A Thunderbolt from the sky..A thunderbolt that could make change.A Thunderbolt that will tear apart the black clouds of imperialism and communalism that had covered India.Yes change is inevitable..Change will Come..
On the night of May 30, the Israeli armed forces illegally attacked a flotilla of six ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters. At least 15 international activists have been killed and many injured. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns this unprovoked and criminal attack.
About 700 activists from a number of countries are on the six ships. They were aiming to take 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been under relentless siege for almost three years now.
The attack on the flotilla in international waters, 65 km off the Gaza coast again shows the complete contempt that Israel has for international law or international opinion. Attacking ships in international waters and killing its passengers is a brazen act of piracy and must be treated as such by the international community.
The CPI(M) calls upon the Government of India to condemn this dastardly attack. India must also work actively with other countries from the non-aligned nations in the UN and other bodies to force Israel to lift the illegal siege of Gaza.
"Culture is an important component in human history. Literature is an important component of culture. It plays a vital role in history. In all societies, dominant culture always reflects the interest of ruling classes. The exploited classes contend and contest such dominant culture, making it an important area of class struggle. When the working class is fighting for social change, it goes without saying that there should be progressive change in the field of culture also"
Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) pointed out in his message on the occasion of the 41st year celebration of Semmalar. Semmalar in Tamil means Red Flower which bloomed 40 years ago and is now entering its 41st year.
The Tamil literary monthly magazine has played an important role in promoting progressive and working class culture through its content and is helping the oppressed and suppressed people in their fight against the present ruling classes. It is the longest serving literary magazine of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
It was 1970. After the division of Communist Party of India, CPI (M) Tamilnadu state committee felt the necessity for a literary magazine and published an 80 page journal Semmalar on May 1970, priced for 50 paisa, from Madurai.
The eminent novelist K Chinnappa Bharathi became its first editor; and from the very beginning, veteran leader of the Party and long time editor of Theekkathir, late comrade K Muthiah and the veteran leader of the communist movement N Sankariah guided the bringing out of Semmalar. From its birth, Semmalar is waging a tireless fight against imperialism, communalism, religious fundamentalism, casteism, untouchability, cultural policing and fight for Tamil language development, women’s rights, dalit rights etc., through numerous poems, short stories, essays, fictions, novels and dramas from the vast number of progressive writers in Tamilnadu and translations from various languages. It is a history; the Semmalar is proud that a literary magazine gave birth to a writers’ association.
On November 1974, the writers of Semmalar met at Madurai in the presence of veteran leaders of CPI(M) M R Venkatraman, A Balasubramaniyam, A Nallasivan, N Sankaraiah and K Muthiah. The meeting discussed about the contemporary situation of Tamil literature and the condition of Tamil language and decided to create a new organisation to promote the progressive values of Tamil literature. On this line, a state level organising conference of progressive writers was held at Madurai on July 12 -13, 1975. A new organisation-the only organised progressive writers movement in the field of Tamil Literature, Tamilnadu Progressive Writers Association was founded in this conference. Today, after 35 years, this association has more than 200 units across the state and16 thousand of writers and artists as its members. Not only in the area of literature and other fine arts, the association established its roots in the film sector too.
From 1975 to 1977, the nation had experienced the cruelty of the emergency rule of Congress government. At that time, the press was crushed under the censor regime. Particularly, the mouthpiece of CPI (M) Tamilnadu committee, Theekkathir was attacked by the so called censorship. Semmalar also experienced same conditions; the writers were not able to write freely; the censor officers watched small stories, essays and each and every piece of writing.
Short story and novel formats matured during the early quarter of the 20th century and have progressed rapidly to catch up with leading ‘isms’ and formats of world literature. In 1970s-1980s heated discussions were on among the Tamil writers. The so called isms occupied the central place in these discussions. Some writers, who did not have any progressive values, vehemently opposed the progressive and democratic approach on literature; and they were advocating post modernism; existentialism; surrealism like ideologies.
But Semmalar opposed this from the beginning. It shouted with a clear voice; any piece of literature and art should reflect the real life of human being; every piece of writing should help to mould the civilisation of human being; and the creative arts should be realistic.
‘Post modern’ is the term used to suggest contemporary literature of the last half of the 20th century. Not only in the field of art and literature; but in the field of political economy also are certain concepts of ‘post modernism’ propagated by the foreign funded NGO sector and the capitalist media. They project the primacy of ‘identity’ – gender, ethnicity, caste, nationality – over class.
The ideological underpinnings, such as they are, of this trend are provided by what has come to be known as ‘post-modernism’. Post modernism places all struggles on par, with class as just another social category jostling with gender, ethnicity, and nationality and so on for attention. Thus post modernism rules out the possibility of united action by various social sections on the basis of common objective interests; rather it talks of varying coalitions/alliances of forces, joining hands to one extent or other specific forms.
Against such types of capitalist interventions on politics of art and literature, the uncompromising fight of Semmalar is remarkable.
With these progressive values, Semmalar has produced so many poets and writers. If we try to list out, it is very huge. Particularly, K Muthiah, K Chinnappa Bharathi, D Selvaraj, Prof Arunan, Melanmai Ponnusamy, S Senthilnathan, Kandharvan, SU Samudram, Kashyaban, S Tamilselvan, Mythili Sivaraman, Rajam Krishnan, LR Lakshmi, J Sabitha and others, who are the pioneers of progressive movement of Tamil literature, are the products of Semmalar. Among them, SU Samudram and Melanmai Ponnusamy are the winners of SakhityaAcademy award.
Even today, Semmalar is serving as a training camp for young Tamil writers and inspiring more and more young progressive writers. For the 40 years, not only in the content, but technically also Semmalar is updating itself; now it is continuing its journey under the editorship of the senior leader of CPI(M) Tamilnadu and eminent writer S A Perumal with associate editor S Tamilselvan (general secretary of Tamilnadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association), and the editorial team consisting of Sakhitya Academy awardee Melanmai Ponnusamy, eminent novelist and critique Prof Arunan, associate editor of Theekkathir, Madhukur Ramalingam, veteran writer and critique T Varadharajan, and young writers Chola Nagarajan, S Venkatesan and Udhyashankar.
With this enthusiastic movement of class struggle in the field of Tamil literature, Semmalar enters in its 41st year. On this occasion, a grand celebration was held at Madurai on May 12. CPI (M) Poilt Bureau member K Varadharajan and hundreds of writers, poets, readers attended. The pioneers of the magazine K Chinnappa Bharathi and T Varadharajan were honored by K Varadharajan.
When giving special address K Varadharajan said that in a society of class divisions, art and literature without class consciousness cannot exist and with this consciousness, Semmalar is successful in handling the enemies of working class in the field of art and literature.
A special number of the magazine was published on this occasion. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and the leaders of the Party Sitaram Yechury,
N Sankariah, R Umanath, N Varadharajan, G Ramakrishnan, veteran writer K Rajanarayanan and veteran critique TK Sivasankaran gave their message of greetings.
It may be opt to conclude this report with the words of Prakash Karat’s message:
In these 40 years, Semmalar has made tremendous contribution in the field of literature placing people’s interest firmly at the centre. At this juncture when corporate media are involved in paid news and mounting vicious attacks on the Left, the positive role of journals like Semmalar assumes greater significance.”
(SP Rajendran, Peoples Democracy)
The first State Conference of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front(TNUEF) was held at Pudukkottai on 28,29 of May,2010. More than 50000 people all over Tamilnadu attended the Massive Rally organized on 29th evening andCom.Prakash Karat, General Secretary of CPI(M) addresses the Public Meetingheld after the culmination of the rally. The conference was inaugurated by Com.K.Varadrajan, Polit BureauMember of CPI(M)
A resolution adopted said that Tamil Nadu was one of the states prone to atrocities and offences of untouchability. The constitution of a body with statutory powers would go a long way in resolving the issues pertaining to the offences. Although the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had assured to constitute a legal body during the course of the Dalit convention at Chennai in October last year, no follow-up action was initiated so far in this regard, the resolution pointed out.
It also pleaded for inclusion of secular experts and representatives of anti-atrocity organisations in the district-level awareness-cum-vigilance committees.
Another resolution pleaded for reservation for Dalits in the private sector and sought immediate filling up of posts in the government and public sector undertakings.
It said that globalisation had resulted in 'injustice' for Dalits especially in the absence of reservation in private job opportunities. The Central government too had 'yielded' to pressure from big industrialists in this regard.
The fact that the regional parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which formed part of the Central Government, had not voiced their concern had led to denial of social justice.
Further, non-filling up of vacant posts had also deprived the Dalits of their employment opportunities.
For instance, in Railways alone, as many as 1.70 lakh posts were yet to be filled up.
Similarly, a large number of posts were lying vacant in various departments of State Government.
The convention, through another resolution, wanted stern action against officials not implementing the Prevention of Atrocities Act. Allocation of adequate funds for the effective implementation of the Act; periodical convening of the state and district-level committees; expeditious disposal of cases pertaining to atrocities and untouchability offences and awarding due punishment to the accused were also sought.
New Office Bearers elected
On the concluding day a mass rally was taken out, and around 50,000 volenteers from around the state took part in it. The conference also elected new office bearers. Com. P Sampath has been elected the President TNUEF. Com. Samuel Raj has been elected General Secretary. R Jayraman is elected Treasurer. A 98 member state committee is also been constituted.
Annihilation of the caste system should be the goal and the first step is to eliminate untouchability, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Saturday.
Untouchability was the worst feature of the caste system in the country, Mr. Karat told the first State conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front here. “Even after 62 years of Independence what we find in our society is that caste transcended all classes. Though the Constitution proclaimed equality, we still find it did not go with the ground reality,” Mr. Karat said.
Struggle against the caste system should go along with struggle against socio-economic and class exploitation. What was needed was a social revolution which could not come without fighting and abolishing the caste system.
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front had been engaged in path-breaking activity over the last three years fighting all forms of caste discrimination and untouchability. Even people outside Tamil Nadu were looking up to the Front as an inspiration in their struggle against oppression. The Front should bring under its fold all those who were against caste discrimination and untouchability and it would become a genuine instrument in bringing about social change in Tamil Nadu, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Karat released a collection of short stories authored by Aadhavan Dheetchanya on atrocities committed against Dalits.
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front convenor P. Sampath called for starting branches of the front at all levels within the State. The front had created confidence among the oppressed communities.
General secretary of the All-India Vivasayigal Sangam K. Varadharajan, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan, party MLA S.K. Mahendran and All-India Democratic Women's Association general secretary U. Vasuki took part in the conference.
CPI(M) to seek ATR on Misra report
Addressing a public meeting organised by the front here, Mr. Karat said the CPI(M) would demand, in the next session of the Parliament, an action taken report on the recommendations of the National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Ranganath Misra.
Though the Centre had placed the commission's report in Parliament it had not acted on that. The CPI (M) would be in touch with other parties in this regard. The commission had made two major recommendations — to provide reservation up to 15 per cent in education and offer job opportunities for the minorities, who were socially, educationally and economically backward. It had also recommended that those of Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of religion, be brought under the scheduled caste reservation, Mr. Karat said.
The CPI (M) had been demanding that Dalit Christians and any person of Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of religion, be provided reservation.
Mr. Karat said the economic policies of the Centre had adversely affected the livelihood of people. The policies limited the opportunities for the Dalits as the government had downsized and banned recruitment to various departments. “So where is the reservation for SC and ST?” Mr.Karat said and pointed out that there was no reservation in the private sector.
Fight privatisation
He called upon the oppressed communities to fight the privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation policies of the government as it was the only way to protect their lives.
The government was promoting privatisation of higher education and allowing business houses to start educational institutions. Foreign educational institutions had also been allowed. This way, education would go out of the reach of SC, ST and other backward communities as there would be no reservation.
Mr. Karat said a powerful struggle had to be launched to protect the rights of the Dalits and other oppressed sections. The goals and aims of social reformers like Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar had not been fulfilled even after 62 years of Independence, he said, calling for a fight against caste oppression. Untouchability in any form could not be witnessed in Communist-ruled States, he observed.
has issued the following statement from New Delhi:
Instead of joining the collective efforts to provide relief and assistance to the victims of the recent ghastly rail accident in West Midnapore, sections of the pro-Trinamul Congress intellectuals in West Bengal have mounted an absurd and insidious charge against the CPI (M) and the Left Front Government that they conspired to cause this accident. This is reminiscent of Hitler and Nazi fascists setting the German Reichstag on fire and arresting Dimitrov, General Secretary of the Communist International on that charge. This was followed by a general witch-hunt against the Communists in Germany.
What is more surprising is that the Union Railway Minister has virtually echoed similar charges against the CPI (M) and the Left Front Government in West Bengal. As the Railway Minister it is her basic duty, to be discharged under the oath of our Constitution that she took while assuming office, to inform the country about the Ministry’s preliminary observations on the cause of the accident. She has rather chosen to shield the actual culprits by suggesting that the Maoists may not be behind the sabotage. This is indeed strange that she is saying all this while continuing to demand a CBI enquiry when the State Government has already initiated a CID enquiry.
The Union Railway Minister continues to maintain that there was a blast that led to the accident, while the Union Home Minister has denied that possibility. It is clear that the Union Railway Minister is seeking to cover up for the serious lapses of her leadership in the Railway Ministry and its failings in this tragic episode. During the five months of this year the number of major Railway accidents has been more than in any calendar year since 1980.
It is indeed tragic that instead of joining the country in the wake of a national tragedy these elements are cynically using the situation to further their petty partisan interests. All this is being done in order to influence public opinion on the eve of the municipality elections in West Bengal. The politically conscious people of West Bengal will surely see through this conspiracy and give a fitting rebuff to these diabolical designs.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its grave concern on the shocking incident of the killing of three Kashmiri youths by an army unit in Jammu & Kashmir in an alleged encounter. The Jammu & Kashmir police has registered a murder case against the concerned army unit. Appropriate legal action should be taken against all the perpetrators who were involved in this serious crime and violation of human rights.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved members of the families of the three Kashmiri youth who lost their precious life.
The government of India should take all necessary steps to stop the recurrence of such incidents.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its shock and grief at the tragic loss of precious lives in the terrible train accident caused by sabotage by Maoists in the Jhargram area of West Midnapore district of West Bengal close to the Jharkhand border. It extends its deep condolences to the bereaved families and sympathy and concern for those who have suffered injuries. It strongly condemns this dastardly act by Maoists who have once again demonstrated their utter contempt for human lives.
This terrible tragedy has been compounded by the irresponsible absence of due diligence on the part of the railway authorities. In violation of their own declared policy to ensure specific safety measures in Maoist affected areas, in this case the pilot train which should have preceded the passenger train to check the safety of the track was not done. This perhaps could have averted this tragedy and saved the lives of passengers. Further, a goods train that collided with the derailed passenger train on the parallel track, resulting in graver damage of death and injury, could have been prevented. The persistent denial of the existence of Maoist activities in West Bengal by the Railway Minister may have led to the lack of preparedness of the authorities.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that a thorough enquiry be conducted into this horrendous incident. The Prime Minister should personally intervene to ensure that the railways, in coordination with security agencies, fulfill their responsibility by stepping up precautionary safety measures to protect passengers and railway property in all Maoist affected areas.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India have issued the following statement:
No FDI In Retail Trade
The Central Government is once again considering the opening up of multi-brand retail trade to Foreign Direct Investment. The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion is pushing for such a move.
Retail trade in the country employs lakhs of people, whose livelihood will be jeopardized if big foreign companies like Walmart and Tesco are allowed into the retail trade.
It is strange that the UPA government is contemplating this step when the Congress Party itself has taken a stand against the entry of foreign companies in retail trade as stated in its resolution in the AICC session held in Hyderabad in 2006.
The Left parties have consistently opposed the entry of foreign companies into retail trade. A wide spectrum of political parties, retail trade associations and public opinion is against such a move.
The UPA government should desist from allowing FDI in multi-brand retail trade.
The campaign by DYFI Kerala state committee " One Man One Tree for the Earth" is gaining momentum day by day. As people are getting more awareness regarding environmental matters, the campaign call is getting whole hearted support. DYFI has launched a blog to carryout the message of environmental protection and the danger side of global warming to the various sections of the people. The blog was inaugurated by the Honorable Finance minister of Kerala. Dr. T M Thomas Isaac. DYFI state secretary TV Rajesh and others leaders were also present. Articles of leading dignitaries, environmentalists are posted in the blog. The address of the blog is www.dyfi-saveearth.blogspot.com
Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) is about to organize 5000 eco friendly meetings throughout the state raising the slogan “One Person, One Tree for our Earth” to spread the message of environment conservation. DYFI will observe June 5th as Green Day and the month of June 2010 as Environment Conservation Month.
As a part of these activities the organization will mobilize public in all the fourteen districts in Kerala to organize Environmental campaigns. While observing Green Day on June 5th (World Environment Day) DYFI will be planting 10 seedlings at unit level. Since DYFI is having 25,000 Units throughout the state the organization will plant 2,50,000 seedlings in a single day. As a part of observing Environmental Awareness Month DYFI will be organizing Environmental awareness classes, processions to convey the message of environmental conservation, photo exhibitions, cleaning drives at public places etc. Being the largest youth organization in the state DYFI is expecting mass mobilization of public to spread the message of environment conservation.
It is now well established that the global warming and associated climate change is due to increased emission of Green House Gases due to human intervention. Natural streams and soil humidity and the nature of the ecosystem are all facing severe threat due to human intervention. The earth is getting heated up and the existence of human life on earth is under threat and not to speak about other life forms. To reduce the adverse effects of global warming, the only way is to reduce the emission of Green House Gases and to make the earth greener by planting more and more trees. As a responsible youth organization in the country, DYFI has taken this initiative to take all the possible steps to protect the earth from the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. It may be recalled that the last state conference of DYFI held at Thiruvananthapuram during January 8-11, 2010 has discussed this matter and decided to proceed with programmes to protect environment. The state conference has even passed a resolution to this effect. The present campaign of DYFI is in the light of this decision where DYFI will be planting 2.5 lakhs of seedlings throughout Kerala. This is going to be largest environmental awareness campaign organized by any organization in the state.
The anti people policies of the Developed capitalist nations is aggravating the environmental issues across the globe. Global warming and Climate Change is now a global problem and the entire human race is under severe threat from this. The world summit held at Copenhagen failed to address this issue due to the anti people policies of the leaders of the developed nations. At Copenhagen the UPA Government stood by the policies of the Developed nations led by the United States of America. This attitude of the Congress led Government was widely criticized at that time. It may be noted that 74 % of the Carbon emission is from the developed nations and their population is just 17% of the world population. Among this the United States of America in which just 5 % of the world population is staying the carbon emission is 30 %. Ignoring all these facts the developed nations argued at Copenhagen that developing and undeveloped nations are also equally responsible for Carbon emission and Global warming. This is considered as a highly ridiculous attitude.
In Kerala the damage caused to the Environment and natural resources has become a serious social issue. Pollution, irrational and unscientific exploitation of natural resources, wide spread use of low quality plastic products and emergence of infectious diseases etc creates several serious socioeconomic problems in the State. DYFI has taken up the current environment conservation drive under these circumstances only. DYFI think that protecting the environment and maintaining the ecological balance is part of a political activity. Accepting this fact DYFI request all the people in Kerala to come out and join this campaign to protect the environment.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Committee member Maruthi Manpade has alleged that atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes have been on the rise in Karnataka over the past few years and, among the south Indian States, Karnataka has reported the highest number of such cases.Quoting from a commission report, Mr. Manpade said here on Friday that over 1,700 cases of atrocities were reported in 2008 alone from the State. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Karnataka had failed to contain the cases of atrocities and provide compensation to the victims.
The Planning Commission had instructed the State Government to allocate Rs.7,300 crore to take up welfare measures for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, he said. The Government, however, allocated only Rs. 3,553 crore, Mr. Manpade charged.Further, he claimed that of the 75,000 applications the Government received from tribal people for land pattas as per the Forest Dwellers Act, 2006, it had issued only 300 pattas so far. To protest against the State Government's apathy, the State unit of the CPI(M) will stage a dharna in front of the Chief Minister's residence in Bangalore on June 10. (Courtesy : The Hindu)
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) is shocked at the crash of the Air India Express plane at MangaloreAirport. It is deeply grieved at the loss of lives of around 160 passengers and crew.
The Polit Bureau extends its heartfelt sympathy to all those who have lost their family members in the crash.
A proper enquiry must be expeditiously conducted to ascertain the cause for the crash and to take remedial measures if necessary.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly opposes the decision of the government to increase the price of gas produced by the public sector companies from $ 1.8 per unit to $ 4.2 per unit. This doubling of the price in the Administered Price Mechanism (APM) has been done to bring it in line with the price approved by the government for the gas produced by the Reliance India Ltd (RIL).
The government decision seems motivated to ensure the market for RIL’s gas since the lower priced gas of the public sector enterprises would have been more attractive for the power and fertilizer producers.
By this step the additional burden of Rs. 8000 crore will be passed on to the consumers of power and fertilizers. The transport industry using CNG will also be affected.
The doubling of the APM gas price comes at a time when the country is witnessing high inflation and price rise. The benefits accruing to one corporate group seems more important for the government than public interest.
CITU strongly denounces the Government decision to increase the price of APM gas produced by ONGC and OIL form 1.79 dollar/unit to 4.2 dollar/unit in line with price approved by the Government for KG Basin Gas, supplied by Reliance India Limited which had earlier backed out of its offer of 2.34 dollar/unit to M/s NTPC.
The Government’s decision to increase the gas price is not for the improvement of the financial health of the PSUs but only to ensure RIL’s market as the power and fertilizer producers were opting for the low priced gas from ONGC and OIL. In the process, the additional burden of Rs. 8,000 Cr. approx. will be now passed on to the consumers of power and fertilizer for example cost of power tariff of plants using APM gas is likely to increase by Rs. 1/- per unit.
The CITU deplores the Government’s insensitivity and apathy to the woes of the inflation hit common man of the country. CITU further demands total review and scrutiny of Government’s gas pricing policy through CAG and Parliamentary Committees to expose the Government’s blatant misuse of executive power to foster one corporate group or other, at the cost of national interest.
All India Democratic Women Association staged a road blockade agitating against a slew of ‘grievances' against the government. Condemning the frequent power failure, urging State and Central governments to strengthen Public Distribution System (PDS), AIDWA called for a halt in both announced and unannounced power failures across the State. Further, it sought regularisation of ‘malfunctioning and dysfunctioning' NREGS programme in Tamil Nadu. Coming down on the Kalaignar's Housing Scheme, AIDWA stated that while majority of poor were landless, the Scheme's promise of construction of concrete houses for those with pattas would make no difference to the poor.
The road blockade, organised as part of the nation-wide agitation against various “flawed” policies of the government, was concluded after the AIDWA workers courted arrest.
The cadre said that the subsidy on ration should be hiked with immediate effect. The PDS , plagued by ills, should be strengthened. The drinking water scarcity must be eradicated. The water supply in all towns and cities had to be regularised.The members raised slogans demanding the Central and State governments to take immediate steps to control price rise besides seeking a ban on online trading of essential commodities. Around 10,000 women courted arrest across the state.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The outcome of the 3G spectrum auction convincingly proves that Union Communication Minister, Shri A. Raja, was clearly involved in corrupt practices by selling 2G spectrum to some industrialists by manipulating TRAI recommendations. Whereas 3G spectrum could fetch Rs. 70,000 crores, 2G spectrum was sold at a paltry sum of Rs. 2000 crores only. Shri Raja had done so by blatantly violating the law causing a huge loss to the public exchequer.
Despite repeated demands made in parliament and outside, Shri A. Raja is nonchalantly continuing to stick to his position. Such a situation cannot be allowed to be continued.
The CPI(M) demands that Shri A. Raja should immediately resign from his post pending a high power enquiry into the entire 2G spectrum scam.
If the minister refuses to resign, the Prime Minister should sack him to maintain the dignity of the high post Shri A. Raja is holding in the Government.
Sitaram Yechury and Basudev Acharia met the Home Minister today evening and handed over a letter on the unsubstantiated and wild allegations leveled by the TMC. We are releasing the text of the letter:
*************
Dear Home Minister,
We seek to draw your attention and intervention in a serious situation that is developing in the course of the current election campaign to municipal corporations in the state of West Bengal.
The enclosed letter from the Chairman of the Left Front, Shri Biman Basu, explains how the Trinamul Congress leader and Union Railway Minister is deliberately stoking panic and terror amongst the Muslim minority population claiming that she has secret information that a section of the police will help the Left Front in unleashing communal violence in the state.
You are surely aware that during the last thirty three years of the Left Front Government in West Bengal, the state and its people have seen unprecedented communal harmony and fraternity. This record makes all of us proud in India and is often portrayed as the symbol of India’s strength in secular democracy. You will surely agree that any effort to blemish this record are not in the interests of our country’s unity and integrity. Further, casting such wild and unsubstantiated allegations, especially by a Union Cabinet Minister, also violates the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
If indeed the TMC leader and Union Minister does possess some secret information we request you as the Union Home Minister to obtain such information and act on it in consultation with the state government. If on the contrary, there is no such information, as surely is the case, then may we request you to set at rest the apprehensions and tensions that have resulted from the Union Minister’s utterances.
CPIM candidates have won in 322 panchayat wards in the elections held to local bodies in Karnataka. Above all CPIM will be ruling 12 Panchayats in the state independenthly. Of the total candidates elected 25 % are women.
Party made strong presence in the panchayat elections in Chickbelapur, Gulbarga, Mangaluru, Gadhak, Beedar, Uduppi, Belgaum and Mandya districts. Julipalaya, Paragod, Kanadavarappalli, Kuruthuppallai, Somanadhapura, Paattapalaya are the panchayats in Chickbelapur district that CPI M won alone. Majority seats in Thiru malai, Ulleyeri, Somanahalli, Hambasandra panchayats in Gundibanda Taluk had been captured by CPIM. Vanaguruve Panchayat in Uthara kannada District is also wrested by CPIM.
Of the 26 seats in Juliyappalaya panchayat CPIM won 22 seats. In Gulbarga district CPIM will rule a panchayat with the help of alliance parties. Of the total 5474 panchayat seats in the state, Congress and Janatadal is having the upper hand.
Rich tributes were paid to Puchalapalli Sundaraiah, on the occasion of his 25th death anniversary, here on Wednesday. The CPI (M) Vijayawada city unit organised a meeting to pay tributes to him.
On the occasion, CPI (M) state secretary and Polit bureau member B.V. Raghavulu stressed on the need to reach the masses and the oppressed taking a cue from life and personality of Sundaraiah. The simplicity, humanity behind the sacrifice, and commitment were some of the facets of Sundaraiah's success. His simplicity was to reach common man and mingle with them. And, his sacrifice had a face of humanity as he distributed his lands for landless. Likewise, he never went back in time of difficulties, he said, adding, these qualities were need of hour to achieve the Sundaraiah's goals and objectives. “The people, world over, were confronting many new problems like abuse of natural resources by few rich people, and growing Capitalism. These rich people were driving the people towards socialism. New forces were seeking inspiration from life of Sundaraiah and Marxism to resolve these problems. And, hence, it was necessary to gear up for setting up socialist society,” he said.
The ruling Congress and many political parties have stopped thinking about the problems the common man was facing as they were more interested in power, and struggling with internal squabbles. The people were in dire need of political party like CPI (M) to agitate in behalf of them, he said. Stating that CPI(M) Party Congress which was due in February 2010, could not be organised due to elections in many states. The all India meeting was postponed to 2012, and extended central committee meeting would be organised in Vijayawada from August 7 to 10. As many as 370 delegates would attended the meeting to discuss the political developments in last three years and chalk out future action plan, he said, and recalled that all India meeting conducted in 1982, when Sundaraiah was alive, in Vijayawada was a grand success. CPI(M) central committee member Paturi Ramaiah, district secretary V. Umamaheswara Rao, city secretary R. Raghu, floor leader in VMC Ch. Babu Rao and others were present.
NALGONDA: The CPI (M) district secretary Nandyala Narasimha Reddy called upon party cadres to draw inspiration from Puchalapalli Sundarayya and relentlessly strive to realise his ideals. Speaking at a meeting commemorating the 25th death anniversary of Mr Sundarayya at Dhoddi Komraiah Bhavan here on Wednesday, Mr. Narasimha Reddy described Mr. Sundarayya as a champion of the working class movement and an epitome of selfless service.
KADAPA: Communist stalwart Puchalapalli Sundarayya was a revolutionary planner par excellence, built progressive movements and would always be an inspiration to the Communist movement, CPI(M) district secretary B. Narayana and district secretariat member N. Ravisankar Reddy asserted on Wednesday.
Paying rich homage while observing Sundarayya's 25th death anniversary at the party office, they said Puchalapalli Sundarayya left an indelible mark on integrated water schemes, land issues and priorities for the State in books authored by him. His books on - A.P. Comprehensive Water Schemes, Poor and Land Distribution, Prajarajyam in Visalandhra – were invaluable. He not only countered casteism in his native village, established coolie sanghams, undertook salt satyagraham, picketed toddy shops but spearheaded the Telangana Armed Struggle, all aimed at building a new social order, the CPI(M) leaders asserted.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The removal of Ketan Desai from the post of Director of MCI is a much belated and required step. The prima facie evidence of corruption at the top levels of MCI required firm Government intervention. The CPI(M) had urged the Government in Parliament to take action to remove Desai, ensure accountability and Parliamentary oversight on such bodies like the MCI through required amendments to the MCI Act, while protecting the autonomy of the MCI.
However utilizing the need for removal of Desai, the Government has brought an ordinance to dissolve the entire council shortly after the Parliament session. This shows the absence of minimum democratic norms. The Government should have taken Parliament into confidence before dissolving an autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament.
Secondly, since health is a state subject and medical education is on the concurrent list it was mandatory for the Central Government to have consulted State Governments by calling an emergency meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare. In the dissolved Medical Council, State Governments had their representatives. The seven member Board of Governors now appointed through the ordinance consists entirely of centrally nominated persons. This is a violation of federal principles and is an injustice to the States.
The ordinance reflects a policy of overcentralisation of powers in the hands of the Central Government which does damage to the federal character of the Constitution. The CPI(M) calls upon the Central Government to immediately call a meeting of the Central Council and ensure that the rights of the States are not bypassed.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the ghastly killing of 35 persons including 24 civilians in Dantewada in Bastar by Maoists in a landmine blast yesterday.
The attack on the private passenger bus by the Maoists only highlights their bankrupt policies of attacking ordinary citizens in various parts of the country including tribals who refuse to accept their dictates.
The CPI(M) appeals to the people to raise their voice against the murderous attacks on people and their livelihood and resist their depredations against peaceful citizens.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the State government to return the 53 acres of land that had been grabbed from 20 Dalit families at Siruthavur village, to their heirs. Addressing the media here on Sunday, G. Ramakrishnan, State Secretary, termed unjustifiable the recommendations of the K.P. Sivasubramanian Commission that the lands allotted to Dalits in 1967 could be taken up for distribution to other landless Dalits. If it had not been for the 20 families lodging complaints, and the Communist Party submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about the land grabbing, the enquiry commission would not have been appointed. Hence, the land should be distributed to the heirs of the families, he said.
Refutes charges
Mr. Ramakrishnan also refuted the charges made by the Chief Minister that the CPI (M) had supported the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the by-election without the latter demanding it. He said that it was the decision of the party's executive committee to support AIADMK. Moreover the AIADMK had sent a letter seeking the CPI (M)'s support in the by-elections.
Stating that untouchability was still prevalent in many forms in the State, he said that a two-day State-level conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchabilty Eradication Front would be held at Pudukottai on May 28 and 29 and would be attended by the party's national general secretary Prakash Karat.
Citing the Pallipalayam incident, where a CPI (M) functionary was hacked to death for fighting usury, Mr. Ramakrishnan said that the party would organise a conference at Pallipalayam in Namakkal district on May 23, demanding abolition of the same.
He opined that with higher education still remaining a distant dream for many, the Foreign University Bill would only further reduce the chances of the poor getting higher education, and the CPI (M) would oppose the Bill.
The party also demanded that textbooks for matriculation schools under the Samacheer Kalvi Thittam be published and distributed by the State.
