DYFI Kerala State Conference: Several programmes planned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 11th state conference of DYFI will begin here on January 8. The conference will conclude with a public rally on January 11. As a curtain raiser to the conference, several programmes have been planned across the state, said DYFI state secretary T.V.Rajesh and organising committee chairman Kadakampally Surendran at a press conference here on Tuesday.

• An anti-imperialist conference and the 50th anniversary celebration of the Cuban Republic will be held at Kanhangad on Wednesday. CPM PB member Sitaram Yechuri will inaugurate the conference. Cuban Ambassador Miguel Angel Ramires will be the chief guest.
• C.J.Kuttappan will inaugurate the folk arts festival at Kalpetta on the New Year day.
• Dr T.Jayaraman will deliver the key-note address in a seminar on global warming to be held in Ernakulam on January 2.
  
• Minister P.K.Sreemathi, P.T.Usha and Sister Jesmy will attend the women’s meet which will be held at Payyannur on January 3.
• A national drama festival will also be organised as part of the DYFI conference. The festival will be held from January 4 to 6 in Kollam.
• The international book festival, as part of the state conference, will be held at the University College here from January 4 to 11.
• The flag day will be observed by the DYFI on January 1. DYFI flags will be hoisted at 25,000 centres in the state.

(Courtesy : The Indian Express)

CPI(M) protest against price rise

ONGOLE: CPI (M) activists staged a novel protest against rising prices of essential commodities near Prakasam bhavan here on Tuesday. They tied vegetables to a string well above their heads and tried in vain to reach them in a symbolic gesture that essential commodities were not in the reach of common people due to high prices.

Addressing the gathering, district party secretary Jala Anjaiah criticised the State and Central governments for failure to control prices of essential commodities. They failed to check hoarding and illegal transport leading to price rise, he charged. He alleged that the government is hand in glove with traders.

He said the ruling party was evincing more interest to divide people on Telangana and Samikya Andhra Pradesh issues than to control prices of essential commodities.

Memo submitted

They later submitted a representation to District Collector Kantilal Dande. The Collector promised to look into the complaint that the survey teams are cancelling ration cards indiscriminately on the plea that they are bogus. He said he would give instructions to survey teams to weed out bogus cards only after ascertaining their status.

KURNOOL: The supporters of CPI (M) staged a demonstration here on Tuesday against rising prices of essential commodities.

Addressing the demonstration, party district secretary T. Shadrak accused the State and Central government of failing to control prices.

He said though the new commodities reached the market, the prices remained very high. Rice ruled at Rs. 33 and redgram and tamarind remained inaccessible to common man.

He said the problem had cropped up due to the collapse of public distribution system and failure of the government to control hoarding by traders. Even in the coming year, the government should take the twin measures to stop further escalation of prices.

Later, the protesters burnt the effigy of prices and shouted slogans. Party leaders Prabhakar Reddy, Bala Hussain and others were present.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

The right of humanity to exist

REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL

(Taken from CubaDebate)

CLIMATE change is already causing considerable damage and hundreds of millions of poor people are suffering the consequences.

The most advanced research centers assure that very little time is left for avoiding an irreversible catastrophe. James Hansen, of NASA’s Goddard Institute, says that a level of 350 parts carbon dioxide per million is still tolerable; today, however, the figure is in excess of 390 and it is increasing at a rate of 2 parts per million every year, exceeding the levels of 600,000 years ago. Each one of the last two decades has been the hottest ever recorded. The abovementioned gas increased 80 parts per million in the last 150 years.

The ice of the Artic Sea, the vast, two-kilometer-thick layer that covers Greenland, the glaciers of South America which feed its principle sources of freshwater, the colossal volume that covers Antarctica, the layer that covers Kilimanjaro, the ice that covers the Himalayas and the enormous frozen mass of Siberia are visibly melting. Notable scientists fear qualitative jumps in these natural phenomena that give rise to changes.

Humanity placed great hope in the Copenhagen Summit, after the Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997, which entered into effect in 2005. The summit’s resounding failure gave way to shameful episodes that require due clarification.

The United States, with less than 5% of the world’s population, issues 25% of its carbon dioxide. The new president of the United States had promised to cooperate with international efforts to confront a problem that is affecting that country as much as the rest of the world. During meetings prior to the summit, it became evident that the leaders of that nation and of the richest nations maneuvered to make the weight of the sacrifice fall onto emerging and poor countries.

A large number of leaders and thousands of representatives of social movements and scientific institutions, determined to fight to preserve humanity from the greatest threat in its history went to Copenhagen, invited by the summit’s organizers. In order to focus on the political aspects of the summit, I will not go into details concerning the brutality of the Danish public forces, which attacked thousands of demonstrators and guests of the social movements and scientists who went to Denmark’s capital.

In Copenhagen, real chaos prevailed, and unbelievable things happened. Social movements and scientific institutions were not allowed to attend the debates. There were heads of state and government who were not even able to issue their opinions on vital problems. Obama and the leaders of the richest countries took over the conference with the complicity of the Danish government. The agencies of the United Nations were relegated.

Barack Obama, who arrived on the last day of the summit to remain there for only 12 hours, met with two groups of guests "hand-picked" by him and his collaborators. Together with one of them, he met with the rest of the highest delegations in the plenary hall. He spoke and immediately left via the back door. In that plenary session, except for the small group selected by him, the representatives of other countries were not allowed to speak. During that meeting, the presidents of Bolivia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were allowed to speak, because the president of the summit had no alternative than to concede that in the face of the strenuous demands of those present.

In an adjoining room, Obama met with the leaders of the richest countries, several of the most important emerging states, and two very poor ones. He presented a document, negotiated with two or three of the most important countries, ignored the United Nations General Assembly, gave press conferences, and marched away like Julius Caesar during one of his victorious campaigns in Asia Minor, which prompted him to exclaim, "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Even Gordon Brown, prime minister of the United Kingdom, had affirmed on October 19, "If we do not reach a deal at this time, let us be in no doubt: once the damage from unchecked emissions growth is done, no retrospective global agreement in some future period can undo that choice. By then it will be irretrievably too late."

Brown concluded his speech with dramatic words: "We cannot afford to fail. If we act now; if we act together; if we act with vision and resolve, success at Copenhagen is still within our reach. But if we falter, the earth itself will be at risk… For the planet there is no plan B."

Now he arrogantly stated that the United Nations cannot be taken hostage by a small group of countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Tuvalu, while accusing China, India, Brazil, South Africa and other emerging states of giving in to the seduction of the United States and signing a document that dumps the Kyoto Protocol into the garbage bin and contains no binding commitment whatsoever on the part of the United States and its rich allies.

I feel obliged to remember that the United Nations was born just six decades ago, after the last World War. There were no more than 50 independent countries at the time. Today, it is made up of more than 190 independent states, after the odious colonial system ceased to exist because of the determined struggles of the peoples. Even the People’s Republic of China was denied UN membership for many years, and a puppet government held its representation in that institution and on its privileged Security Council.

The tenacious support of a growing number of Third World countries was indispensable to the international recognition of China, and an extremely important factor for the United States and its allies in NATO recognizing its (China’s) rights in the United Nations.

In the historic struggle against fascism, the Soviet Union made the largest contribution. More than 25 million of its sons and daughters died, and enormous destruction ravaged the country. Out of that struggle, it emerged as a superpower, capable of countering, in part, the absolute dominion of the imperial system of the United States and the former colonial powers in their unlimited plunder of the peoples of the Third World. When the USSR disintegrated, the United States extended its political and military power toward the East, toward the heart of Russia, and its influence over the rest of Europe grew. There is nothing strange about what happened in Copenhagen.

I would like to emphasize the unjust and offensive nature of the statements of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, and the yanki attempt to impose, as a summit agreement, a document that was never discussed at any time with the participating countries.

At a December 21 press conference, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated a truth that is impossible to deny; I will use some of his exact paragraphs: "I would like to emphasized that in Copenhagen, there was no agreement whatsoever of the Conference of the Parties; no decision whatsoever was made with respect to binding or non-binding commitments or international law; there was simply no agreement in Copenhagen.

"The summit was a failure and a deception of world public opinion…. The lack of political will was laid bare….

"It was a step backward in the actions of the international community to prevent or mitigate the effects of climate change….

"The average world temperature could rise by 5 degrees…."

Immediately, our foreign minister added other interesting facts about possible consequences according to the latest scientific investigations.

"From the Kyoto Protocol to date, the emissions of the developed countries have risen by 12.8%... and 55% of that volume comes from the United States.

"One person in the United States consumes, on average, 25 barrels of oil annually; one European, 11; one Chinese citizen, less than two, and one Latin American or Caribbean, less than one.

"Thirty countries, including those of the European Union, consume 80% of the fuel produced."

The very real fact is that the developed countries which signed the Kyoto Protocol drastically increased their emissions. They now wish to replace the base of emissions adopted starting 1990 with that of 2005, with which the United States, the maximum issuer, would reduce its emissions of 25 years earlier by only 3%. It is a shameless mockery of world opinion.

The Cuban foreign minister, speaking on behalf of a group of ALBA countries, defended China, India, Brazil, South Africa and other important states with emerging economies, affirming the concept reached in Kyoto of "common, but differentiated responsibilities; meaning that the historic accumulators and the developed countries, those responsible for this catastrophe, have different responsibilities from those of the small island states, or those of the countries of the South, above all the least-developed countries….

"Responsibilities means financing; responsibilities means the transfer of technology under acceptable conditions, and then Obama makes a play on words, and instead of talking about common but differentiated responsibilities, talks about ‘common, but differentiated responses.’

"He leaves the plenary without deigning to listen to anybody, nor had he listened to anybody before his speech."

At a subsequent press conference, before leaving the Danish capital, Obama affirmed, "We've made meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough in Copenhagen. For the first time in history the major economies have come together to accept their responsibility…"

In his clear and irrefutable statement, our foreign minister affirmed, "What is meant by ‘the major economies have come together to accept their responsibility?’ It means that they are shrugging off an important part of the burden signified by the financing for the mitigation and adaptation of countries — above all the entire South — to climate change, onto China, Brazil, India and South Africa; because it must be said that in Copenhagen, there was an assault on, a mugging of China, Brazil, India, and South Africa, and of all of the countries euphemistically referred to as developing."

These were the resounding and irrefutable words with which our foreign minister recounted what happened in Copenhagen.

I should add that, at 10 a.m. on December 19th, after our Vice President Esteban Lazo and the Cuban foreign minister had left, there was a belated attempt to resuscitate the corpse of Copenhagen as a summit agreement. At that point, virtually no heads of state or even ministers were left. Once again, the exposé of the remaining members of the Cuban, Venezuela, Bolivian, Nicaraguan and other countries’ delegations defeated the maneuver. That was how the inglorious summit ended.

Another fact that cannot be forgotten was that, during the most critical moments of that day, in the early morning, the Cuban foreign minister, together with the delegations that were waging their dignified battle, offered UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon their cooperation in the increasingly difficult battle that is being waged, and in the efforts that must be undertaken in the future to preserve the life of our species.

The environmental group WWF warned that climate change will become uncontrollable in the next 5 to 10 years if emissions are not drastically cut.

But it is not necessary to demonstrate the essence of what is being said here about what Obama did.

The U.S. president stated on Wednesday, December 23 that people were right to be disappointed by the outcome of the Summit on Climate Change. In an interview with the CBS television network, the president noted, "Rather than see a complete collapse in Copenhagen, in which nothing at all got done and would have been a huge backward step, at least we kind of held ground and there wasn't too much backsliding from where we were…"

Obama, according to the news dispatch, was the one most criticized by those countries which, virtually unanimously, believe that the outcome of the summit was disastrous.

The UN is now in a predicament. Asking other countries to adhere to the arrogant and antidemocratic agreement would be humiliating for many states.

Continuing the battle and demanding at all meetings, particularly those of Bonn and Mexico, the right of humanity to exist, with the moral authority and strength the truth affords us, is, in our opinion, the only way forward.

(Courtesy : Granma)

Maoists Targetting CPI(M)

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) severely condemns the brutal killing of two CPI(M) activists in Komanapalli village in Bhadrachalam district of Andhra Pradesh by a Maoist gang.

The sarpanch of the village, Kaviti Rajulu and his father were dragged out from their house by the Maoist gang and savagely murdered.

The Maoists are targetting the CPI(M) wherever they are working in the tribal areas and amongst the rural poor. Apart from the killing spree in West Midnapur and adjoining districts in West Bengal, the Maoists in the recent months have killed a CPI(M) worker in Kanker district in Chattisgarh and attacked a Party office in Sundargarh district in Orissa.

These violent and murderous activities of the Maoists exposes their true nature. They help the reactionary forces and the ruling classes by targetting the cadres and workers of the CPI(M) belonging to the oppressed classes who have been organising the people.

The CPI(M) will resolutely fight the Maoists and counter their disruptive activities. The Polit Bureau calls upon the police and the administration in Andhra Pradesh to track down the culprits responsible for the murders in Bhadrachalam district.

Deshabhimani Daily Bangaluru edition Inaugurated

Deshabhimani, mouthpiece of CPIM Kerala state committe, marched a step further in its growth by starting its eighth edition from the garden city , Bangaluru yesterday. At a function held at East Cultural Association Hall the edition was inaugurated by Com. Pinarayi Vijayan (CPIM Kerala State Secretary) The First Copy was given to leading writer and editor of "Udayavani" Dr. R Poornima. The function witnessed a festive mood for the malayalees and toiling masses as their real mouthpiece as come to there city too. The function was precided over by CPIM Karnataka state Secretary VJK Nair. Several leaders and peoples attended the function.

‘Sections of media work for corporate interests’

BANGALORE: Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member and party’s Kerala State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Bangalore edition of Deshabhimani, the Malayalam daily, here on Monday.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Vijayan emphasised on the need to preserve freedom of the media. “The Western world wishes to involve itself and thereby control the Indian media, and powerful lobbies are heading in this direction. Free media must find ways to resist these forces,” he said. He added that presently a large section of the Indian media runs on corporate interests, and therefore fails to reflect the truth.

This is the eighth edition of the 63-year-old newspaper, currently published out of six centres in Kerala and one in Bahrain.

The newspaper bears the legacy of being an integral part of the early communist movement in Kerala.

Mr. Vijayan said that only a newspaper run on idealistic grounds like the Deshabhimani can truly expose religious violence and social inequalities that plague society today.

The launch was preceded by about two hours of cultural programmes by young children. This included folk dance forms in Malayalam and Kannada, and a few Bollywood numbers thrown in for good measure.

E.P. Jayarajan, General Manager, Deshabhimani, announced that the newspaper was already poised to start a ninth edition in the Malappuram region in Kerala.

CPI(M) Karnataka State Secretary V.J.K. Nair, who chose to deliver his address first in Kannada and then in Malayalam, said it was a dream come true to see the release of a Bangalore edition of this “value-based and idealistic” newspaper.

“But my dream is to see the Deshabhimani being printed out of centres in Karnataka in the local language,” he added.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPI(M) hold demonstration against mining

BERHAMPUR: Following protests of villagers the administration had to order to stop mining operation of stone quarry in Baulajholi panchayat in Ganjam district till further orders.

The Ganjam unit of the CPI (M) had also come out in support of the villagers of Baulajholi panchayat in their tirade against the polluting mining operation and stone crusher. On Saturday the inhabitants of Baulojholi reached the city to hold demonstration in front of the office of the sub-collector. The Ganjam district Collector was also in the office during the period.

A delegation of agitating villagers along with CPI (M) leaders met the district Collector, V.K.Pandian over the matter. The delegation included leaders of villagers of Baulajholi panchayat, Chandan Moharana, Jagabandhu Bisoi, State secretariat member of the CPI (M), Ali Kishore Patnaik, district secretary of the party Kalu Panda and leader of its city unit, Basanta Nanda.

The delegation described the problems caused by the stone quarries and stone crushers in the Baulajholi panchayat.

They demanded the administration to save the Buduka hill in the panchayat. The stone quarry that operates in the area has been leased out and licensed by the State government. The villagers of the panchayat alleged that the stone quarry and stone crushers have affected the livelihood of a number of Muslim families of the area who were earlier making grinding stones for household use using the granite blocks found in the area. They lost their livelihood due to leasing out of the granite belts near the villages to the private company.

They also added that large scale pollution caused by the mechanised crushing of stones had started to affect agriculture in the area. Large amount of dust generated by the crushers and the blasting has become a major health hazard. Its deposition on the leaves of crop and cashew plantations has affected productivity of plants.

Mr. Nanda said after the discussion, the district Collector promised to make an enquiry into the matter. The Berhampur sub-collector would make an enquiry into the allegations made by the villagers. The work of the stone quarry was ordered to be stopped till further orders.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPIM Polit Bureau Communique

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on December 26 and 27, 2009. It has issued the following statement:

Copenhagen Climate Talks

The Copenhagen climate conference failed to reach the required agreement on reducing carbon emissions due to the unreasonable stand of the United States and other developed countries which worked to bypass the Kyoto Protocol and undermine the United Nations Climate Change Framework. No legally binding agreement was arrived at and the industrialised countries refused to commit to deep emission cuts. Instead, by negating the principle of differentiation between the industrialised and developing countries, they sought to pressurise the developing countries to take on the major burden of reducing global emissions. The United States which is historically the main culprit for carbon emissions sought to impose monitoring and verification of voluntary emission reductions by the developing countries.

The lesson to be learnt from the Copenhagen summit is that the Indian government which sought to adjust to the policies of the United States and make unilateral concessions could not prevent the maneouvres of the developed countries. It is only the unity of the BASIC bloc comprising China, India, Brazil and South Africa which to some extent prevented an outright capitulation.

It is imperative that India work in concert with the BASIC and G77 countries and evolve a strategy to ensure that the United States and the developed countries accept their historical responsibility and commit to affect deep emission cuts and provide the finances for appropriate technology for the developing countries to mitigate carbon emissions.

US Troops to Afghanistan

The Polit Bureau strongly opposed the decision of the United States President to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. With this increase, the total number of US troops will reach nearly 100,000 apart from the troops from the Nato allies. It is eight years since the United States launched its war in Afghanistan. The intensification of the war will only lead to more civilian casualties. The people of Afghanistan will never accept foreign occupation by the US-Nato troops and this will only provide sustenance to the Taliban.

It is deplorable that the UPA government supports the continuance of the US-Nato occupation of Afghanistan. By the Af-Pak strategy the United States is attempting to draw India into its Afghanistan strategy for serving its geo-political interests. India should demand the withdrawal of the US-Nato troops. India should be part of a regional initiative comprising countries like Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to address the Afghan problem.

Mobilisation Against Price Rise

The Polit Bureau reviewed the rallies against price rise and for a strengthened public distribution system in the different states. Price rise is a major issue for the people and the campaign has had a positive response with large mobilisations. The stubborn refusal of the Central Government to change its food policies has been highlighted by the refusal to ban future trading in wheat. It will be recalled that the earlier ban on futures in wheat was stealthily removed just before the new government was sworn in. The refusal to increase the number of families under BPL in spite of the recommendations of various official committees to increase the number of BPL families in the rural areas to between 41 and 50 per cent is another example of the wrong policies. The Party will intensify the struggles to bring relief to the people on the basis of the demand for alternative policies.

All India Rally

The Polit Bureau decided to make the all India rally call by the Left parties during the Budget Session of parliament a big success. The issues of price rise, land, employment and other immediate problems of the people will be highlighted in this rally.

No Civil Nuclear Liability Bill

The Polit Bureau reiterated its opposition to the proposed Civil Nuclear Liability Bill. This legislation demanded by the US as part of the operationalisation of the 123 agreement, absolves suppliers of nuclear reactors of liability in the case of nuclear accidents. Further, it has set the liability limit for the operator at a meagre Rs. 300 crores, when a nuclear accident can affect the lives of lakhs of people.

The Polit Bureau demanded that the Government abandon such a nuclear liability law. It called upon all political parties to oppose the Bill, if it is brought to parliament.

Kota Bridge Collapse

The Polit Bureau expressed deep sorrow at the deaths of many workers late on December 24^th in the collapse of the bridge being constructed over the Chambal river near Kota, Rajasthan. 28 bodies have been recovered so far. The actual number of workers who died cannot be confirmed as it is the practice of companies not to register the workers who are usually on contract to deprive them of their legal rights. One of the companies responsible for the Kota accident is Gammon India. This is the same company responsible for three accidents in the Delhi Metro project, caused by gross and criminal negligence in which several workers lost their lives. It was reported at the time that the company has been banned for two years from construction by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Gammon India should be banned from all Government projects throughout India. The Central Government has to ensure that all private companies/contractors which are given projects by the Government guarantee the workers their full legal rights which is not the case at present.

Rectification Campaign

The rectification report of the Polit Bureau was discussed. This will be finalised and placed before the meeting of the Central Committee.

Anniversary of Keezhvenmani carnage observed

Somber moment: N.Varadharajan, State secretary, CPI (M),
hoisting the party flag at Keezhvenmani in observance of the
41st anniversary of 1968 Dalit massacre in Nagapattinam on Friday.

KEEZHVENMANI (NAGAPATTINAM): Even as the world gears up to observe the fifth anniversary of tsunami, a day before, on December 25, another anniversary was observed some 20 km from Nagapattinam.

An arch painted in red opens the road to Keezhvenmani. The red flag of Communist Party of India (Marxist) flutters against the wind from the mounted platform of the memorial.

Names engraved

Forty-four names along with the names of 14 victims from the same family are engraved on the black granite. A plantain bud carved out of monolithic red granite mounted on a platform serves as a memory of the dead. The plantain bud was reminiscent of the ‘continuity of the revolution.’

On December 25, 1968, 44 Dalits, women, men and children, were locked in a hut and set fire in Keezhvenmani. The violence was a response to their demand for wage hike.

Keezhvenmani marked a watershed in the semantics of Dalit violence in post-Independent India and Tamil Nadu. It has since become a reference point for Left ideology in the East Thanjavur region.

Cry of salute

On Friday as khakhi-clad police littered across the mud-laden narrow stretch, and as red flags fluttered, cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) marched with a cry of salute for the “Venmani martyrs.” Wreaths were placed at the memorial for Venmani’s children devoured by the flames.

While Venmani became a reference point for left politics, it also marked a socio-political cry for a Gandhian struggle by ‘Sarvodaya couple’ Krishnammal Jeganathan and Jeganathan in the region. It triggered off a spate of non-violent agitations for re-distribution of temple and Trust lands in Valivalam to landless Dalits, under their leadership. The couple had since formed an organisation for land re-distribution among Dalits.

Fresh in my mind

“I could not sleep last night, and the sight of the violence feels fresh in my mind - fresh blood of a butchered child, and charred bodies of women and children, who had taken refuge in a hut,” observed Krishnammal Jeganathan over phone, on the occasion of the anniversary.

“I decided to make it my life’s mission to restore land to landless Dalit women,” she said.

According to Ms.Jeganathan, the issue that snapped the victims’ lives short was still alive, with over 49 per cent of Dalits still landless.

“We have touched just the surface, and the work remains incomplete.”

Varadarajan slams draft fisheries Bill

“The cause of their martyrdom at Keezhvenmani remains unfulfilled” more than four decades after the massacre of Dalits, said N. Varadarajan, State secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), considering the current status of Dalits and Arundhathiyars in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to reporters here on Friday on the sidelines of the 41st anniversary of the Dalit massacre, Mr. Varadharajan pointed out to the non-filling of 3 per cent seats reserved for the Arundhathiyars, while filling 5,700 posts of teachers.

He slammed the provisions of the draft Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, 2009, and called for complete annulment of the Bill. In pursuit of their demand, the CPI (M) would organise a demonstration outside Raj Bhavan on February 2, 2010.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

On The Situation In Andhra Pradesh

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep concern at the situation in Andhra Pradesh. The Congress Party and the Central Government have thoroughly mishandled the issue of Telengana that has resulted in the current rise of tensions and conflicts. It is the responsibility of the Congress Party to work for the restoration of normalcy. Though the Central Government had announced that it would undertake a process of consultations with all political parties and civil society, the modalities for this is not announced so far. The Central Government must begin this process immediately in order to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

The CPI (M) reiterates its consistent position that the linguistic basis for the organisation of the states in the country should not be disturbed as this would lead to innumerable demands all across the country, given our vast diversity and plurality. Further the linguistic re-organisation of states constitutes the bedrock of India’s federal policy that should not be disturbed. Therefore, in the background of the reports that the Central Government is contemplating the establishment of a second states re-organisation commission the CPI(M) thinks that this is unnecessary.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) condemns the wanton destruction of properties and attacks on political leaders in the state. It appeals to the people of Andhra Pradesh, all political parties and civil society to exercise the utmost restraint and work together for restoring normalcy.

December 25 : Venmani Martyrs Day

On 25 th December 1968, 44 agricultural workers including 20 women and 19 children were burnt alive. They were in the midst of a struggle for wage increase. Later part of nineteen sixties
saw struggles of agricultural workers in the whole of the then East Thanjavur District. Strikes took place in several hundred villages in this area. During these days the police shot dead Comrade Pakkiri of Poonthazhangudi village. Ramachandran of Kekkarai village and Pakkirisami of Sikkal village were attacked and killed by the goondas of landlords. Situation was thus tense in the district as a whole.

The landlords demanded that the red-flags hoisted in the villages should be brought down and that the flags of the landlords association should be hoisted in their place. Besides, they said any increase in wage will be given liberally, if they do this. The agricultural labourers organized under the banner of CPI(M) did not relent. They organized meetings in each village and declared that it was the red flag which brought them honour and recognition and they would never allow the red flags to be brought down – come what may. Keezha Venmani, a tiny hamlet in Nagapattinam taluk, was chosen to attack the agricultural workers by the landlords. Hired goondas of the landlords entered the village on 25.12.1968 at 8.30 p.m. with guns, petrol and other weapons. They shot at all people there and everyone ran away to protect their lives. Women, children and elderly men who could not run away took shelter in a small hut (measuring 12’ x 12’). These goondas finding that they were all inside bolted the door outside and set fire to it. They poured petrol all over and ensured every one inside was burnt to death. Totally 28 huts were burnt. This incident shook the conscience of the world.

After this incident, the government announced a commission for deciding wages for agricultural workers. A memorial has been raised in the same place where the hut was situated. This memorial looked like one at Jalianwalabagh. The people used to come and pay their respects to the martyrs. Since then, the CPI(M) has been observed a Venmani Martyrs Day each year stressing the peasant – worker unity. On this day, thousands of people from various parts of Thanjavur district and Tamilnadu used to come and pay their respects to the martyrs.

Left Rally on People's Issues

Press Statement

Leaders of the Left parties held a meeting today. They have issued the following statement:

The Left parties took stock of the joint campaign conducted in the states against price rise, on problems of drought and flood and for food security.

The government has totally failed to curb the continuing steep rise in the prices of food items. The problems of land and unemployment have become acute. Therefore, the Left parties decided to hold an all India rally during the Budget session of parliament in March 2010. The rally will be organised to highlight the problems of the people and to give a thrust to the all India movement.

Those who attended the meeting are: Prakash Karat & Sitaram Yechury from the CPI(M), A.B. Bardhan & D Raja from the CPI, Debabrata Biswas from the AIFB and Abani Roy from the RSP.

DYFI plans direct action against untouchability

CHENNAI: The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) will launch direct action against untouchability in 31 places in 21 districts on December 25, Venmani Martyrs Day, when 44 Dalits were burnt to death in 1968.

Talking to reporters, DYFI state secretary S. Kannan and president S.G. Ramesh Babu said untouchability was being practised in eight forms in the State. Besides being denied entry into temples, in some places Dalits were not allowed to use common roads.

“They can neither bathe in village tanks nor use water for other purposes. They cannot visit a barber’s shop or use footwear. In many places they are served tea in separate cups.”

Mr. Kannan said DYFI cadre would launch direct action in 21 places and organise demonstration in 10 others.

Mr. Babu said consistent efforts by his organisation had secured temple entry rights for the Dalits at Kokkarayanpet in Tiruchengode taluk. On Tuesday, the Iswaran temple authorities entered into an agreement with the DYFI for allowing all sections into the temple.

Mr. Kannan said the government should take all steps to ensure that all forms of untouchability were eradicated in the State. “Dalits should be allowed to participate in public events.”

Revamp PDS to control price rise: CPI(M)

Party workers stage dharna at civil supply office at Gandhinagar

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Poor and middle class bearing the brunt, says MP

New card holders not getting rations, alleges CPI(M) secretary

VIJAYAWADA: The CPI(M) on Wednesday staged a dharna demanding the government to take immediate steps to regulate the prices of essential commodities by revamping the public distribution system. Rajya Sabha member P. Madhu, who addressed the dharna at the civil supply office at Gandhinagar, expressed concern that the poor and middle class was bearing the brunt of the spiralling prices of all important commodities. He alleged that the government was playing the role of a mere spectator even as the prices of all the commodities were touching the sky. He demanded that the government extend a helping hand to the poor by distributing all the commodities through public distribution system free of cost.

“Instead of addressing the burning issue of price rise, the government is according top priority to the issue of separate Statehood to Telangana. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities is the major problem of the poor now,” he said. The MP felt the need to revamp the public distribution system and take the initiative to regulate the prices.

CPI (M) city secretary R. Raghu said there were many poor families in the city that were depending on rice and other commodities being distributed through the ration shops. “Unfortunately, there is a cut in the quota of one or more commodities every month. In addition to this, the government is cancelling ration cards by claiming them as bogus ones,” he said.

Mr. Raghu alleged that the new ration card holders were not getting rations for the last one year and despite several complaints there was no action from the officials. Referring to the prices of vegetables, Mr. Raghu demanded that the government take steps to regulate the prices of vegetables too and distribute them on subsidy.

In a memorandum submitted to Assistant Supply Officer Krishna Rao, the party leaders urged the government to regulate the prices and ensure proper distribution of commodities through ration shops. They stressed the need for distributing two litres of kerosene each to those who had only single cooking gas cylinder. Distribution of ‘kandipappu’ at a price of Rs. 30 a kg though the fair price shops, distribution of sugar and dal on ration cards, distribution of 30 kg rice a month to white ration card holders were the other demands of the CPI(M).

DYFI Kerala State Conference

The 11th State Conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Kerala , will be held from 2010 January 8 to 11 in the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

The delegates’ meet will be held from January 8 to 10 and a rally and a public meeting on January 11. As Part of the state conference various programmes have been organised around the state and especially in Thiruvanathapuram. These include seminar series, meetings against imperialism, for women’s empowerment, drama festivals, a documentary film festival and a book fair.

On the concluding day there will be a rally which will be participated by 1 lakh youth from Trivandrum district alone.

SFI CEC Press Statement

Press Release

The Central Executive Committee meeting of Students’ Federation of India, held at New Delhi on 20^th and 21^st December, 2009 has taken up the following decisions.

20^th January, 2009 to be observed as West Bengal Solidarity Day:There has been an unprecedented attack on the organisation in West Bengal All the anti SFI forces have entered into a grand alliance against us. Physical and ideological attacks are on the rise with every passing day. In this time period a number of students have been killed by the Maoists TMC combine. There are attempts to capture elected students Unions by force. During this time period, braving all sorts of obstacles SFI has been victorious in 121 college and university union elections out of the 184 Students Union elections held till day. The combined opposition of all shades has won in 63 colleges. To stand in solidarity with the comrades of Bengal, who are everyday fighting for maintaining the democratic peaceful environment of the educational campuses there SFI will observe 20^th of January 2010, as West Bengal Solidarity Day throughout the country.

29^th January, 2010 to be observed as a Campaign Day regarding Price Rise and Food Security: Campaign regarding the realities behind the enormous price rise, the question of food security will be taken up in the campuses. The issue of mid day meals and about the quality of food in the student hostels will also be taken up. January 29, 2010 will be observed as a campaign day in this regard.

Combat Centralisation and Commercialisation; Observe Badge Day on 16^th February: The Congress led UPA 2 government is on the lines of implementing commercialisation and centralisation in the education sector in a big way. Various initiatives in this regard have been taken up by them. Ongoing campaign in the campuses in this regard in the campuses will be intensified in this period. An all India Badge day vowing to Combat Centralisation and Commercialisation will be observed on February 16, 2010 throughout the country.

All India Convention on Education: As a response to the proposed changes and the new challenges in the education sector an All India Convention on Education involving the leadership of the organisation will be organised on 22^nd and 23^rd February 2010 at New Delhi. Delegates from all over the country will be participating in the convention. The convention will deliberate on issues of school, college and university and professional education.

Uphold the undying legacy of our Martyrs: In this period three of our leading comrades have been brutally killed by the reactionary and fundamentalist forces. In Kerala, SFI Trissur District Secretariat member Comrade A B Bijesh has been killed by the NDF fundamentalists. In West Midnapore district of Bengal SFI Jhargram Rural Zonal Committee member Comrade Avijit Mahato and Salboni Zonal Committee member Comrade Tilak Tudu have been killed by the Maoist-TMC combine. SFI dips its flag in memory of the great fighters and vows to carry forward their undying legacies.

With you in our hearts, Comrades,

We build, we think, we breathe, we live and we fight.

Released by,

PK Biju, MP Ritabrata Banerjee

President General Secretary

On Copenhagen Agreement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement: On Copenhagen Climate Conference

The Copenhagen Climate Conference has ended without meeting its goal of a legally binding agreement for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Without a treaty committing the rich and industrialized countries to deep emission cuts, the lives and well-being of hundreds of millions of people, especially in the developing world, have been put at risk. This will most adversely affect people in South Asia, large parts of Africa, least developed countries and island nations that could be entirely submerged under rising sea-levels. People all over the world had been hoping that the Conference would chart out a clear course to save humanity and the planet from runaway global warming and climate change. This has not been happened. The political leaders who gathered in Copenhagen have failed their people by not delivering an effective and equitable climate change agreement.

Such an agreement in Copenhagen was made impossible by the positions and tactics of the US and other developed countries. From the first day to the last at Copenhagen, the US and its allies tried their utmost to kill the Kyoto Protocol itself, negate the cornerstone principle of differentiation between the industrialized and developing countries, and pressurize the developing countries to take on the major burden of reducing global emissions. Their inability to achieve these aims was due to the stiff and united resistance put up by the developing countries, a resistance which was one of the few positives in Copenhagen.

Major developing countries such as the BASIC bloc of China, India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as Mexico and Indonesia, voluntarily announced reductions in emissions growth rates in the interests of humanity, going far beyond their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. However, the US, EU and other developed countries did not budge an inch from the low emission cuts they had declared before Copenhagen. A leaked draft UN Report has revealed that pledges made by large developing countries will contribute more to emission reductions than the low commitments of the US and other developed nations.

The CPI(M) had warned the Indian Government that unilateral concessions, before the negotiations, and without conditional linkages to deep cuts by developed countries, would not yield results. This is indeed what has happened.

A complete failure in Copenhagen has been averted with the face-saving text of a “Copenhagen Accord” with the promise of a legally binding agreement in 2010. The Accord was crafted in the closing hours of the Conference by the US, the BASIC countries and 22 other developed and developing countries from different continents and groupings. Though the Accord has no legal status and would not bind countries, it at least provides some way of keeping future negotiations going along the current twin tracks. Without this, the failure of the Conference could have meant the collapse of the Climate Treaty and the Kyoto framework.

However, this Accord is extremely weak in terms of the deep and immediate emission cuts by developed countries that are required to tackle climate change. It is deeply ambiguous with several loopholes and the possibility of different interpretations, particularly with regard to emission cuts by developing countries, and fund and technology transfers.India should therefore ensure that in future negotiations, the red lines committed by the government in Parliament are adhered to. India must also press for deep and immediate emission cuts by the US and other developed countries and work with other developing countries to ensure sustainable development and equitable terms in any final Treaty.

CPI(M) Appeals for Restraint and Unity among People

INTERVIEW WITH B V RAGHAVULU
(CPIM Andhra Pradesh State Secretary and Polit Bureau Member)

The ruling classes of our country and the imperialists increasingly feel that break up of large states into smaller ones would facilitate their nationwide loot of resources and are therefore encouraging the process, felt B V Raghavulu, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and secretary of Andhra Pradesh state committee. Holding the Congress party fully responsible for the present explosive situation in the state, he appealed to the people not to get provoked and maintain unity.

Below are the excerpts from the interview given by the CPI(M) leader to N S Arjun in Hyderabad on December 11, 2009:

Que: How do you view the present developments in the state?

The issue of division of the state has been brought to the forefront once again. After the central government announced its intention to begin the process of formation of separate Telangana state following TRS chief's hunger strike, a counter-movement for united state has begun in other regions. The largescale resignations of MLAs belonging to Congress, TDP, Praja Rajyam and few MPs has pushed the state into a political crisis. The state assembly proceedings have come to grinding halt leaving no scope for discussing the pressing problems of the common people or the loot of mineral wealth by Bellary Reddy brothers. The entire atmosphere in the state has deteriorated today, leading to a critical situation. There is an atmosphere of growing divisions among people belonging to different regions.

Que: Who do you think is responsible for such a state of affairs?

The responsibility lies fully with the Congress. It has since the beginning been playing around with the unity of the state. The long standing opportunistic stance of Congress has resulted in a situation today where with each passing day the urge for the division of the state is growing firmly in Telangana. The Congress never took any steps to remove the backwardness of the region and all its promises made in this regard for electoral gains have been thrown into dustbin. The formation of Regional Boards to oversee development, the implementation of G.O. 610 to protect jobs in the region etc were all neglected by successive Congress governments. The present decision of the Congress is height of its opportunism. On the one hand it announced its intention and the very next day it is giving different signals. But in the process it has very much complicated the situation.

Que: What is the stand of the CPI(M) on this issue in light of recent developments?

The undivided Communist Party and later the CPI(M) have from the beginning stood for a united state not only here but at the all India level in favour of linguistic states. It remains committed to that stand even today and we have conveyed the same to the Pranab Mukherjee committee formed by the earlier UPA government. In fact, CPI(M) is the only party in the state which has stood consistently on its principled position. All other parties, including some Left parties, have changed their stance opportunistically and today there is an absurd situation where these parties units are adopting opposing positions in different regions. The CPI(M) stand is also driven from the understanding that only when the toiling masses are united, they can protect their interests.

Que: The CPI(M) principle of linguistic states is being attacked citing the case of existence of numerous Hindi-speaking states in the country.

There is an important difference here. The linguistic states formed here emerged as part of the freedom movement against British imperialism. There were huge struggles led by both Congress and Communists for formation of linguistic states, which resulted first in Andhra Pradesh and later Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka etc. There were no such movements in the princely states in the North. These states were formed mainly on administrative basis. So it is wrong to equate both.

Que: Home Minister P Chidambaram has justified the centre's decision on Telangana citing the example of USA which has 50 states despite having only one-third of our population. The industry bodies CII and ASSOCHAM have also welcomed the move. Is there a design behind this decision?

The ruling classes increasingly feel that having strong states is an hinderance to their ongoing loot of national wealth. The imperialists and the foreign MNCs also feel that smaller states would facilitate their entry and their loot of natural resources. In fact, they are encouraging this process worldwide. The BJP is also actively seeking splintering of states because it feels that it can effectively take its communal agenda forward in smaller states. This is one aspect. The other aspect is that during the time of crisis when the condition of people deteriorates by each passing day, the ruling classes always bring to fore various emotional issues to divert people's attention from the real problems. They keep stoking the flames without resolving those issues. The Congress party is doing the same now in the state. The Congress government's failure is glaring in the way the prices of food items and commodities have soared; the cuts made in the welfare schemes; the fall in revenues; halting of work on irrigation projects etc. To deflect the anger of people against the state government, it is using the emotive issue of separate statehood.

Que: But arguments are made about smaller states resulting in better development, better administration, improvement of job opportunities etc.

If one sees the experience historically or even if one takes the recent experience of smaller states, it is clear that this argument is not correct. There is no case that merited the division of the state. In the capitalist path of development, particularly post-neo liberal reforms, there has been intensification of uneven development in the country. Profit is the only criteria for the movement of capital. With the role of the State being constricted, the possibilities of development of neglected areas is receding further. All the political parties which opportunistically try to use this uneven development for political gains, actually support these neo-liberal policies. Only by fighting against these policies can there be development of such backward regions.

Que: What is your appeal to the people of the state?

When bitter divisive passions intensify, the people stand to lose even if the state is united or divided. The workers, employees, students of one region are not enemies of these sections in the other regions. It is the ruling classes and their policies that we should unitedly be fighting against. To fight against the pressing problems facing the people requires such unity. I appeal to the people not to submit to passions and maintain restraint.

(Peoples Democracy)

Congress is Responsibile for Such Serious Situation in Andhra Pradesh: CPI(M)

The Andhra Pradesh state committee of the CPI(M) met on December 15 in Hyderabad under the presidentship of G Nagaiah. Party state secretary B V Raghavulu released to the media the following resolution adopted by the state committee on the current developments in the state.

THE situation in the state has become tense in the last 15 days following the agitations for separate Telangana state in the beginning and now for united state. Normal life of people has come to a standstill. Certain forces are, in a planned manner, provoking regional chauvinism among people. With nearly half of the legislators tendering their resignations, the government has got the assembly adjourned sine die in order to tide over the difficult situation. Congress party and the central government are mainly responsible for creation of such a serious situation in the state. The Congress governments have never taken any concrete measures to develop the backward areas of Telangana and other regions. They never implemented the agreements and promises made in this regard. The failures of these governments in making the regional boards function; in implementing the 610 G.O; in building projects in backward areas; in giving special package for development of Telangana region etc have made the situation complicated. The opportunistic stance of main opposition parties like TDP and Praja Rajyam on this issue have also further complicated the situation. The state committee of the CPI(M) requests the central leadership of the Congress party and the UPA government to at least now respond to the situation and hold talks with all sections at the state and central level in order to restore normal situation in the state.

The CPI(M) is opposed to the suggestions being made for imposing of President's rule in the state to tackle the political crisis. Getting the MLAs to take back their resignations and restoring of government is a more correct option.

The state assembly has been adjourned sine die without discussing any problems facing the people of the state. No business could be transacted in the seven days it met due to the agitations by members. There was no scope to even mention the issues facing the people. With the administration also coming to a halt, there is a confusing situation as for taking up people's problems. The prices are skyrocketing; the people are facing hardships due to drought and floods; there is no solution to the problems facing the farmers; the government employees are unhappy over the pay revision commission recommendations; temporary government employees are not being paid salaries for the last few months; with funds stopped for Indiramma houses and mid-day meal scheme, things are coming to a standstill; rice has not been allotted for new ration card holders. Scholarships to students have not been disbursed; attacks are continuing against dalits and tribals. The people are vexed and helpless with the problems facing them. The state committee of the CPI(M) calls on the government to become active in solving these problems. It should hold the state assembly session as soon as possible.

The CPI(M) is opposed to division of existing states right from the beginning. It wants the Andhra Pradesh state to remain as one. It demands the central government to hold talks at state and central level without any delay. It appeals to the people of the state to safeguard peace, amity and brotherhood among them.