Left - TDP to protest in Andhra for Lokpal Bill on August 23

The Telugu Desam Party and the Left Parties will stage protest demonstrations across the State on August 23 against the “undemocratic” attitude of the Central government in stifling the voices being raised in support of an effective Lokpal Bill.

The decision comes in line with the call given by the central leaderships of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Telugu Desam, Janata Dal (Secular), Biju Janata Dal, AIADMK and Rashtriya Lok Dal for a nationwide protest on August 23. 

Representatives of the TDP, CPI (M), CPI, All India Forward Block and Republican Party of India met here on Saturday to discuss about the course of action to be adopted in the light of the Centre's refusal to concede the demand for an effective Lokpal Bill. TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, party's State secretariat member Y.V. Rao, his CPI counterpart K. Ramakrishna and others attended the meeting. 

Speaking to reporters later, they demanded that the Centre incorporate stringent provisions in the proposed Lokpal Bill to make it more effective. They criticised the Centre for obstructing the protest by social activist Anna Hazare which amounted to denial of civil rights to stage peaceful protests. They asked that the Centre bring in electoral reforms to curtail use of money power and prevent entry of criminals into politics. In addition, steps should be initiated to bring back huge amounts parked in Swiss banks that could be used for public good.

Asked about the ongoing searches on YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's assets, Mr. Raghavulu said the facts pertaining to the charges would come out after the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe was completed. 

(Source : The Hindu) 

SFI sweeps Himachal Pradesh Students union elections

SFI made a clean sweep at Himachal Pradesh University students central association (CSA) elections and has held onto its stronghold at the institution. SFI had won all four seats of SCA last year also and has been the dominant outfit on the campus for many years. In a clean sweep, the SFI has won 42 out of 44 seats of various department representatives and a majority of college elections in the capital town of Shimla and the major colleges of the BJP-dominated Kangra and Hamirpur districts.

At HPU Puneet Dhanta was declared winner as president by defeating Deepak Manta of ABVP by a margin of 536 votes. NSUI had put up Naveen Thakur as their candidate.

For vice president, Lokender Kumar of SFI was declared winner, defeating Kumari Shiva of ABVP by a margin of 673 votes. Hoshiar Singh (SFI) defeated Yadunandan of AVBP by 676 votes for the position of general secretary and Manju Thakur (SFI) piped Maheshwar Singh of ABVP by 585 votes. Panel of NSUI candidates Naveen Thakur, Sachin Verma, Ashwani, Anil Kumar ended third in the triangular contest. 

The SFI panel also made a clean sweep at the Government College Kotshera College, Sanjauli Government College of Excellence and Government college Theog. According to the results declared by colleges  the SFI improved its performance by sweeping all the four seats at the Sarkaghat college and wining the top two seats at the Jogindernagar college. In Ram Singh Pathania College, Dehri, the SFI won all the four seats. SFI  swept all the four seats in the MCM DAV College in Kangra. Abeshek Chandel was elected as president, Amit Manhas vice-president, Monika Dhadda general secretary and Abeshek Mehra joint secretary, respectively. Government College, Chowari - Dalhousie, the Students Federation of India (SFI) captured all the four seats: President Vikas Sharma , vice-president Neel Kumar , general secretary Suresh Kumar  and joint secretary Aarti Devi . In Government College, Dehri, all the four seats were won first time by the SFI. Kumar Anubhav, Ruchi Guleria, Hunny and Rohit Guleria, respectively, won the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary.

Red Salute to Comrade M K Pandhe

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses profound grief at the passing away of Comrade M.K. Pandhe, Member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) and senior most leader of the trade union movement in the country. Pandhe died after suffering a heart attack in a hospital in New Delhi. He was 86 years old.

Comrade Pandhe’s nearly seven decades of public life began as an activist of the student movement and he rose to be one of the outstanding leaders of the working class movement of India. He was the secretary of the Sholapur Students Union in 1943. He joined the Communist Party in 1943. After completing his post-graduation from Pune University he earned his doctorate from the Ghoklae Institute of Politics & Economics.

Pandhe became the Secretary of the Sholapur City Committee of the CPI. He later took an active part in the Goa liberation struggle.

Pandhe made a singular contribution to the trade union movement. As a Secretary of the AITUC working at the Centre in the 1960s, to becoming one of the key leaders of the CITU, Pandhe made his mark as a skilled and dedicated leader of the working class movement. He was the General Secretary of the CITU from 1990 to 1999 and was its president till 2010. He was associated with all the major working class struggles in the country in the last three decades and played an important role in bringing about the unity of the central trade unions.

As a dedicated Marxist-Leninist, Pandhe strove consistently to equip the working class movement with the ideology of socialism and to develop the political consciousness of the workers to enable them to discharge their revolutionary role in social transformation.

Pandhe was a true internationalist and firm in his anti-imperialism who worked constantly for developing the solidarity of the working class movement all over the world. When the Party split in 1964, Pandhe took a firm stand against revisionism and joined the CPI(M). During his revolutionary life he spent four years and six months underground.

He was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M) at the 10^th Congress in 1978 and to the Polit Bureau at the 16^th Congress in 1998. He remained in these positions till his death.

Pandhe worked tirelessly till the end to develop the working class movement in the country. He commanded respect in all trade union circles. He was a leader who was most accessible to any ordinary worker. He lived a life of utmost simplicity.

The CPI(M) has lost an invaluable leader who was steeped in the Marxist-Leninist tradition and the working class movement. His death is an irreparable loss for the Left movement of the country. The Polit Bureau pays its respectful homage to his memory. The entire Party and the working class movement will always cherish his memory and contributions. The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife and comrade Pramila Pandhe, his son, grandchildren and other family members.

Kerala remebers its "Comrade"

Known to the masses simply as Sakhavu (comrade), P. Krishna Pillai was `Kerala's first communist', home-grown, impishly bold and acutely sensitive to injustice, a product of the very movement he had helped fashion during a short, exceptionally dedicated life of 42 years. Since the early 1930s, no other leader in Kerala had been so successful in organising the masses, in spotting talent and in moulding the cadre and their commitment. At the time of his untimely death on August 19, 1948, of snake bite, Krishna Pillai was perhaps the most familiar face in the homes of the labourers and peasants of Kerala, a leader known for his courage and dynamism, humaneness and uncompromising stand against exploitation and oppression. As EMS wrote later, if he acted as the "intellectual centre" of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), Krishna Pillai was the "itinerant centre" entrusted with the job of going to every nook and cranny of the State "to meet comrades individually" and to make the party "a united entity, acting as one".

Memorial day functions were conducted across the state by both the communist parties. CPIM State Secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI State Secretary Com. C K Chandrappan paid floral tributes to Krishna Pillai at the memorials at Valiya Chudukad in Alappuzha and at Kannarkadu in Muhamma.

On August 19, 1948, while Krishna Pillai was staying incognito in a coir worker's hut at Kannarkat (Muhamma) in Alappuzha district, he was bitten by a snake. Despite the best efforts of those who gave him shelter and the party workers who were responsible for his safety, Krishna Pillai died within half an hour of the incident. With the police in constant vigil for his arrest, the best of medical treatment was hard to come by. Stunned followers later travelled with his body for hours, on foot and in a hired `lorry', first to Alappuzha town, then to Kollam, several hours away.

It was when Krishna Pillai was lying on the floor and preparing a speech to be read out at the CPI State committee that the snake bit him. He had started writing on a piece of paper, as if addressing the party: "There is criticism, but no self-criticism... " Then, just before he died, he scribbled on the same sheet of paper: "My eyes are getting dark. I feel weak and tired. I know what will happen. Comrades, Forward! Salutations."

Nine opposition parties to hold protests on Aug 23 on corruption

Leaders of nine political parties, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (S), Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party met in New Delhi on August 19 2011. They have issued the following statement:

Observe All India Protest Day on August 23

The leaders of the nine political parties noted that the UPA government has not taken any serious steps to curb high level corruption. The Lokpal Bill introduced by the government in parliament is weak and inadequate. Such a legislation will not establish a strong Lokpal authority. The nine political parties demanded that an effective Lokpal law be prepared and adopted.

Along with the Lokpal law, there are certain immediate measures to be taken to curb corruption. They include a new Judicial Accountability law which will also constitute a National Judicial Commission; electoral law reforms to curb money power and criminality in politics; firm steps to unearth black money and bring back the illegal money stashed abroad.

The meeting condemned the arrest of Anna Hazare and his colleagues in order to prevent their hunger strike. This is an attack on the democratic rights of citizens to conduct peaceful protests. There are increasing restrictions on the right to assemble and the right to conduct protests in Delhi and all over the country. The nine political parties demanded lifting of curbs on the right to protest and protection of democratic rights.

The meeting decided to call for an all India protest day to be observed on August 23 to demand effective measures against corruption including a strong Lokpal. The countrywide protest will also demand the protection of democratic rights and the right to conduct peaceful protests.

On August 23, all over the country, the nine political parties will organize demonstrations and dharnas in all state capitals and district headquarters.

The meeting was attended by H.D. Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu, Prakash Karat, A B Bardhan, Ajit Singh, Thambidurai, Debabrata Biswas, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Abani Roy, Sitaram Yechury, S. Sudhakar Reddy, D Raja, Nama Nageshwar Rao and others.

Press Meet
“We have decided to conduct demonstrations, dharnas and other forms of protests all over the country against rampant corruption and growing attacks on democratic rights” on August 23, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference after a meeting of the nine parties here.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, “We may even demand its (government Lokpal bill’s) withdrawal if necessary”, while Mr. Karat said the parties would express their opinion in the parliamentary Standing Committee looking into the legislation.

On whether they would organise a ‘Bharat Bandh’, Mr. Karat said this was the beginning of a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. “We will meet again after August 23 to decide on the future course”.

To a question whether they would coordinate with the BJP-led NDA, he said the nine parties were organising their own programmes. “The NDA has also expressed that the government version of the Bill does not serve the purpose”, he said, adding all opposition parties were organising their own agitational programmes.

Referring to the deliberations at the meeting of leaders of the nine parties, Mr. Karat said the “most burning issue” of “rampant corruption” and the anti-corruption agitation by Anna Hazare was discussed threadbare. The leaders were of the “unanimous opinion that the government bill is unacceptable. It is a weak and ineffective bill. We want an effective Lokpal legislation,” he said.

A mechanism to curb corruption in the judiciary was also discussed and the parties felt that the Judicial Accountability law, to be passed by Parliament, should include the creation of a National Judicial Commission to deal with such issues. “The present (judicial accountability) bill is also insufficient,” Mr. Karat said.

While electoral reforms to curb money power and criminality in elections were needed, effective measures are also required to unearth blackmoney stashed away abroad, he said.
Condemning the way Hazare and his supporters were arrested, Mr. Karat said these “assaults on democratic rights are rising. .... In Delhi, if you plan to protest, you have to abide by 21 conditions set by the police. It is the same situation elsewhere. You have to fill up forms and give undertakings and there are various other restrictions”.

Replying to questions on the Lokpal bill, Mr. Karat said, “The government bill is not adequate. The public mood is against it... as it will not serve the purpose.” “If the government is willing, we are prepared to discuss with it. As of now, we have decided to mobilise the people against it,” he said.

The Left and other parties have already held two nationwide strikes this year - on April 27 and July five - to protest against rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

WITHDRAW PROPOSAL TO DECONTROL UREA PRICES - AIKS

AIKS condemns the Congress-led UPA Government’s proposal to decontrol urea prices and increase prices by 10%. The Empowered Group of Ministers on 5th August approved the Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee Recommendations to decontrol urea and allow increase in prices by 10% initially and later bring it under Nutrient Based Subsidy by October. The 10% hike in per tonne over the current Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Rs.5,310/tonne could translate to an additional expenditure of up to Rs.530/- for farmers. From next year Companies will have a free hand and farm gate prices of urea will be fixed by them. The fertiliser companies will also pass on any increases in gas pricing and additional taxes imposed directly on to the farmers.

This decision should be seen in the light of the startling revelations of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s “Performance Audit of Fertiliser Subsidy” tabled in Parliament on 5th August, 2011 which found that 45 percent of the farmers pay more than the MRP and nearly 60 percent face problems in getting their season’s full requirement in time.

It also pointed to the problem of artificial shortages created by dealers during peak seasons to hike prices much above the MRP. Instead of putting an end to black-marketing and corrupt practices, the Government measure is only going to put the farmers at the mercy of Fertiliser cartels. The CAG has also indicted the Government’s fertiliser policy for deliberately pushing costly imports and turning away the focus from indigenous production of urea which is a key farm input. The present move by the Government is despite strong indictment of the New Pricing Scheme for urea by the CAG. Already the Government had on July 8th, 2011 by a notification withdrawn any restraint on increasing prices of non-urea fertilisers by the companies and stated that the market price of non-urea fertilisers “will be open”. It rescinded an earlier notification of 5th May, 2011 that had allowed Companies to increase MRP of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) by Rs.600/tonne in addition to the MRP prevailing then (Rs.10,750/tonne) and also a proportionate increase in MRP of Complex Fertilisers (corresponding to that in DAP).


The MRP of DAP according to the May 5th notification would translate into Rs.11,470/tonne. In the light of the July 8th notification the MRP of DAP inclusive of VAT if calculated based on the imported cost of DAP at $650/tonne will translate into around Rs.14,300/tonne. This would mean an exorbitant increase of Rs.3550/tonne of DAP within the last 2 months. The Government move on urea is coming at a time when already farmers are paying hefty amount for non-urea fertilisers and rising input costs are a disincentive to cultivation.Urea is a key agricultural input. Decontrol of urea prices, like in the case of DAP and other Complex fertilisers will put a big burden on the peasantry and costs of production will increase substantially.


AIKS demands that the proposal be rejected and these measures be withdrawn with immediate effect. The Congress-led Government is clandestinely bringing such anti-peasant measures without proper publicity, fearing its political fallout. AIKS warns the Government against such moves and calls upon all units to launch a widespread campaign and protests against this move

Trinamool atrocities reaching its peak : Government too is revengeful

Addressing a massive rally organized by the Left Front on Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata on August 12, Front leaders condemned the way the ruling Trinamool Congress had thrown West Bengal into complete unrest and anarchy. Personal liberty of people, they alleged, was being violated and democratic rights of political parties and trade unions were being infringed upon.

Braving the rains and drizzles thousands of Left Front supporters coming from all the districts converged on the Esplanade area to voice their protest against the post-poll violence unleashed by the Trinamool activists on the Left supporting people. The rally was addressed among others Left Front chairman Biman Basu, former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, Leader of the Opposition Suryakanta Mishra, CPI leader Manju Kumar Majumdar and RSP leader Manoj Bhattacherjee. Later, an eleven-member delegation headed by the Leader of the Opposition met the West Bengal Governor M k Narayanan to submit a memorandum giving the details of incidents related to atrocities committed the Trinamool Congress following the declaration of the Assembly elections results in West Bengal.Front chairman Biman Basu said the State was in complete unrest. The newly elected Trinamool government was totally indifferent to systematic as well as organized attacks on Left Front supporters who included poor farmers, students and teachers. All democratic institutions right from panchayats, municipalities, cooperatives, different elected bodies of educational institutions had been made defunct either by attacks and intimidations. In many areas teachers, non-teaching staff and students were not being allowed to enter their institutions.Basu, also secretary of the West Bengal CPI(M), alleged that the Jangalmahal was now made sanctuary for the Maoists. There had been mounting tension in the Hills and Terai and Dooars region in North Bengal. Basic democratic rights of all sections of the people of the State were under threat. Even armed conflicts among different factions of Trinamool Congress were taking place. Every day CPI(M) workers and supporters in rural Bengal was being killed by trigger-happy Trinamool gangsters, Basu alleged.Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee alleged after the Trinamool and Congress alliance had come to power, regular instance of political vendetta, murder, loot, rioting and bloodbath were being witnessed everywhere across rural Bengal. Innocent people were being implicated in false cases and arrested.Her termed the arrest of CPI(M) MLA and former Minister Sushanta Ghosh in a murder case as “political revenge” by Trinamool Congress after coming to power in the State. He alleged the government had been digging up 10 to 30 year old cases just to take revenge against the CPI(M). “ When I was the Chief Minister the Trinamool Congress vandalized the Assembly, attacked policestations and slapped police officer on duty, but I did not take any action against those who indulged in such activities,” he said.The memorandum seeking Governor’s intervention has given details of victims of Trinamool atrocities since the installation of the new government headed by Mamata Banerjee. It revealed that 30 Left Front leaders and workers (CPI(M) 28 and RSP) were killed and seven more were abetted to commit suicide ; 684 women were physically assaulted (508 molested and 23 raped) ; 3785 persons had to be hospitalized for treatment after sustaining severe injuries. There had been 2064 instances of arson and looting of houses and 14081 persons were evicted from their places of living. To buy peace and stay in their homes, people had been forced to pay money to the local Trinamool activists and leaders. An estimated amount of money paid to them was more than 277.7 nillion. Around 758 party, trade uion and other mass organization offices were either attacked, ransacked and,burnt. Altogether 77 student union offices had been captured. There had been a widespread attack on the rights of peasantry where by 3418 ryots were denied the right to cultivate their own lands amounting 9222.73 acres. Besides 26838 Patta holders and share-croppers had been forcibly evicted from 9222.02 acres of patta and barga lands. Even the Left Party organs have not seen spared. 241 boards displaying Ganashakti daily in public had been beaten dismantled and thousands of its copies had been burnt and the hawkers beaten up in order to disrupt it’s circulation chain.

CPI(M) demands Kerala CM Oomen Chandy to quit

The Kerala State secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to step down from office if he had the slightest respect for law and justice.

In a statement here on Tuesday, the party's State secretariat said that a just and independent reinvestigation into the palmolein case would not be possible when Mr. Chandy occupied the position of the Chief Minister. His decision to give up the Vigilance portfolio would not solve the problem. In fact, his decision itself was proof of the fact that even the Chief Minister was aware of the seriousness and importance of the court order in the case.

The Vigilance Court had ordered the reinvestigation spelling out instances pointing to the role of Mr. Chandy in the palmolein deal as the then Finance Minister. The Chief Minister's decision to hand over the Vigilance portfolio to his most trusted Cabinet colleague was not sufficient to address the present crisis. The Chief Minister wielded power over all the departments and could intervene in matters that come under any State department, he said.

(Courtesy : The Hindu, Deshabhimani)

Widen scope of probe into Tsunami funds misuse in Pondicherry: CPI (M)

Communist Party of India (Marxist) has appealed to the Central Bureau of Investigation to widen the scope of probe into irregularities in the construction of houses for tsunami-affected persons in Puducherry.

Addressing a joint press conference on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu State committee member of the party T. Murugan and secretary of the local unit of the CPI(M) V. Perumal said the irregularities should be investigated completely. The role of Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, under whose earlier tenure the tsunami rehabilitation process started, and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam and Ministers should also be investigated, they said.

While seeking the removal of Collector G. Ragesh Chandra, against whom the CBI is conducting an investigation, Mr. Perumal said one official alone cannot be held accountable for the irregularities. Pointing out that the Project Implementation Agency was governed by a seven-member committee, Mr. Murugan said all decisions were taken by the committee and the Collector was only a member.

The committee headed by Chief Secretary takes decisions on the works to be undertaken for tsunami rehabilitation, he said, adding that such decisions are implemented with the approval of government. The investigation should not be limited to a few officials, he added. Urging the government to issue a White Paper on the amount of money received by the territorial administration from Union government and other agencies, he said the party from the beginning had been complaining of misuse of funds earmarked for tsunami rehabilitation.

Mr. Perumal criticised the government for turning a blind eye to the blatant violation in displaying banners on the occasion of the Chief Minister's birthday. The CPI(M) sought to know from the government the rationale behind giving permission to erect banners when there was court order banning display of hoardings.

Mr.Murugan said the party would stage a demo in front of the Raj Nivas if Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh decided to give his customary address in the Assembly on August 18.

TNUEF Demonstration seeking temple entry for Dalits

Members of the Untouchability Eradication Front along with like minded organisations staged a demonstration seeking entry for Dalits into the Mariamman Temple at Kalapatti in Coimbatore district of Tamilnadu. The State president of the Front Sampath, its district secretary Sivagnanam, functionaries of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Adhi Tamiar Viduthalai Munnani and Students Federation of India took part in the demonstration. They urged the State Government and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to intervene and ensure rights of entry for the Dalits into the temple. The temple is under the administration of the HR&CE since 1973 and HR & CE officials reportedly paid a visit to the temple on Monday to take stock of the situation.

The activists have decided to wait for the administration to act on the issue, failing which the organisations will forcibly enter the temple. The date of the agitation will be decided shortly.

Source : The Hindu