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ML Update A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine Vol.-5; No.-30; 24-30 July 2002 STOP THE MODI-BHANDARI BRIGADE, HERE AND NOW! Having won the battle for Presidency and promoted LK Advani to the Deputy PM 's post, the Sangh Parivar has now once again pushed the Gujarat button. In a clear bid to pressurise the Election Commission to order early elections in the state, the State Assembly has been dissolved nine months ahead of schedule. Left to itself the BJP would have already had the elections. By the middle of March while the traumatised Muslim community in the state was counting its dead, the state BJP unit had begun counting its votes. It was only in the face of massive public outcry from all corners of India and words of concern and condemnation from across the world that the BJP had to suspend its plans for immediate elections. Even though the Vajpayee government refused to remove Modi and continued to give him one clean chit after another, internally the BJP is wary of a possible backlash in the state. After all, only last year the BJP had incurred heavy losses in the panchayat elections and even after Modi was made Chief Minister the BJP had lost all by-elections except the one to the Rajkot assembly seat in which Modi had managed a win with a reduced margin. Modi knows that the effect of the genocide-induced communal polarisation would not last indefinitely and that the BJP could hope to win the polls only as long as the effect was around. Hence the BJP's understandable insistence on early elections. The BJP considers Gujarat to be an exclusive fiefdom of the Sangh and the dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly just another 'family affair' of the saffron brigade. The party runs the show both in Ahmedabad and New Delhi. Modi was made the CM of Gujarat with the brief of winning the next elections and in his Machiavellian scheme of electoral engineering even genocide is passe. The Governor of Gujarat, the notorious SS Bhandari who had to be called back from Patna after the President's Rule fiasco in February-March 1999, is a trusted old hand of the RSS. For all of us, who care about democracy in India, Gujarat is crying to be saved and reclaimed from the clutches of the Modi-Togadia-Bhandari brigade. The Muslim community in the state is still living in the shadow of utter insecurity. The 12 July rathyatra triggered yet another round of migration of Muslim families along the entire route of the yatra. Reports of renewed tension are coming in again from different parts of the state. Most of the relief camps have been forced to close down even though rehabilitation remains a far cry. Even in those rare cases where Muslims have been allowed to return home, it has not been a return to the normal standards of safety and dignity. Economic boycott, deliberate humiliation and systematic persecution today mark their world in Gujarat. The overall situation is still far from normal, and elections held under such circumstances could only amount to a mockery and murder of democracy. The Election Commission must therefore refuse to sign on the dotted line and fulfil its constitutional obligation to ensure free and fair elections in genocide-ravaged Gujarat. For the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, the media and various watchdog bodies of concerned citizens, Gujarat today presents the most contemptible case of criminalisation and communalisation of politics. If we want to stop criminals from making a mockery of India's parliamentary democracy, Modi's killer brigade must first be stopped. Here and now. After all the 'care' Modi has showered on Gujarat since February 27, fair elections are unthinkable under the continuing care of Modi's 'caretaker' regime. While opposing the BJP's bid to force early elections, we must therefore also insist on imposition of President's Rule in Gujarat. And yes, we need a new Governor for the state who must not belong to the RSS. India cannot allow the Modi-Bhandari brigade to have any further free run in Gujarat. Too much is at stake for the future of India. LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTIONARY LEGACY OF CHARU MAZUMDAR 28 July is the martyrdom-day of Comrade Charu Mazumdar, the legendary leader of communist movement in India and founder of CPI(ML). Arrested by the West Bengal police on July 16, 1972, he was martyred in Calcutta's Lalbazar central lock-up on July 28, 1972. The entire Party pays revolutionary homage to Comrade CM on his martyrdom-day and pledges to redouble its energy to carry forward the legacy of struggle Com. CM has left behind. The killers of Com. CM and their accomplices have gone unpunished. Brutal state-terror, which killed Com. CM, is not only alive, it has once again raised its ugly head and is now threatening mass movements as well as the civil society with the arsenal of draconian acts like POTA. Democratic rights are under systematic attack and toiling people and workers are being killed in indiscriminate police firing; political activists are being arrested, tortured and jailed. Even the innocent citizens are not being spared. People's agitations against the oppressive regime are facing vengeful onslaughts by the state. At this juncture we as revolutionaries must keep in mind what Com. CM pointed out way back in 1971, "Like all reactionary powers of the world the Indian government and its accomplices -- all the reactionary and revisionist parties-- want to arrest the march of revolution by resorting to massacre on a wide scale. The police and the goons perpetrating carnages have been employed to this purpose by all those who are holding conferences in the name of restoring 'Law and Order', with a view to perpetuate this man-eating system and get united against the revolutionaries ... They think that in this way they would be able to arrest the progress of revolution. However, as yet nobody could ever stop the onward march of revolution by resorting to killings in this manner. These killings will rouse the anger and hatred among the people (towards this man-eating system --ed.) and a new India will be founded on the ruins of this murderous system -- This is the law of history ..." Call for Countrywide Jail Bharo Agitation on August 9: SAFFRON BRIGADE, QUIT INDIA! Sixty years ago, the whole of India had rallied around a single and simple slogan: British rulers, Quit India. The clarion call reverberated from every corner of the country and galvanised millions of Indians into a mighty mass upsurge against the imperialist rulers. From the First War of Independence of 1857 to the Quit India Movement of 1942 and the Telangana peasant uprising, naval mutiny and other great mass upheavals of the 1940s, the quest for India's independence progressed through a rich history of glorious struggles. From communists and socialists to moderates and Gandhians, a whole range of ideological and political trends could be seen at the head of these diverse struggles. Only one trend remained conspicuously aloof from, and even opposed to, the entire current of the freedom movement. This was the trend of the RSS and its saffron brigade. Today, that very saffron brigade is controlling the central government and deciding most of the policies that affect the country and its future. Our economy is being gradually hijacked by foreign Multinational Corporations and imperialist-dominated institutions like IMF, World Bank and WTO. Our foreign policy has become an extension of the American policy for Asia. Everyday we have some American or British representative visiting our country and telling us what we should do about our economy, about terrorism, about Kashmir, about almost every aspect of our national life. American troops are already stationed in Pakistan. The monarchy in Nepal now survives with the active backing of US imperialism. Washington is also desperate to gain a permanent base in Kashmir. Americans have never had a more pliable government in India. And we Indians have never been as ashamed of our rulers. The word independence has never ever sounded so hollow since 1947. If the series of communal riots instigated by the saffron brigade's Ayodhya campaign had already shaken the foundation of the country to the core, the genocide in Gujarat has brought back memories of Partition. And now to complete the unfinished agenda of Partition, the RSS and its affiliates are everyday calling for fragmentation of Jammu and Kashmir on communal lines. Given an opportunity, the people have naturally defeated the BJP and its allies in most cases. Yet Uttar Pradesh shows us how the BJP is using one opportunist ally after another to cling to power. And Gujarat has revealed how, to win elections, the saffron brigade can target one entire community and exterminate hundreds of men, women and children. While the Vajpayee government at the Centre blindly defended the killer Modi government in Gujarat in the face of worldwide condemnation, Modi is now seeking early elections with a view to manufacturing a fake mandate in a communally surcharged atmosphere. From the offices of President, Vice-President and Governors to key posts in academic, cultural and media institutions, the saffron brigade is deploying either its own cadres or persons of its choice to hijack almost every institution of any consequence. Advani, the man who always deplores the 'softness' of the Indian state and has openly declared communists as the biggest internal enemy has now been made the Deputy Prime Minister. This has also meant resurrection of the original RSS agenda from Ayodhya to Kashmir. With the enactment of POTA, yet another Advani brainchild, a big question mark now hangs ominously over the future of civil liberties and constitutional rights in the country. Just see how easily Jayalalitha could use POTA to arrest the MDMK leader Vaiko for making pro-LTTE speeches. BJP is of course furious because it had always intended POTA to be used exclusively against what it calls 'Islamic terrorists' and 'Leftwing extremists'. But the fact remains that if someone like Vaiko could become such an easy target under POTA, is it difficult to imagine the fate of ordinary citizens, movement activists and democratic org anisations opposed to the ruling camp at the Centre and in the states? The need for an active people's movement to resist communal fascism and imperialist intervention and defend democracy and independence has never been felt more urgently. More and more Indians today also realise that it would be suicidal to rely on the formal opposition led by the Congress and its parliamentary rhetoric. Have we not seen these forces of formal opposition bow to the BJP time and again and virtually share the same agenda on most issues? The presidential poll was the latest expression of their pathetic surrender to the BJP's agenda. A mighty mobilisation and assertion of the Indian people in a vigorous anti-fascist anti-imperialist movement is indeed the crying need of the hour. It is to this end that the CPI(ML) is observing a countrywide "Save Democracy, Save Independence" campaign from June 26 to August 9. On June 26, the twenty-seventh anniversary of the imposition of infamous Emergency, representatives of various Left and democratic organisations met in Delhi and endorsed this call. From the leaders of Left parties like CPI(ML), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and SUCI to prominent activists and civil libertarians like Medha Patkar, Kuldip Nayar, Rajinder Sachar, Surendra Mohan, Nirmala Deshpande and Lakshmi Sahgal, the convention brought together a large spectrum of secular, democratic and anti-imperialist organisations and individuals from different parts of the country. This August 9, let us give a fitting rebuff to the saffron brigade and its fascist pro-American design by courting arrest in large numbers. The saffron brigade in power has transformed the whole of this country into a big prison for the poor and toiling people, for the minorities and increasingly for all who dare oppose the brigade's destructive agenda. They have imprisoned our democracy and independence. It is therefore once again time to renew the Quit India call. This time round, we must direct the call against the saffron brigade of fascist thugs and imperialist agents. Saffron Brigade, Quit India! Ours Is the Legacy of Bhagat Singh - We Shall Fight, We Shall Win!! -- Central Committee, CPI (M-L) CONVENTION AGAINST STATE TERRORISM IN KOLKATA On 22nd July 2002, a convention was held at Students Hall, Kolkata on the theme 'Save Democracy and Human Rights Against State Terrorism'. The Convention was addressed by a number of eminent political leaders, civil liberties organisers and other intellectuals from cross sections of the society. Notable among them were CPI(ML) general secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya, writer Debesh Roy, editor of Aajkal Ashoke Dasgupta, left columnist Jyotiprakash Chattopadhyay, Azizul Haque, Abdur Rauf, APDR leader Sujato Bhadra, Tapan Roychowdhury of SUCI and Imanul Haque of Bhasa-Chetana Samiti. It was presided over by Com. Arijit Mitra, leader of the Party's cultural Front. A six point resolution was passed by the convention, demanding: (1) Immediate and unconditional release of Kaushik Ganguly in the interest of democracy and human rights, (2) Judicial enquiries into mysterious death of Abhijit Sinha and police firing on Chandmani Tea workers, (3) Release of all PWG-Kamtapuri detainees, (4) Immediate suspension of the doctor guilty for submitting false report to the effect that Prof. Ganguly was never tortured, (5) Immediate suspension and punishment of police officers guilty for illegal arrest, harassment etc. (6) Repeal of all false cases imposed on political workers in the state. Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya emphasised that the struggle against state repression and terror is an integral part and basis of struggle against saffron fascist forces. CPI(ML) OPPOSES EARLY POLLS IN GUJARAT The CPI(ML) has opposed the BJP's attempts to force early elections in the riot-stricken state and has urged the election commission not to get pressurised by the saffron forces which want early elections only to capitalise on the existing sharp communal division in the state. The EC is called upon to have an objective assessment of the Gujarat situation on its own. The Party said,"situation prevailing there doesn't permit any early elections. In a state where a large section of electorate is still in a state of utter fear, terror and insecurity and thousands are either lodged in shattered relief camps or displaced elsewhere, there is no need of any early elections". The Party said that at a time when the murderer Narendra Modi government has shown utter contempt for the public opinion in the country which demands ouster of Narendra Modi from the post of chief minister of the state for his criminal role in the communal carnage and demands public trial of his Party's functionaries as well as guilty police officials involved in the state-sponsored carnage, the way the Gujarat Assembly has been dissolved with an eye to reaping electoral harvest out of the communally surcharged situation has only proved that the BJP government like the one in Gujarat can go to any extent to subvert the democratic process of governance. The CPI(ML) had also objected to his continuance as the 'caretaker chief minister' and demanded imposition of President's Rule in Gujarat. STATEWIDE STRIKE BY AGRARIAN LABOURERS IN BIHAR Bihar witnessed a powerful assertion of agrarian labourers on July 22, when more than 75,000 agrarian labourers went on strike in 25 districts of the state. CPI(ML)-led Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha had given the call for strike on July 2 in a massive protest in Patna before the State Assembly. Main demands of the strike were: institution of CBI inquiry into Red Card scam, sacking of the corrupt RJD minister Purnamasi Ram involved in the scam, immediate distribution of red cards to all BPL families, guarantee of job and minimum wages throughout the year and enactment of a state-level legislation for agrarian labourers. Agitators also demanded concrete steps to stop the ongoing killing spree of dalit agrarian labourers, lowering of land ceiling, strict implementation of land reforms and arms license to agrarian labourers for self defence. The strike was implemented throughout the state by organising militant demonstrations, marches, dharnas, and blockades. The CPM-led agrarian labour organisation also supported the strike call. Programmes led by BPKMS leaders were undertaken at all block headquarters. At village Dihra in Kaimur district, skirmishes took place betweeen feudal elements and striking labourers. In Patna district strike was total in hundreds of villages in Dhanarua, Masaurhi, Dulhin Bazaar, Paliganj, Punpun and Bihta. Around 1200 people held a militant demonstration at Dhanarua, 600 at Dulhin Bazaar, 500 at Paliganj and 200 at Masaurhi. In Bhojpur district, strike was total in around 200 villages. Militant demonstrations were held at block headquarters. 2000 people participated in demonstration at Sandesh, 3000 at Tarari, 2500 at Jagadishpur, 1700 at Agiaon and 1000 at Koilwar. In Samastipur district demonstrations were held at seven block headquarters. Around 1000 people participated at Sarairanjan. At Daudnagar in Aurangabad district, around 1000 people joined the demonstration. In Jehanabad, militant demonstrations were organised at Kaler, Arwal, Karpi, Kurtha, Ratni, Kako, Jehanabad, Makhdumpur and Ghoshi. More than 100 villages experienced the massive impact of the strike. In Nalanda district, demonstrations were organised at several block centres. The strike evoked massive response in Siwan district where block level protest dharnas were held and memoranda were handed over to respective BDOs and Labour Inspectors. In West Champaran, the strike was total in hundreds of villages and the agitation already going on there received a shot in the arm. The strike call received a good response even in those districts where BPKMS is yet to expand its organisational network. FIFTH STATE CONFERENCE OF KISAN SABHA IN BIHAR The 5th state conference of Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha successfully concluded at Ravindra Bhavan, Patna on 18 July. Around 500 delegates from all the districts of Bihar participated in the Conference. Addressing the peasant delegates CPI(ML) general secretary Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya said that seen with the eyes of agrarian labourers, who did not get land nor any benefit of any land reform, the agrarian crisis that is prevailing all over the country is nothing new. But this agrarian crisis is evident all over the country; even the affluent peasants of Punjab are among its victims. Thus, viewed from the angle of the whole country, newer dimensions of the crisis are discernible. The government wants to shift the burden of crisis on the backs of peasants, but the peasants have already launched struggle against it. They fought in Punjab; and when the arrears of electricity bill was being extracted from them, the peasants took recourse to agitation in Haryana. If the peasants of Punjab and Haryana can get trapped into the crisis, how can the peasants of Bihar keep themselves out of its ambit? They are in fact facing a graver crisis. The peasants are being deluded that they have agrarian labourers for their enemies and this battle is being thrust upon their shoulders. Development of agriculture is a joint struggle of agrarian labourers and peasants, and it must be fought by them together. The conference elected a 51-member State Council and 19-member State Executive. The conference elected Rajaram Singh as president, Amarnath Yadav and Arun Singh as vice presidents and Ramadhar Singh, Chandradeep Singh and Kumar Anil as secretaries. _________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________ http://www.cpiml.org ________________________________________ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
