>Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:59:52 +0530 >From: "CPI(ML) LIberation" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >ML Update >A CPI(ML) News Magazine >Vol:3; No.33; 23-8-2000 > >Editorial: > >Against Regional Disparity, >Against perpetuating Backwardness > >It is no longer a secret that the decade of new economic policy has led >to an alarming accentuation of regional disparity in this country. The >reason is also not difficult to understand. Even before the new economic >policy was introduced we had widespread regional disparity in India. The >core Hindi belt states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar >Pradesh (acronymed BIMARU) had already fallen way behind in terms of >almost every major indicator of socio-economic development. While the >extreme backwardness of this region could be partly attributed to >socio-economic and cultural factors specific to this region, the >Centre’s policies and the skewed framework of Centre-states relations >were no less responsible. The policy of freight equalization had offset >much of the geographical advantage that could have otherwise accrued to >resource-rich states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Many other aspects >of the prevailing economic model were also dictated by the approach of >‘betting on the strong’ and tilted in favour of the already advanced >states. >The abolition of the so-called license-quota-permit raj of the >Nehru-Indira era was expected to remove many of these anomalies and pave >the way for rapid economic development of the backward regions under the >aegis of the free market economy of the 1990s. At least this is what the >bourgeois economists and other apologists of economic liberalization had >asked us to expect. But the result has been precisely the opposite. >Devoid of any kind of state regulation or policy restriction, capital is >abandoning backward regions and gravitating further towards already >developed regions thereby widening the gap between advanced and backward >regions. According to a recent Planning Commission study, the fifteen >major Indian states (barring the ten special category states of >Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, >Sikkim, Goa, Himachal and J&K) now stand clearly divided into two >categories ‘forward’ and ‘backward’ with the latter list including apart >from the four BIMARU states Orissa, Assam and West Bengal as well. In >1995-96 the highest per capita development expenditure was recorded in >Maharashtra (Rs. 491) and the lowest in Bihar (Rs. 161). >Against this backdrop of widening inter-state disparities, the Eleventh >Finance Commission (EFC) has slightly enhanced the relative allocations >for the backward states, which may perhaps be described as a sort of >affirmative action of a cosmetic kind akin to reservation for OBCs. But >this has evoked strong protests from the so-called forward states and >the Chief Ministers’ conclave held in Delhi at the call of Chandrababu >Naidu saw the coming together of state governments cutting across party >divisions. Their plea is that the EFC’s latest allocations amount to >penalizing progressive and performing states and patronizing their poor >and non-performing counterparts. This argument is akin to the stock >arguments supporting elimination of reservation and subsidies for the >disadvantaged and the needy. >Interestingly, the conclave of these ‘forward’ state Chief Ministers in >Delhi coincided with the massive Parliament March organized by the Bihar >unit of CPI(ML) demanding a special development package for India’s >second most populous and poor province. Braving an inclement weather >thousands of toiling people came all the way from Bihar and marched to >Parliament ignoring heavy August rains. Their slogans: “Anchalik Vishmta >Dur Karo, Bihar ke Vikas kee Guarantee Karo” (Eliminate Regional >Disparity, Guarantee Bihar’s Development) and “Vikas ke Naam par Loot >Nahin, Dilli-Patna ko Chhut Nahin” (Development Funds Are Not for Loot, >Delhi and Patna Must Deliver the Goods). >This resolute response of the toiling people from abandoned Bihar is a >clear pointer to the growing antagonism between the beneficiaries and >victims of the new economic order of liberalization, privatization and >globalisation. Seen in the context of widening regional disparities, >Bihar’s backwardness becomes a major stumbling block to any kind of >national progress. Bihar therefore is one of the biggest national >issues. Also, the slogans rightly pointed to the interconnection between >the external and internal dimensions of Bihar’s economic backwardness. >If Bihar is being sought to be reduced to an abandoned colony of the >Indian rulers and their global capitalist bosses, the governing elite of >Bihar are an equal partner in this crime. The battle against Bihar’s >backwardness will therefore have to be waged and won by the toiling >people themselves. > > >Massive March to Parliament > >CPI(ML) Demands >Special Package for Bihar’s Development > >CPI(ML) General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya, while addressing a >massive rally near Parliament today in Delhi, said that Bihar has >virtually been reduced to an abandoned territory in this era of >globalisation and retreat of the state. India’s second most populous >state has been left in the lurch and the toiling millions are suffering >from the worst kind of poverty and economic deprivation. But the people >of Bihar will not take this lying down and if the powers that be in New >Delhi and Patna do not change their policies and come up with an urgent >package for Bihar’s guaranteed development, the people will wage a do or >die battle to secure economic justice. > >Around 20,000 people from various Bihar districts marched from Ramleela >ground to the Parliament Street braving torrential rains. Addressing the >marchers near Parliament, Com. Dipankar held the lack of political will >on the part of both NDA and the RJD-Congress combine squarely >responsible for Bihar’s backwardness and asserted that the fight >therefore had to be not merely for a few billions of rupees but for >formulation of appropriate policies and their sincere implementation. >Outlining the CPI(ML)’s five-point package for Bihar’s development, Com. >Dipankar insisted on (i) declaring Bihar a special category state and >waiving all outstanding debts of the state; (ii) formation of a special >task force for flood control and immediate implementation of all pending >flood-control projects; (iii) revamping of the state’s beleaguered >education system and setting up of centres of specialized higher >education including IIT and software technology centres to stop brain >drain away from the state; (iv) injection of heavy dose of public >investment in key infrastructural sectors including irrigation, power, >roads and transportation; and (v) revival of all sick and closed >industrial units and setting up of agro-based industries. > >Other leaders including Bihar State Secretary Ram Jatan Sharma, senior >leader KD Yadav and Party legislators Satyadev Ram, Mehboob Alam and >Arun Kumar Singh also lambasted the Central government for perpetrating >a fraud on the people of Bihar and accused the RJD government of >patronizing corrupt and mafia elements who are standing as stumbling >blocks before Bihar’s progress. The leaders congratulated the people of >Jharkhand on the creation of a separate Jharkhand state and reiterated >the CPI(ML)’s resolve to maintain close ties of mutual cooperation >between Bihar and Jharkhand. > >The Parliament march was the first demonstration of the simmering >popular resentment in Bihar against the continuing neglect by successive >governments of the basic developmental needs of Bihar. Calling upon >Bihar youth Com. Dipankar said, "Poor and toiling youth are bearing the >brunt of backwardness of Bihar, so the struggle for Bihar's development >is their struggle and they will have to play the leading role." > >AISA Protests Privatisation of Education > >Protesting against opening the doors of legal studies for privatisation >by Tamil Nadu Govt., students of Ambedkar Law University in Chennai >staged a road block, in which AISA played a leading role, with hundreds >of law college students participating. The protesters condemned the >anti-students policies of the State and Central governments and UGC and >Bar Council of India which approved the measures of privatisation and >demanded its withdrawal. On 17 August, a hall meeting was also held on >this demand, participated in by 100 students of eight colleges in the >city. > > >AIPWA Protests Sexual Harrassment > >Protesting sexual harassment of a woman worker in Ambattur Clothing >Ltd., and the biased attitude of the management, an AIPWA team demanded >suspension of the culprit and inclusion of an AIPWA member in the >enquiry. The management was forced to accepted the demands. AIPWA also >held a demonstration against sexual harassment of women at workplace. > >Workers Rally Against 2nd Labour Commission > >In Chennai, 300 workers participated in a rally and a public meeting >held by AICCTU on August 15, held in lieu of culmination of its >nationwide campaign against Second Labor Commission. > > >Reports from Bihar > >Under the banner of All India Carriage and Wagon Association, >railworkers staged an agitated demonstration at Patna Junction on 18 >August and submitted a memorandum to the branch engineer demanding >withdrawal of suspension on Ramchandra Prasad, a fitter; no cut in wages >of employees under treatment of railway doctor, and a check on >arbitrariness of senior branch engineer. A demonstration on these >demands will be staged before DRM on 25 August. >Led by Party's Paliganj Area committee in Patna district, more than 500 >landless labourers ploughed and planted paddy on 4 bigha land of Khapuri >Math under Dulhin Bazar PS. This land is under possession of Rajipur >Math, of which 45 bigha land was captured by peasants led by Bihar >Pradesh Kisan Sabha. Following Haibuspur massacre, landlords of Khapuri >village with the backing of Ranvir Sena tried to snatch 8 bigha of land >from agrarian labourers. Local police imposed section 144 and issued >notice to agrarian labourers under section 107. Despite all these >obstacles, peasants planted paddy on that land. > >In Moriawan village of Dhanarua block, a people's court was held on 11 >August under the leadership of AIPWA district secy. Com. Damyanti Sinha, >which punished an upper caste lumpen element for attempt to molest a >minor girl. The people's court was attended by 500 people. > >A Ranvir Sena squad abducted a barber Upendra Thakur at Naubatpur Lock >in Patna district, but in the face of people's agitation and the >pressure built up on police immediately, Ranvir Sena was compelled to >release him. > >AIPWA in Patna took out a procession on 17 August demanding passage of >women's reservation bill in this session of Lok Sabha. The mass meeting >held at Radio Station was addressed by Com. Saroj Chaube, Anita and >other leaders. > >On 18 August, following a pledge-taking meeting in memory of martyr >Comrade Vishwanath Ram, a memorial column was erected in Narhi, his >ancestral village. More than 2,000 people attended it. The foundation >stone of the memorial was laid by Party PB member Com. Ram Naresh Ram > > >Student-Youth Front Formed, Dharna ( passive picketing) Before Assembly >in Lucknow > >A student-youth struggle front (Chhatra-Yuva Sangharsh Morcha) >(Student-youth Struggle Front) was formed in Allahabad comprising AISA, >SFI, AISF, RYA, Inquilabi Chhatra Sabha,(Revolutionary Student >Assosition) Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha( Democratic Student Assosiation) >and anti-BJP student leaders. The front held a dharna ( passive >picketing) before the Senate Hall on 9 August, they organised a >convention on 14 August in Student Union Hall of Allahabad University >paticipated in by 250 student representatives. In Allahabad and Lucknow >students have launched successful movements against order to vacate >hostels. In Ghazipur and Deoria students organised successful bandh >(General Strike) In BHU students had formed a human chain at the >district headquarter and on 14 August observed fast in their campus. In >Kheri district, AISA submitted a memorandum to district administration >on problems of girl students in GGCI, Lakhimpur. On August 18 student >youth leaders from various parts of U.P., especially from BHU, Allahabad >and Lucknow universities converged in Lucknow to protest against BJP >govt.'s grossly anti-student policies. In the day-long dharna before the >Assembly, a call was given to observe state level strike on 1 September. > >It was also decided that demonstrations will be staged in university >campus and district headquarters on 28 August throughout the state and >the effigy of Chief Minister and UP education minister will be burnt. A >student-youth convention will be organised at Sampoornand Sanskrit >University in Varanasi on 13 September. > >Reports from Raiganj, W.B. > >A public meeting was held under CPI(ML) banner in Sheetgram area of >Raiganj district in West Bengal on 16 August to protest against eviction >of bargadars and implicating them in false cases. Distt. Party Secy Com. >Ajit Das, Ganesh Chhetri and veteran Com. Basu Kora addressed the >meeting presided by Com. Titha Das. >District level RYA convention was held on 16 August in Raiganj, >participated in by 200 youth. It opposed the anti-people and repressive >policies of the Centre and State government. It was followed by a >procession. > > >State-Level Party Workshop in U.P. > >A three-day state-level party workshop was organised in Lucknow on 17-19 >August. Papers presented and discussed in the workshop include "Lenin's >writings on Marxist theory", "Thesis on caste and class by Com. VM", >"CPI(M)'s draft programme in the light of Indian communist movement" >"Agrarian labour organisation", "Study of development of capitalism in >agriculture in UP" and "Present political situation and Strengthen the >Party", presented by Com. Gopal Pradhan, Pranay Krishna, Dinesh, Dr. >M.M. Diwakar and Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh, secretary of UP State >Committee. Altogether 62 selected comrades participated in the workshop >including 3 invited from Uttarakhand. > >Party School in Kheri > >A three-day Party school was held in Kheri district under Strengthen the >Party campaign, attended by 25 cadres. Mao Zedong's three articles, >combat liberalism, on tactics as well as papers presented by Distt. >Party Secy. Com. Purushottam Sharma on the tactical line of our party >and agrarian programme and ideological problems regarding party building >in Kheri were discussed. > >CPI/CPM Ranks Join CPI(ML) in Darbhanga > >More than 60 leaders and cadres, mainly from CPI and CPI(M), joined >CPI(ML) in a special convention organised by Darbhanga District Party >Committee in Darbhanga on 3 August. Com. Ram Jatan Sharma, Secy. of >Bihar State Committee of CPI(ML) was the chief guest in the convention >presided over by Com. Dhirendra Jha, Secy. of Darbhanga district Party >committee. The entire CPI committee of Biarul subdivision merged itself >into CPI(ML). Thus CPI(ML) achieved an expansion in a big way in the >eastern part of Darbhanga district. Important among those who came are >Laxmi Naik, district executive member, Ram Chritra Ram and Ram Bahadur >Sada from CPI, and Jagdish Bhagat, Biranchi Sah and Siyaram Rai from >CPI(M). A number of cadres from other left parties like SUCI also joined >CPI(ML) in this convention. > > >Jahanabad Bandh > >Following a minor conflict between a backward boy (14 years) and a girl >belonging to upper caste, PWG in connivance with Ranvir Sena and police >twice held a "Jan Adalat"(“ people’s court”) in Bedauli village of Patna >district to punish the boy with severe beating, Rs.10,000 fine, got his >head shaved and paraded him in the village. All this happened while >police picket at Imamganj is just 100 yards away. When students held a >protest meeting against this on 18 August, police resorted to brutal and >indiscriminate lathicharge and firing. Three students were caught by >police and killed in the most brutal manner. Next day, when people with >the corpses of the students held a militant demonstration demanding >Chief Minster intervention, police once again conducted brutal >lathicharge and teargas shelling, injuring 50-60 persons including >dozens of women. AISA leader Sushil Kumar too was arrested. Enraged >people set Imamganj police picket on fire. Party leaders Ramji Rai, >Saroj Chaube, Rajaram Singh, MLA and Rameshwar Prasad visited the place >and addressed a mass meeting. Jahanabad bandh( General Strike) on 20 >August called by AISA-RYA evoked massive response and street conrner >meetings against police atrocity were organised at various places in >Bihar on the same day. > >Ayurvedic College Students Win Their Demand > >Ayurvedic students demonstrating in Bihar University, Muzaffarpur for >taking examination along with Govt. Ayurvedic College were severely >beaten up by police on two consecutive days. The students rejected the >offer of mediation by ABVP, Chhatra Samata and other leaders, and under >the leadership of AISA waged a movement against police repression. A >procession demanding suspension of the OC was taken out and the SDO >promised to take legal action. But the University was closed on 7 >August. AISA took out a march burning the effigy of vice chancellor in >support to the students on dharna. (passive picketing) When the students >decided to commit self immolation and in fact had initiated it, the >police intervened and thrashed them brutally and then arrested them. In >protest AISA started a dharna (passive picketing) before SP office and >talked to DM. The students were released and action against OC was >promised. After this the pro-vice chancellor proclaimed to accept >students' demand. > > >International: > >Militant General Strike in Columbia > >A most militant national 24-hour strike on August 2, to protest >Colombia’s unpopular austerity measures and record unemployment saw >700,000 workers walk off their jobs.There was widespread street battles >and workers clashed with police in four cities around the country and >police fired water cannon and tear gas. One worker in the southwestern >city of Cali suffered a bullet wound. Teachers, medical staff, workers >engaged in oil, transport, telecommunications and government >administrative workers were among those involved in the strike. >It was the sixth strike against President Andres Pastrana’s deeply >unpopular economic policies causing the highest unemployment rate in >Latin America. It also represented the first challenge for new Finance >Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who has pledged a 2001 budget of “sweat and >tears,” including 5,000 public-sector job cuts and wage increases only >below the inflation rate as instructed by IMF. > Preparing for the worst, however, security forces were out in force in >Bogota, utilizing tanks and riot police to guard key routes. In >Colombia’s central coffee-growing region, Indian and peasant protesters >blocked a highway, and Marxist rebels bombed a high-voltage power pylon >in the northwestern industrial hub of Medellin, a police spokesman said. >Union leaders sent a message to President Pastrana that they were not >ready to let workers suffer the worst of Colombia’s economic crisis. >The impact of the strike was most visible in working-class neighborhoods >in the south. In the southern Soacha neighborhood, four tanks patrolled >the main highway — a key entry point to the capital from the nearby >mountain region of Sumapaz, is a Marxist rebel stronghold. Public >transportation grounded to a halt, forcing citizens to pile aboard >pickup trucks, cycle or walk to work. Some 15,000 workers marched >through downtown Bogota and massed in the central Plaza Bolivar square >outside Congress waving banners and chanting anti-government slogans. > The strike is the first since Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia >(FARC), the largest surviving rebe guerrilla group, launched its >clandestine political movement, the Bolivarian Movement for a New >Colombia. Colombia is already the third-largest recipient of U.S. >military aid in the world. Since the US Congress approved a record $1.3 >billion package of mostly military aid to help Colombian right wing >regime to fight revolutionary forces, the FARC was on an offensive >repeatedly has attacked police outposts around the country. > > >Strengthen the Party Campaign > >Role of the Party papers > >* A basic principle of Marxism-Leninism is to enable the masses to know >their own interests and unite to fight for their own interests. The role >and power of newspaper consists in their ability to bring the party >programme, the party line, the party's general and specific policies, >its tasks and methods of work before the masses in the quickest and most >extensive way. To carry the ideological education on the mass line one >of the method is to make full use of the news papers. To run the >newspaper well, to make it interesting and absorbing, to give correct >publicity in the newspapers to the party's general and specific policies >and to strengthen the party's ties with the masses through the >newspapers -- this is an important question of principle in our party's >work which is not to be taken slightly. > >* To be good at translating the Party's policy into action of the >masses, to be good at getting not only the leading cadres but also the >broad masses to understand and master every movement and every struggle >we launch -- this is an art of Marxist-Leninist leadership. It is also >the dividing line that determines whether or not we make mistake in our >work. If we tried to go on the offensive when the masses are not yet >awakened, that would be adventurism. If we insisted on leading the >masses to do anything against their will, we would certainly fail. If we >do not advance when the masses demand advance, that would be right >opportunism. ... Our papers should propagate these ideas well so that >everyone can understand them. > >* You must retain the former merits of your paper -- it should be sharp, >pungent and clear-cut and it should be run conscientiously. We must >firmly uphold the truth, and truth require clear-cut stand. We >Communists always disdained to conceal our views. Newspapers run by our >party and all propaganda work of our party should be vivid, clear-cut >and sharp and should never mutter and mumble. That is the militant style >proper to us, the revolutionary proletariat. Since we want to teach the >people to know the truth and arouse them to fight for their own >emancipation, we need this militant style. A blunt knife draws no blood. >( Mao Zedong, Selected Works Vol.IV ). > _______________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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