ML Update A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine Vol.-5; No.-25; 19-25 June 2002
THE LAUNCH OF INDIA'S FIRST POKRAN-TO-PRESIDENCY MISSILE The nomination of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam as the NDA's candidate for the Presidency had close resemblance to the May 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran. Everybody knew that India had nuclear capability, and that the BJP was programmatically committed to nuclear weaponisation, but when Pokhran-II really happened even Washington said it had no specific intelligence or inkling about Pokhran happening. Similarly, the issue of presidential election was very much on the agenda for the last few weeks and Dr. Kalam's name had indeed figured as a possible name at a very early stage of the race. Yet, speculations revolved mostly around three names: KR Narayanan, PC Alexander and Krishan Kant. The announcement of Kalam's name created fissures not only in any potential consensus but also in the actually existing unity of the Opposition. The Lok Morcha became the first casualty with the Samajwadi Party openly rooting for Dr. Kalam. And with the Congress too throwing its weight behind Dr. Kalam, the growing post-Gujarat bonhomie between the Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front too faced its first test. After nearly three decades of hobnobbing with bourgeois parties, the CPI(M)-led Left Front finds itself waging a lonely and losing battle over the office of the President. Two reasons are generally being put forward to explain the choice of Dr. Kalam as the NDA candidate. One, after Gujarat the BJP needed to project a Muslim face to give a facelift to its own shattered image. The other reason is Kalam's eminence as a missile engineer, as a key architect of India's nuclear weaponisation programme which has already fetched him the Bharat Ratna award. Now, Kalam himself has gone on record ruling out the theory that he was chosen because of his religion. It is of course true that the BJP considers Dr. Kalam to be not only a Muslim but a model Muslim who fully conforms to the Golwalkar criterion that religious minorities must renounce every bit of their identity. Let us however focus on the most widely known identity of Dr. Kalam as India's Missile Man. It is not known what he thinks about the rabid communal character of the BJP's agenda as revealed from Ayodhya to Gujarat, but it is well known that his vision of India as a nuclear power backed by a powerful military-industrial complex coincides with the RSS's vision of 'national glory'. As the Panchajanya editor Tarun Vijay wrote in The Pioneer in March 2000: "Indianism is ... Hindutva. ... you can be what you like but share the same vision of Dr Abdul Kalam... This vision is the driving force behind the RSS." The choice of Dr. Kalam for the highest Constitutional post of the country is loaded with this message of aggressive militarisation. The CPI(M), while opposing Kalam's candidature, is however shy about targeting this specific and most relevant aspect of the symbolism. Its argument that Kalam's nomination should be opposed simply because his name has been proposed by the NDA trivialises the whole issue and is in fact contradicted by its own political record in recent past. Even after Gujarat on two crucial occasions, the CPI(M) and its Left Front partners fell in line with a BJP-dictated consensus, first over the choice of Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi for the post of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and then in authorising the Vajpayee government to take appropriate action against Pakistan after the Kaluchak incident of May 14. If the CPI(M) is really so serious about utilising the Presidential election as a political contest, should it not at least have done adequate homework? It is only when its own edifice of first a consensus and then a Congress-backed contest collapsed like a house of cards that it swung into rearguard action and fielded Dr. Laxmi Sehgal. And if all the CPI(M)'s non-Left allies have deserted it on such a crucial political question as the Presidential election, does it not go to show once again that all its political alliances with bourgeois parties have been thriving essentially on the ground of parliamentary opportunism? While welcoming the idea of an ideological-political contest around the Presidential election and supporting the candidature of Dr. Lakshmi Sehgal, we must emphasise the relevant political lessons for the future of the Left and democratic movement in the country. CPI(ML) WELCOMES LAXMI SEHGAL'S CANDIDATURE While welcoming the candidature of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal for the forthcoming presidential election, CPI(ML) said that "While the BJP is desperate to utilize the presidential election to promote its dangerous agenda of aggressive militarization and saffron subversion of the republic, all Left, democratic and progressive forces should come forward to resist this agenda and uphold the banner of democracy and independence." Earlier, in a statement issued in the wake of dissolution of 'People's Front', Party said "We welcome the Left parties' opposition to the NDA's nomination of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam for the office of the President of India. Dr. Kalam is a key architect of India's nuclear weaponisation programme and is also well known for his ardent advocacy of a stronger military-industrial complex. Choosing such an individual for the President's office is perfectly in line with the Sangh Parivar's line of aggressive militarisation and Advani's doctrine of defence as the key to development, but it certainly does not augur well for the Indian people's quest for peace, development and democracy." Party welcomed the dissolution of "the so-called People's Front" which was "nothing more than an electoral understanding of the CPI(M) and CPI with the Samajwadi Party... born in the laboratory of electoral pragmatism". The Party held that while "a broad-based confederation of Left and democratic forces is indeed necessary as a vehicle of anti-fascist anti-imperialist people's movement", the so-called People's Front, during its two years of paralytic existence, showed no inclination to grow in this direction. The collapse of the People's Front has once again underlined the paramount need for a principled, broad-based and movement-oriented unity of the Left. While cherishing this orientation, we strongly oppose any idea of a strategic partnership between the Left and the Congress. We call upon all activists and supporters of the Left in the country to remain vigilant and see to it that the ignominious demise of the farce perpetrated in the name of the People's Front does not mark a resurrection of a Congress-Left alliance. ANTI-WAR, ANTI-IMPERIALIST PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS HELD NATIONWIDE The CPI(ML) held 'anti-war-anti-imperialist' peace demonstration on 13 June in Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Avanigadda and Chennai and several other centres of the country. On this occasion, while addressing the peace marchers in Delhi Party Gen. Secy. Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya called for demobilisation of troops from the Indo-Pak border, complete restoration of all diplomatic ties and resumption of direct bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. Hundreds of Party activists and supporters carrying placards, banners and flags held an anti-war peace demonstration at Jantar-Mantar and organised the meeting. Representatives of other Communist and democratic organisations including the SUCI, CPI(ML)-Red Flag and CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative also joined it. Addressing the peace-marchers, Com. Dipankar said, "BJP govt. was itching for war, but thanks to the pressure exerted by the peace loving people in India and Pakistan and the subcontinental diaspora, the war moves have been stalled for the time being and the govt. has been forced to beat a partial retreat ... Vajpayee govt. must be pressurised to adopt concrete measures like demobilisation of troops and resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. And to set the stage for free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir, state repression must be brought to an end and general amnesty granted to all political activists who are currently languishing in Indian Jails." He noted that "It is indeed ironical that the Bush and Blair administrations, two of the biggest suppliers of weapons to the region, are being lauded as brokers of peace." Describing the US-UK intervention in South Asia as a 'danger to the peace' here, he called upon all peace loving people in India and Pakistan to reject the imperialist intervention and the rulers' capitulation to the imperialists in no uncertain terms and hailed the anti-war peace initiatives taken by the subcontinental diaspora in Britain, Canada and America. Those participating in the demonstration and addressing the meeting include CPI(ML) leaders B Sivaraman, PV Srinivas, Swapan Mukherjee, Rajendra Pratholi, Ranjit Abhigyan, and CPI( ML)-Unity Initiative leader PK Murthy, SUCI leader Pratap Samal and Red Flag leader Uma Kant. Former Member Planning Commission SP Shukla also joined the demonstration. In UP, a dharna was staged in Lucknow before the Assembly and another dharna was there in Allahabad. The same day a march, paticipated in by around 100 people, was brought out in Muradabad from railway station to the DM office. Presided over by veteran Party leader Com. Iswarchand, the Lucknow dharna was addressed by Jan Sanskriti Manch Gen. Secy. Ajay Singh, RYA Gen. Secy. Lal Bahadur Singh, Party State leader Madan Singh, state leaders of AIPWA and AISA Com. Ajanta Lohit and Rakesh Singh. In Varansai, Party organised a 6-km long march from BHU gate to Chittaranjan Park through busiest areas of the city. In Bihar, an "Anti-war, anti-imperialist peace march" was taken out from Party's state office to Patna railway station where it converted into a meeting. The march was led by Com. Nand Kishor Prasad, Party state secretary Com. Ramjatan Sharma, Com. Ramji Rai, Rameshwar Prasad, Rajaram Singh, Satyadev Ram, Vidyanand Vikal and other leaders. Senior advocate Ratneshwar Prasad, Com. Arvind Sinha of CPI(ML) Unity Initiative, Sachidanand Prabhat of AIPRF, Priyadarshi of Jan Sangharsh Vahini were also present. In Chennai, a street corner meeting was held by Party in a Muslim-dominated area, in which Com. Chandrasekar of SUCI and Com. Jagannadhan of CPI also participated. Com. S. Kumarasami, CCM, called upon the working class to play a vanguard role in fighting against jingoism, national chauvinism true to the Leninist tradition. Com. Sekar of Chennai City Committee presided over the meeting. Comrades KR Palaniappan and Munusami also addressed the gathering. In Port Blair of Andaman, Party staged demonstration and conducted street corner meetings against the escalating war-like tension between the two nuclear-power neighbours. They also decried intervention by US and Britain. A printed appeal issued by the Party in this regard was also distributed among the public. Anti-war protest was also held at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. BIHAR DIARY "Ghera dalo, Dera dalo" movement is underway since 10 June at block office of Sahar in Bhojpur district to press the demands concerning road, electricity and development. Broad masses of the peasantry as well as people belonging to all political parties are joining the agitation in large numbers. This is the first ever movement of its kind on the issue of development of a block. The dharna at the block office was also addressed by ex-MLA Com. Chandradeep Singh and ex-MP and convenor of BPKMS Com. Rameshwar Prasad. Prior to this, a meeting of all grassroots people's representatives (including mukhiyas, pramukhs and members of panchayat samitis and the district council) called by Party MLA from Sahar Com. Ram Naresh Ram had resolved to launch an unrelenting movement on these issues. In the meantime a delegation led by Com. Ram Naresh Ram met the Chief Minister and the ministers for road construction and electricity and submitted the memoranda and warned them of the movement. Around 300 agrarian laboures of Hazratpur Madro panchayat, led by Bihar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha leader Com. Nankoo Majhi, and armed with traditional weapons, gheraoed Kasar police station of Ariari block in Sheikhpura district on 1 June. They were protesting the beating of agrarian labourers by a sub-inspector in connivance with the contractor. The gherao was lifted only after police officials came out and apologised. On 3 June a large demonstration was held at Dhamdaha subdivisional office in Purnia protesting against rising criminal activities and demanding development of the region. It was addressed by CC member Com. Saroj Chaube, Com. Rameshwar Prasad and RYA president Com. Mithilesh Yadav. On 5 June, AIPWA organised a dharna and meeting in Patna to protest the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel. Presided over by Jharo Devi, the meet was addressed by AIPWA leaders Shashi Yadav, Anita, Damyanti Sinha and Abida Khatoon. RYA organised a march in Patna on 13 June to protest hike in petrol and diesel prices and burnt the effigy of the Prime Minister Vajpayee. STATEWIDE AGITATION BY PEASANT AND AGRARIAN LABOUR IN WEST BENGAL At the call of Peasant Association and Agrarian Labour Association, statewide road blockade and dharna programme was held on 17 June to press four demands: (1) Support price of paddy to be raised to Rs.530 per quintal (presently at Rs.320); (2) Publication of the revised BPL list by the govt.; (3) A state legislation for agrarian labourers; and (4) No to the state agrarian policy based on US multinational McKinsey. At various points the copy of this report was also burnt. Under this programme, tens of thousands of peasants and agrarian labourers came out, blocked the highways and staged dharna before authorities. In Dhubulia of Nadia, around 700 agitators blocked the national highway. Police arrested around 250 of them. In Bardhaman, around 150 agitators blocked the road at Parulia. In Murshidabad, road was blocked at Kandi and around 500 agitators gheraoed the SDM office. In Maldah, BDO office was gheroed at Kaliachak and national highway was blocked. In North Dinajpur, around 750 agitators participated in road blockades at Islampur, Chopra, Kanki and Goalpukur, and dharna was staged at BDO office in Raiganj and Hematabad. Police resorted to lathicharge at Raiganj. In North Bengal, around 250 agitators staged protest at Phansideva block in Naxalbari region of Darjeeling district. At Mainagudi of Jalpaiguri district, BDO office was gheraoed. PONDICHARRY INDUSTRIAL AREA GENERAL STRIKE Around 10,000 workers conducted a successful general strike in Sethurampet Industrial Estate. It was organised by a joint action committee of AICCTU and AIADMK and PMK led trade unions. At the beginning of the strike, the PMK and AIADMK leadership withdrew from it but the affiliated unions, defying the leadership, joined the strike. A huge police detachment was deployed to lay a virtual siege on the whole industrial estate, but the workers stood undaunted. They demanded floor-level minimum wages based on consumer price index and reopening of closed units and lifting of lockouts, reduction of working hours and abolition of contract labour. AIPWA TEAM VISITED RIOT-HIT GUJARAT No faith can be restored among the riot-affected people of Gujarat unless Narendra Modi is removed and police and administrative officials who participated in the pogrom are dismissed and tried, and unbiased relief and rehabilitation work is undertaken. This was the inference drawn by the AIPWA team that visited several relief camps and anti-minority riot affected areas in Ahmedabad from 13 to 16 June. The 5-member team comprising Com. Gita Das, national president, Kumudini Pati, Gen. Secy., Saroj Chaube, secretary, Delhi convenor Sunita and Rajasthan leader Sudha also met the authorities and handed over a memorandum to them. The team expressed serious concern on the continuing violence and deep communal division in the society and announced to hold nationwide protest on July 2 with the call "stop giving clean chit to the killer Gujarat govt.; punish the guilty and guarantee relief and rehabilitation to the victims". ASSAULT ON NBA PROTESTERS CONDEMNED CPI(ML) condemned the arrest of 200 Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) protesters in Bhopal on 15 June while holding a peaceful dharna to demand that the govt. implement its own order of providing land to rehabilitate the dam affected people. AISA president Com. Kavita Krishnan, who went to Bhopal to express our solidarity with the activists of NBA, witnessed the brutal use of state terror to evict the villagers, even handpumps and other water resources were being sealed by the M.P. govt. Party demanded immediate release of all the arrested NBA protesters and proper rehabilitation to the displaced persons. LAND SEIZURE MOVEMENT IN RAYAGADA, ORISSA Hundreds of adivasi landless and poor peasants led by Party and the peasant organisation seized 36 acres of land in two villages of Rayagada district of Orissa on 6 and 11 June. The land seizure movement was conducted heroically defying the feudal threat and administrative highhndedness. Later a successful gherao of authorities was organised by the Party in which around 600 landless and poor peasants participated. ADMISSION ASSISTANCE BY AISA AISA in Delhi University has put up "admission assistance booths" from 5 June. Around 25,000 forms have been distributed and around 5000 new students have been approached. A leaflet citing new achievements of AISA and opposing communal fascism is also being distributed. Despite being disturbed by police and authorities, AISA activists are enthusiastic in their drive. Demonstration in Pakistan: WE WANT BREAD, NOT BOMBS A peace demonstration called by four Left parties of Pakistan, viz. National Workers Party, Labour Party Pakistan, Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) and Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party held on 13 June demanded an immediate halt to all war preparations from the borders of India and Pakistan. It demanded an immediate withdrawal of all forces from the borders, de-escalation of tension and a right of self determination of Kashmiri nation. It also demanded an immediate withdrawal of all American and other imperialist forces from the region. The demonstration held at Lahore Press Club was part of a larger mobilization of Left forces in Indian sub continent. It was also attended by several trade union federations and social organizations. Renowned human right activists Asma Jehangir also participated in the demonstration. The demonstrators chanted slogans like, we want bread, not bombs, No to war, yes to peace, No to nuclear madness, Imperialists out of the region, Down with American imperialism, Bush is a murderer, Right of self determination for Kashmir, withdraw forces from the borders and so on. The demonstrators gathered at Lahore Press Club and made a round of the square. Police in large numbers. Over a 1000 demonstrators, mainly left wing activists, social organization members, trade union activists and youth from working class communities, raised sky high slogans which inspired every one and it became a very charged demonstration. After the round of the square, Abid Hasan Minto, president National Workers Party, Farooq Tariq, generals secretary Labour Party Pakistan, Dr. Mubashar Hasan president People Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Amir member national committee Communist Mazdoor Kissan party Punjab and Taj Mohammed Langah of Saraiki Party spoke briefly to the demonstrators. The speakers stressed the need of a Left unity in Pakistan to fight for peace and social justice in the region. They spoke of the need to de-escalate the tension and held American policies responsible for the recent tension between India and Pakistan. They spoke against nuclearisation of the region and demanded a reduction in defense expenditures. Speakers were delighted that the Indian Left parties have agreed to have a common day of action in the region and that there are demonstrations across India today and hoped that more united action of the Left forces in India and Pakistan will be organized in future. They demanded opening up the borders for the citizens of the region and development of trade relationship between the two countries. It was the first united action of the left parties of Pakistan, which has helped strengthen the confidence of the left forces. A large numbers of women organization including Women Workers help Line and Women Action Forum were also present. ________________________________________ http://www.cpiml.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
