Two Years of TMC Government It is You Who have to Answer, Madam Chief Minister

Two years after the ‘change’ (poriborton), what is the condition of Bengal? What was the promise, what was the announcement and what have the people of this state got? Anger-tears-frustrations, have all become synonymous with the ‘change’ in West Bengal. Chief Minister has dictated the opposition to keep mum for the coming ten years. In spite of this desired embargo, the barrage of questions cannot be stopped. People are raising questions.

• Saradha Scam: The biggest achievement of the TMC Government in the last two years is to create the biggest financial scam in West Bengal involving thousands of crores of rupees. The TMC leadership including the Chief Minister have been friends of the Saradha group who has usurped money of the poor people. The investigation is not being handed over to the CBI with the state police going slow on the issue. The Government of maa-mati-manush has aided in the loot of the people.
• Land of suicide of the farmers and workers: The agricultural infrastructure has collapsed in the state. As a result that 85 farmers/agricultural workers committed suicide burdened with which were taken as a result of not getting remunerative prices for their produce. No job, no salary for Transport Workers: It is not only the farmers, the State Transport Corporation workers and retired employees had to commit suicide without getting salary or pension. Tea garden workers: In the tea-gardens of North Bengal incidence of death due to mal-nutrition and hunger is taking place. Why is the Administration not paying any attention to this?
• Eviction of Bargadars: Of the 27 thousand landless burgadars, who were awarded patta, why is it that in the last two years 9 thousand of them were evicted from their land?
• West Bengal tops in attacks against women: Rapes and molestation of women has become the norm in the state. But the Chief Minister instead of ensuring safety and security for women in the state in the most callous manner refused to acknowledge it as a problem and claimed that all such incidents were fake.
• Killing of Opposition Cadres: In the last two years 93 CPI(M) and left cadres have been murdered in the state. The promise of no revenge by the CM turned out to be a sham with the TMC goons attacking CPI(M) cadres all across the state.
• Intimidating Opposition: In two years only near about 8 thousand CPI(M) workers have been framed in false cases out of political vengeance. What sort of neutral administration does this portray?
• No Tolerance for Dissent: Simply for mailing a cartoon a University teacher had to go to the Police lock-up. In spite of the fact that the State Human Rights Commission recommended compensation for the professor, the State Government has refused to accept it. A poor farmer was branded as a Maoist and arrested for asking a question to the CM. A student was abused and branded as Maoist by the CM on national TV for asking a question. From the Government list for libraries, the newspapers which are not of choice have been left out. In this list, the Chit Fund owned newspapers have been given importance.
• No Respect for Constitutional Bodies: The Government openly challenged the Election Commission with regard to the Panchayat Elections and the TMC leadership casted aspersions at the Chief Election Commissioner. The Government has not adhered to any of the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission.
• Government of Festivals: The Government is busy in huge expenditure in festivals. In the Festival of Land (Mati Utsav) only the Government has spent 6 crore of rupees. In every festival, Government expenditure is being incurred for the cut-out and political propaganda of Trinamool, agricultural departments money is also being spent in festival. Such colossal waste of public money by a Government is a matter of shame.
• Wasting Public Money: The Government has no money to give the DA to the Employees where as to satisfy those who do not have a post in the Government, highly cost carrying post of cabinet secretary equivalent to minister rank was created whose job profile is not clear but what is their job.
• Deceit of Singur: The Government has been deceitful in the name of returning the land in Singur. The Singur law passed by the might of two-third majority in Assembly, was declared as unlawful, unconstitutional by the judiciary. Who has deceived the people of Singur?
• Throttling Democratically Elected Bodies: In order to eliminate the democratically elected representatives from the University administration the Government has framed a new law. To stop the election to School Governing body notification was issued.
• Attack on Students and Educational Institutions: The Government has practically banned student union elections in the state. When the students demanded elections, a SFI leader, Sudipto Gupta, was killed in police custody. Teachers, Principals, Non-teaching staffs have been beaten up by TMC goons inside the college campuses with the CM justifying those attacks.
• Denying Justice: When Damayanti Sen revealed that the incident of rape took place in Park Street, she was transferred. The Charge Sheet of the case was filed more than a year after the incident. After, Sudipto Gupta died in police custody; the CM described it as a small and petty matter and has instituted no enquiry into the incident.
• Free run of TMC goons: In Bhangar Arabul’s atrocities were given indulgence by the Government. From a lady teacher being physically heckled by throwing a jug to veteran MLA Abdur Rezzak Mollah being heckled Chief Minister has rained praises on him. Whereas Governor himself commented “The State is running under total anarchy”. The incident of Shambhunath Kow, Munna, (both TMC Councillors) in brazen anti-social atrocities amounting of murder of a police inspector and usurping land is for all to see. Presidency University was attacked by TMC goons without any provocation. In many parts of the state, no other political party is allowed to campaign or have their presence which is openly pronounced by Ministers and MPs of TMC. In Bally, in the incident of TMC worker Tapan Dutta murder, his wife accused Minister Arup Ray for the murder. Wants CBI enquiry. Trinamool MLA Ashima Patra herself has been accused by the wife of a murdered TMC workers wife of being involved in the murder. The High Court has ordered the CBI to probe this death in police lock-up.
In Mahestala the TMC Chairman himself was accused of burning the hoodlums for promoting purpose.
• Attacks on party offices: With the excuse of being heckled in Delhi, in West Bengal just in one and a half day the ruling party has destroyed one and a half thousand party offices and other mass organisation offices of the Left.
• Lip service on Minorities: By giving emoluments to the Imams and the muazzins is it minority development? Why is it that the initiative of the Left Front Government of reserving 10 percent seats in service for under developed minorities is being left unattended without implementing in whose favour?
• Attack on Panchayats: Panchayats have been crippled. Chief Minister is asking the BDO’s to contact her directly. For seven times Panchayat election has been held timely in this State. This is for the first time that a cloud has emerged over the Panchayat Election. The Election Commission has approached the Judiciary with a plea for fair election. Ultimately the court had to issue an order asking for timely elections of the Panchayats.
• Slowdown in Industry: With so much pomp Bengal Leads is being staged but where is the investment in industrial sector. In 2009-10 from 9 thousand crore the investment in industrial sector has come down to 12 crore only.

CPIM Picketing of Government Offices in Kerala Begins

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists  laid siege to the taluk offices in all the districts in Kerala as part of a five day national-level agitation organised by the party against the policies of the State and Central governments.The siege will continue till from 20th may to the 26th May. 

CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged that the Kerala Police Association has turned into a feeder organisation of the Congress party, thanks to two years of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

Speaking after inaugurating the week-long siege of taluk offices in front of Kanayannur taluk office in Eranakulam District  on Monday, Mr. Vijayan said the Kerala police had lost its reputation of being the top force in the country due to its politicisation.

The police association has been the biggest casualty of the two years of UDF rule as reflected in its failure to maintain law and order. The police was not taking appropriate action in cases of atrocities against women and children.

The present situation would lead to the force being deprived of its organisational freedom. A conspiracy has been hatched towards that end by those leading the association at the instance of the Congress party. Mr. Vijayan said the CPI(M) would defeat the government’s efforts to facilitate the entry of multi-national companies into drinking water distribution in the State. It was the previous Left Democratic Front government which had cleared the liabilities of the Kerala Water Authority and made it self-reliant. Any effort to undo that would not be allowed, he said.

DYFI Kerala State conference to begin today

The 12th State conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India Kerala unit will be held at Alappuzha from Tuesday to Thursday. 

Reception committee chairman G. Sudhakaran, MLA, hoisted the conference flag at the Town Hall  on Monday to mark the start of proceedings of the conference.. The flag was brought to the town in procession from Karimulackal G. Bhuvaneswaran Martyr Memorial at Charummoodu in the district. The flag was brought from Koothuparamba Martyrs Memorial at Kannur.

O.N.V. Kurup, Jnanpith laureate, will inaugurate the conference. A total of 683 delegates from the 14 districts will participate in the conference. DYFI State president M. Swaraj will preside over the inaugural function. State secretary T.V. Rajesh, MLA, will present the report.

DYFI president M.B. Rajesh, MP, and general secretary Abhoy Mukherjee will participate.

A seminar on “Relevance of Left movements in 21st century” will be held from 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Pinarayi Vijayan, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)  will inaugurate the seminar. P.K. Chandranandan, veteran Communist leader and leader of the Punnapra struggle, will preside over the seminar. CPI State secretary Pannian Ravindran, the Revolutionary Socialist Party leader N.K. Premachandran, the Janata Dal(S) leader Mathew T. Thomas and the CPI(M) district secretary C.B. Chandrababu will participate.

The delegate meeting will continue on Wednesday, where young talent from various fields will be honoured. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M.A. Baby will inaugurate the meeting to honour talent. Mr. Sudhakaran will preside over the function.

One lakh youths will take out a rally to mark the conclusion of the conference on Thursday. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar will inaugurate the valedictory meeting. The CPI(M) leaders Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and T.M. Thomas Isaac, MLAs, will speak.

The venues of the conference are EMS Stadium, Municipal Town Hall and Town Square.

Ajit Sarkar Murder: Appeal Acquittal

The acquittal by the Patna High Court of Pappu Yadav and his cohorts for the murder of CPI(M) MLA and leader Ajit Sarkar is a travesty of justice. The lower court had found incontrovertible evidence of his guilt and he was serving a life sentence. On several occasions the Supreme Court had refused him bail. In the name of “giving the accused the benefit of doubt”, the High Court has acquitted him and ordered his release.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the CBI take this matter seriously. It should expeditiously appeal against this verdict in the Supreme Court. Justice should not be denied in this case.

CPI(M) demands medical bulletin of key accused in Saradha scam

CPI(M) today demanded the West Bengal government to issue medical reports of Sudipta Sen, the key accused in the ponzy scheme scam, currently in police custody and claimed that he had already made some 'startling disclosures' in the case.
  

"Many heads may roll if he (Sudipta Sen) makes further disclosures in his statement to the police. The government should issue medical bulletin about his health in the interest of fair investigations," CPI(M) Politburo member and opposition leader in state assembly Suryakanta Mishra  told reporters.
 

Sen had a medical check-up in a state-run hospital recently. Demanding security of all those arrested in the Saradha chitfund scam and were now in police custody, Mishra alleged that more Trinamool Congress leaders may be found involved in the scam if Sen speaks further and makes more disclosures.
  

"The government has been wilfully delaying the course of the probe and putting pressure on the concerned authorities to suppress facts," the CPI(M) leader said alleging tardy progress of the Saradha investigations.
  

"It is quite clear that the government has been shielding those directly involved in the scam and with that in mind, we moved the President and the Prime Minister to submit that the CBI probe is a must to reveal the truth," he said.
  

Mishra also alleged that the state government had not been making any effort to ensure that the affected investors were given back the money they had lost in the Saradha meltdown.

CPI(M)'s tribute to Asghar Ali Engineer

CPI(M) today condoled the death of Asghar Ali Engineer, describing him as a pre-eminent fighter upholding the secular democratic foundations of the country.
 

Sitaram Yechury, Member, Polit Bureau, sent the following condolence message at the death of Asghar Ali Engineer:

 

"I express my heartfelt condolences at the death of Asghar Ali Engineer a pre-eminent fighter upholding the secular democratic foundations of the Indian Republic who had fought tirelessly against religious fundamentalism. Engineer dedicated his entire life combating communalism and helping riot victims. He tried to reform his community from 'within' and was subjected to social boycott, which he had faced bravely. He stood for gender justice and women's rights, particularly the rights of Muslim women.

 

Engineer was a writer/activist who wrote and worked extensively for inter-community harmony and had countered the arguments of Hindutva forces that sought to typecast Muslims and Islam. His death is a loss to all the forces fighting communalism and religious fundamentalism. I convey my deep condolences to his family members and large following of sympathisers.

 

The Central Executive Committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India expresses its deep sorrow at the passing away of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer. Engineer, 73, died today morning at his home in Santa Cruz after a prolonged illness.

 

Engineer devoted his time and energies to work for communal harmony and combat communalist forces in the country. He never believed in blind acceptance of dogmas inherited from the past but strived to rethink issues in keeping with modern times. His was a prominent voice for communal harmony after the demolition of Babri Masjid and the 1992-93 Bombay riots.

 

The CEC of DYFI while reiterating its strong commitment to the cause of secularism, communal harmony and social justice also conveys its heartfelt condolence to his son, daughter and other relatives.

CPIM Central Committee Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on May 11 & 12, 2013. It took stock of the international and national situation and has issued the following statement:

Resignation of Two Ministers

The Central Committee noted that the Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, were finally forced to resign after the Prime Minister and the Congress party resisted this demand while the parliament session was on. This has exposed the hypocrisy of the Congress which has blamed the opposition for the disruption of the parliamentary proceedings since the wrong-doing of the ministers became known.

Prime Minister’s Role

The episode of the two ministers highlights how corruption has become endemic in this government and how efforts are made to cover it up. The Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office cannot escape responsibility for these affairs, since during the coal block allocations, the Prime Minister was directly looking after the coal ministry. A Joint Secretary of the PMO was involved in the discussions to change the status report of the CBI to the Supreme Court. The Prime Minister’s image has been tarnished as he is presiding over such a corrupt regime. The Prime Minister has to come out and explain his role and that of his office in both the coal block allocation case and in the 2G spectrum matter.

Harmful Economic Policies

The Central Committee noted that there is a general squeeze on expenditure in the Union Budget and cuts in subsidies on petroleum products & fertilizers and negligible increase in the food subsidy. This will add to the burdens on the people in the form of rising prices and cut in entitlements.

The Central Committee strongly criticized the partial decontrol of sugar which will lead to an increase in sugar prices both in the PDS and open market and affect the interests of sugarcane growers.

The Central Committee strongly opposed the move to increase the prices of natural gas based on the recommendations of the Rengarajan Committee.

Food Security &

Land Acquisition Bills

The Central Committee discussed the proposed Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill which the government wants adopted in Parliament.  The CPI(M) reiterates that the Food Security law should provide for universal public distribution system. It should provide for 35 kg of foodgrains for each family (of five persons) at not more than Rs. 2 per kg.

The Land Acquisition Bill has a number of flawed clauses.  The major flaw is that it exempts 13 laws from the purview of the Bill.  These include the Indian Railways Act, National Highways Act, Land Acquisition (Mines) Act etc under which the bulk of the land acquisition takes place.  The Left parties want a number of amendments to be made to the existing Bill.  The UPA government should not consider promulgating ordinances on the two Bills since they are major legislations and require thorough debate and scrutiny in Parliament. 

Stop India-EU FTA

The Central Committee demanded that the government not proceed with the Indo-EU Free Trade Agreement which is being negotiated.  The agreement will have negative impact on virtually every area of economic activity, including agriculture, industry and services.  For instance, the impact of subsidized dairy imports from the EU can jeopardize the livelihood of millions of  farmers and milk cooperatives.

The Central Committee demanded that the government not conclude the negotiations.  It should wait for the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, hold public consultations with all affected groups and conduct a parliamentary debate on the issue. 

Strict Regulation Required

The Central Committee noted with dismay that lakhs of people have lost their savings and livelihood in the collapse of the Saradha group of companies. The Trinamul Congress has been closely working with this group of companies and using its media for its political purposes.

The Saradha episode also highlights the wrong policies of the Central Government. It has cut the interest rates for small savings deposits and also eliminated or reduced the commissions for agents of various savings and insurance schemes. This is helping chit fund companies to lure the people. The Central Committee called for a new law to govern the non-banking financial companies and chit funds and an effective regulatory mechanism, which does not exist at present.

Modi & BJP

The Central Committee noted that fresh evidence has surfaced about the role of Narendra Modi as Chief Minister during the Gujarat pogroms in 2002. The SIT material made available shows how the police were prevented from taking action against mobs who were out to commit the communal carnage. The Central Committee demanded that on the basis of this evidence, fresh charges be formulated against Narendra Modi and he should not continue in the post of Chief Minister.

The so-called Gujarat model which the BJP government under Modi has followed has led to growing deprivation and a fall in human development index. 48 per cent of the children of Gujarat are malnourished; its literacy rate has slumped from fifth to seventh position for children between 6 to 14 years.  The state has slipped from 10^th to 11^th position between 2000 and 2008 according to the latest Human Development Report.

The Central Committee noted that the BJP has been routed in the Karnataka assembly election. This is a consequence of the rank corruption, the nexus with the mining mafia and misrule of the BJP state government.

Tripura Election

The Central Committee warmly congratulated the CPI(M) and the Tripura Left Front for its superb success in the assembly elections and the formation of the 7^th Left Front government in the state.

Panchayat Elections in West Bengal

The Mamata Banerjee government has been trying to sabotage the holding of panchayat elections by refusing to heed the recommendations of the State Election Commission. The High Court verdict has unambiguously endorsed the stand of the State Election Commission for a three phase poll and the deployment of central paramilitary forces. Yet, the TMC is seeking to further delay the holding of the elections by going in appeal against this verdict. The Central Committee demanded that the panchayat elections be held within the scheduled time on the basis of the norms set out by the State Election Commission.

The Central Committee condemned the widespread attacks and violence against the CPI(M) and the Left Front in West Bengal which was unleashed on the pretext of an untoward incident, during the protest on the custodial death of Sudipta Gupta, in Delhi. The Central Committee demanded an end to such attacks and the State Government should discharge its responsibilities to maintain peace and law and order.

Abolition of Death Penalty

The Central Committee discussed a note presented by the Polit Bureau on the abolition of the death penalty. The Central Committee decided that the Party will advocate the abolition of the death penalty. In India, the death penalty, as it is in practice is arbitrarily implemented. It is inhuman and after execution irreversible. Instead of capital punishment, the Party wants in the “rarest of rare” cases and most heinous crimes, life imprisonment to be extended for the entire life of the person convicted with no scope for remission.

Sajjan Kumar Case

The Central Committee noted that there has been a miscarriage of justice in the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a murder case during the anti-Sikh violence in Delhi in 1984.  Of the six accused in the  case, five have been convicted by the court and Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted. 

The Central Committee demanded that there should be an appeal made against the acquittal. Further, a Special Investigation Team should be constituted to investigate and prosecute Sajjan Kumar in another anti-Sikh riot case. 

Kerala

The Central Committee noted that rifts have developed within the UDF in Kerala and the government is failing to tackle the urgent problems facing the people and the state. It is important at this juncture that the Party provide a united leadership so that the Party and the LDF can make significant advances.

A Commission of the Polit Bureau has been constituted to look into certain organisational matters which have been referred to the Central Committee. The six-member Commission consists of Prakash Karat, S Ramachandran Pillai, Sitaram Yechury, Nirupam Sen, B V Raghavulu and A K Padmanabhan.

The Central Committee approved the disciplinary action taken by the state committee against four Party members in Kerala.

On Neighbouring Countries

The Central Committee extended its support and solidarity for the secular and democratic forces in Bangladesh who are conducting a big struggle against the rightwing fundamentalist forces in the country. The Central Committee expressed its deep shock at the tragedy due to the collapse of a building housing garment factories in which a thousand workers have died. The Bangladesh government should immediately take steps to close sweat shops, for ensuring the safety of working conditions, provision of adequate wages and social security for the lakhs of garment workers in the country.

The Central Committee welcomed the resolution of the issue on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, between India and China. Both countries are committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the India-China border and have set up a mechanism which is working to resolve whatever issues and disputes that arise. The forthcoming visit of the Chinese Premier should help improve relations.

The Central Committee strongly disapproved the obdurate stand taken by the President of Sri Lanka who is going back on the commitment to arrive at a political settlement on the Tamil issue wherein devolution of powers to the Tamil areas were assured.

The Central Committee welcomed the holding of parliament elections in Pakistan which is going to result in the formation of a new government. These elections were held in the face of extremist and terrorist attacks. The people have ensured for the first time a democratic transition from a civilian government, which completed its term.

Picketing Programme

The Central Committee reviewed the Sangharsh Sandesh jathas undertaken by the Party in March. It discussed the preparations for the countrywide programme which is to take place in the second half of this month. The picketing is to be done on the issues of: Right to Land and House-sites; Curb Price Rise and Right to Food;  Right to Education and Health; Right to Employment; Ensure Social Justice;  End Corruption; farmers issues and FDI in retail trade. It called upon all Party units to make the mass picketing programme a success.

Left Front will Organize ‘Ayne Amanya’ on 31st May in West Bengal

Left Front has decided to initiate series of movement focusing 7-point demands that includes CBI enquiry under the aegis of honorable Court on Chit-Fund scam, refund of small investors’ money etc. The campaign movement will continue the whole month of May. In this course all district Left Front Committees will initiate extensive campaign from 20th to 26th May. After that from 27th May to 29th May all district Left Front committees will organize Sit-In agitation programme for 4 hours in each day in front of District Head Quarters. Finally on 31st of May Left Front in all district head quarters will organize Civil Disobedience or Ayne Amanya programme. The city of Kolkata too will participate in the civil disobedience programme.

The civil disobedience is going to focus on:

1) Biggest chit fund scam in the history of the state;
2) Refund of investors’ money;
3) CBI enquiry under Court’s vigilance;
4) Judicial enquiry on Sudipta Gupta murder case;
5) Restoration of law and order and peace and ensure people’s democratic rights;
6) Initiating food security system;
7) Employment generation and curbing corruption;


While addressing the press on Tuesday, the Left Front Chairman Biman Basu pronounced the campaign agenda. He however reiterating the programme said that the Left Front committee will initiate extensive campaign on chit fund issue which is now not just an issue of this state but many other states are also involved in this fiasco. Left Front therefore demands CBI enquiry under the supervision of the Court.

On Sudipta Gupta Murder case, Biman Basu alleged that the state government is trying to hush-up the whole issue. The Left Front clearly demands restoration of law and order and peace in the state. Moreover the state government lodging false cases takes many people in custody.

The state government now is imposing embargo on all oppositions to hold meeting, to organize mass meeting. This act is a brutal violation of democratic rights. Except the ruling party, police is not allowing any opposition party to organize open meeting. This is an act of autocracy.

Basu also said that a Left front delegation led by Surya Kanta Misra will meet President, Prime Minister and Home Minister to submit a deputation carrying all above demands. Former Finance Minister Ashim Das Gupta will also join the delegation.

West Bengal Left Front Memo to PM - Act against Chit Funds

---

A delegation of the Left Front of West Bengal met the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh on May 9, 2013 urging for a neutral, fair and high level investigation into the massive fraud of committed by the Saradha Group of companies and also the return of thousands of crores of rupees to all the affected depositors immediately. The delegation comprised of five MPs and 6 MLAs and the former Finance Minister of West Bengal, whose names are appended in the memorandum. The delegation will also be meeting the President. The copy of the memorandum presented to the Hon'ble Prime Minister is given below.

********

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
New Delhi.

Hon'ble Prime Minister,

Please refer to the Memorandum submitted to you on August 22, 2011 by the Left Front Legislative Party in West Bengal as well as the Memorandum placed before you on December 19, 2012 by the Left Front Members of Parliament, drawing your kind attention to the alarming problem of irregularities being committed by certain financial companies (so-called 'Chit Funds' in terms of local parlance in West Bengal) and requesting for an urgent action by the Central Government. Unfortunately, however, no timely intervention was made by the Central Government and the present State Government. As a result, a massive fraud has been committed by an irregular financial company (Saradha Group) by suddenly closing down all its offices and resulting in a widespread default on repayment to lakhs and lakhs of depositors, belonging mostly to the poorer sections in rural and urban areas of West Bengal. Employees in the print and electronic media owned or controlled by this Saradha Group have also lost their jobs due to this sudden closing down. There has been, due to the misdeeds of this company and similar other companies as well as the Central policy of making small saving schemes less attractive and commission of the agents reduced, a severe fall in the small savings collection in the State - from Rs. 8,409 crore of net collection of small savings in Post Offices of West Bengal in the last financial year (2010 - 2011) of the Left Front Government to (-) Rs. 987 crore in the next year (2011 - 2012) and to (-) Rs. 165 crore in 2012-2013 (upto December), adversely affecting the State as well as the small savings agents.

You are kindly aware that among the different types of financial companies, there is one category of companies which raise deposits from the people, invest the money and promise returns in terms of interest, etc. These companies are required to register with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs of the Central Government, and then also obtain permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and function by obeying the guidelines of RBI. If there is any violation of these guidelines, then the RBI can take necessary actions, including stoppage of work of the concerned companies. There is another category of financial companies which raise funds from the people in terms of share/debentures, and then invest the money in various ventures, including real estate, hotels, television channels, newspapers, entertainment business etc., with promise of returns in terms of lands, apartments, etc. These companies are again to register first with ROC and then get approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the Union Finance Ministry, and obey the guidelines of SEBI. If the guidelines are flouted, then SEBI can take action in terms of prohibiting the activities of the concerned companies. The Saradha Group belongs to this second category. It may be noted in the context that the State Government does not have any role in giving approval of these companies.

Grave financial irregularities are committed by both these two categories of companies when they violate the guidelines of RBI or SEBI, as the case may be, by alluring promises in terms of false and unrealizable offers of interest or returns. There is usually a period after which these returns are to be paid back to the depositors. In the intervening period, the concerned companies keep on raising funds and often make very partial payment, and then suddenly close their activities without any notice, thus cheating the common people in a large scale as has been the case with the Saradha Group, as mentioned above.

Under the circumstances, the State Government, within its limited power, can take action if any written complaint of being cheated is obtained, by immediately arresting the proprietors of the concerned companies, attaching all of their properties and then arranging through the Hon'ble Court, the sale of the properties for repaying back to the affected depositors. If there is no written complaint, even then the State Government can conduct enquiry on its own and submit the findings to the concerned Central Agencies (SEBI or RBI) for taking necessary action. The State Government can also pass a Bill in the State Assembly for Presidential assent for implementing the Act, so as to take necessary action at the very initial stage of the offence in terms of decentralized administrative and legal framework in the districts.

The Left Front Government in West Bengal had, during its tenure, taken all these actions. In 1980- 81, when some large financial companies had started cheating people, the State Government, on the basis of written complaint, took exemplary action by arresting the heads of the concerned companies and then attaching their properties for beginning the process of repayment through the Hon'ble Court. When again in 1991- 92, several companies had cheated people, the State Government in the Finance Department and the Home Department (involving both Kolkata Police and District Police), on the basis of written complaint, took prompt action by arresting heads of nearly 96 companies, attaching their properties (both movable and immovable , including bank accounts) and then starting a Public Interest Litigation on its own in the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court with a verdict for selling the attached properties through the Court - appointed special officer for beginning the process of repayment of money to the depositors. In the year 2002 - 2003, when about 17 companies had cheated people, the heads of all of these companies were arrested, again on the basis of written complaints, and a process of prompt repayment was undertaken. Along with taking those steps, the Left Front Government had also introduced in 2003 -2004 a bill (namely, the West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Bill, 2003) for taking early preventive and punishable action against irregular financial companies with a decentralized framework as mentioned before. However after repeated exchange of views and urging by the State Government, when a much delayed Central response (although for substantially similar bills for several other State Governments, Presidential assent was accorded with more promptness) was obtained in August, 2009 with Presidential message for a few changes, these changes were promptly incorporated and a new bill (The West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Bill, 2009) was introduced and passed unanimously (with TMC MLAs also present) in the State Assembly on December 22, 2009. The new Bill was then sent for Presidential assent. However the Presidential assent, despite reminders, could not be obtained during the tenure of the Left Front Government.

It needs to be mentioned that from 2008 - 09, a new feature emerged when several companies within jurisdiction of SEBI had started operating in a manner which created apprehension of cheating of people. However, no written complaint of cheating was received by the State Government. The Left Front Government, therefore, started enquiry on its own involving jointly the Finance Department and Home Department (in terms of Kolkata Police and District Police) and then submitted its findings concerning four relatively big companies (including Saradha Group) to SEBI for necessary action. For the Saradha Group, the attention-drawing letter was sent by the Left Front Government on August 23, 2010. We now find that after closing down of offices of Saradha Group that SEBI has recently issued an instruction on April 23, 2013 on the Saradha Group to pay back to the depositors within a period of three months and with prohibition on taking any further deposit. Although this is a step in the right direction, it has been much too delayed.

It is also noted with serious concern that we still do not know about any follow-up action by the TMC-led State Government regarding the enquiries started by the Left Front Government into the affairs of four companies mentioned above. We do not know because despite our specific queries, no answer was given in the State Assembly. Moreover, when a discussion on this issue was proposed on December 11, 2012 two Left Front MLAs (including one lady tribal MLA) were beaten up. We also do not know what action was taken by the TMC - led State Government on the 2009 Bill which was unanimously passed in the Assembly (with TMC MLAs present) for Presidential assent in the first twenty months of its existence. We now find that on the basis of a communication from OSD & ED Special Secretary to the Governor of West Bengal to the Secretary to the West Bengal Legislative assembly a motion was passed in the Assembly to withdraw the bill. The aforesaid communication reads: The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has now returned the aforesaid Bill, considering it to be withdrawn by the Government of West Bengal as it has been decided to recast the Bill in order to strengthen it for the purpose of protecting the interest of the depositors in Financial Establishments. This appears to be a clear violation of legislative power of the State Assembly, since prior approval of the Assembly was not taken by the present State Government before sending its views to the Centre for return of the bill, 2009. Moreover, in terms of the communication mentioned above, the following sentence in Sl. No. 6 in the statement of object and reasons of this new bill seems confusing: It has been advised by the Government of India to withdraw the said Bill. Then, with only a few changes in the 2009 Bill, the new Bill has been passed in the Assembly and sent for Presidential assent. We also find that some of these changes were not necessary and there is also a possibility of further complications and delay. We suggested a remedial amendment to this new Bill, and a quicker course of action which was not accepted. After raising our anxiety about further delay which may be caused by this bill, we did not however stand on the way of passing of the bill. We want an early action on the part of Hon'ble President in terms of Article 201 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the sufferings of depositors remain unattended. We therefore urge upon you for considering the following actions:

(1) As several states are involved in this massive fraud of Saradha Group, CBI should immediately be involved in the investigation of this fraud under supervision of appropriate Hon'ble Court.

Since SEBI is the nodal Central agency, and the recent verdict of the Hon'ble Supreme Court (2012) clearly directs SEBI to be the agency for necessary action, SEBI should also be instructed in coordination with CBI and SFIO to move into this Saradha case immediately, for a proper and comprehensive investigation into the total list of properties (including different forms of illegal transfers) for immediate attachment and for moving the Hon'ble Supreme Court as well as Hon'ble Kolkata High Court for selling of the properties needed for repayment to the depositors without delay, and also for exemplary punishment for the offending persons.

This entire process of investigation and attachment should be, for reasons of neutrality and fairness, under the appropriate supervision of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble Calcutta High Court.

(2) Where there are reasons for anxiety regarding other financial companies in the State, joint action as mentioned about, may be undertaken immediately for correcting the practices of these financial companies for preventing further damages.

(3) National small saving schemes should be immediately restored by the Central Government to their previous status of attractiveness, with simultaneous restoration of commission of agents by both the Centre and the State Government.

(4) Along with the highest priority on refund of depositors' money, attention may be given from the national level for a massive programme of an economic reconstruction of the lives of affected depositors (small and marginal farmers, small and tiny entrepreneurs, traders etc.) in terms of soft loans from the nationalized banks to the willing persons as well as rejuvenating the movement of Self-Help Groups in the State and democratically elected co-operatives (now rendered inoperative in the State) so that this massive loss can be transformed into a programme of reconstruction for growth of production and employment.

There is also a need for paying attention to problems of journalists, performers and others connected with the closing down of newspapers and TV channels in terms of inducting new entrepreneurs (without any link with irregular financial companies), or in terms of helping formation of co-operative of employees through assistance including soft loan.

(5) An all-out democratic and decentralized campaign should be started immediately among the affected people for convincing them to stay away from these irregular financial companies and to keep their savings, among others, specially in post office small saving schemes, nationalized banks and co-operative banks.

With regards,

Sd/-

Surjya Kanta Mishra
Leader of the Delegation, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly
Sitaram Yechury, MP
Subhahas Naskar, MLA
Barun Mukherjee, MP
Paresh Adhikary, MLA
Manohar Tirkey, MP
Prabodh Chandra Sinha, MLA
Basudev Acharia, MP
Anadamoy Mondal, MLA
Probodh Panda, MP
Chand Mohammed, MLA
Asim Dasgupta, Former Finance Minister, West Bengal

Condemn Israeli Aggression in Syria

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the unprovoked Israeli aggression on Syria. This second attack within 48 hours has occurred in a missile strike in Damascus. Israel is seeking to intervene in the conflict within Syria in order to destabilise the country and advance its expansionist designs, with the backing of the US/NATO.

This blatant aggression against Syrian sovereignty and violation of all international laws must be condemned and stopped by the United Nations Security Council. The Indian government cannot remain silent on the matter and must forthrightly condemn this aggressive action.