC members Com. K.D. Yadav and Saroj Chaube, along with
Com. Kamlesh Sharma, Dhirendra Jha, MLA Satyadev Ram, Ex-MLA Amar Yadav.
Vaishali Ex., Satyagrah Ex, and several passenger trains were stopped
for several hours. Transport on important roads including GT Road and
NH-31 came to a complete halt.
Party Gets Symbol in U.P.
U.P. State Election Commission (Panchayat and Local Bodies) has accorded
CPI(ML) the status of a recognised party in UP and reserved the symbol
of "Flag with three stars" for CPI(ML). This will be helpful in
forthcoming elections to local bodies.
Land Retrieved From Local Despot in Ghazipur
In Nahaiba village of Saidabad PS in Ghazupur district of UP, on
31 August Party activists retrieved the land of a dalit household having
the patta for it from a local despot who had forcibly seized the land.
Demo at DC Office in Delhi
Delhi Northwest district unit of CPI(ML) held a demonstration at
Deputy Commissioner's office on 30 August. It was participated in by 200
activists. A 15-point charter of demand-- including ending police-mafia
atrocities and demolition of slum houses and provision of civic
amenities --was submitted. Com. Rajendra Pratholi, Jeeta Kaur and other
district leaders led it.
Culture
Fascist Intervention in Culture Decried
Jan Sanskriti Manch strongly decried the bureaucratic and fascist
intervention in culture by government declaring a painting as
anti-Constitutional and consequent prohibiting its exibition in National
Gallary of Modern Art. The painting depicting a Greek mythological
character Icarus atop the Lion Capital is a telling commentary on Indian
state of affairs. On behalf of JSM, Brij Bihari Pandey hailed the
solidarity protest by 25 young painters who decided to call off the
exhibition of their paintings against the govt. official decree.
'Nazar' -- Photography Exhibition at Varanasi
On 21 August, World Photography Day, Indus Cultural Society held a
photography exhibition 'Nazar' in Indus Art Gallary, Varanasi, in which
70 young and veteran photographers participated. The subject of
photograph is 'Banaras'. Introducing the subject in a seminar organised
at the venue BK Singh, chairman of CRAFFT, said that without a committed
and consistent viewpoint the 'nazar' (sight) has no meaning. In this era
of globalisation objective reality is being covered by colourful fantasy
and this is making us impotent by cutting us from our roots. The
situation calls upon using the camera with a realist angle. The seminar
was conducted by Mukesh of Kala Commune and the main speaker at the
seminar was DL Vohra, ex-member of Royal Photographic Society of
London. Ranjit Sen, Uday Yadav, Pradip Tiwari and Vimal Yadav also among
the speakers.
Seminar in Varanasi
Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh(PWA), Janwadi Lekhak Sangh(DWA), Jan Sanskriti
Manch and Kala Commune organised a seminar to felicitate writer
Kashinath Singh on 27 August at Indology Lecture Theatre in Varanasi.
This was the first occasion when the presidents of three main left
cultural organisations of the country, namely Trilochan Shashtri of JSM,
Namwar Singh of PWA and Chandrabali Singh of DWA shared the dias. Kala
Commune organised a poetry-poster exhibition at 'Assi' at the bank of
Ganga. Several renowned literary personalities participated in the
seminar.
International Solidarity
The 'Clinton effect'
Against Clinton's visit to Colombia and the US "Plan Colombia", besides
protest march in Vienna and other European cities, 200 people took to
the streets in New York on Aug. 30. Thousands of people heard a united
message of "U.S.A., CIA, out of Colombia!". This was one of the dozen
protests in the cities across America. In many Latin American countries
the population took to the streets. The Colombian liberation movement
too undertook a number of actions. Reportedly, more than 20 Colombians
died on account of Clinton visit.
Large number of Colombians have fled to Venezuela after a right-wing
paramilitary group attacked their town in northeastern Colombia,
displacing up to 1,500 people following Cliton visit. Conern about this
'Clinton effect' and its possible spillover dominated the first regional
summit of South American leaders in Brazil. Colombia's neighbours
Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela said that they were concerned about
a widening of the violence as the US bolsters Colombia's military might.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose country shares a 1,400-mile
border with Colombia, said he was worried about the plan's strong focus
on a military solution.
In the meanwhile the communique issued by both the Revolutionary
Armies-The FARC-EP, in the name of millions of our citizens, declared
the presence of Clinton in Colombian territory "non grata". FARC
communique says: "The Plan Colombia, with its English inventors, means a
serious threat against our peace process and a real danger of
generalization of the war, a growing military intervention of the
Yankees that could lead to a vietnamization. With the Plan Colombia,
North American imperialism is trying to consolidate the neo-liberal
political economy by the way of military intervention and attacks our
sovereignty in order to impose the politics of the IMF without
resistance.
"Washington should know that in Colombia there are a people ready to
give all in defense of the fatherland. We can assure that the FARC,
supported by the people, will not accept any ultimatum. Our
undestroyable will to fight is strongly linked to the fight for social
justice, real democracy, entire sovereignty and a new State of the
people and for the people.
"We call to the Colombian people to express in all the possible forms,
with a sentiment for the fatherland and of dignity, inspired by
anti-imperialism and the Latin American unity expressed by our liberator
Simon Bolivar, their rejection to the imperialist visit, his Plan
Colombia and to the oligarchy that sells out our fatherland". EP in its
clarion call said: "Colombia for the Workers Not a step backward !
Liberation or Death "!
Strengthen the Party Campaign
Relation Between Party and the Class
A political party can comprise only a minority of a class, in the same
way as the really class conscious workers in any capitalist society
constitute only a minority of all workers. The political party is the
politically conscious, advanced section of the class, it is its
vanguard. The strength of that vanguard is ten times, a hundred times,
more than hundred times greater than its numbers. Is it possible? Can
the strength of hundreds be greater than the strength of thousands? It
can be, and is, when the hundreds are organised. The political
consciousness of the advanced contingent is, incidentally, manifested in
its ability to organise. By organising it achieves unity of will and
this united will of an advanced thousand, hundred thousand, million
becomes the will of the class.
After the numerically small stratum of advanced workers comes the broad
stratum of average workers. These workers, too, participate in workers'
study circles, read news papers and books, participate in agitation and
differ from the preceding stratum only in that they cannot become fully
independent leaders of the Communist working-class movement. ... (They)
will not be able to get a full grasp of an intricate theoretical or
practical problem.
Lastly, behind the stratum of avarage workers comes the mass that
constitutes the lower strata of the proletariat. It is quite possible
that a socialist newspaper will be completely or well-nigh
incomprehensible to them ... different forms of agitation and propaganda
must be brought to bear on these strata -- pamphlets written in more
popular language, oral agitation, and chiefly -- leaflets on local
events. The Communists should not confine themselves even to this; it is
quite possible that the first steps towards arousing the consciousness
of lower strata of the workers will have to take the form of (legal)
educational activities. --(Lenin CWs Vol: 4, 9, 19, 31).
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