>Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 04:13:51 +0530 >From: "CPI(ML) LIberation" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > ML Update >A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine >Vol.-3; No.-37; 20-9-2000 > >Editorial > >Indo-U.S. 'Partnership' and >the Unmasking of 'the Mask' > > >Vajpayee�s voyage to America has finally come to an end. Even though the >visit had to be cut short by two days because of his troubled knees, >this was probably the longest trip to the US by any Indian Prime >Minister. This was also the first time an Indian Prime Minister had >carried such a huge stock of expensive gifts for his hosts. But at the >end of the day, the visit will probably be remembered more because of >the Prime Minister�s all too evident knee troubles. He could barely walk >or stand, and he delivered his address to the US Congress as he was >seated. In the Sangh Parivar�s reckoning, however, the troubled knees of >the PM perhaps only counted as an additional plus point. Here is an >Indian PM who is prepared to stoically forget his knees, and also the >fact that his host country is about to choose its next President, just >to demonstrate his country�s unswerving commitment to America! >Isolating Pakistan and securing a stronger American note of approval for >India�s role in Kashmir and vis-a-vis Pakistan was the topmost political >priority of the Vajpayee mission. The NDA government has been >campaigning hard to get the US to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. On >this score, Vajpayee is once again returning empty-handed. If anything, >the knee-jerk reaction displayed by Vajpayee in spurning General >Musharraf�s offer for an unconditional dialogue struck a jarring note in >the UN General Assembly. America, however, cannot but savour the Indian >insistence on American approval, which weakens India�s own initiative in >the bilateral sphere of Indo-Pak relations and opens every possible door >for ever greater American interference in the subcontinent. >The economy was obviously the second most important concern. Vajpayee >directly appealed to the bosses of corporate America: �Today, I invite >you, captains of the US industry, to grab the many new opportunities >India offers.� He reassured the US Congress about the NDA government�s >unbridled commitment to throw open the entire Indian economy and trade >for American penetration. Yet for all these concessions, the deals >signed between the two countries during Vajpayee�s visit did not add up >to more than $ 6 billion. The amount of course does not refer only to >direct US investment in India - indeed, how many of these deals will >actually materialise and how much US investment that will really involve >is anybody�s guess - it also includes loans like $ 900 million >sanctioned by the US Exim Bank for purchase of US goods and services. >And for those die-hard gullibles who believe in the US propaganda of >reciprocity and saffron illusions of a great future for India in >America, the Washington Post carried a story while Vajpayee was in >America. It described graphically the plight of the 4,20,000 H-1B >visa-holders (visa of a temporary nature), 55 per cent of whom are >Indians, who according to the paper are treated by the US government >with an approach of �open arms but closed doors�. >Beyond Vajpayee�s troubled knees, India�s troubled borders with >Pakistan, and endless investment talks and e-commerce oratory, the >voyage was of course also marked by distinct Hindutva overtones and >signs of the controversial civilisational basis on which the US wants to >secure India�s subservience. Away from the heat and dust of coalition >politics, in America Vajpayee discovered the ideal ambience to shed his >liberal masks and reveal his saffron soul. Vajpayee�s unmistakable >swayamsevak-first statement and his avowed commitment to the India of >his dreams on securing two-thirds majority were meant as much for his >audience back home as for his hosts and friends on the American soil. >And it invited a grand reciprocal gesture from the American custodians >of Western civilisation. Vajpayee�s address to the US Congress was >preceded by something unprecedented. A Hindu priest was called to offer >the customary morning prayer, and he of course did it in English! >If the saffron brigade offers its services as America�s most trusted >Indian collaborator in the drive towards a US-dominated unipolar world, >America is clearly more than willing to back the former in realising its >dreams of project Hindutva. This is the political-ideological basis of >�reciprocity� on which Washington and New Delhi are manufacturing their >vicious visions of partnership. > >Martyrs Memory > >Martyrs' Memorial at Lasarhi in Bhojpur Dedicated to People > >Fulfilling long-standing demands of the people, the CPI(ML) installed an >impressive statue of the 12 villagers who had been martyred by the >British police at Lasarhi (Agiaon PS) in Bhojpur of Bihar in 1942. The >memorial was dedicated to the people by CPI(ML) General Secretary Com. >Dipankar Bhattacharya at a mass meeting held on 15 September. The >meeting was presided over by veteran freedom fighter Rampret Singh and >conducted by Vimal Singh. Veteran freedom fighter Com. Ramakant Dwivedi >'Ramata' was the chief guest. These martyrs belonging to Lasarhi, Chasi >and Dhakani villages also included a woman, Akali Devi. Party had >initiated a campaign to declare Lasarhi village a historical place and >erect a memorial there in 1998. The same year on 15 September the >foundation stone of statue was laid by Party's Politbureau member Com. >Ram Naresh Ram, MLA from Sahar. The memorial was completed in two years >by noted sculptor Chulhan Prasad. >Speaking at the mass meeting Com. Dipankar said that when the people of >Lasarhi sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom in 1942 movement, >people like Atal Bihari were serving as informers for the British. Even >today he is doing the same job for American masters. The struggle for >freedom was a struggle of peasants and workers. It is on the basis of >the ideals of these martyrs, by means of a democratic movement that >Bihar can be brought back onto the path of development. > > >Protest and Resistance > > >Sangh Bid to Foment Communal Tension in AMU > >CPI(ML) strongly condemned Sangh Parivar affiliates VHP, Bajrang Dal and >BJP for their attempts to foment communal trouble in Aligarh Muslim >University. Party has demanded high level enquiry into the incident of >picking up of a student by plain clothes men. Party said that Sangh >Parivar in alliance with communal sections of police and administration >are set to vitiate the atmosphere in A.M.U. The saffron brigade has >branded the whole academic community of A.M.U. as a bunch of >anti-nationals and issuing statements to "kill them in encounters" or >"hang for treason", and the police and administration is acting to >suppress all democratc voices in the campus and justifying all its >arbitrary activities as crackdown on I.S.I agents. >An AISA delegation led by Kavita Krishnan, AISA national president and >Tanveer Fazal of J.N.U. visited A.M.U. They expressed solidarity with >the struggle of A.M.U. students against the communal ploy to demonize >the institution of A.M.U. and called upon students of D.U., J.N.U. and >Jamia as well as all democratic citizens to join hands with the >struggling A.M.U. students. > >AISA Protest in Lucknow > >In continuation of their protest against fees hike in Lucknow University >campus, AISA activists opposed the visit of Suraj Bhan, Governor of UP, >on 12 Sept. Police lathicharged the protesting students and arrested >state AISA secretary Ajit Singh Yadav and beat him in police custody. >AISA has protested this police high-handedness under instruction from >the saffron rulers in the state. > > >Demonstration Against Padrauna Firing > >CPI(ML) has demanded resignation of BJP govt. in UP and judicial enquiry >into Padrauna firing on sugar mill workers and peasants on 29 August. To >press this demand, demonstrations were held on 15 September at district >headquarters in Uttar Pradesh. Party activists from Kushinagar, Deoria >and Gorakhpur districts, demonstrating at Gorakhpur divisional >headquarters, were led by Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, Secy. of UP >State Committee. Thousands of people joined demonstrations held at >Pilibhit, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Gonda, Robertsganj (Sonebhadra), Akbarpur >(Ambedkar nagar) and Bijnor. In Lucknow, CPI(ML) and AICCTU held a >dharna at GPO Park. In Basti Party activists brought out a bicycle >procession. In Varanasi, dharna was held and memorandum was submitted to >Divisional Commissioner. A day before a dharna was held to protest >increasing feudal and police attacks on dalits in the eastern zone. In >Lakhimpur Kheri the demonstration was held at Bankeganj block. Earlier, >statewide protest day was observed on 2 Sept. and a protest meeting was >held at Subhash Chowk in Padrauna on 9 Sept. addressed by Com. Lal >Bahadur Singh, State Committee member and Gen. Secy. of RYA. > > >Student Convention > >Uttar Pradesh Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti organised a convention at >Sampoornanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi on 13 Sept. and decided to >hold gherao of UP Assembly on the first day of its session in October in >protest against fee hike, reduction of seats and age bar on candidates >seeking election to students union. Around 200 students and youth >associated with RYA participated in this convention. It was conducted by >AISA general secretary Com. Sunil Yadav and concluded by Com. Lal >Bahadur Singh, Gen. Secy. of RYA. The convention also decided to observe >statewide protest day on 18 Sept. against police repression on student >movement. > > >Demonstration by Agrarian Labourers in Bihar > >More than 3000 agrarian labourers held a demonstration on 4 September >breaking Sec.144 at Masaurhi sub-division office demanding arrest of >Ranvir Sena chieftains and supply of free arms to agrarian labourers to >defend themselves against Ranvir Sena. The demonstration was addressed >by PB member Nand Kishor Prasad. >The same day agrarian labourers also held demonstration at Fatuha and >Fulwari block offices on the same demands. On the next day, more than >3000 agrarian labourers from the villages of Maner, Bihta and Naubatpur >blocks came to demonstrate before Danapur sub divisional headquarters >and held a meeting there. > > >Effigy of CMs Burnt > >Effigies of chief ministers of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, U.P., M.P., Tamil >Nadu and Karnataka were burnt in a demonstration participated by around >150 people in Gwalior on 11 Sept. Agitators shouted slogans against >police repression and firing in first four states and surrender by the >last two states to Virappan demands > > >Initiatives > > >Left Leaders Join CPI(ML) in Bhind of M.P. > >Three CPI(M) leaders in Gohad area of Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, >namely Com. Mohammad Bharaiyya, Com. Dhuaram Mahor and Com. Rasheed >Khan, along with 30 other members, joined the Party in a meeting held on >12 September. The meeting was attended by CPI(ML) state leader Com. >Devendra Singh Chauhan. > > > >Party Convention in Araria >A convention of more than 250 activists, most of them agrarian labourers >and around 50 women, was held at Farbisganj in Araria district of Bihar >on 10 Sept. The activists have recently come to our Party from CPI. It >was decided to recruit 2,000 agrarian labourers in one week. The >convention was addressed by Com. Prabhat Chaudhary, incharge of east >Bihar zone. >A cadre convention was organised at Bhagalpur on 17 Sept. in the course >of preparations for the success of Bihar Bandh on 23 September. > > >Panchayat Fray in Kerala > >Party organisation in Palghat district of Kerala has decided to contest >from a district panchayat seat in Koduvayur division, on a block >panchayat seat from Pallavur division and in a village panchayat seat of >Peruvemba. > > >Seminar on Development of Bihar > >Party organised a seminar on the question of development of Bihar on 11 >September in Muzaffarpur. It was attended by over 500 persons, among >whom more than 150 were from intelligentsia, journalists and teachers. >Notable among them was Prof. Nawal Kishor Chaudhary of Patna University. >Speakers appreciated the fact that CPI(ML) has brought the agenda of >Bihar's development on the main focus and given it a shape of mass >movement. This apart, the Party has come up with a concrete package in >this regard in place of empty rhetorics. Addressing the seminar Com. >Dipankar said that contrary to the apprehension that land reform will >destabilize the social balance, it is the existing social balance that >is responsible for backwardness of Bihar and this social balance must be >upturned. If Bihar has remained backward it is because mafia and >scamsters have made fortune out of this backwardness. Paraphrasing Rahul >Sankrityayan, he coined the phrase: "Bhago nahin, Bihar ko badlo" (Don't >escape, transform Bihar). > > >Farmers to Encircle Rajasthan Assembly > >CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M) have decided to intensify the ongoing agitation >against power reform in Rajasthan. While observing protest day on >October 7, the Vijayadashami Day, they will burn the copies of the >Government order breaking the State Electricity Board into five >different companies along with the effigies of Ravana. >Addressing the joint press conference on 16 Sept., Comrades Mahendra >Chowdhary, Tara Singh Siddu and Hariram Chouhan, State Secretaries of >CPI(ML)-Liberation, CPI and CPI(M) respectively said that the struggle >against power reform will be intensified. Thousands of farmers will >surround the assembly on November 1 in protest against power reforms, >while 50 lakh signatures are being collected to submit a mass petition >to the Governor. Com. Mahendra Choudhury along with other Left party >leaders accused the Govt. for raiding the farms and disconnecting the >power lines. State Govt. talked about providing 8 hrs power supply for >farmers but the real power supply was limited to 4-5 hrs, they charged. >Thousands of connections had been snapped within a fortnight under the >pretext of pending arrears, when the farmers had suffered heavy losses >due to erratic power supply resulting damages of pump sets. Exposing the >hypocrisy of the Congress Govt. in Rajasthan , the leaders said that >whereas the Congress is agitating against power reform in Andhra, its >government in Rajasthan is going the Andhra way. > > >Typical Experiences > > >Nationwide Telecom Strike: >Workers' Independent initiative in Tamil Nadu > > >Glorious three days reminiscing 1968 P&T General strike. Displaying >exemplary solidarity, firmness and vigour, workers succeeded in >paralyzing the telecommunication, the most 'dynamic' sector of the >economy. It was an indefinite strike from Sept. 6 jointly called by the >federations led by the Left, Congress and BJP. Though the strike was >against privatization, main demands included job security for women >workers and financial viability of the proposed corporations. Workers >rejected the monetary offer by the Communication minister. Thanks to the >workers' pressure, BJP leaders were exposed in a day as no.1 renegade of >the working class. But the workers persisted. Madras circle witnessed >the concentrated expression of militancy, solidarity, high spirit and >firm determination. Here, contrary to BJP's speculation, telephone, >cellular, pager, even internet operations were totally paralyzed on the >second day. The state was virtually disconnected from the rest of the >world. Strike forced the management to close the offices and lock the >tool room for first time after the 1968 general strike. >Soon after BJP back-out, CPI(M) leadership started propagating pessimism >and secretly mobilized their supporters to go back to work at Flower >Bazaar Exchange. But the overwhelming majority of workers assembled at >the gate opposing this, and the exchange was handed over to the police. >Workers resorted to road blockade and picketing against police >interference. More than 1000 workers were arrested including large >number of our supporters. Consequent protest against the arrest spread >all-over the city. >During preparations for the strike, Spark, a forum of vanguards, had >actively involved workers through intensive propaganda, agitation and >demonstration at grass root level exposing the BJP Govt. sellout of the >telecom sector to the US imperialists. Thus broadest possible >mobilization of workers to make the strike complete success could be >possible. After a period of stagnation, this time we achieved a >breakthrough in mobilizing a large number of agitators. This calls for >consolidation of the forces emerged in the struggle and expansion of >mass work. > > >Culture > >Hirawal Performs in Patna > >Hirawal, a performing team of Jan Sanskriti Manch,( cultural >forum)presented three songs, 'Ek din Raja marle aasmaan mein urat maina >na' written by Gorakh Pandey, 'Pahle daal mein kaala tha, ab kaale mein >daal hai' by Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena and 'Rahne ko ghar nahin hai >Hindostan hamara' by Ram Kumar Krishak, in drama form at Shakuntala >theatre of Kalidas Rangalaya in Patna on 8 September. Santosh Jha sang >the songs and directed the dramatic presentation. The presentation was >so live that it was received standing ovation from the spectators. On >the whole, it highlighted the crisis of culture due to the infiltration >by multinational companies. > > >International > > >The International Oil Crisis and India > >The current skyrocketing oil prices have hit around $36 a barrel on the >international market, compared to less than $10 just a few years ago. >Opec assurance to increase oil supply failed to calm panic at petrol >pumps and angry fuel protests numbling across Europe. Truckers, >protesting against diesel prices blockaded highways across Western >Europe, with Britain set to invoke emergency powers to prevent shortages >turning a national crisis. In London, petrol pumps ran dry after panic >buying swept Britain. In worst hit areas, rubbish went uncollected and >hospitals cancelled non-emergency services. Dutch truckers stages >wildcat blockades to stop traffic on motorways around Amsterdam and >Rotterdam. Striking French truckers have rejected the government�s >latest offer to end a dispute which has brought much of France to a >standstill. Lorry drivers and militant farmers are blockading nearly all >the oil refineries and fuel depots in the country as part of their >campaign for cheaper fuel. Over 80% of petrol stations have run dry and >rationing has already been imposed in some regions. >Fuel demand is high in developed nations, where it is essential to the >functioning of big industry. However, those countries have the resources >to face the costs. But the problem has caused consternation, >particularly in Asia, where there is a growing concern that the rise in >oil prices will bring about galloping inflation, leading to another >economic crisis. The gravity of the problem in India is evident from the >expanding oil pool deficit which rose from Rs.6000 cr. on March 31 to >Rs.7,500 cr. by the end of July. The deficit is now estimated at Rs.9000 >cr. and it may double before the end of this fiscal if prices continue >to stay where they are. The oil import bill for 2000-01 had earlier been >estimated at $17 bn. based on $28 a barrel. With prices ruling above >$33, the oil bill will exceed $20 bn. against last year's $10 bn. The >consequent burgeoning subsidy on diesel, kerosene and LPG will become >nearly impossible to sustain. Ram Naik is just waiting for PM to return >to announce a price hike. However, it is dismaying that contrary to the >belief that India would become self-sufficient in oil, or even an oil >exporting country following the discovery of oil in Bombay High in the >70s, the entire oil production by both ONGC and OIL, came down from >34.63 mn. tonnes in 95-96 to 27 mn. tonnes in 1999-2000. Within one >year, between 98-99 to 99-2000, there was a sharp decline in indigenous >production from 43.1% to 33.5% while imports went up during the same >period from 56.9% to 66.5% of domestic requirements. And the saffron >"Swadeshi" govt. is coolly presiding over the disaster consequent to >this decline in self-sufficiency. Thus the only hope to balance the ill >effect of international petroleum price hike has been belied. > > >Strengthen the Party Campaign > >Combat Individualism and Liberalism, Strengthen Party Unity and >Discipline > >"Whenever there are party members who swell with pride and whose >individualism is not resolutely checked by the party, these members will >contend for position, power and profit, traffic in flattery and favours, >engage in small-group activities and even commit the crime of helping >the enemy to disrupt and split the party ... Under the cloak of the >party's correct line, they seek to attain their personal ends by taking >advantage of the shortcomings or mistakes of some leading comrades and >differing opinions within the party, fomenting dissension, spreading >rumours and sometimes carrying illegal activities under false pretences. >If we are not politically sharp enough we are likely to be fooled... No >matter in what form and to what extent individualism manifests itself, >it goes against collectivism. Both bourgeois and petty bourgeois >individualism stem from bourgeois ideology. >We should make a distinction between activities that violate party >discipline and damage party unity and ordinary liberalism. Of course, >liberalism is a bad thing and it stems from bourgeois mentality, but it >is relatively mild failing. Many manifestations of liberalism mentioned >by Mao Zedong in his essay "Combat Liberalism" are of this ordinary >category. We should also make a distinction between a serious degree of >individualism and ordinary complacency... It is not unusual for people >in our party to become conceited when they have achieved a little in >their work. We should draw a distinction between that sort of >self-satisfaction and a serious degree of individualism. Of course, >ordinary liberalism and complacency can be made use of by individualists >who are engaged in activities that violate party discipline, and they >can develop into a serious degree of individualism. Then, is there any >difference between liberalism and complacency on the one hand and >individualism on the other? Yes, there is. The criterion is whether or >not the party member has personal ambition, jockeys for leadership, >damages party discipline and carries out anti party activities. If this >criterion is made clear to all, the political consciousness, vigilance >and combat effectiveness of the entire party membership, especially of >high ranking cadres will be greatly enhanced. All party members, >especially high-ranking cadres, should therefore combat and overcome not >only individualism, but also liberalism and complacency �. ---(Selected >Works of Zhou Enlai, Vol. lI, pp.129-138 > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
