[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update Vol. 6 No. 47 19 - 25 November 2003

ML Update
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  6 No. 47    19-25 November 2003


NO VIOLENCE CAN STOP BIHAR'S BRAVE NEW WOMEN

The cowards of Ranvir Sena have struck again. Having failed to stop the
rural poor's relentless forward march through repeated massacres, the
killers have now started targeting individual leaders of the masses. On 10
November afternoon Comrade Manju became their first victim in Bihar's
Arwal-Jahanabad belt.

The killers had chosen their target carefully. Comrade Manju was one of the
most courageous and assertive leaders of the masses. Like the people's poet
Virendra Vidrohi who had blackened the face of the Congress Chief Minister
Bhagwat Jha Azad's face after a Jehanabad massacre in the late 1980s, she
too symbolised the indomitable courage and tenacity of the fighting people
of Jahanabad in the face of brutal feudal violence and state repression.

No less significant was the choice of the moment. In August, fourteen
comrades had been sentenced to life imprisonment under the draconian TADA.
The killing of a bold leader of the masses like Manju at this hour, they
thought, would thoroughly demoralise the masses and rattle the Party
organisation. And they must have also hoped to dampen the spirit of the
impending all-India agricultural labour conference in neighbouring Bhojpur.

They could not be more mistaken. Far from demoralising the masses, Manju's
assassination has only infuriated them. It has produced unprecedented mass
anger in every nook and corner of Arwal and Jahanabad. From her village to
the Party office to the cremation ground, thousands of people thronged all
along the way to say adieu to this fearless fighter. As for the Party, its
resolve has been steeled further and the founding conference of the All
India Agricultural Labour Association two days later went on to become a
huge historic success.

Comrade Manju's martyrdom has served as a new mirror for the people of the
region. It has armed them with a clearer understanding of the raging class
war in Bihar, and helped them decide their own location in this epic battle
between the decadent feudal society and the emerging new democratic society
of the people. The contrast between the matchless courage of ordinary
toiling men and women and the monumental cowardice of the heavily armed
forces of feudal reaction has seldom been as stark.

Manju was a typical representative of the brave new women who have come up
in the course of the last three decades of battle for a new democracy, a new
Bihar. Born in an agricultural labour family, she joined the movement while
still in school, and grew up challenging and rejecting the definitions and
dictates of the old feudal society and discovering herself and her dreams in
the midst of the movement. She went in for an inter-caste marriage of her
own choice, was a caring mother for her three children, but never allowed
domesticity to become fetters for her political life.

Her politics was full of anger against every oppression and discrimination
that women have to suffer in our present society as women. But more
importantly, her politics pulsated with the courage and commitment of a
communist who knew that women could only breathe free in a new society and
hence the fight for women's liberation was inseparable from the battle for
revolutionary social transformation. She was therefore on the forefront of
every struggle against feudal violence and state terror, she fought as
vigorously with students against police brutality, as within the panchayati
system against corruption and anti-poor discrimination. If she was known for
her outspokenness and militancy in the society, she was equally forthright
in putting forward her views inside the Party.

Since its inception, the Ranvir Sena has time and again exposed itself as an
abominable instrument of feudal, patriarchal and communal violence. From
Bathantitola to Bathe and Shankarbigha to Miyanpur, the Sena has killed
hundreds of women, and perpetrated the same kind of unimaginably barbaric
violence on pregnant women as one later came to see in the course of the
anti-Muslim genocide in Modi's Gujarat. But till date no serious effort has
been made by any state institution to stop this barbaric outfit. Even the
national and state women's commissions do not have a single word to say
about the Sena's anti-women violence. In fact, the Bihar Women's Commission
has sought to justify its silence on the plea that Manju's killing is a
'political murder'!

But piercing the sinister silence of the state and the protagonists of
'civil society', the resolve of the democratic people, especially the
toiling masses and the brave new women of Bihar has started rending the air.
Let Comrade Manju's martyrdom prove to be the last nail on the Ranvir Sena's
coffin.


First Conference of  AIALA Concluded:

UNITY OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND TOILING PEASANTS
 WILL FULFIL THE DREAM OF SOCIAL TRANFORMATION

The first Conference of All India Agricultural Labour Association( AIALA)
(Akhil Bhartiya Khet Mazdoor Sabha) concluded in Ara (Bhojpur), Bihar with a
resolve to strengthen the organisation of agricultural labourers and carry
out militant struggles against anti-people-rural poor policies of NDA govt.
at the centre as well as against governments of various hues in different
states. It resolved to intensify struggle to defeat communal fascist
politics and imperialist intervention in the affairs of the country in order
to establish genuine democracy and rule of the masses. The two-day
conference adopted the proposed manifesto and programme of AIALA and passed
six-point resolutions on various issues of importance.

The inaugural session of the Conference started as an open mass session in
the form of a rally on 14 November which was unprecedented in the history of
Bhojpur, in terms of number and surpassed all expectations as almost every
street of Ara was flooded with rallyists with red flags and banners in their
hands.

Ara town was well prepared to receive the rallyists and delegates to the
conference with every road and crossing carried specially erected gates and
whole stretches of roads upto the Ramana Maidan, venue of the rally, were
decorated with banners and flags to welcome the participants. A huge sickle,
symbol of the organised strength of agricultural labour and rural poor, was
also erected at the rally ground just in front of the dias besides the
replica of a more than 20 feet long plow, artistically built with rice husk
and sand.

The rally was addressed by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya
as the main speaker. Comrades Ram Naresh Ram, Malleshwar Rao, Krishna
Adhikari, Kunti Devi, Convenor of All India Kisan Coordination Committee
Rajaram Singh, CPI(ML) MLAs Satyadev Ram and Arun Singh and leader of Lal
Nishan Party (Leninist) in Maharashtra also addressed the rally. Comrade
Rameshwar Prasad, National Convenor of AIALA, conducted the proceedings.

Addressing the rally Comrade Dipankar said that three decades ago Bhojpur
showed the way to the revolutionary peasant uprising of Naxalbari and today
we have assembled here to carry forward that glorious legacy and struggles
of rural poor. CPI(ML) is committed to fulfill the aspirations of people of
Bhojpur who fought valiantly and many of them sacrificed their lives in the
struggle for a revolutionary change.  No power can defeat the organised
strength of oppressed and toiling masses when they rise up to build a new
society. I appeal to strengthen the unity of agricultural labourers and
toiling peasants to fulfil the dream of a complete social transformation",
Com. Dipankar said.

He said that those who came to power with the slogan of "Bhaya, Bhookh,
Bhrashtachar se Mukti" are responsible for the large number of starvation
deaths taking place in the country and corruption rampant everywhere.

"Comrade Manju was killed in a dastardly manner, but Ranvir Sena's motive
was completely foiled by the people of Jahanabad, when whole of Jahanabad
came to participate in the funeral procession of Comrade Manju. Their
participation in large number have proved that anti-dalit, anti-women, and
anti-development Ranvir Sena's days are numbered."

"Today agricultural labourers comprise the largest contingent of forces of
production in the country and there is no doubt that they will organise
themselves in their own organisation. We have also called for unity of
agricultural labourers and peasants. They will  struggle not only for their
livelihood, dignity, equality and rights but also fight against serious
crisis which country is facing today and will strengthen the freedom of the
people of this country", Comrade Dipankar said.

"When comrades like Butan Musahar were fighting with the army and police in
Bhojpur, it were the people of Bhojpur who proved that poor people can win
the battle too. And they proved it again when they sent Comrade Ram Naresh
Ram to Assembly. Only the power of the red flag can restore communal amity
and peace for the masses by defeating outfits like Bajarang Dal, Shiv Sena
and VHP. When VHP gave a call for Ayodhya on Oct 17, our comrades in Uttar
Pradesh decided to hold a rally on real issues of the people on Oct 16. And
this was CPI(ML)'s rally which got an overwhelming response while communal
fascists' assembly was a damp squib on Oct 17. Now is the time to say 'Khali
karo raaste, loktantra ke vaaste, vikaas ke vaaste' to counter propaganda of
fascists and defeat them."
He further said "Twelve years ago Laloo Prasad had not arrested Advani and
sent him to jail when he was holding his rath yatra, latter was merely
stopped and allowed to stay in a govt. guest house. This time Togadia was
treated with greater hospitality by Laloo and he was given a return air
ticket at the cost of state exchequer to go back, while AISA and CPI(ML)
activists who opposed Advani and showed him black flags were arrested under
charges of treason and sent to jail. Laloo regime is responsible for Bihar's
nondevelopment and poor image and this is time to say to Laloo too "khali
karo raaste, lal jhande ke vaaste".
"Economic policies of the governments are forcing youth and students to
large scale unemployment and same people are whipping  up regional passions
and unemployed youth are made to fight with each other" he said commenting
on the sectarian violence in some parts of Bihar and Assam.

"Large scale unemployment and suicides and starvation deaths can only be
stopped by acquiring freedom for the actual forces of the production.
Agricultural labourers are the largest contingent of production forces. And
we started with a target of 10 lakh membership for the khemas, but the
response was such overwhelming that we soon completed 15 lakh membership of
AIALA. This fact has proved that agricultural labourers are earnestly
looking for their own organisation." he said and concluded, "Challenges
before us are plenty. But we inherit a glorious legacy of revolutionary
struggles. Our struggles and our martyrs have time and again proved
oppressors of the people wrong. Coming times will be the time of militant
struggles at various fronts and in various forms and befitting answer will
be given to those who try to disrupt unity of agricultural labourers and
peasants. Befitting reply will be given to communal and other forces of
regression. This is the time to fight resolutely."

The rally also passed a six-point resolution and resolved to organise
agricultural labourers throughout the country as a militant class force.

The cultural teams from different states including Karbi-Anglong, Assam,
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, presented
programmes in the cultural evening after the rally.

The delegate session started in the late evening of 14 November at Comrade
Ramayan Sabhagar (stadium ground) in a huge pandal erected for the purpose,
with the presentation of the report by Comrade Rameshwar Prasad, Chairperson
of AIALA convening body. Before that a number of guests including Bhimrao of
LNP(L), AICCTU General Secretary Swapan Mukherjee, RYA National President
Mithilesh Yadav, AISA President Kavita Krishnan, Incharge of Jan Sanskriti
Manch Ramji Rai and AIPWA National Secretary Saroj Chaube addressed the
delegates and conveyed their greetings of solidarity. This session was
conducted by a nine-member Presidium with Ram Naresh Ram as it's Chairperson
and Krishna Adhikari, Kshitish Biswal, Rabi Kumar Phangcho, Pawan Sharma,
Kunti Devi, Balasundaram, Bangar Rao and Shankar Mitra as members. More than
a thousand delegates and guests, including leaders of various mass
organisations of the Party, from sixteen states took part in this session.

A number of delegates took part in the discussions on the report presented
before the house. The conference included some suggestions that came up
during discussion and unanimously adopted the new programme, manifesto and
constitution of the AIALA. The last session of the Conference, started in
the afternoon of 15 November, elected a 123-member National Council which
included representatives from almost all states. The Council elected a
29-member National Executive which formed a thirteen-member body of National
Office-bearers with Ram Naresh Ram as President, Rameshwar Prasad as the
General Secretary, besides five Vice-Presidents and a six Secretaries.

In the end, Comrade Dipankar congratulated the delegates for successful
conclusion of the conference and said we must unite agricultural labour in
the country as a class, breaking all types of regional and sectional
boundries and launch struggle to democratise the existing land relations
which currently undermines majority, to achieve comprehensive land reforms
and redistribution of land. The glory of the strength of the agricultural
labourers is amply reflected in the attractive and beautiful manner in which
this historic Conference has been organised, he said.


Commentary: ALL INDIA  AGRICULTURAL LABOUR CONFERENCE, ARA, BIHAR

This November-thunder in the flaming fields of Bhojpur, the historic land of
revolutionary peasant uprising which inherited "Naxalbari" and proclaimed
aloud in the days of darkness "Naxalbari zinda hai, Naxalbari nahin mara
hai, Naxalbari nahin marega" (Naxalbari is alive and will never die down),
paves the way for a broader awakening, stronger movement and upsurge of the
rural poor which will certainly prove a nightmare, a final blow, to the
reactionary forces - old and new.

This conference, committed to mobilise and organise the largest contingent
of the fighters for democracy and freedom reasserts that, in contrast to the
anarchist and semi-anarchist groups like MCC or PWG who refuses to analyse
the changed situations, follow the beaten track and get out of track, and as
opposed to the social democrats like CPI and CPI(M) who do recognise the
changes but looking for newer leadership among bourgeois-landlord parties
and for dragging the working class behind them in the name of 'united
front', the CPI(ML) adopts itself to the changed situations and take
concrete revolutionary steps suited to concrete conditions. One may recall
that during the crisis of sixties, the great uprising of the landless-poor
peasantry in Naxalbari, coupled with the clarion call for a "kisan raj" by
the communist revolutionaries, spread like a prairie fire and provided an
unprecedented momentum to the Left and democratic movement throughout the
country. Again, as the ruling class headed towards a fresh crisis in
seventies and lead it to force 'Emergency' Rule, the upsurge of the
landless-poor peasantry in Bhojpur regenerated the hope and confidence not
only in the communist revolutionaries but also in the democratic masses at
large throughout the country. And, in face of the new threats nation faces
today, this emerging class of agricultural and rural labour stands as the
most formidable force to take up the challenges of the day.

This assembly of the representatives of the fifteen lakh strong rural
proletariat and semi-proletariat led by the CPI(ML), the revolutionary party
of the proletariat, upheld the battle cry of our nation today - "Save
Democracy, Save India!". This uprising of the agricultural and rural labour
will definitely boost up the present-day movement of our people for
democracy and self-reliance, to save our beloved motherland from the
clutches of US-domination and from plunder by corrupt-criminal-repressive
raj throughout the country under different shades of governments with BJP at
the helm of affairs in the centre.
This historic conference marks a new milestone in our movement - a forceful
assertion of the rural proletariat and the toiling peasantry to overthrow
the old and new forces of reaction, to strengthen the ongoing course of
advance for land, democracy and freedom.


RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE CONFERENCE

1. This rally being held on the occasion of the founding conference of All
India Agricultural Labour Association pledges to fulfil the yet unrealised
dreams of all the martyrs - Comrades Jauhar, Jagadish (Master Saheb),
Ramayan Ram, Nirmal, Rameshwar, Jiut, Sahto, Sheela, Agni, Lahri and
others -  of revolutionary peasant struggle of Bhojpur.

2. This rally strongly condemns and protests the ongoing attacks of the
feudal-police-criminal nexus on the rural poor, mainly agricultural
labourers, in West Champaran district of Bihar and calls upon the toiling
masses to unitedly resist such barbaric attacks. The rally condemns the RJD
government of Bihar and the BJP-Samata combine for giving patronage to
feudal estates and criminals in this region.

3. This rally strongly condemns the murder of Comrade Manju, CPI(ML) leader,
AIPWA district President and former member of zilla parishad in Jahanabad,
by Ranvir Sena on Nov 10 in a cowardly manner at Arwal. The rally demands
immediate arrest of the killers and stern actions against DM and SP of Arwal
for being responsible for this brutal incident to happen.

4. This rally protests the continuing communal-fascist offensive of the
Sangh Parivar and BJP and calls upon the people to resist this saffron
aggressiveness by intensifying 'Save Democracy, Save India' campaign by
organising wider sections of the masses on their basic issues such as wage,
education, health, potable water, electricity, etc.

5. This rally demands withdrawal of the New Agricultural Policy of the
government which is promoting the interests of the imperialist powers in our
country and compelling the labourers and farmers to resort to suicides and
face starvation deaths. The rally demands of the government of India to quit
WTO.

6. Championing the glorious anti-imperialist legacy of heroic peasant
rebellions and militant people's struggles of Bhojpur, this rally strongly
protests the increasing imperialist attacks, mainly by America, on the
people of the Third World. The rally denounces the BJP-led NDA government
for adopting pro-American positions on every issue of national importance.


CPI(ML) CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN ASSAM AND BIHAR
 CALL FOR MAINTAINING AMITY

(handout issued by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya at press
conference held at Patna on 17 November 2003)

CPI(ML) expresses grave concern over the recent spate of incidents of
parochial frenzy and sectarian violence in parts of Bihar and Assam.
Considerable sections of people in both Assam and Bihar who are forced to go
out of their own states in search of education and employment are now
haunted by a growing spectre of insecurity. We call upon the central and
state governments of Assam and Bihar to guarantee adequate security to
Bihari migrants and Assamese passengers passing through Bihar. We also
appeal to the people of both the states to maintain calm and exercise
restraint in the face of these irresponsible acts of mutual provocation.

 CPI(ML) units of both the states are committed to resist all expressions of
sectarian violence and defend the basic democratic rights of, and amity
between, the people of the two states. In Assam, CPI(ML) has categorically
condemned the anti-Bihari threats and called upon the progressive forces in
the Assamese society and within the tribal autonomy movements to stand by
the labouring people from Bihar.

Factors like acute unemployment and growing economic insecurity lie at the
root of this crisis and the need of the hour therefore is a united and
powerful struggle against the central and state governments and their
unemployment-generating policies. CPI(ML) appeals to the students and
unemployed youth in both Bihar and Assam to stop fratricidal violence and
hatred and instead direct their anger and agitation against the NDA
government at the centre and the Congress government in Assam and
RJD-Congress coalition government in Bihar. Recruitment examinations for
all-India services must be held in a decentralised manner so that applicants
need not run from one state to another to appear in these tests.

For a state like Bihar which has always played such a central role in
national affairs and whose people have the most extensive economic  and
educational ties with the rest of the country, sectarian regionalism can
only be a recipe for disaster. It is important to note that the same forces
which are responsible for the present economic backwardness of Bihar and
growing unemployment in the entire country are busy stoking the fire of ugly
regionalism and sectarian violence. The students and other democratic forces
of Bihar who have been waging heroic struggles against all-pervasive
corruption, criminalisation and repression must foil this diversionary ploy
and must not let their energy to be wasted and image discredited in acts of
sectarian hatred and violence.


COMRADE MANJU'S MURDER CONDEMNED WIDELY

Hundreds of CPI(ML) and AIPWA activists marched to Parliament Street on Nov
12 to protest against the brutal, blatant and dastardly killing of Comrade
Manju. Protesters sent a memorandum to the Governor of Bihar demanding
immediate arrest of the killers; effective implementation of ban on Ranvir
Sena; all weapons of the Ranvir Sena be seized and licensed arms be provided
to the rural poor for self defence; thorough investigation of links between
the Sena and Political Parties including State Congress chief Ramjatan Sinha
and RJD Minister Akhilesh Singh; and district Administration of Arwal be
taken to task for dereliction of duty and the DM and SP be punished with
suspension.

Internationally renowned sociologist in US  James Petras has sent his
message of solidarity and condemnation and expressed his support in Party's
struggle to bring the  killers of manju to justice. Farooq Tariq, General
Secretary of Labour Party, Pakistan, has also condemned the incident.


SEMINAR ON RIGHT TO STRIKE

A Seminar on -Right to Strike and Disinvestment-was organised by Karnataka
Labour Representatives Forum at Bangalore on 16 November. The seminar was
addressed by CC member of CPI(ML) Shankar on behalf of AICCTU along with the
state leaders of CITU, AITUC and HMKP. Shankar stressed the need to go for
waves of all-India strikes to nullify the effects of SC judgement rather
than going for reviews and petitions.


CONVENTION AGAINST OIL SECTOR PRIVATISATION

An all India Convention was held at Guwahati, Assam on 16 Nov against
Privatisation of Oil Sector PSUs by NEROWCC which decided to hold a
nationwide 24-hour strike in oil sector on 16 December. Nationwide dharnas
will also be held on 2 December on the same issue. Comrade Subhash Sen,
National Secretary of AICCTU and General Secretary of NEROWCC Biren Kalita
also addressed the convention.


PROTESTS IN ANDAMANS

The Andaman and Nikobar State unit of CPI(ML) held a day-long agitational
programmes all over the island on Nov 8 to emphasise on a 10-point charter
of demands. A day-long dharnas were held at Port Blair, Campbell Bay Bazaar
in South Andaman, and Diglipur Bazaar in the North. A procession was also
held at Rangat Bazaar in Central  Andaman. Party unit in Andamans has
demanded for an elected legislative Assembly in the Islands; a tribal
council in Nikobar islands; effective control over land of local
inhabitants; land reforms; remunerative prices for indigenous farm products;
employment generating schemes and policies and complete halt to policies of
liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, etc.


CPI(ML) DEMANDS ARREST OF JUDEO

CPI(ML) demands immediate arrest and prosecution of the Union Environment
Minister Dilip Singh Judeo for taking bribe from the representative of an
Australian company for mining lease in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Party has
described this as 'Tehlka 2003' and 'yet another damning exposure of the
BJP-led NDA government'.


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