[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update Vol.. 6 No . 49 3 - 9 December 2003

ML Update
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  6          No. 49         3-9 Dec 2003


CAT-Scanning the CAT-Scam:
'Second Generation' Reforms, 'Second Generation' Scams

>From fake stamp papers to leaked question papers, the winter seems to be
hotting up with a string of 'original' scams. While a probe is on to trace
the Telgi trail from Karnataka to Maharashtra and beyond, the government has
made it clear that deeds signed on fake stamp papers would continue to
remain fully legal and authentic. The difference between the original and
the fake has clearly been all but obliterated. The leaked question papers of
the Common Admission Test have of course led to a cancellation of the
present test causing tremendous inconvenience to most of the examinees. But
here again the government cannot dare to cancel degrees with retrospective
effect. From management to medicine, the fakes will continue to coexist in
every realm with their legitimate counterparts.

While the CAT-scam broke out in Delhi, its origin has been traced in Bihar.
In an irony of history, Nalanda district, which was one of the foremost
centres of learning during the Buddhist era, and which still attracts
tourists from all over the world to see the relics of the grand sixth
century university, has turned out to be the home of the kingpin of the
CAT-scam. Armed with fake degrees and 'real connections', this master
scamster from Nalanda had built up a huge financial empire by selling
lucrative admissions to prestigious institutes and highly paid services.
Having already displayed such remarkable 'enterprise', of late he had also
started dispensing 'development' in the district.

Newspapers in Bihar are full of extensive reports of this latest scam and
more and more details about the scamster's political connections and
ambitions are surfacing everyday. If he had strong links with the top brass
of the Samta Party in Bihar and Delhi, he was reportedly also a claimant for
an RJD ticket for the Nalanda constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election.
For the intelligentsia and unemployed youth of Bihar, already angry over the
continuing spate of killings of Bihari workers in Assam and the harassment
suffered by Bihari examinees, this CAT scam has come as an insult added to
injury. If Bihari labour feels increasingly insecure, Bihari talent feels
demoralized and humiliated.

We must however be able to move beyond regional stereotypes to see these
scams as an emerging attribute of the expanding market economy, especially
the bulging service sector. Alongside corrupt ministers and bureaucrats, we
now have a new generation of enterprising scamsters. Harshad Mehtas, Ketan
Parikhs, Abdul Karim Telgis and Ranjit Singhs typify a new breed of private
entrepreneurship in Indian economy. But here too the state-market synergy is
as much a fact of life as in other fields of the economy. The scam-market
does not operate in a vacuum; it flourishes under the protection and
sponsorship of the state.

And this is not an aberration. Rather this is the emerging face of state
policy. What we see is a causal relation - second generation reforms
spawning a string of second generation scams. Ranjit Singh began his
operation at around the same time when Manmohan Singh became notorious as
the author of the new economic policy of liberalization, privatization and
globalization. In his own way Ranjit 'anticipated' the extension of this new
policy regime to the sphere of education. He mastered the art of selling and
purchasing question papers and degrees, and this particular branch of
commerce came to thrive in an environment of growing commercialisation of
education.

The governments and courts today have all legalized capitation fee colleges
and institutions where seats are available for a hefty price. Ranjit only
made sure that question papers too were available in the grey market of
education. In other words, from commercialisation of education he took the
next 'logical' step to super-commercialisation of examinations!

Only a thin line separates success and crime in this marketplace. It is only
when its roots are exposed that a sensational success becomes a celebrated
crime. But then crime seldom means punishment. In the shadowy world of
capital and commerce, today's crime is more likely to define tomorrow's law.


CPI(ML) Observed 'Mazdoor Hatya Virodhi Diwas' in Bihar and Assam

To protest the series of brutal killings of Bihari labourers in Assam,
CPI(ML) units in Assam and Bihar observed Nov 29 as 'Mazdoor Hatya Virodhi
Diwas' (anti - labourers killing day) and held several protests at various
centers in two states. Party has demanded immediate halt to these killings
and called upon the people of both the states to foil the diversionary
designs of BJP-Congress to fan up regional violence in Assam and Bihar and
sidetrack the real issues of the people.

A central delegation of the Party visited Tinsukia, one of the most affected
areas by recent anti-Bihari violence on Nov 29. While Bihar unit of the
Party organised protest programmes in almost all the districts of Bihar and
appealed to the people to reiterate their resolve of forging a powerful
unity of the people of Assam and Bihar and intensify the united struggle
against the government at the centre and the governments in Bihar and Assam.

The CPI(ML) holds both BJP and the Congress equally responsible for the
continued fanning up of regional passions and violence in Assam and Bihar
and notes that the Sangh Parivar outfits had aggravated the situation
through provocative statements and calls. Party condemned the Congress govt.
in Assam for failing to protect the lives of the migrant labourers in Assam.

The Party came down heavily on the Laloo-Rabri government of Bihar for its
shameless pro-Congress attitude and said that even during Laloo's visit to
Guwahati, Bihari labourers were massacred, but, Laloo did not utter even a
single word against the Congress government of Assam. CPI(ML) also strongly
condemned the Assam Govt. for its sheer insensitivity as the latter was busy
to hold local bodies elections in Tinsukia on December 1, despite an
atmosphere of fear and violence.

Meanwhile, AISA and RYA have decided to hold a mass convention in Patna on
December 5 on this issue which will be addressed by CPI(ML) General
Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and MP Dr. Jayant Rongpi. AISA and RYA have
taken up several protest programmes in Bihar and Assam for mobilising public
opinion against the dubious diversionary tactics of BJP and Congress with
the slogan of "No to regional chauvinism, fight for employment and
democracy".


A Central team visited Assam:

A 5-member team of CPI(ML) comprising General Secretary of All India
Agriculture Labour Association Rameshwar Prashad, Polit Bureau member of the
CPI(ML) Rubul Sarma, Member of Parliament Jayanta Rongpi, Bihar Pradesh Khet
Mazdoor Sabha leader Vidyanand Vikal and AICCTU leader Subhas Sen visited
Tinsukia district, one of the worst affected areas in Assam. This team
visited relief camps in Tinsukia and addressed a Mazdoor Ekta sabha
(workers' unity rally) on 29 Nov.

The team found that the administration did not take any prior step to
protect Hindi speaking citizens, in spite of such demands by the people
themselves in some areas. The administration created a free environment for
killing and looting. In Jutlibary under Dumduma PS, people asked for help
from the army camp, they were refused by respective personnel saying that no
instructions are given them for the same. Moreover, in Dimaruguri Gaon
Panchayat, people requested the GP president to help them, he did not take
any initiative and finally on 20 Nov, looting and burning of houses
including torture on 4 women took place in front of the house of the GP
president. Rather, many people who tried to help Bihari people and protected
them were arrested. CPI(ML) therefore demands a judicial enquiry into the
matter and arrest of culprits and release of innocents who have been
arrested.

The team held Congress govt.of Assam responsible for these incidents of
violence. The Chief Minister of Assam even supported 17th November Assam
Bandh and therefore the Party demands resignation of Tarun Gogoi who is also
in-charge of Home Ministry and internal security. The team called upon the
people to maintain peace and unity.

The CPI(ML) has condemned the BJP, RSS and other anti-people forces who are
trying to exploit the situation for their vested ends. It also condemned
Samata Party which is demanding President's Rule in Assam. CPIML opposes any
such conspiracy for imposing central rule in Assam.

The Party appeals to the people to come forward against such tactics of
divide and rule and wrong policies of the Govt that create unemployment and
social insecurity.


Memoramdum to Union Minister of State for Home:

A CPI(ML) delegation handed over a memorandum to the Union Minister of State
for Home Swami Chinmayanand when he visited  Guwahati on Nov 22 emphasising
following points:

1. The tension prevails due to wrong enrollment policy of the Central
Government. So we demand to declare a separate enrollment policy for
North-East Region immediately by the Central Government.

2. The incidents of attack on train passengers in some stations of Bihar and
killing of innocent Biharis in Assam, both are shameful and we vehemently
condemn these incidents.

3. We demand to provide shelter, food, medicines and other necessary relief
to the victimised people who have fled or lost their home and properties.
Adequate compensations must also be granted to the families of deceased
killed in different incidents.

4. We have a bitter experience of atrocities on innocent people by the Army
in the name of combating terrorism and violence. So we urge upon you to
ensure that no such type of harassments would be repeated again in the
state.


3rd Anniversary of New State:
Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha Celebrates?

The Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha celebrated its third anniversary of the formation
of the new Jharkhand state recently. When the representatives of the people
in the govt. as well as in the opposition and high-ups in the bureaucracy
were having the pleasure of "eat, drink and be merry" at the cost of public
exchequer to celebrate the completion of three years of the newly formed
state, at the same time, sadly enough, nearly half of the working population
of Jharkhand was still toiling in farms, brick-kilns, etc. under semi-slave
and semi-bonded conditions in other states in very humiliating conditions.

During these celebrations the Governor of the state at least accepted the
fact that even after 56 years of independence (so after three years of the
formation of the new state) there has been no change in the fate of
adivasis, dalits and the poor in the state. He, however, remained silent
over the fact that the BJP and it's lackeys have established a complete
'Bhay-Bhookh-Bhrashtachar raj' in Jharkhand, following the footsteps of
their leaders in the centre. And the Treasury benches in the state Assembly
simply refused to listen to the highly appreciated and most constructive
ideas for a thoroughgoing long-term-time-bound-phasewise democratic reforms
in the state. These were put forth, time and again, by the CPI(ML) member in
the state Assembly who, in fact, became the representative voice of the
entire opposition inside the state Assembly as well as of the common people
of the state. The government of the state not only paid a deaf ear but also
resorted to all sorts of antidemocratic and repressive measures including
killing of several CPI(ML) leaders, false allegations and framing them under
false cases and forcibly sending them behind bars in a bid to silence the
voices of people's opposition.

This Assembly will indeed be remembered for not taking its members into
confidence and for making a mockery of the commitments made by the
government itself. It will also be remembered for devoting no time to attend
the Jharkhandi people's agenda, but more importantly, for the heightened
nakedness of the power-struggle, that involved bitter exchange of charges
and countercharges of corruption between CM and his 'own' colleagues.
Moreover, for the first time in the history of Parliamentary system in
India, the Speaker of the house while remaining in the chair organised a
coup-de-etate against the Chief Minister. Speaker himself being on the top
in the list of aspirants for the Chief Ministership. Neither the Chair nor
the BJP-led Treasury Benches cared a straw for this gross abuse of the
highly proclaimed dignity of the Chair and the House as envisaged by the
parliamentary democracy in India.

The people of Jharkhand demanded, and still rightfully demand, a white paper
by the BJP govt. for its shameful abuse of this institution and gross misuse
of political power that continues to deprive crores of Jharkhandis of their
rights. This people's demand hauntingly reverberates even amidst the noise
made by fun-fare on the occasion of the third anniversary of the new state.


Increasing Repression on CPI(ML) Activists in Palamou in Jharkhand

Palamou and Garhwa districts in Jharkhand have witnessed an increase in
attacks by mafia-corrupt politician-police nexus over the CPI(ML). With
increase in party's political clout local level frictions are resulting in
dozens of party cadres being implicated in false cases. The police and
administration, generally, takes sides with the mafia and acts at the
dictates of the ruling elites of the area. CPI(ML) is conducting people's
campaign against misuse of funds and corruption in various developmental
schemes as well as appropriation of the land by the ministers and MLAs in
the area. This has subjected our party leaders and activists to face the
wrath of mafia-middlemen-politician nexus and many maley leaders, including
Dr. B N Singh, Kalicharan Mehta and Laxman Singh, have been sent to jail
after framing them in various false cases.

In Chainpur PS area of Palamou, Party activists are continuously braving
police repression. Arrests of activists and night raids in villages of our
support where police beat-up poor people, not sparing even women, and
looting of belonging is common. Many Party workers in Dandar and Sarauna
villages of Panki PS are facing arrests in false cases.

Party has launched a mass political campaign against such high-handedness. A
dharna was held at Palamou district headquarter on Nov 28 to demand the
suspension of thana incharge of Chainpur and to stop the repression let
loose on party cadres. Again on Dec 1 a dharna was held at the same place to
reiterate above demands as well as to demand withdrawal of cases against
party activists, to maintain quality in development works, guarantee of
minimum wages and employment, and for intensification of drought relief
work.

A plan, to raise the movement to a higher level, has been chalked out for
mass political campaign throughout the region which will culminate into
massive marches at District/Sub-Divisional headquarters.


Ghotala-hi-Ghotala

Normally, election-time signifies with extensive mis-use of power and use of
money and muscle power by the ruling parties and politicians. This time it
was no exception. No less a person than the Chief Election Commissioner
himself observed that the shrewed politicians are systematically abusing the
system and this tendency of treachery is increasing day by day. (Bhasha, Nov
30).

Yet, this time, the scam-scandal-exposure series pushed all other 'Election
syndromes' to the back seat. Dilip Singh Judeo, a BJP Cabinet Minister in
the centre had to resign on charges of corruption. BJP leadership seemed to
be proud to project this 'hero' as their 'star campaigner'. This followed
'CAT-dhamaka' that killed even feeble hopes of young aspirants; 78 crores
graft case causing trusted BJP ally and former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash
Singh Badal and his MP son Sukhbir Singh to land in jail; and  biggest of
them all, the story of Telgi's fake stamp paper scam reaching in global
spans and sending Mumbai's Police Commissioner R S Sharma, within barely 24
hours of his retirement, behind bars under Maharashtra Control of Organised
Crime Act (MCOCA). Amidst all these, a Hindi daily 'Hindustan' brought
another story. A story of brutal murder of an engineer, Satyendra Kumar
Singh, attached to National Highways Authority, Bihar, as he dared to write
to the Prime Minister exposing the systemic corruption related to much hyped
"Golden Quadrangle Project". The most alarming fact of this story is that
the engineer had requested in his letter to PM not to disclose his name.
Though no action was taken to address the complaint on corruption, the name
of the complainant was blatantly exposed resulting in his murder - alleges
his brother. This story has again brought the PMO under big question.  True
to it's role in safeguarding Scam-Stars!

One may sympathise with the CEC for his concern of the system, but one
cannot shy away from the fact that all these are essentially the by-products
of the policies, economic policy in particular, in the name of globalisation
adopted by our government. It has reached to its extreme and now certainly
is the time for the entire nation to rise up.


Can Mr. George Clean His Own Face?

November 30, the day before the poll, campaigning was over as per EC-code.
Suddenly, the citizens of East Delhi found a crowd of "Black cats"
surrounded by TV-cameras and media-persons. Soon, the face of our defence
Minister Fernandes appeared with a broom in his hand. Whether this amounts
to violation of EC-code or not is a different matter. But George is at your
back and call to clean your lanes, to perform the 'MCD-duty'. Yet, the
Delhites call it a politics of rubbish. "Mr. Fernandes would be well advised
to clean up his own act before venturing out to the garbage dumps" -
comments Hindustan Times in its editorial of 2 December 2003. It added, "Its
strange that Defence Minister George Fernandes should be raiding the MCD's
brooms cupboard to cleanup his neighbour's backyard, even as the pile on his
own lies ignored." The dirt being flung at him on the Coffin-gate issue and
"the Tehlka Scandal continues to smudge his crumpled kurta" and it is yet to
be fully clear as to where the CAT-scam, originated from George's
constituency, would chase him and his party colleagues.

The garbage dumps heaped over George Fernandes and his masters in BJP are
bound to turn them into a heap of scrap.


Two-Day UP State Party School in Gorakhpur

A state level Party School was held in Gorakhpur on November 21-22 in which
about 125 selected members from the state took part. The school discussed on
three subjects, viz. (1) Present Political Situation and Party Organisation;
(2) Cultural Nationalism of RSS; and (3) On the Question of Class and Caste,
through papers presented by Comrades Akhilendra Pratap Singh, Pranay Krishna
and Lal Bahadur Singh respectively. The School was held in three sessions.
Each session followed lively discussions with interesting question-answer
sessions as participants discussed various questions facing them in day to
day practice.

The School began after paying sincere tributes to Comrade R N Upadhyay who
breathed his last on November 18.

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