[Marxism] ML Update Vol. 11 No. 51 16 - 22 DECEMBER 2008

["CPIML Liberation" <cpimllib@xxxxxxxxx>]

 *ML** Update*

***A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine***

*Vol. 11       No. 51**      16 - 22 DECEMBER 2008***

*
*

*Grasp the Situation and Grab the Opportunities!*

*Consolidate and Expand the Gains on All Fronts!!*

*Strengthen the Party and Unleash the Full Initiative of the Entire
Organisation!!!*

Central Committee's Call for the Pledge Campaign

(18 December, 2008 – 16 January, 2009)

*(In lieu of editorial)*

*fter decades of aggressive expansion, world capitalism is passing through a
period of grave crisis. Big banks and other financial institutions have
begun to collapse like nine pins in the US, the headquarters of the world
capitalist economy. Huge sums of money are being pumped in by the American
state to somehow keep these moribund institutions going. Passionate
believers and advocates of unassailable American supremacy have begun
talking about the decline of the US and a global shift of power from the
West to the East. *

*For communists and anti-imperialists who had been sought to be pushed back
by the marauding offensive of corporate globalisation and imperialist war,
the time has come to hit back and surge ahead. Right in the US, the American
people have made their presence felt through a powerful mandate in the
recent Presidential elections which goes beyond the symbolism of sending for
the first time a Black man to the White House. Inspired by the bold examples
of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia, Latin America continues to defy the hegemony
of US imperialism. Across the world, more and more people are getting
organised to challenge the offensive of the US-led imperialist camp on all
fronts. *

*Conditions are now particularly ripe in India for launching a powerful
popular assault on the policies of the Indian ruling classes. Our comprador
rulers have always looked up to the US as the ultimate model, following
US-designed policies in every sphere. As a consequence of increased
integration with the US, we are now importing every aspect of America's
crisis on to our soil. While the financial crisis has been triggered by Wall
Street, the three-day siege of Mumbai that has come to be known as India's
9/11 clearly showed that as a strategic ally of the US, India has now become
a key theatre and target for global terrorism. With the comprador rulers
getting increasingly discredited and exposed, revolutionary communists must
come forward to save the country from the crisis that has been inflicted by
imperialism and its Indian lackeys. *

*The elitist economic policies catering to the greed of the rich and the
powerful and ignoring the need of the working people, rural or urban, have
landed the country into a comprehensive economic crisis. Yet in the name of
checking the economic crisis, the government is announcing further
concessions for foreign capital and Indian monopolies. Even in a situation
of crisis, the government diverts more resources in favour of capitalists by
depriving the working people. We must resist this course and fight more
vigorously for the basic needs of the masses. *

*77% of Indian people live on a daily expenditure of less than Rs. 20. It is
only by increasing the income and purchasing power of these people that the
domestic economy can be saved and home market expanded. The way to
rejuvenation of the national economy lies in the working class resistance to
the onslaught of big capital, in the rural poor's fight for employment,
wages, land, housing and subsidised supply of foodgrains and other articles
of mass consumption, the peasants' struggle for cheaper inputs and easier
low-interest credit and the student-youth battle for right to education and
employment.*

*Even as we fight for a self-reliant economy and a vibrant democratic
polity, the current crisis is also providing fodder and fuel to fascist
forces and trends of diverse hues. Of late, we have seen a marked increase
in violent attacks propelled by aggressive communalism, terrorism and/or
regional chauvinism. Loud demands are being voiced in the media for
resurrection of POTA or promulgation of even more draconian laws and for
giving a free hand to the police and armed forces. In the wake of the recent
terror strike in Mumbai, Indo-Pak relations have once again begun to
deteriorate with cries of war rending the air. And the US is only too
interested in fishing in the troubled waters of the Indian subcontinent. *

*Rabid rightwing forces in India seem to have discovered a golden
opportunity in the post-Mumbai situation. We must thwart their design. There
is a growing public outcry against ruling politicians in the country. We
must try to canalize it towards a progressive democratic direction and
emphasise greater popular participation and assertion to promote healthy
democratic politics of the people. The fascist forces and jingoist communal
campaigns can only be defeated by intensifying the people's movement for
democracy and the CPI(ML) remains ever committed to move ahead resolutely in
this direction. *

*Comrades, our Party had suffered a major setback soon after its formation
in 1969. Thanks to the brave sacrifice of our immortal martyrs and the
tireless and resolute efforts of the working class and the rural poor and
the sympathy and support of broader democratic sections of our society, our
Party was able to overcome that setback and revive and expand itself across
the country. "The interests of the people are the interests of the Party,"
said Comrade Charu Mazumdar in his last writing and under the inspiring
leadership of Comrade Vinod Mishra and the Party Central Committee, our
Party revived itself by unleashing the energy and initiative of the people
in every sphere. *

*Ten years ago we lost Comrade Vinod Mishra right in the middle of a meeting
of the Party Central committee. In his last writing presented to the Central
Committee, Comrade VM had placed the following central task before the
entire Party: "A strong communist party firmly upholding the red banner of
revolutionary Marxism, a powerful movement of the rural poor and an
all-round initiative against the designs of the saffron power are the three
major challenges before us in this year. Social democrats as well as
anarchists of all hues are facing serious internal disorders due to faulty
tactical lines and every advance we make will further destablise them and
establish us at the head of the left movement. Such a development is
absolutely essential for building a democratic front that is really a
people's alternative in contrast to various versions of bourgeois
alternatives." *

*These last words of Comrade VM remain extremely relevant at the present
juncture. During the last ten years, the Party has worked steadfastly to
expand and intensify its rural work, strengthen the network of Party
organization and uphold the red banner of revolutionary Marxism. Guided by
the collective wisdom of the Party and armed with the revolutionary spirit
that defines our Party, we have succeeded in spreading the Party to newer
states and areas and crossing the 1,00,000 membership figure at the time of
the Eighth Congress held in Kolkata in last December. And as far as our
rural poor mass base is concerned, at the 3rd National Conference of AIALA
held at Ballia a few weeks ago, we recorded a membership strength of nearly
25,00,000. *

*If we can now organise this entire strength in a vibrant organisational
network down to every panchayat and every ward of every town wherever we
have some work, and unleash the full energy and initiative of this organised
force in terms of militant mass struggles and bold political assertion, we
will be able to realise Comrade VM's vision of putting our Party at the head
of the Left movement and building and projecting a genuine people's
alternative in contrast to various bourgeois alternatives. *

*The Kolkata Congress initiated a determined inner-Party struggle against
all the alien trends like liquidationism, factionalism and federalism that
weaken the Party and unleashed full-scale mass initiative towards fulfilling
the Eighth Congress clarion call "People's Resistance, Left Resurgence". As
we complete the year 2008, we can reasonably claim to have won some
encouraging primary victory in this direction. The series of Party State
Conferences and national conferences of mass organisations held in 2008 have
unleashed a lot of energy and enthusiasm and indicated considerable
potential for growth in almost every area. *

*As we begin a new year, we must grasp the new situation and grab all the
opportunities that have come our way, consolidate and expand all the gains
we have secured in 2008 and unleash the full initiative of the entire Party
and its mass base. In 2009 we are set to face Lok Sabha elections as well as
Assembly elections in several states. In April 2009, we will also be
observing the 40th anniversary of our Party's foundation. *

*Let us all strive hard to make 2009 a year of bigger victories. *

*Eternal glory to our immortal martyrs!*

*Long live Indian Revolution! Long live CPI(ML)!*

Agitation for Flood Relief in Puducherry

The CPI(ML) in Puducherry and AICCTU, AIALA, RYA and Movement for Protection
of the Homeless held a big rally on 5 December 2008 demanding adequate and
immediate relief to the victims of recent heavy floods and the Nisha storm.

The rally was led by S Balasubramanian, State Secretary of Puducherry. The
rally passed through main thoroughfares of Puducherry town and culminated in
a large demonstration in front of the collectorate of Puducherry.

A detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister was submitted through the
collector. The demonstrators demanded: Rs 5 lakhs compensation to those who
died in the recent heavy rains and floods and Rs. 75,000/- for those
injured, and Rs 25,000/- for those who lost their homes in the floods; 50 Kg
rice along with 10 litres of kerosene at the rate of Rs 2/- per Kg/litre to
all BPL families, and 25 Kg of rice with 10 litres of kerosene at the same
rate for non-BPL families; compensation of Rs 25,000/- per hectare to those
whose land has been devastated; immediate implementation of NREGS works in
all rural areas and urban poverty alleviation scheme works in urban areas;
waiver of house and land taxes in the affected region; Rs 25,000/- to each
village panchayat and Rs 10,000/- to each Municipal ward towards immediate
relief work; expediting the construction of houses for urban poor in the
tsunami affected areas; stern action against the officers of Revenue,
Disaster Management, Electricity and PWD Departments who failed the people
during the crisis.

CPI(ML) Performance in Assembly Elections

In the recently held Assembly elections, CPI(ML) had contested 6 seats in
Chhattisgarh, nine in Rajasthan, one each in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Some
of the seats where we made a notable beginning are: –

Salumber (4081), Dhariawad (4214), and Pratapgarh (5334) in Rajasthan (where
we polled fourth in the latter two constituencies); Masturi (664) and
Jagdalpur (547) in Chhattisgarh; and Narela (882) in Delhi.

Workers, Students and Youth March to Parliament against Terrorism,
Communalism, and Regional Chauvinism

On December 12, the streets of Delhi saw the largest mobilisation yet since
the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 2008, with many thousands of
students, workers and youth marching condemning the heinous attack in one
voice, and paying tribute to the memory of its victims.

The media may be full of war cries trying to whip up a communal jingoistic
frenzy, especially amongst youth, against Pakistan, and promoting army rule
or dictatorship as an antidote to terror. This din is trying to drown out
all the saner voices speaking out against US imperialism, or demanding
investigation into the Sanghi terrorist network, punishment for regional
chauvinists and communal hate-mongers, and justice against fake encounters
and framing of innocents by the police. The March to Parliament on 12
December was a spirited rebuttal of these attempts to silence the voices of
democracy and whip up a communal, anti-democratic and jingoistic frenzy.

Thousands of workers, students and youth from all over the country, under
the banner of All India Students' Association (AISA), Revolutionary Youth
Association (RYA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and
All India Agricultural Labourers' Association (AIALA) marched towards Jantar
Mantar from Ramlila grounds, holding up banners and placards and raising
slogans proclaiming "Stop importing terror and economic crisis from the US,"
"Shame on BJP for garnering votes in the name of terrorism," "People's
Security = Democracy + Secularism + Anti-Imperialism; Recipe for Terrorism =
Dictatorship + Communalism + Pro-US policies," "Ban MNS-Shiv Sena," "Why
bail for Raj Thackeray and Jail for protesting students – UPA-NDA must
answer." At the head of the March were CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar
Bhattacharya, Politburo member Swadesh Bhattacharya, AICCTU general
Secretary Swapan Mukherjee, AISA General Secretary Ravi Rai, RYA President
Mohd. Salim and General Secretary Kamlesh Sharma, as well as Shri Kundan
Singh, father of Rahul Raj, the young job-seeker killed in a police
'encounter' in Mumbai, and Prof. Naval Kishore Chaudhury, HoD, Economics,
Patna University. Shri Kundan Singh held up a portrait of his son along with
one of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. The March culminated in a massive
meeting at Parliament Street.

The meeting began by paying homage to the victims of terrorism, communal
violence and regional chauvinism. Conducting the meeting, AISA General
Secretary Ravi Rai was greeted by enthusiastic slogans and thousands of
people clapping when he declared, 'No war on Pakistan; united struggle of
India and Pakistan against US Imperialism and the forces of terrorism!' The
meeting was addressed by AISA Vice President Abhyuday and RYA National
President Mohd.Salim who recounted experiences of AISA's and RYA's leading
role in the struggle against the MNS-Shiv Sena violence, which exposed the
opportunism of UPA and NDA alike. AICCTU General Secretary Swapan Mukherjee
said that the US economic crisis was being imported into India by the
Manmohan Government – and workers were being laid off as a result. He
demanded that instead of layoffs for workers and bailouts for corporates,
the Government should resolve the crisis by reversing pro-US economic
policies, and enhancing public expenditure in pro-poor schemes.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Kundan Singh said that the Maharashtra
police, which had treated the marauding Shiv Sena and MNS cadre with kid
gloves, had cold-bloodedly killed his son, Rahul. The fact that those in
power were avoiding to order a probe into the 'encounter' proved that they
had something to hide. In the quest for justice for Rahul, he expressed his
sense of betrayal by the parties that swore by the cause of Bihar, and said
that it was the students, youth and workers of Bihar who were his partners
in the struggle.

Prof. Naval Kishore Chaudhury said that Governments were showing double
standards by soft-pedalling communal and chauvinistic forces. He demanded a
ban on the MNS, Shiv Sena, as well as Bajrang Dal. Opposing war-mongering
and jingoism, he said that democracy, peace and justice were the best
guarantee against terrorism.

Addressing the mass meeting, CPI(ML) General Secretary Comrade Dipankar said
that "some sections of the media and politicians are trying to peddle
dictatorship, army rule, war with Pakistan and partnership with the US as
solutions for India's security. Pakistan's own experience is proof that this
is a recipe for disaster. India's ruling class – both Congress and BJP – are
hell-bent on shackling India to the globally hated US imperialist policies,
and thus importing the US' economic crisis as well as terrorism onto Indian
soil. To fight terror India must first of all de-link her foreign policy
from the American strategic stranglehold, and must engage Pakistan in a
shared struggle against terror."

Condemning the UPA and NDA parties and Governments for failing to protect
the migrant workers, students and job-seekers of North India from the
regional chauvinistic violence of the MNS-Shiv Sena, Comrade Dipankar said
that "the Congress, RJD and LJP, as well as Nitish's JD(U) have all proved
equally hollow on the issue of confronting the MNS-Shiv Sena. It is the
students and youth of Bihar and UP who challenged the MNS-Sena and yet they
were punished with lathi-charges and jail."

AIALA General Secretary Dhirendra Jha read out several resolutions –
including a demand for a judicial enquiry into the 'encounter' of Rahul Raj
as well as the Batla House 'encounter;' condemning police firing on adivasis
protesting against land grab at Dumka; release of Dr. Binayak Sen and
disbanding of the Salwa Judum; and a probe into the role of the Sangh
Parivar in terrorism, which were passed unanimously.

A memorandum was submitted to the Home Minister as well as President of
India. Apart from the above-mentioned concerns and demands, the memorandum
also demanded legislation to ensure the security and dignity of migrant
workers, and raised the concerns of the victims of the Kosi floods. The
memorandum demanded year-long work under NREGA in these areas, as well as
free and regular monthly rations, immediate temporary shelter and a
time-bound provision of housing to all affected families.

Demo in Support of Adivasis' Struggle at Lalgarh

In solidarity with the adivasis of Lalgarh (West Bengal) against state
repression, AIALA, AIPWA, AISA, PBKS held a sit-in demonstration and mass
meeting on 12 December 2008 at Churchura, Hooghly district. CPI(ML) State
Secretary Comrade Partha, as well as well as State committee members
Comrades Prabir Haldar and Chaitali Sen also addressed the demonstration. A
deputation met the DM and held a mass meeting and sit-in demonstration.

Fact Finding Team's report on Kathikund Police Firing

Kathikund is located 40 km from Dumka Dist. headquarters. On December 6,
2008, the Jharkhand Police opened fire on peaceful protestors and killed one
tribal Lakhiram Hansda while many have been seriously injured and are
battling for life. The injured are forced to undergo treatment in hiding as
they fear further police terror. Some of them eventually risk losing their
life if they do not get proper medical attention. A fact finding team
comprising of leaders from CPI(ML) affiliated mass organizations – Jharkhand
Grameen Mazdoor Sabha (JGMS), All India Progressive Women's Association
(AIPWA), Revolutionary Youth Association and All India Students' Association
– visited the villages surrounding the firing site for knowing the truth, a
summary of which we are reproducing below.

For setting up a power-plant in areas in the vicinity of Kathikund, the
Jharkhand Government is blatantly acquiring land. The required land falls
under more than fifty villages. The poor tribals and villagers of these 50
villages terrified of losing their land – which is their only livelihood,
had got united to save their land and their existence. Their leader Munni
Hansda, a woman, was arrested by the police under framed-up charge of
stealing a motorcycle, so as to stop the opposition to land acquisition.
Peeved at this arrest, these villagers had decided to court mass arrests and
go to jail until their leader was released. On 6 December thousands of these
people were marching to Kathikund Police Station to court arrest when they
were forcefully stopped 3km from the PS and were being pushed and shoved by
the policemen. When the villagers tried to proceed towards the PS the police
opened firing without giving any warning in which one person was instantly
killed.

It is to be noted that this area falls under Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren's
parliamentary constituency. The villagers of around hundred villages have
blockaded the entry of any vehicle in these villages and have declared that
they will not allow Shibu Soren as well as the local MLA Nalini Soren to
enter the villages. The youth, armed with their traditional bow and arrow
are guarding the entrances to the villages. The CPI(ML) and its mass
organizations have hailed these fighters and declared their full support in
anti-displacement struggle. The Party has demanded immediate release of the
arrested people and compensation to all those killed and injured as well as
punishment for the offending poliemen. To carry forward the struggle for
democracy and justice the AIPWA will hold a dharna in front of Dumka DC
office and a massive march to Jharkhand Assembly will be organized on 17th
December.

CPI(ML) Condemns Arbitrary and illegal arrest of 'Nishan' Editor Lenin Roy &
Demands his Immediate Release

Lenin Kumar Roy, the editor of Nishan, a Left oriented quarterly magazine
published from Bhuvaneshwar (Orissa state in India) was arrested on 7
December 2008 and sent to jail on charges of writing provocative literature
which as per the police version and the official report would disturb
communal peace and harmony. The police did not stop here. It also arrested
two employees of Sovan Press, Bhubaneswar, after conducting a raid on it for
printing the book 'Dharma naanre Kandhamalre Raktara Nadi' published by
Lenin Kumar. This was done at the Sahid Nagar Police Station.

The said book was alleged to be 'Maoist literature'. Next day, he was
produced in the court and the police alleged crime under Section 153-A and
295-A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which relate to 'publishing provocative
literature which can disturb communal peace and harmony'. The police cited
page 38 to 41 of the above book. And what do those pages have in them? They
produce a letter allegedly written by the RSS (Hindu right-wing
fundamentalist group) to its members for anti dalit, anti minority
activities and also have some of Lenin's comments on this.

So, in India (and particularly in Orissa) it is a crime to write anything
against the RSS or to produce an RSS letter or to comment upon it- more so
if the government is supported by the BJP! In August 2008, Nishan was
labeled as a Maoist organ by SP Jagatsinghpur though the editor had
protested this allegation. This is not the lone instance of the Orissa
government coming up heavily against the dissenting members of the
intelligentsia and the media who are critical about the government's
activities. A few months ago, Rabindra Prasad Panda, a prominent Oriya
writer, was sent to jail by the Orissa government for writing a book, using
similar Sections of the IPC.

Agricultural Labourers Gherao DM

On the issue of job cards and work under NREGA, agricultural labourers led
by CPI(ML) and AIALA gheraoed the DM residence in Gazipur on 8 December.
Prior to this, AIALA had held a 5-day dharna at Gazipur Sadar block. In the
same district, in Jamania block, an AIALA dharna had been continuing since
25 November. AIALA has been demanding that the administration must set up a
counter to issue job cards to all job-seekers, take photographs, open bank
accounts for the workers with zero balance, guarantee 100 days work or else
pay unemployment allowance, and also hold camps to disburse pension to
widows and the handicapped, as well as old-age pension.



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