Left, Dalit formation to fight BBMP elections

The coming Bruhat Bengalur Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections will have a new formation, which includes Left parties and Dalit organisations, contesting from all the 198 wards.

The alliance plans to approach the electorate on the broad agenda of addressing the widening gap in access to amenities between the high-income groups and corporates and those living in the lower-middle class areas and bourgeoning slums in the city.

Called the Civic Front, the alliance includes Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Praja Vimochana Chaluvali, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvada), Republican Party of India, Indian National League and the Karnataka chapter of the AIADMK.

The draft of the agenda of Civic Front, to be released on August 25, says that the city has seen a spurt in wealth generation, but this is cornered by just 20 per cent of people belonging to the top income group.

Resources cornered

Citing a government document prepared for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) projects, it says that the top 20 per cent of the population enjoy 63 per cent of the total amenities. The lowest 20 per cent have access to a mere 1.5 per cent. “The BBMP administration is pre-occupied with providing amenities for the domestic and foreign corporates. The corporates and the rich are getting facilities at their doorstep. Land, water and the environment of the city are being ruined for their sake. The discrimination is so glaring that there is serious unrest and discontent among a majority of people,” it adds.

It says further that the living conditions are miserable in the areas inhabited by the poor, workers of the unoganised sectors, dalits, backward classes, minorities and other deprived sections. It adds that the conditions under which the people of the middle classes live are no better. “Thus those sections of the people who have toiled and are toiling to build this city are being constantly pushed into conditions of constant anxiety, insecurity and deprivation,” says the draft.

Mavalli Shankar, convener of the DSS (A), says that the main question Civic Front addresses is: To whom does Bangalore belong? “We need to question the forces driving the developmental agenda which is geared to support the real the estate lobby and corporates. We hope to provide an alternative vision to this,” he said.

CPI(M)’s Bangalore district secretary K. Prakash says that the Civic Front is not a new political party, but a forum of like-minded people and organisations. “We want to involve local residents’ associations also and work on a long-term basis beyond BBMP elections,” he says.

(The Hindu)

Centre flayed for signing ASEAN trade pact

Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to resort to direct action against the Free Trade Agreement signed by India with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

A two-day Kerala State committee meeting of the party, which concluded here on Tuesday, resolved to form a human chain from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod on October 2 in protest against the agreement, which, according to it, would destroy the agriculture and allied sectors of the State. The party urged all those who loved Kerala to become links in the chain. The meeting stressed the need for a strong protest against the Centre’s policy, which jeopardised the lives of three crore people.

The party felt that the agreement was tailor-made to demolish the agriculture sector of a State that derived its strength mainly from cash crops. Products from ASEAN would start flowing into the domestic market of the State soon. As both production and productivity were higher in those countries than in Kerala, the local market would surrender to them completely. Even the products of developed capitalistic countries would reach Kerala through ASEAN.

The future of Kerala’s major produce such as coconut, rubber, pepper, coffee, and tea would become crisis-ridden. The fish species available in those countries were similar to the ones caught in Kerala. Marine products too would enter the country as part of the deal. Traditional industries, including handloom, would be in trouble.

Deal signed in haste

Kerala had warned the Centre in advance about the repercussions of the agreement. The Prime Minister had given an assurance to the State’s representatives that the agreement would be signed only after consultations with the State. But the assurance had been flouted and the deal signed in haste. The Centre had not even come forward to disclose the details of the agreement. It was an instance of the undemocratic way in which the Centre functioned. The Centre had adopted such a stand notwithstanding the fact that agriculture was a State subject. It was the steps initiated by the National Democratic Alliance government in October 2003 which had culminated in the agreement. The agreement, which allowed free flow of products, services and investments without any import duty, undoubtedly carried the globalisation process ahead.

KANNUR: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday demanded a constitutional amendment to ensure that all international treaties are ratified by Parliament.

Addressing a party rally here, organised in connection with P. Krishna Pillai Day, Mr. Karat said the recent free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN was signed without taking Parliament into confidence and consulting the States. The treaty would affect farmers, especially those in Kerala. Cash crops in the State and domestic industries would be badly affected by the FTA.

“We demand that all such international agreements be ratified by Parliament. The Constitution has to be amended,” he said. The Centre could not take unilateral decisions as the country had a federal set-up.

Mr. Karat said Union Ministers A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi were understood to have expressed their objections to the agreement.

The CPI(M) leader called for a strong people’s movement to oppose the neo-liberal economic policies of the Manmohan Singh-led government. The government continued to implement the policies that had widened the social and economic inequalities. It was implementing the policies advocated by the United States.

Food prices had gone up since the Congress-led government came to power three months ago. The agricultural sector had to be strengthened to ensure food security, he said.

Referring to the party’s demand for universal public distribution system, he said the targeted PDS being introduced by the Centre would in no way ensure food security.

It was the duty of the Left parties to take up people’s issues, he pointed out. The Bharatiya Janata Party was in serious crisis in State after State, Mr. Karat said, adding people had refused to support the communal agenda of that party.

Left convention

Earlier, at a function at Iritty here, Mr. Karat said a national convention of Left parties would be held in New Delhi on August 26 to chalk out a campaign against the policies of the Central government.

Thrissur: CPI(M) Polit Bureau member S. Ramachandran Pillai has said that the Centre tried to keep the ASEAN trade pact, which has a devastating impact on the country’s economy, a secret. Speaking after inaugurating a convention of Karshaka Sangam here on Thursday, he alleged that the Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Pact was signed without any discussion.

The Left parties would organise national campaign against the pact if the Central government refused to review it, he added.

“The country should have learnt lesson from the free trade agreement with Sri Lanka. The ASEAN trade pact will cripple the farm sector, which is already in crisis due to global economic meltdown. Fisheries, handloom and small-scale industries also would be adversely affected.” The CPI(M) would form a human chain against the agreement October 2.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)