[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update Vol. 6 No. 52 24-31 Dec 2003

ML Update
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  6 No. 52     24-31 Dec 2003


ROTTEN LIES, STATE ILLUSIONS AND FRESH HOPES

The year 2003 would surely be remembered for long for some of the most
rotten lies of modern times. First Iraq was ravaged in the name of
destroying weapons of mass destruction. Then Iraq was occupied in the name
of establishing democracy and transferring power to the Iraqis. And now when
Saddam Hussein has been traced without any hint yet of those dreaded weapons
of mass destruction, we are told he would be prosecuted for human rights
violations! Meanwhile, we have been told that the informant who ratted on
Saddam's movements was not eligible for the promised $25 million reward for
he did not 'pinpoint the exact location'!

But for all their tireless dishing out of lies, Bush and Blair know very
well that they have been caught lying. Each of their lies has been detected
and exposed. The huge anti-war marches that shook every corner of the world
made it amply clear that the emperor had no clothes on. With the lie machine
failing to deliver, the emperor had to fall back on his ultimate war
machine, and having bulldozed its way to Baghdad now the war machine too is
reported to be developing snags. The smart war is turning messier with every
passing day.
Indeed, the guerrilla resistance in Iraq has been the best news for the
anti-imperialist camp in years. And with Saddam in their custody, the
Americans will now learn that the resistance in Iraq is no handiwork of a
group of fugitive Saddam loyalists. In invading and occupying Iraq, the US
has actually managed to ignite a sleeping volcano and invite all-out
resistance. If the developments since May are any indication, America's
mischievous attempts to provoke a Shia backlash against Saddam's 'Sunni
dictatorship' may only end up stoking the fire of Iraqi nationalism and Arab
resistance.

Cornered by a growing resistance which has already claimed more than five
hundred American and allied lives, the Bush administration now hopes to seek
vindication and solace in the surprising arrest of Saddam Hussein. But a
Saddam in US custody is liable to prove a much bigger burden for the US than
a fugitive Saddam in an Iraqi bunker. By humiliating and victimizing Saddam
Hussein the US will only ensure that he becomes a hallowed martyr in Arab
memory. Even the Iraqi compradors may now feel emboldened to ask their
American 'guests' not to 'overstay' in Iraq!

If Saddam's arrest is the big prize for Bush to end his last pre-election
year, back in India, the Sangh parivar too is basking in the glory of some
very comforting election victories won in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Chhattisgarh. The year had given the Parivar many anxious moments with
internal bickerings coming to the fore, the UP applecart being upset with
the alliance with the BSP turning sour, and the legal system at times
threatening to penalize at least some of the Parivar people for some of
their accumulated sins. But now the Sangh expects a change in the situation
with these smart victories. Fresh coats of paint are being applied on the
grand deception called the NDA and its so-called National Agenda of
Governance. The illusion of the BJP doling out development from its promised
temple in Ayodhya is being sought to be marketed with renewed fanfare.

But all over the world, the rotten lies and stale illusions of yesteryear
have begun to get    exposed. Hope is marching again in a million steps. In
many third world countries, the advancing contingents of the people have
successfully put repressive regimes on notice. Some have already been
overthrown. How long can India remain safe for the American imperialists and
their trusted 'swadeshi' collaborators?

Let us welcome 2004 with new hopes and a renewed resolve to teach our
enemies a lasting lesson.


COMRADE VM's FIFTH MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED

Various programmes were held at different centers throughout the country on
the Fifth Memorial Day of Comrade Vinod Mishra which was commemorated as
Pledge Taking Day on Dec 18.

*Seminar in Delhi

In Delhi, a seminar was organised at the Gandhi Peace Foundation by the
State Committee of the CPI(ML) on 'The present political situation and the
challenges of strengthening the Left'. The seminar was addressed by CPI(ML)
General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, veteran Marxist thinker Prof.
Randhir Singh, eminent journalists Sukumar Muralidharan and Praful Bidwai
and Prof. Jayati Ghosh. Addressing the seminar, Comrade Dipankar said that
while the Congress had relied on soft Hindutva in the recent polls, the BJP
had beaten them by posing as champions of 'development'. But any speculation
of a rift between the Hindutva line and that of 'development' within the BJP
was sheer naivete. Not only was the BJP committed to communalising the three
states where it has won, its so-called 'development' only means implementing
the agenda of the elite rather than of the common people. Praful Bidwai
spoke about the need to view issues of communalism, nuclearisation and
imperialism in tandem rather than in isolation. He said that in comparison
with the consolidation of the right-wing forces, the efforts of the Left for
unity still left much to be desired. Jayati Ghosh said that a significant
section of people had come to accept the fact that there would be a price on
water, electricity and health; there was a need to sensitise society to the
fact that these are basic rights, not commodities. Randhir Singh said that
the assault of capitalism called for a renewed assertion of the Left in
favour of socialism. Those present at the meeting pledged to carry forward
Comrade VM's legacy of strengthening the movement against imperialism and
communal fascism.

*Pledge-taking meeting and cadre conventions in Bihar
AISA and RYA jointly organised a massive Pledge-taking meeting at Gandhi
Maidan in Patna in the memory of Comrade Vinod Mishra. Comrade Ramnaresh
Ram, Polit Bureau member of the Party and leader of CPI(ML) legislature
group in Bihar, addressed the meeting as the main speaker and said that a
new Bihar can only be built by going forward on the path shown by Comrade VM
to intensify the movement for democracy and social transformation. Neither
the RJD nor the NDA-allies is capable of creating a new Bihar. Ramjatan
Sharma, CPI(ML) State Secretary said today's students and youth must learn
from the experiences of 1974 movement and must now combine their struggles
with those of rural poor and toiling masses. He also recalled the mass
protests held against fake police encounters in Ashiana Nagar in Patna
exactly a year back and called for an exemplary movement against corrupt
politician-police-criminal nexus in Bihar. The meeting was also addressed by
Saroj Chaube, KD Yadav, Kamlesh Sharma, Abhyuday and Paramhans Kumar among
others. Cadre conventions were organised at all block headquarters of
Bhojpur and Paliganj, Masaurhi, Dhanarua and Lakhana in Patna, while
district level cadre meets were held in Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Rohtas and
Bhagalpur. A pledge-taking meet was held in Kachna of Katihar. Programmes
were also held in other districts.

*In UP, Party classes and cadre meets were organised at all the places
including Lucknow.

*'Mazdoor Adhikar Divas' Observed in Assam
'Mazdoor Adhikar Divas' was observed in Assam on 18 December during which a
procession was held in Guwahati from the Railway Station covering major
areas of the city. Nearly 1500 workers and rural labourers from different
districts of Assam participated in it. Thereafter a mass meeting was held.
The meeting took an oath to further intensify the struggle of tea workers,
rural poor, women, youth and students and thus to strengthen the Party. Two
memoranda, one each from Sodou Asom Gramin Shramik Santha and Asom Sangrami
Chah Shramik Sangha, were also sent to the Chief Minister, Assam. The
meeting also demanded a ban Togadia's proposed Assam visit and called upon
the people to make success the Nagaon bandh called by the party to oppose
his Nagaon visit. Subhas Sen, Kanaklata Dutta, Loknath Goswami (Jan
Sanskritik Parishad), Bibek Das (ASCSS), Rabin Goswami (Gramin Shramik
Santha) and CPI(ML) State Secretary Rubul Sarma addressed the gathering.


AISA NATIONAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDED

December 15-16, Kolkata. For two days, students from all over the country
relived the memory of the glorious student movement of the 70s in the
National Conference of All India Students Association and declared- We Are
Not Fodder For Divisive Fascists, We Are The Makers Of A Better Tomorrow And
A New India!

They marched from Howrah and Sealdah stations to College Square, scene of
many historic student actions of the 70s, where a rally was held as
inaugural ceremony. The mass meeting was followed by a seminar at the
Derozio Hall, Presidency College, on the 'Role of Students in the Struggle
Against Fascism'.

On the 16th, around 450 delegates, from UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Assam,
Jharkhand, Tripura, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, Karnataka,
Kerala, Pondicherry, Orissa as well as districts of West Bengal, gathered at
the 'Chandrashekhar Hall' at the Salt Lake Stadium, where the dais was named
after Rachel Corrie, the 23 year-old American woman who had been killed by
the Israeli army while defending the Palestinian cause. The delegate session
was preceded by a ceremony honouring the martyrs of the student movement. At
a memorial to the martyrs, a flag was hoisted by Comrade Partha Ghosh,
founder of the All Bengal Students Association and CC Member, CPI(ML), while
students raised slogans promising to carry forward the struggles of Bhagat
Singh, Ashu Majumdar and Chandrashekhar.

  The conference was marked by the participation of women delegates, whose
number was significantly higher than in previous conferences. The Conference
was also enlivened by energetic revolutionary songs in many languages by
activists from various states, in particular cultural teams from Delhi and
Hirawal from Patna, which presented a play - 'Ram Ram Gol Gol'.

The Conference elected a National Council of 61 members and an Executive of
21. Kavita Krishnan and Sunil Yadav were re-elected as President and General
Secretary, Indiresh Maikhuri, Balindra Saikia and Rajesh Sachan as
Vice-Presidents, Ravi Rai, Abhyuday and Manish as Secretaries and Srikant as
Propaganda Secretary.

Resolving to launch a nationwide movement against the policies of
privatisation and saffronisation of education, the Conference called upon
people to expose the Sangh's gameplan of getting a mandate in 3 states in
the name of development, only to impose its saffron agenda surreptitiously
appealed to students to defeat the forces of imperialism and communal
fascism, and build a united struggle for a new and better India.


IMPRESSIVE MARCH TO THE SECRETARIAT IN KOLKATA

They came in thousands, they came from all parts of the state. The rural
poor, urban toilers and industrial workers marched together with students,
housewives and other sections of the population under the banner of CPI(ML)
on 22 December to press for their long standing demands. Well-decorated
processions accompanied by tableaus  started out from Howrah and Sealdah
stations and converged at Rani Rashmoni Road in Esplanade. Addressing the
mass meeting, State Secretary and Politbureau member Kartick Pal called upon
the rallyists and the masses of West Bengal to carry the movement to newer
heights. The meeting was also addressed by Party Central Committee member
and AICCTU Gen Sec Swapan Mukherjee, senior State Committee members Ajit
Das, Biman Biswas and Shankar Das. Comrade Partha Ghosh, Central Committee
member, presided over the meeting.

The rally demanded the immediately removal of health minister of West Bengal
Suryakanta Mishra who was responsible for collapse of the health system,
reopening of closed factories and tea estates, release of revised BPL list
and issue of cards without delay, withdrawal of enhanced electricity
tariffs, hospital charges and fees in educational institutions, revoking of
restrictions on processions and mass meetings, no  imposition of fresh taxes
through panchayat bodies, and enacting and enforcement of  comprehensive
welfare legislation for agricultural labourers in the state.

The Secretariat March was organised at the head of a continuing campaign
highlighting the grievances and demands of the masses. Thus on 10 December
mass deputations were organised at block offices by members of All India
Agrarian Labour Organisation. Nearly 40 such demonstrations were held
throughout West Bengal on the same day. A militant programme of action was
declared at the meeting including : Sit in demonstration in Esplanade
demanding removal of health minister on 15 January,  gherao of North Bengal
Development Council on 16 February to press for the tea plantation workers'
rights, gherao of DM offices and BDO offices in every district on 25
February 2004 to demand the release of revised BPL list and issuing of
cards, and a 24 hour Bengal Bandh in March 2004 if the demands raised in the
meeting are not met.


"SAMJIK NYAY ABHIYAN" LAUNCHED IN  UP

Convened by Adivasi Vanvasi Mahasabha, a "Social Justice Conference" was
held in Lucknow on 14 December. Several dalit intellectuals, political
leaders, representatives of minority and backward social organisations,
senior administrative and police officials and social activists participated
in it. The convention demanded that the Mulayam government of UP constitute
a "Social Justice Commission", award the benefits of reservation to the
extremely backward and tribal communities who are deprived of it till date,
and introduce reservations in the private sector.

The conference was addressed by Comrade Akhilendra Pratap Singh, UP State
Secretary of CPI(ML), Ashok Kumar, Assistant Editor of Samkalin Lokyuddha,
SR Darapuri, IG of police, writer Shivmurti, Prof. JP Mishra of Giri
Institute, Naimullah Ansari of Momin Conference, administrative officials JP
Arya and RD Pal, Adivasi Vanvasi Mahasabha leader Rajendra Vanvasi, Kharwar
Mahasabha leader Ravindra Kharwar, Gore Mahasabha leader Ramlakhan Singh
Gore, Eklavya Sena leader Ashok Nishadh and others. The conference was
conducted by Dr. Brij Bihari, editor of Dalit Asia Today.

Speakers said that the BSP experiment of capturing political power without a
social movement to liberate dalits has failed. New experiments are necessary
and for this Marxists, Lohiaites and true Ambedkarites must unite and bring
the dalit discourse out of the confines of the Poona Pact. While the
policies of UP govt. continued to undermine poor and dalits during
Mayawati's tenure, nothing better is expected from the current regime of
Mulayam Singh. It was felt that all dalit, adivasi, extremely backward and
other toiling sections of society must come forward on a common platform and
unite their stuggles with the ongoing movement  for the democratisation of
the society.

The conference launched a Samajik Nyay Abhiyan (Social Justice Campaign),
forming a convening body of 31 members from various social organisations. SR
Darapuri was elected Convener. It was decided to submit a charter to the
chief minister, of which the main demands would include awarding ST status
to Vanvasis, Koles, Gores, Kharwar and others and SC status to
Bengali-speaking Namoshudras in the Terai region.


2ND ASSAM STATE CONFERENCE OF  AICCTU

The two-day 2nd Assam State Conference of AICCTU was held in Guwahati on Dec
19-20.  The open Session of the conference was addressed by Rubul Sarma,
State Secy of CPI(ML), RN Thakur, National Secy of AICCTU, Kanaklata Dutta
from AIPWA as well as representatives from AITUC, UTUC (LS), Oil India
Workers Union, Assam State Fertilizer Workers Union. The Conference elected
a 15-member State Executive with Biren Kalita as President, Phanindra K
Barman as Working President and Subhas Sen as Secretary.

The conference adopted several resolutions that included demands to take
immediate steps to stop starvation deaths of tea workers, ensure security of
leaders of office bearers of Sadou Asom Gramin Santha of Barpeta district
and immediate arrest  of the goons who threatened to kill them.,
condemnation of the repression of school teachers at Dispur, to revoke the
Electricity Act, 2003, to condemn the central govt.'s decision to abolish
51,000 posts of central govt employees, and to intensify the movement of
rural workers and all unorganised sector workers. The conference considered
the steps taken by the Bhutan Govt. as an internal affair to protect its
sovereignty and apprehended that the entry of Indian Army into that country
will threaten anew the sovereignty of Bhutan.


B R I E F S

? On Dec 18, hundreds of agricultural labourers and poor peasants in
Mainatand block of Champaran burnt the kachehari  of an absentee landlord
Markandey Pandey who  lives in UP and illegally holds nearly 600 acres of
land in Champaran. Earlier landless agri. workers had seized a piece of land
under his possession braving many incidents of killings and police firing.

? Ghazipur unit of the Party held a protest march and mass meeting at
Banjaripur on Dec 12 against a local strongman Mahendra Yadav who gets
protection from many ruling politicians. He had engineered an attack on a
CPI(ML) team on Nov 25 which went there to investigate an incident of attack
on adivasis by him.

? RYA burnt the effigy of Prime Minister in Gwalior on Dec 15 to protest the
increasing unemployment. A cadre meet, addressed by CCM Prabhat Kumar, was
held by local Party unit on Dec 22 which resolved to launch struggle for
employment and basic amenities.
People's Ire against Murder and Police Firing

The police opened indiscriminate firing on a massive demonstration at
Bhurkunda thana on Dec 11 resulting in one dead and dozens injured.  An
innocent child was murdered after kidnapping  in Bhurkunda thana area of
Hazaribagh in Jharkhand on Dec 5. His mutilated body was found four days
later. Despite repeated requests police remained idle and insensitive to
this ghastly crime and none of the murderers was arrested. Nearly 10,000
people held a gherao of the thana in protest hoping for some action. But the
DSP, present in the thana, ordered firing. Rampravesh Rajbhar died on the
spot while many are undergoing treatment in Ranchi and other places. As far
as child's murder is concerned police still remained idle.

CPI(ML) unit in Hazaribagh immediately acted against both the incidents and
held a protest blockading two stretches of roads, at Ramgarh-Bhurkunda and
at Soson near Ramgarh. The DC of Hazaribag, whose cavalcade was stranded in
the resulting traffic jam, was allowed to go by the protesters in the hope
of immediate action by the administration, but nothing was done from his
side.

Next day Party called for a total bandh in Ramgarh region that received an
overwhelming response and all the towns in the region including Ramgarh,
Bhurkunda, Soso, Kuju, and Girhi etc. witnessed  a complete halt of all
traffic and closure of all commercial establishments. People spontaneously
came on the roads in protest and burnt effigies of Madan Mohan Lal, the DSP
who ordered for firing. The CPI(ML) also held a meeting with all other left
parties and decided to hold a joint mass meeting right in front of Bhurkunda
thana the next day, on Dec 13. This was a huge success and further boosted
the morale of local people. Speakers in the meeting resolved to expose every
effort by state's BJP govt. and it's NDA allies to save the killers and
responsible police persons. The meeting was addressed by CPI(ML) State
Secretary Subhendu Sen, District Secretary Devki Nandan Bedia and CPI MLA
Bhubaneshwar Mehta among  others.

Party has demanded immediate suspension and arrest of all police personnels
involved in police firing under charges of murder, compensation to the
bereaved family members with job to one dependent and treatment of all
injured on government expenses.


DHARNA BEFORE ASSAM ASSEMBLY

CPI(ML), ASDC(P), KSA and KNCA jointly staged a dharna at Dispur on 18
December, 2003 to demand : (1) To adopt a resolution in Assam Assembly for
creation of Autonomous State, (2) To scrap Clause 8 of the BLT accord signed
on 10th February, 2003, (3) To reject ASDC-Kuki agreement signed on 4th
Dec., 2000, and to ban KRA and KNA organisations (4) To recover
Khanduli-Saisima area of Karbi Anglong from illegal occupation of Meghalaya
Govt. and restore the territorial integrity of Karbi Anglong as per 1951
boundary demarcation and (5) To withdraw the proposed wild-life sanctuary
project and to stop eviction of Karbi Villagers.

The failure of both state and Central Govt. in creating Autonomous State for
Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills marked utter negligence of the Govt. towards
the 18-year long democratic and popular movement. Even the recent spate of
violence in Karbi Anglong between the Karbis and Kukis has proved the total
failure of ruling Congress both in the state as well as in Karbi Anglong
Autonomous Council. It is an irony that the authorities have failed to take
appropriate steps to flush 'Kuki Revolutionary Army' (KRA) extremists out
from Singhasan Hills.

Moreover, the foul play by Holiram Terang led ASDC, a BJP ally, is
responsible for the present tension in the district. The agreement between
Kuki leaders with ASDC on 4th Dec, 2000 for Kuki Hills regional Council has
encouraged Kuki extremism in Karbi Anglong. ASDC has also joined hands with
the Govt. in the conspiracy for granting ST(Hills) status to the Bodos in
the hill district of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. Further, lured by the rich
forest produce in Jerikinding, Mukru, Umkhirmi, Khanduli areas, a section of
forest traders from Meghalaya tried to occupy the so-called Block-I and
Block-II areas, which are now in the territory of Karbi Anglong district.
Though this was settled long back in 1951-52 with the inception of the then
Mikir Hills district. But, now the reactionary group has tried to bring
alive the issue again which has now become the root cause of tension in the
boundary area. CPI(ML), ASDC(P), KSA and KNCA have demanded to settle the
issue as per boundary demarcated in 1951-52 and to restore Khanduli and
Saisima areas back to Karbi Anglong immediately. Moreover, the present
Congress Govt's plan to evict many Karbi habited areas for proposed wildlife
sanctuary project has exposed their inhuman approach of governance towards
the people of the areas.

The massive dharna was addressed by CPI(ML) MP Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, Party's
Karbi Anglong Secretary Selawar Bey and CPI(ML) leaders Robi Kr. Phangcho,
Mujari Hanse, Denial Teron, Semual Ronghang, Among Engti and Kajek Tokbipi
among others.

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