[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update Vol. 7 No. 39 28 Sep-4 Oct 2004

 MLUpdate
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  7    No. 39    28 Sep-4 Oct 2004


'INDIPENDENT' FOREIGN POLICY IN THE STRATEGIC SHADOW OF IMPERIALISM

Manmohan Singh has now completed his first major foreign pilgrimage. On his
way to deliver his first address at the UN General Assembly, he has had his
first direct encounter with both Tony Blair and George Bush.
While Blair used this occasion to indulge in some patronizing talk about
India's working democracy and social tolerance, Singh chose to express his
government's readiness to jump on to the Bush-Blair bandwagon. The joint
declaration talked of a long term comprehensive strategic partnership
between the two countries with a specific thrust on defence cooperation,
joint military training and exercises, and cooperation between police and
other law enforcement agencies in the whole domain of criminal justice
system.

Manmohan also touched Iraq and went on to declare the Anglo-American war on
Iraq to be a chapter of the past. Short of committing Indian troops to Iraq,
he offered all kinds of assistance in policing Iraq. At a time when the
Iraqi people are forced to wage a grim battle for freedom from the
Anglo-American occupation forces, and Blair faces daily protests and
warnings from his own people for his messy involvement in Iraq, Manmohan's
words must have been music to Blair's ears. But nothing could be more
shocking and shameful to the freedom-loving democratic opinion of India. How
can the Prime Minister of a country which had to fight for centuries to get
out of the colonial yoke gloss over the brutal reality of imperialist
occupation of Iraq!

The theme of strategic partnership also dominated the joint statement issued
after Manmohan's hour-long meeting with Bush. The statement described
Indo-US bilateral ties to have "never been as close as they are at present,"
and emphasized "expanded defence cooperation . (as) an integral aspect of
the expanding ties."  The Bush-Manmohan encounter came just weeks before
Bush has to face an angry American electorate as he seeks reelection for a
second term at White House.
Somewhere in its Common Minimum Programme, the UPA government had made an
assurance regarding an 'independent' foreign policy. We now have ample
instances of this 'independence' in action. The UPA government sees India's
role in the international arena only as an aspiring junior partner of the US
in its global imperialist drive. It is quite significant that Nepal and
Myanmar figured most prominently during Manmohan's breakfast meeting with
Bush. In keeping with its strategic objective of containing and encircling
China, the US is seeking greater presence in all the neighbouring countries
around China and 'strategic partnership with India' can prove to be a very
handy weapon for the US in this region.
In this context, we should also take note of the growing convergence in the
UPA government's economic and foreign policies. Commitment to neo-liberalism
is a matter of 'shared interest' between India and the US and hence the UPA
government finds it most natural to appoint Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the
Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission and then pack the consultative
committees of the Commission with experts from the World Bank, IMF, Asian
Development Bank and agencies like the McKinsey.

Some of these 'consultants' may now offer to resign in view of objections
raised by Left economists, but that will not mean any shift in the present
direction of the economic policy. Incidentally, Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a
key member of the contingent accompanying the PM on his foreign visits and
it was on board the Prime Minister's special aircraft that Montek Singh
declared that foreign experts were here to stay.

While Left economists raised valid objections regarding the implications of
having experts from the Fund-Bank establishment directly on the committees
of the Planning Commission, the hypocrisy and vacillation of the CPI(M) are
all too evident. The Left Front government of West Bengal has now made it an
integral part of its practice to seek and implement 'expert advice' from the
same 'foreign agencies'! The US Consul in Kolkata openly showers praises on
the West Bengal government for seeking McKinsey's help to study the
potential of agriculture in the state! And in Delhi, CPI(M) leaders now say
that the whole controversy has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion!
The CPI(M) may have its own 'compulsions' for blowing hot and cold. But now
that the UPA government has sufficiently indicated the direction it wants to
pursue over the entire range of policies, the people of India cannot allow
the 'controversies' to be swept under the carpet of coordination committee
meetings and dinner diplomacy.


Paliganj People"s Resistane Rally:
---------------------------------

CALL FOR INTENSIFICATION OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT AGAINBSRT LALOO-rABRI REGIME;
RESOLVETO EXPOSE. ISOLATE AND DISARM THE KILLER SQUADS OF RJD-PWG NEXUS

Defying the scorching heat of a September sun, thousands of people thronged
the local khel maidan (play ground) at Paliganj in Patna on 25 September to
demand immediate arrest of the murderers of the five martyred leaders of the
CPI(ML). The rally also reiterated the demand for a CBI inquiry into the
incident.

This was one of the biggest mobilizations by the Party in recent years in
the district. The rally was preceded by two weeks of intensive campaigning
in the villages of Paliganj in the course of which several meetings were
held in various panchayats. The Jan Pratirodh (people's resistance) rally
was addressed by Comrades Ram Naresh Ram, Krishnadev Yadav, Rameshwar
Prasad, Rajaram Singh and Dipankar Bhattacharya and presided over by peasant
leader Comrade Shivpujan Yadav.
More than a month after the killing of our comrades, only one among the 22
accused has been arrested while the police administration is busy raiding
villages under the Party's influence. The rally appealed to the people of
Paliganj to rise against this injustice and reject the RJD-PWG nexus lock,
stock and barrel. The rally resolved to carry forward the unfinished tasks
of the martyrs.
Describing the RJD-PWG attack on our office as a political conspiracy to
terrorise the masses and derail our movement, Com. Dipankar and other
speakers called for giving a fitting rebuff to this conspiracy by
intensifying the movement. The speakers emphasized the need to thoroughly
expose and isolate the PWG and disarm its squads that in the name of 'People
's War' are engaged in waging war on the people.

The spontaneous response evoked by the 23 August Bihar Bandh and the massive
turnout at the Jan Pratirodh Rally at Paliganj clearly indicate the people's
resolve to mete out exemplary punishment to the killers and their political
patrons. The ruling RJD now stands exposed as a political sanctuary for the
killers of Left leaders and activists in the state and all efforts must be
made to channelise the people's anger into a decisive battle against the
anti-people Laloo-Rabri regime.


LAND STRUGGLES IN KAIMUR, JHARKHAND

Recent initiatives by CPI(ML) and All India Agricultural Labour Association
(AIALA) has resulted in a large number of agri. labourers joining our
organisation in dozens of villages and successive agitations and movements
spreading in wider areas. In the wake of this awakening, the district
administration has issued pattas to a number of agri. labourers for the
lands which are already under their possession for a long time with the
intention to divide and weaken the movement in those villages. Then AIALA
conducted a survey of 72 villages and submitted a list of more that 4000
acres of surplus land, most of which is under illegal possession of
landlords, out of which pattas for 702 acres have already been distributed
to landless labourers long back in 1985. But the administration took no
action on this list, instead, it conspiratorially issued new pattas of those
lands which are under the possession of poor and middle peasants, leaving
powerful landlords untouched. It was a well thought ploy to break the unity
of poor peasants with the agrarian workers and to create a friction between
them. Now the local unit of Party is attempting to resolve this issue and to
win over the confidence of the poor peasants and mobilise them in the
struggle for land and against feudal oppression.

In Chainpur block of the district more than 3300 acres of forest land had
been re-seized under the banner of AIALA in the months of July-August. This
land was initially seized in 1984 but could not be retained for a long time.
In Diyari of Rampur block 25 families have been provided land for houses on
a piece of seized land. While nearly 30 acres of land was captured at
Abraian-Azgari of Kudra block last month.

At Khanab in Bhabhua block a land seizure was conducted on 62 acres of land.
Pattas of this land were given to landless but was still under the
possession of landlords, now it is occupied by original patta holders. But
in a similar case in Rampur block, where pattas were given to the landless
on a 64 acres of land, struggle is continuing since last year. This land was
being tilled by a landlord who is getting open support of the local
administration. Though people succeeded in harvesting crops during last two
seasons, this time landlord was able to till a portion of the disputed land,
in spite of severe resistance by the people, in presence of a Receiver and
the SDM who are openly conniving with the landlord. But the struggle
continues and political mobilisation getting momentum.

Meanwhile, district unit of AIALA has decided to consolidate the
organisation through a campaign to build committees upto panchayat and
village levels simultaneously strengthening the initiatives at block level.
It has also been decided to make every member of district and block
committees accountable for at least one panchayat. A political campaign is
also being taken up to expose the sinister designs of the district
administration which is trying to diffuse the ongoing land struggles and
assertion of the rural poor.


AGAINST FAMINE AND STATE'S INACTION IN JHARKHAND

Drought for the third consecutive year in Palamou region of Jharkhand has
aggravated the situation with lakhs of people left starving, thousands are
reeling under severe malnutrition and subsequent ailments, mounting
starvation deaths, unemployment and resultant large-scale migration. BJP
govt. is blaming the center for non-cooperation. Congress is staging its
food distribution drama at places and one of such food distribution site was
ransacked by starving poor at Bhandaria. And RJD, which remained undeterred
by the famine in Palamou region for 11 full years in united Bihar and never
accepted the demand for a comprehensive package for region's development, is
now not behind in shedding crocodile tears. In reality, leaders of all these
parties are still busy in misappropriating development funds and looting
public money, even the meagre relief funds and other materials are not
spared. The fact remains that toiling masses continue to starve in far
interior and state's BJP government is continuously refusing that tens of
miserable deaths occurred recently are due to starvation.
RJD leader Girinath Singh has occupied illegally hundreds of acres of land
while his party's Barwadih Block President has severely beat up a poor
Kamesh Ram when he tried to build his hut on a public land. But thanks to
organised protest by the CPI(ML) that police was forced to lodge an FIR
against this incident. CPI(ML)'s continued movement has elevated low levels
morale and struggling unity of the rural poor in this region who are now
standing up to resist feudal oppression and state's connivance with the
repressive criminal-contractor nexus in the villages. People are deeply
enraged and protesting government's inaction over famine and epidemics.
Recently, on Sep 1 and 6, hundreds marched to Barwadih block headquarter to
demand that the region be declared as famine hit. Again on Sep 13 hundreds
protested against corruption in Indira Awas and red card distribution and on
next day a successful bandh was called to protest corrupt officials nexus
with criminals and middlemen in red card distribution. Also a protest
demonstration was held on 18 Sep against the Tiger Project which is causing
damage to crops affecting many poor peasants in the area. Besides, villages
in adjoining Mahuatand block were forced to come to streets against
diarrhoea epidemic and famine.

A movement against famine and starvation is being launched in Garhwa
district by the Party. During a week-long campaign, nearly 7000 people
participated in protests at Garhwa, Meral, Ramuna, Dhurki, Bhavnathpur,
Kharaundhi and Bhandaria blocks and forced the administration to take some
steps in the direction of distribution of food to the poorest of the poor.
This anti-famine campaign, which also exposed many corruption cases in the
district, ended its first phase with a district level rally with a
participation of more than 4000 people.

More than 14 people have died of starvation in Palamou-Garhwa region in
recent days but the administration continues to parrot that the reason for
deaths is illness and not hunger in spite of wide exposure through media.
Led by CPI(ML), the people have organised bandhs in Patan and Lesliganj to
lodge their anger and protest. A mazdoor-kisan panchayat was also held which
was participated by 5000 people and sent a clear message that if adequate
relief was not ensured, employment generation measures not taken up and
black-marketing and loot of developmental funds was not stopped, then people
will certainly intensify the movement and punish the culprits.

The state administration, instead of addressing the problems,  is trying to
stop this march of the people by fabricating false cases against CPI(ML)
activists and leaders. But, come what may, the Party is determined to
advance its firm resolve to carry forward the people's cause and to resist
every repressive move of the government and will continue to raise its
demand for lodging criminal cases against the state Chief Minister for the
starvation deaths and his government's criminal negligence.


STARVATION DEATH IN GHAZIPUR, U.P.

Sudarshan Kurmi of Dandapur village in Mardah block died of hunger on Sep
14. A CPI(ML) investigation team reported from the spot that the deceased
had not eaten anything for last three days and he died empty stomach after a
day's hard labour in scorching sun. But the district administration has
refused to accept that he died of starvation and declared illness and worry
as the reasons of his death after 'conducting' an inquiry.

The SDM alongwith a Tehsildar went to Dandapur for a 'high-level' inquiry
but paid no visit to the deceased's family. Instead, they met some
influential people in the village and suggested to collect chanda
(contribution) for the last rites of Sudarshan. A postmortem was not ordered
knowingly that it would have exposed the truth.

CPI(ML) has opposed this shameless act and demanded a judicial inquiry and
immediate suspension of the DM of Ghazipur. CPI(ML) State Committee member
Ishwai Prasad also sat on a two-day protest dharna to demand an inquiry,
compensation to the family of deceased, and for free distribution of food to
the starving poor in villages.

Deceased Sudarshan Kurmi was a Jute Mill worker ten years ago in Kolkata and
liberalisation policies rendered him unemployed following the closure of his
Mill. The same 'economic reforms' under liberalisation crept in deeper into
his village manifesting a severe agrarian crisis, and, this added with the
drought and governmental criminal negligence did claim his life. He was not
even provided a BPL ration card. From native village to Kolkata Jute Mill
and again back to native village - Globalisation haunted everywhere and left
Sudarshan with no escape-route from his sad and untimely demise. As per
CPI(ML)'s fact finding team's report, there are many like him in villages
and towns in eastern UP waiting a similar fate with no jobs and nothing to
eat. Although starvation deaths are still being denied by the Mulayam Singh
government, there are reports of unemployed weavers of Varanasi selling
their blood for food and even a report of selling a child by his mother only
to save him from starving.
This is more or less the real picture of rural UP today. But the government
seems to be criminally callous in addressing the situation.


WEAVERS' CONVENTION AGAINST SUICIDES AND STARVATION DEATHS

Banaras is known the world over for its exquisite Banarsi sarees. But as in
other parts of the country, things have changed here for worse. Not a day
passes by when the newspapers do not carry reports of suicides, starvation
deaths or disease among the weavers. The conditions in some pockets have
become so miserable that in September this year, a weaver's family sold its
six month old baby for Rs. 1000. Reports of some weavers selling blood
evoked such widespread condemnation. After agriculture, weaving is the
lifeline of the eastern part of U.P. According to an estimate, there are
about 4-5 lakh weavers in Varanasi district who run about 2 lakh handlooms
and 0.75 lakh power looms. Incidentally, in the last Lok Sabha elections,
the Congress candidate won the Varanasi seat because of large-scale weavers'
support to his pre-election promise of alleviating the hardship of the
weavers. The recent incidents have greatly eroded the faith that the weavers
has reposed in the Congress.

To actively intervene in the current crises and to politicize the weaving
community, Bunkar Mahasabha, launched by CPI(ML) in Varanasi about 3 years
ago, organised a convention in Varanasi on the 27 September. For the
preparation of the convention, extensive propaganda through posters and
pamphlets was done in the weavers' colonies. About 400 weavers attended the
convention along with some representatives of the powerloom owners. The
convention was addressed by Dinkar Kapoor, AICCTU state secretary, Sriram
Choudhary , state secretary of Uttar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha secretary
and Prashant Shukla, the district convener of Bunkar Mahasabha. The
convention adopted the following resolutions- 1. The death of a weaver from
starvation would be considered a criminal offence and the onus would lie
with the govt. The social security of the weavers should be guaranteed by
the state and central governments. The govt. should immediately issue BPL
ration cards to poor weavers so that no weaver dies of starvation. 2. A
special 'Weavers Assistance Package' should be announced. It should include
proving cheap raw material to the weaver as well as guaranteed purchase of
his product by the govt. The weavers should be provided with electricity at
cheap rates. The govt. should waive all the loans of weavers. Special
measures should be initiated to introduce latest technology among the
weavers to enable them to compete globally. 3.  To protect the indigenous
weaving industry, anti-dumping duty should be imposed on foreign cloth until
the domestic weaving industry becomes capable of facing the global
challenge.


INITIATIVES AGAINST CRIME IN AURANGABAD

Party's campaign against crime, kidnapping and murders forced police to
lodge an FIR against a local Mukhiya and RJD leader Radheyshyam Yadav who
used his clout in illegally arrest of two party activists after  their
kidnapping and brutal beating. But the timely initiative mobilised hundreds
of people who gheraoed the thana and blockaded main high-way in protest.
Although false cases have been withdrawn but police has not arrested the
mukhiya who enjoyes backing of a minister in Rabri Devi cabinet and the
local MP.

There has been a number of murders and kidnappings in Aurangabad recently.
CPI(ML) held a demonstration and bandh at Obra town on Sep 5 against the
attack on one of our activists and blocked the main road despite police's
attempt to lathicharge. A protest was also held at Shahpur against an
incident of murder. A citizens' convention against crime was organised at
Obra on Sep 8 which was attended by nearly a thousand people.


CPI(ML) CONDOLES THE PASSING AWAY OF KISHAN PATNAIK

CPI(ML) condoles the passing away of veteran Samjwadi thinker and leader of
Samajwadi Jan Parishad Kishan Patnaik and calls his demise a great loss to
democratic movement in the country.
His efforts towards forming a broader platform against the retrogressive
policies of economic liberalisation and a never ending desire for a
democratic and equitable India will always be remembered by all democratic
forces in the country. He always starved to forge an anti-Congress anti-BJP
political platform by uniting all socialists, communists and like-minded
people together on a single platform.

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