CPI (M) Calls to Observe Birth Centenary of Jyoti Basu

 July 8, 2013 marks the beginning of the birth centenary of Comrade Jyoti Basu, an outstanding leader of the Communist Party and the Left movement in India. Jyoti Basu, in his nearly seven decades of work as a Communist, left an indelible imprint on the political map of the country.  He joined the Communist Party in 1940 and began his work in the railway trade union movement. In 1946, he was elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly from the Railway constituency.  Since then, in his long parliamentary career, he became the role model for all Communists and progressives on how to work in parliamentary institutions and serve the people.

Jyoti Basu played a key role in the development of the Communist Party in West Bengal and at the all-India level. He was the Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the CPI from 1954 to 1960. He became a member of the Central Committee of the CPI in 1951. When the CPI(M) was formed, he became one of the founder Polit Bureau and Central Committee members. 

Jyoti Basu became Chief Minister of the Left Front government of West Bengal in 1977 – a position he occupied continuously till 2000.  Before that, he was twice Deputy Chief Minister in the UF governments between 1967 and 1970.  Under his leadership, the government undertook the implementation of land reforms and the establishment of the panchayati raj system.

Under Jyoti Basu’s Chief Ministership, West Bengal became a bastion of communal harmony and secular values.  He played a leading role in advocating the restructuring of Centre-State relations and for establishing a federal system. 

Jyoti Basu was a leader who creatively applied Marxism to the concrete Indian conditions and made an immense contribution in charting out the course for the Party.

Jyoti Basu, in his lifetime, became a symbol for the Left, democratic and secular forces in the country.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls for a year-long celebration of the birth centenary of Jyoti Basu beginning from July 8, 2013.  The centenary will be observed by holding meetings, seminars and a special campaign to propagate the life and contributions of this invaluable leader.

Introspection needed to find reasons behind educated youth joining militancy: M Y Tarigami

Denial to a free political space, failure to administer justice to the families of victims of violence and complacency about the fleeting calm are a few important aspects which seriously demand an introspection at all levels in the country before finding out reasons behind the emerging tendency of educated youth joining militant ranks in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was observed by the CPI (M) State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing a Round Table meeting organized by the Centre for Policy Analysis in Srinagar. Referring to over 110 killings that took place during 2010 summer unrest, the CPI (M) leader said question can be posed that why the criminal investigations in these mostly unprovoked incidents of violence have not been concluded and culprits brought to justice even in a single case during the last three years.

“Three years have passed and justice still eludes the families who have lost their near and dear ones during 2010. What happened to the Commission of Inquiry which was mandated to probe 17 killings only? And why was this commission given only 17 killings to probe when we lost over a 110 youth? Has a single case been solved sofar?

The CPI (M) leader observed that initiatives taken after 2010 civilian unrest that include eight-point recommendations announced by central government also proved to be a half-hearted exercise. A lot of lip service was paid to heal the wounds, but precious little was practically done to honour the commitment. Pathetic plight and callous neglect of a plethora of recommendations made by interlocutors have been gathering dust.

One can ask the political leadership of the country that what happened to decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee of Security that recommended to the state government to convene a meeting of the Unified Command to review the notification of disturbed areas. This serious confidence building measure which was supposed to heal the scars of people has been reduced to mere sloganeering. Otherwise, law and order being the state subject, the state cabinet can meet and assess the situation. Also if there is a political will, the state government could de-notify areas as ‘not disturbed’ and thereby making application of AFSPA redundant.

Similarly, Tarigami lamented that the misuse of Public Safety Act in Kashmir. “In its eight point recommendations, the Cabinet Committee on Security had also advised the state government to immediately review the cases of all PSA detenues and withdraw the detention orders in appropriate cases. Here, I would like to quote a similar case of my own constituency Kulgam. Sabzar Ahmad Bhat a resident of Sofipora Daderkoot district Kulgam is a surrendered militant who has been booked in some criminal cases. He has been in jail for the last over six and half years now. Bhat has been acquitted by the honorable court and granted bail in all 8 FIRs registered against him. But when he was to be released, he has again been booked under PSA on June 12, 2013. What to do in such kind of a situation? This young man has not been released once to meet his hapless old aged parents who have not left any stone unturned to get their bread earner out from jail,” he informed.

The eight point announcement was followed by appointment of interlocutors who made some recommendations but till date no action has been taken either by the state or the central government and the report prepared by the group is gathering dust.

“People in Kashmir are living in a suffocating atmosphere. Even peaceful dissent is not tolerated and gross injustices go unpunished. Almost all channels of communication have been blocked and means of protest is being suppressed ruthlessly. What is more worrying is that the youth is being targeted mercilessly. And yet if someone, does not understand or willfully chooses to ignore the real cause and shuts one’s eyes to its inevitable consequences the overall situation is bound to deteriorate rather than coming to normal. Whichever, political party comes in power in Delhi hardly matters for the people of Kashmir. What the people of Kashmir hope is that the political and democratic opinion across the country is mobilized for providing justice to the people. The democratic forces of the country need to come out of slumber before it is too late.

Instead of Healing Wounds, the CM Mamata Shouts at Villagers at Kamduni

It took ten days for the woman Chief Minister of the state to visit the family and village of the girl who was brutally raped and murdered at Kamduni, Barasat. Ever since the incident of rape happened, the people of the village have been demanding that the Chief Minister visit their village and redress their grievances. Barasat has emerged as a notorious place for criminals and rapists who have been harassing the women of the area for a long period of time. Illegal liquor dens and misbehavior, abuse and sexual harassment are flourishing in the area with impunity while the local administration is turning a blind eye. The latest incident of rape of a college student was the last straw in the camel’s back for the people of the area. It is in this context that the people of Kamduni expected that their grievances be heard by the Chief Minister herself.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hardly spent 5 minutes with the family of the girl and hurried out of the house. By then a large number of people had gathered, particularly women, who were raising slogans demanding punishment for the culprits and asking the CM to listen to their grievances. The spontaneous outpouring of emotions and anger of the people of that area however made the Chief Minister angry. When a woman asked the CM to speak to them she was shouted down and told to keep quiet by the CM herself. The CM also alleged that the woman was doing politics to which the lady responded that it was the CM who was doing politics. In the most shameless manner, the CM instead of trying to calm down the villagers, alleged that those who were protesting are CPI(M) activists. It needs to be noted that all the panchayat seats in the area has been won uncontested by the TMC in the ensuing Panchayat elections.

It has become a habit of the CM to blame everything on the CPI(M) and the Left whenever uncomfortable questions are asked to her. Moreover, she also has the habit of targeting individuals for raising questions about her Government. The plight of Prof. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Shiladitya Chowdhury and Tania Bharadwaj has not been forgotten by the people of the state. Such undemocratic behavior does not befit the elected head of the state of West Bengal. The people of Kamduni and other places are living a life of constant terror, sexual harassment and the threat of rape. In such circumstances, the minimum that a head of the Government must do is to guarantee them safety and security. However, the TMC Government hardly believes in such civilized and democratic responses to the demands of the people.

:: Current Affairs

Instead of Healing Wounds, the Chief Minister Shouts at Villagers at Kamduni It took ten days for the woman Chief Minister of the state to visit the family and village of the girl who was brutally raped and murdered at Kamduni, Barasat. Ever since the incident of rape happened, the people of the village have been demanding that the Chief Minister visit their village and redress their grievances. Barasat has emerged as a notorious place for criminals and rapists who have been harassing the women of the area for a long period of time. Illegal liquor dens and misbehavior, abuse and sexual harassment are flourishing in the area with impunity while the local administration is turning a blind eye. The latest incident of rape of a college student was the last straw in the camel’s back for the people of the area. It is in this context that the people of Kamduni expected that their grievances be heard by the Chief Minister herself. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hardly spent 5 minutes with the family of the girl and hurried out of the house. By then a large number of people had gathered, particularly women, who were raising slogans demanding punishment for the culprits and asking the CM to listen to their grievances. The spontaneous outpouring of emotions and anger of the people of that area however made the Chief Minister angry. When a woman asked the CM to speak to them she was shouted down and told to keep quiet by the CM herself. The CM also alleged that the woman was doing politics to which the lady responded that it was the CM who was doing politics. In the most shameless manner, the CM instead of trying to calm down the villagers, alleged that those who were protesting are CPI(M) activists. It needs to be noted that all the panchayat seats in the area has been won uncontested by the TMC in the ensuing Panchayat elections. It has become a habit of the CM to blame everything on the CPI(M) and the Left whenever uncomfortable questions are asked to her. Moreover, she also has the habit of targeting individuals for raising questions about her Government. The plight of Prof. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Shiladitya Chowdhury and Tania Bharadwaj has not been forgotten by the people of the state. Such undemocratic behavior does not befit the elected head of the state of West Bengal. The people of Kamduni and other places are living a life of constant terror, sexual harassment and the threat of rape. In such circumstances, the minimum that a head of the Government must do is to guarantee them safety and security. However, the TMC Government hardly believes in such civilized and democratic responses to the demands of the people.

- See more at: http://www.cpimwb.org.in/current_topic_details.php?topic_id=405#sthash.ZcbU7Cfs.dpuf

:: Current Affairs

Instead of Healing Wounds, the Chief Minister Shouts at Villagers at Kamduni It took ten days for the woman Chief Minister of the state to visit the family and village of the girl who was brutally raped and murdered at Kamduni, Barasat. Ever since the incident of rape happened, the people of the village have been demanding that the Chief Minister visit their village and redress their grievances. Barasat has emerged as a notorious place for criminals and rapists who have been harassing the women of the area for a long period of time. Illegal liquor dens and misbehavior, abuse and sexual harassment are flourishing in the area with impunity while the local administration is turning a blind eye. The latest incident of rape of a college student was the last straw in the camel’s back for the people of the area. It is in this context that the people of Kamduni expected that their grievances be heard by the Chief Minister herself. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hardly spent 5 minutes with the family of the girl and hurried out of the house. By then a large number of people had gathered, particularly women, who were raising slogans demanding punishment for the culprits and asking the CM to listen to their grievances. The spontaneous outpouring of emotions and anger of the people of that area however made the Chief Minister angry. When a woman asked the CM to speak to them she was shouted down and told to keep quiet by the CM herself. The CM also alleged that the woman was doing politics to which the lady responded that it was the CM who was doing politics. In the most shameless manner, the CM instead of trying to calm down the villagers, alleged that those who were protesting are CPI(M) activists. It needs to be noted that all the panchayat seats in the area has been won uncontested by the TMC in the ensuing Panchayat elections. It has become a habit of the CM to blame everything on the CPI(M) and the Left whenever uncomfortable questions are asked to her. Moreover, she also has the habit of targeting individuals for raising questions about her Government. The plight of Prof. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Shiladitya Chowdhury and Tania Bharadwaj has not been forgotten by the people of the state. Such undemocratic behavior does not befit the elected head of the state of West Bengal. The people of Kamduni and other places are living a life of constant terror, sexual harassment and the threat of rape. In such circumstances, the minimum that a head of the Government must do is to guarantee them safety and security. However, the TMC Government hardly believes in such civilized and democratic responses to the demands of the people.

- See more at: http://www.cpimwb.org.in/current_topic_details.php?topic_id=405#sthash.ZcbU7Cfs.dpuf