The Peasants shall Continue Their Struggle for Price: Com Madan Ghosh

 

 

Paschimbanga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha along with the other left peasants' organisations has decided to go for civil disobedience movement with the demand of proper price for the food grains, supply of the fertiliser at reasonable price and against the anti-peasant agricultural policies of central and State Government. Comrade Madan Ghosh, Secretary of Krishak Sabha talked to the party website on various issues and problems of the farmers of West Bengal in the first six months of the TMC led Government.

Question: How will you distinguish between the agricultural policy of the current TMC led Government and the Left Front Government earlier?

Madan Ghosh: The most significant success of the Left Front Government was the Land Reforms. Land Reforms meant not only the distribution of the land but also the recording of barga (share-croppers). The peasants who got the land because of the land reforms got incentive for extra production. Additionally, with the expansion of irrigation and technical support, West Bengal became self-sufficient in production of food. In rice production we became top in the country. Another important thing that we have witnessed is that the farmers, who were been forced to sell the produced crops in lesser price and suffer the financial crisis and could not be self-sufficient earlier, began to get prices for their produces. Because of the land reforms the number of the small and marginal farmers had a significant growth. Currently, they constitute 84% of total number of peasants of West Bengal. Due to this changed scenario capital became a necessity to these farmers. With time, agriculture became more and more dependent on capital. However, the banks have always shown less interest to invest in agrarian sector. The situation remained unchanged even after bank nationalisation. So, the investment in agricultural sector was either by the rich farmers (In case of West Bengal) or the Jotdars (at all India level). This capital is primarily used to buy the tools and machine. One of the contributions of the Left Front Government was that it could ensure the supply of capital to the small and marginal farmers by the development of the cooperative system in the state. Out of the given loan, 4% of the interest amount used to be subsidised by the Government in cases of timely return of the loan amount. To prevent the distress sell of the crops the Government played vital role to open the rice purchase centre. Gradually these arrangements became strengthened with the involvement of self-help group, as the buyers of the crops. It is also important to note that the Central Government Agencies like FCI, JCI (in Jute) have been adequately used to ensure the selling of the crops. The Left Front Government had also paid adequate attention to provide assistance to price control and exporting the potatoes. All together these factors have created the incentives for the farmers to produce more at the time of Left Front Government.

But we have seen in the first six months of the Trinamool led Government that the Government has not played any positive role to consolidate these factors. Like in case of Jute it has failed to use the JCI, therefore the jute farmers have suffered a huge financial losses. Likewise in case of rice the payment of 50% bonus by the State Government has been stopped along with no attention to form the rice purchase centre at any of the districts. The policy to use self-help groups as the buyer of rice has been rejected by the new Government. None of the initiatives has been taken for proper distribution of the fertiliser. This situation is so gross that the peasants are not getting the Minimum Support Price for the crops (Lesser than the production cost) fixed by the Central Government. Hence the farmers are going towards a ruinous path. We are already receiving the news of farmer's suicides from some parts of West Bengal, which was not even imaginable during tenure of the Left Front Government. In Kerala we have seen such a situation earlier during the time of UDF Government, but during the LDF period there was no farmer suicide. Again of farmer's suicides are increasing in Kerala. Wayanad is a district from where large numbers of farmer's suicides have been reported within the 6months of new UDF Government. The problems of the farmers cannot be understood without mentioning the anti-peasant agricultural policy of the Central Government. That includes fertilisers and other necessities. Under this situation a section of farmers of our state are not willing to harvest Boro crop in this season. This was also an unprecedented picture at the time of LF. But unfortunately no initiatives have been noticed from the side of any ministers of TMC led State Government. If the farmers decide to continue with such decision then a large sections of farmers and field workers shall face a dangerous problem. Altogether such a situation will be ruinous at state and national level.

Question: What kind of role a State Government can play to control the price of fertiliser or to prevent black market?

Madan Ghosh: Firstly, The ruling party of the state is also a partner of the Central Government's decision to de-regulate the fertiliser business. Secondly, there has been a serious lack of initiative from the side of the State Government to ensure the supply by keeping regular contact with EFCO and other production agencies; thirdly the State Government has failed to direct the concerned district officers to ensure the supply and distribution of the fertiliser. Fourthly State Government has failed to take any enforcement measure to declare publicly the total quantity reserved to a dealer and agent and lastly to take preventive measure to transfer the license or permit of the traders. The price of the fertiliser is increasing because of these combined effects. These are also causing the rise of black market and speculation in agriculture. In this context it needs to be mentioned that most of these dishonest agents are acting as the allies of the ruling party in the state.

Question: What kind of effect has been reflected on the production of Jute, Rice and Potato due to the absence of MSP?

Madan Ghosh: In case of Jute the Minimum Support Price is Rupees 1670 per Quintal whereas the production cost is Rupees 2400- 2800 per Quintal. The current Government has never demanded for the increment in MSP. The CM only sent a letter to provide a bonus per quintal. A pre-condition of such bonus is that the FCI has to open a JCI purchase Centre if Central Government gives its consent, which has not happened. It caused the distress sell of the crops. In some cases they have even got only Rupees 800- 1000 per quintal. At last, when the State decided to give Rupees 100 as bonus per quintal in Jute, nothing was actually done due to the existence of JCI purchase Centre in State. The State Government has not declared any bonus in rice it has also not arranged for adequate number of purchase centre as it failed to develop the infrastructure. So the farmers have suffered irreparable losses in some parts of the state and they are forced to move on the same path. The season of potato production has just started. Here the main problem has arisen because of the seeds and fertiliser. Since the state is not self-sufficient in potato seeds so it was necessary to bring in high quality seeds. But the agricultural department of the state has not taken any initiative to collect the seeds. On one hand the supply of the fertiliser has also become speculative and other hand due to distress sell 30% cold storages has no empty space. So because of the scarcity of the high quality seeds and the necessary fertiliser due to their high price, the total area and production of potato might decrease in near future.

Question: How will the Kishan Sabha and other left peasants' organisation combat the situation?

Madan Ghosh: We have decided to go for civil disobedience movement with other left agricultural organisations. The civil disobedience will be observed at district and sub division level till coming 25th November. On 28th November the Left Front has called for the civil disobedience, the peasants will take part in that programme also. The left peasant's organisations will sit together and decide their future plan. The movement will continue.

Left Front will Carry On Movements on Peoples' Issues : Biman Bose

Left Front has called for State-wide Civil Disobedience movement against the Price Hike, Corruption, and Curtailment of democratic rights, State-wide terror by TMC and in defence of Democracy. After Districts and Sub divisional level, Left Front will centrally conduct Civil disobedience on 28th November. Biman Basu, The Secretary, CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee and the Chairman of Left Front Committee West Bengal has talked to the party website before this programme.

Question: Why the Left Front is going for Civil Disobedience on 28th November?

Biman Basu: CPI(M) independently and state Left Front unitedly adopted a series of mass programme since new Government led by TMC has resorted to attack on different political parties and mass organisations including trade unions. In many parts of the state, TMC workers along with the hoodlums have attacked the party offices, mainly the CPI(M) offices. They killed 45 valuable leaders and activists of CPI(M) and other Left Parties. They have also forcefully occupied 77 democratically elected students union offices. Our Leader of Opposition has drawn the attention of the Government in number of occasions. Left Front has also drawn the attention through submitting memorandum to the Governor of West Bengal and the Prime Minister. Our Party has independently observed month long solidarity campaign in different state capitals and cities at the call of the Party's Central Committee. They have also collected funds for the terror victims of West Bengal. Left Front conducted the campaign in West Bengal. The campaign was conducted From 1st to 6th November. Trade Unions observed a successful 'Jail Bharo' on 8th November. Thereafter the campaign programmes have been continued at village level in District and at ward level in cities against high prices, corruption, curtailment of democratic rights and terror tactics of TMC and also in the defence of democracy from 11th to 20th November. Left Kishan organisations have also drawn a joint programme of campaign on the said issues and called for Civil Disobedience. The State Left Front has declared that the Civil Disobedience shall be conducted at subdivisional and District level from 21st to 25th November. The campaign and movement has successfully mobilised thousands and peoples' issues have come in the forefront. Left Front has decided centrally to observe civil disobedience on 28th November in Kolkata.

Question: What will be the next phase of campaign after the completion of the Civil Disobedience Movement on 28th November?

Biman Basu: We will take stock of the campaign movement of November and plan the further programme. It will do after 28th November. TMC led Government is moving to curtail the democratic rights of the three tiers elected Panchayat functionaries. The Government is also trying to create anarchy in the field of education by issuing Ordinance for Universities and certain other decisions related to the management of different educational boards or councils. Therefore in the month of December, we are to pin point the demands, which are linked to the day-to-day life of the common people and announce the programmes in an appropriate manner.

West Bengal Left Front Organizes Mass Civil Disobedience

Left Front of West bengal has organised Mass civil disobedience, protesting against spiralling price hike and food inflation, unprecedented corruption and unleashing violence against left workers and common people of the state of West Bengal. It is now being observed across districts. The State Left Front Committee would organize a central disobedience programme on 28th of this month. From 9th of this month continuous mass campaign was held in almost every para, mahalla, village, sub-division and districts that became a full-blown effort on the consecutive disobedience programme from 21st to 25th of this month in all districts.

The mass civil obedience programmes raise voice against the double folded crisis: unprecedented price hike along with food inflation and volatility of growth market on the one side and deliberate political violence against the left workers and common people in the state of West Bengal on the other have been leading the situation toward absolute anarchy. Already 45 left workers and innocent people have been killed in the state. Left parties are being denied to organize meetings and conferences in different localities and areas. Farmers are constantly being evicted from their lands and share-croppers are denied their Burga and Putta rights in many villages. Industrial workers and labourers are not even spared. Severe retrenchment along with the ousting of regular workers in factories like Kanoria Jute Mill and many other places has become a regular event where local TMC goons along with promoters are recruiting TMC people replacing even skilled and experienced workers.

Left front in this series of civil disobedience movements has already placed five point demands:

(i) Curbing down the price rise;

(ii) Immediate withdrawal of education ordinance;

(iii) Regulating fertilizer prices and incentive measure to give farmers enough relief;

(iv) Stop FDI in retail market;

(v) Stop political violence against left party workers;

CPI(M) Kerala State Conference logo released

Jnanpith-winning poet O.N.V. Kurup on Saturday released the logo of the 20th  Kerala State conference of the Communist party of India (Marxist) to be held at the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram from February 7 to 10, 2012.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri. ONV Kurup said only politicians who did not have a national perspective could oppose the proposal for a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

Only a person who could understand the pains, sorrows and anxieties of others could see the rationale behind Kerala's demand for a new dam. Several of the politicians at the national level had either regional or family interests uppermost in their minds.The only exception to this contemporary trend was the Left parties which stood and fought for the greater common good, the poet said.

CPIM State Committee member and reception committee Chariman Com. M. Vijayakumar chaired the meeting, which was attended by poet Neelamperoor Madhusoodanan Nair, film-maker Lenin Rajendran and V. Sivan Kutty and Koliyakode N. Krishnan Nair, MLAs, among others.

Welcoming the gathering, CPI(M) district secretary Kadakampally Surendran said the logo, designed by U.M. Binny of the Neeravil Prakash Kala Kendram, Kollam, was selected from among 54 entries.

CPI(M) Supports Traders Bandh Call

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

 

The Confederation of All India Traders has given a call for a nationwide bandh on 1^st December to protest against the Union Cabinet’s decision to allow FDI in retail trade.  The CPI(M) calls upon all its units and all sections of the people to support the call for a nationwide bandh on 1^st December.

 

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has already given a call to all its units to organise protest actions against this anti-people step and to defend the crores of small retailers and their families whose livelihood is under threat.

 

Unitedly Resist FDI In Retail

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

The CPI (M) strongly opposes the cabinet decision to allow FDI in multibrand retail. It will destroy the livelihoods of crores of small retailers and lead to monopolization of the retail sector by the MNCs. Coming in the backdrop of persistent high inflation, growing joblessness and agrarian distress, this decision shows the utterly callous and anti-people character of the UPA Government. The Government seems to be more eager to meet the demands of the US and other Western governments and serve the interests of the MNCs like Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour, rather than protect those of its own people.

The conditions imposed by the government are insignificant and will not provide any effective safeguard to any section. The investment floor of Rs. 520 crore (100 million USD) is insignificant for giant retailers like the Walmart, Tesco, Carrefour etc. which are multibillion dollar companies. The restriction of foreign retail outlets to cities of over 10 lakh population is also meaningless because those are precisely the places where the MNCs want to go, to tap the lucrative segment of the market. The big cities are also where small retailers are mostly concentrated.

India has the highest shopping density in the world, with 11 shops per 1000 persons. There are over 1.2 crore shops in India employing over 4 crore persons. 95% of these shops are run by self-employed persons in less than 500 sq.ft. area. These small shopkeepers in the urban areas are going to be hit the hardest with the entry of the MNC retailers. International experience shows that supermarkets everywhere invariably displace small retailers. Small retail has been virtually wiped out in the developed countries like the US and Europe. South East Asian countries had to also impose stringent zoning and licensing regulations in order to restrict the growth of supermarkets, after small retailers were getting displaced.

The condition for making at least 50 per cent of the investment in ‘backend’ infrastructure is being cited to argue that this would lead to more cold chains and other logistics, benefiting the farmers. International experience has, however, shown that procurement by MNC retailers do not benefit the small farmers. Over time, they receive depressed prices and find it difficult to meet the arbitrary quality standards. Allowing procurement by MNCs is basically an attempt by the Government to whittle down its own procurement responsibilities. This will have an adverse impact on food security.

The small manufacturers will also get squeezed. Predatory pricing by the MNCs will eliminate competition and establish their control over the supply of a range of commodities, including essentials like food. The domestic market will get flooded with goods procured from foreign countries. The claim that this will bring down retail prices for consumers is utterly bogus. Greater monopoly power and storage capacity for the big corporates will rather promote hoarding and profiteering.

Over the last several years the MNCs involved in cash and carry trade in India, which had been permitted earlier by the Government, have routinely violated the prohibition of directly selling to consumers, but the Government did nothing to stop them. Similarly, the so-called regulatory measures based on a system of self-regulation will also be inconsequential, especially since there is no mechanism to ensure the enforcement of the conditions.

The MNC retailers and foreign governments have been pressurizing the Centre for opening up this sector since long. It was the opposition from the Left Parties, which had prevented the UPA-I government from taking this move. The UPA-II government has now fully succumbed to those pressures from vested interests.

The CPI (M) calls upon all sections of the people and political parties to jointly oppose this move. The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) calls upon all its Party units to organize protests against this anti-people step and defend the crores of small retailers and their families, whose livelihood is under threat.

CPI-M to picket government offices in Tamil Nadu against bus fare, milk price hike

CPI-M Tamil Nadu State Committe announced it would picket Tamil Nadu Government offices on November 28, demanding rollback of the recent hike in milk price and bus fares and oppose the proposed increase in power tariff in the state. 

CPI-M state  Secretary G Ramakrishnan, in a statement, said the AIADMK Government's 'neglect' of the protests by the opposition parties and public over the price hike was highly condemnable. He denied Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's recent remarks that the CPI-M had wanted her to take hard decisions to save the public sector units. Citing the precarious financial health of the public sector units, including the transport corporations, the Jayalalithaa cabinet has last week increased the price of milk sold by state-owned Aavin and bus fares and proposed hiking the power tariff. Ramakrishnan said CPI-M had an electoral tie up with AIADMK for the April 13 assembly polls only to remove the 'corrupt' DMK Government from power and had declared after the results that it would function as a 'constructive opposition'. "People thought that a change of government would bring them relief. But the AIADMK Government, by hiking the bus fares and milk prices, had caused a heavy burden on the people', he said. 

Mean while various protest programmes are being conducted across the state by various organisations including DYFI, SFI, AIDWA demanding immediate rollback of increased price for bus and milk. Police on Monday arrested the members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students Federation of India (SFI) and All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) when they organised a picketing near the Central Railway station to protest .Raising slogans against the hike, they proceeded towards the railway station. They were stopped by the police near the signal, but still a section of them sat on the road and continue to raise slogans.

Many women participated, but only a few women police were present. The protesters and the police had heated arguments over the policemen arresting women protesters. They were released in the evening. The south Chennai district unit of CPI(M) held a demonstration in Pushpa Nagar in Nungambakkam highlighting similar issues. Around 140 members belonging to the DYFI and Students' Federation of India - 66 members in Dindigul, 28 in Palani and 46 in Gujiliamparai - were arrested as they picketed the A.M.C. Road near central bus stand in Dindigul and prime roads in Palani and Gujiliamparai in the district on Monday condemning the sharp hike in bus fare and milk prices.
(Photo : Gavaskar Theekathir)

Ishrat Jahan Case: Bring All Guilty to Book

 

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

 

The report of the High Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) that the so-called encounter killing of Ishrat Jahan and three others by the Gujarat police in June 2004 was nothing but a cold blooded murder constitutes a severe indictment of the Narendra Modi Government which has done everything in its power to shield the criminals in uniform and to assassinate the character of the young 19 year old student.

 

The order of the High Court to file a fresh FIR and charges of murder against the police officers must be immediately complied with. The accused must be arrested without any delay.

 

There is another crucial question which needs to be investigated. Could such a cover-up take place without the acquiescence of the Chief Minister and top officials in the Government? It is on record that at every stage of the case the Government tried to subvert the processes of justice, just as it had done in the nine cases pending before the courts on the genocide of 2002. The investigation must cover the role of the Chief Minister in the cover-up and this will not be possible as long as Modi remains in power. Justice for the victims demands that Modi quit office.

 

The SIT report also brings into question the role of certain senior officers of central agencies who were complicit in the faking of evidence. Their role must also be investigated. The Central Government must immediately take appropriate action on this count.

CPIM State Conferences ahead of 20th Party Congress begins

Ahead of the 20th Party congress to be held in Kozhikode, later in 2012 April, the State conferences began with the CPIM Orissa State conference. The two-day State conference of the party started with a mass rally on Friday at Paralakhemundi of Gajapati district of south Odisha. The delegate session will continue till Saturday. Around 250 delegations of the party from different parts of the State are attending this conference.

The Mass rally was inaugurated by CPIM PB member Com. Sitharam Yechury. Rampant corruption in high places is adding to inflation and non-implementation of pro-poor measures in the country, said Sitaram Yechury. Com. Yechury cited example of the 2G scam and reluctance of Central government to introduce universal public distribution system. According to him with an expenditure of Rs. 92,000 crore government can provide 35 kilograms of rice to 80 per cent of the population of the country at Rs. 2-a-kg. But the government is taking plea of paucity of funds for not implementing such a scheme. But the extent of misappropriation in a single scam like 2G scam amounts to Rs. 1,76,000 crore , he added. According to him price rise has made day-to-day survival of people of lower economic strata extreme difficult while government is silent about it. In his speech in Telugu he called upon the common mass to get united and stand up for their genuine rights.

This meeting was also addressed by leader of opposition of West Bengal Assembly Suryakant Mishra, Odisha State secretary of the party Janardan Pati, State secretariat members Ali Kishore Patnaik, Jagananth Mishra, district secretary of Srikakulam C.Tejeswar Rao. This meeting was presided by Gajapati district secretary of the party L.Ramgopal Rao.

Com. Janardhan Pati said situation was no different in Odisha where government is silent towards drought and flood-hit farmers. According to him there was need for a political alternative in Odisha as the major political parties including the ruling BJD, the Congress and the BJP were faces of same exploitive capitalistic intentions having no thought for the poor. He said CPI (M) was trying to build such a political alternative in Odisha.

Later in the Delegate session, Com Janardhan Pati placed the Political Organisation report and the same will be discussed by the delegates in the session. During this conference discussion would be held regarding future activities of the party in Odisha and preparations for coming panchayat polls next year.

CPI(M) urges Tamil Nadu State Government to eradicate untouchability

The Tamil Nadu State committee of the CPI(M) on Wednesday called upon the State government to take legal and administrative initiatives to put an end to untouchability in various forms.

Recalling how the consistent efforts of the party and the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front had resulted in bringing together the Dalits and other communities in Uthapuram and the entry of Dalits into the local temple, State secretary G. Ramakrishnan urged the government to take a cue from Uthapuram and eradicate it at other parts.

A resolution in this regard was adopted in the two day state committee meeting of the party that began on Wednesday.

The party thanked the Madurai district administration and police for their efforts to bring unity among Dalits and other communities in Uthapuram.

“But untouchability is prevailing in other parts of the State and there was a need to address the issues to eradicate the social evil. It is manifesting itself in the form of two-tumbler system, denial of the right to use common paths, wells, burial grounds in villages and denial of temple entry. These practices are against social justice and democracy,” the resolution said.]

(source : the hindu)

Oppose Pension Bill

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

Oppose Pension Bill

The Polit Bureau reiterates its strong opposition to the Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Bill which has been cleared by the Union Cabinet.

The Pension Bill will deprive lakhs of government employees both at the Centre and state level of their right to get an assured rate of pension at the time of retirement which they have been enjoying. The government has ignored the Standing Committee’s recommendations in this regard. The Bill will provide the legal backing for putting the pension funds into the stock market. This neo-liberal measure is being undertaken despite the pension funds in Western countries being badly hit by the 2008 financial crisis. Many employees found their pension benefits being sharply curtailed.

The provision for 26 per cent FDI in the pension sector has to be totally opposed. The government is not including this provision in the Bill so that it can increase the FDI component in later years without amending the law.

This Bill should not be passed in parliament. The CPI(M) appeals to the entire opposition to unitedly defeat the passage of the Bill.

CPIM 20th Party Congress Reception Committee formed

A 5001-member reception committee has been formed for conducting the 20th party congress of the CPI(M) to be held in Kozhikode, Kerala from April 4 to 9, 2012

CPIM PB Member Com. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan presided over the meeting. A meeting in which members of the Polit Bureau, Central Committee, State Secretariat and State Committee of the party participated here on Tuesday chose poet O.N.V. Kurup and P.K. Warrier, Managing Trustee and Chief Physician of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, as patrons.

CPIM State Secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan is the chairman and CPIM Kozhikode district secretary T.P. Ramakrishnan is the general secretary, and Elamaram Karim, MLA, treasurer of the 250-member executive committee. 

There are 28 vice-presidents and 20 secretaries, including legislators, elected representatives, and other party leaders in the committee. Various sub-committees have also been formed for the smooth conduct of the congress.

Com Pinarayi Vijayan  said that the Party Congress of Communist Party of India (Marxist) scheduled to be held here April 4 to 9, will be made a historic one. Inaugurating the meeting to constitute a reception committee for conducting the party congress, Vijayan said that national issues would be disicussed seriously at the party congress. The ideological resolution would be discussed and adopted at the Party congress, Vijayan said, adding delegates from across the country would participate in the party congress. This will be the fourth time that the Party Congress is being held in Kerala. Among various issues the failure of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the centre would be discussed at the party congress.

CPIM CC Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from November 11 to 13, 2011. It took stock of the international and national situation and has issued the following statement:

West Asia

The Central Committee expressed serious concern at the growing US-Nato intervention in West Asia. In Libya, the Nato military intervention has accomplished its aim of effecting a “regime change”. Libya’s oil resources have now come under the grip of the western powers and Libya is now virtually a Nato protectorate. For the United States and Israel, the destabilization of the Assad government in Syria is part of the strategic design to eliminate all governments in West Asia which defy the imperialist game plan.

The final target is Iran against whom the United States has ratcheted up tensions. Reports of the Israeli Prime Minister and Defence Minister considering a plan for preemptive military attacks against Iran have also surfaced. In the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a report has been presented without much evidence about Iran trying to build nuclear weapons.

The intervention in Libya and the efforts by the US and the Nato in the other countries of West Asia are meant to hijack the Arab popular uprising. The Central Committee condemned these aggressive manoeuvres. It called upon the UPA government not to line up behind the Western countries in the IAEA in targeting Iran. It should oppose any move to further impose sanctions on Iran in the UN Security Council.

Protest Against

Finance Capital & Austerity Measures

The Central Committee noted the growing protests against the depredations of finance capital and the austerity measures being imposed on the people in USA and Europe. The Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA and the widespread protests by workers, students and youth in Europe against austerity measures are galvanizing the opposition to the neo-liberal policies. The Central Committee extended its support and solidarity to the struggles of the working people in all these countries.

Price Rise & Inflation

The last three months have witnessed a further deterioration on the price front affecting the lives of the people. The rate of inflation has touched 9.7 per cent and food inflation has shot up further. Prices of vegetables, pulses, milk, eggs and meat have witnessed a steep increase. It is at such a time that the price of petrol was increased by Rs. 3.14 per litre in September and then again by Rs. 1.80 in October. These price hikes have further fuelled inflation and price rise. The Central Committee strongly condemned the policies of the UPA government which have resulted in this unbearable price rise. The government refuses to rationalize the taxation structure in petro products and continues to derive greater revenue from the increased prices. The Central Committee demanded the reversal of the deregulation of petrol prices. In this connection, it strongly criticized the Prime Minister for declaring that there should be decontrol of other fuel prices too.

The Central Committee called upon all its Party units to continue to mobilise people to protest against price rise and to demand firm measures to curb price rise.

Flawed Poverty Estimates

The Central Committee strongly deplored the stand adopted by the Planning Commission in the Supreme Court by setting the poverty line in India at only Rs. 32 per capita per adult per day for urban areas and Rs. 26 per day for rural areas has been widely condemned. Dubious methods of poverty estimates are adopted by the establishment to deliberately underestimate the incidence of poverty and curtail the entitlements of the poor. The proposed Food Security bill seeks to perpetuate the division among the poor by reworking the BPL and APL categories. The CPI(M) has consistently stated that restoration of the universal PDS is the only credible way to ensure food security. Basic entitlements like food should be delinked from the flawed poverty estimates.

National Manufacturing Policy

The national manufacturing policy adopted by the government seeks to create National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) in areas of at least 5000 hectares. The government seems to have learnt no lesson from the SEZ experience. The purpose is to provide relaxation to new industries from labour and environmental laws and offer huge tax concessions. Hire and fire will be allowed with some compensation for the workers. The proposed structure of the NIMZs is similar to the SEZs, except that there would be no export obligation for the NIMZs.

The CPI (M) opposes this neo-liberal model of industrialisation based on NIMZs/SEZs, which result in land grabs, provides unjustifiable concessions to the corporates and create zones of super-exploitation where the law of the land ceases to operate.

Lok Pal Bill

The Central Committee demanded that an effective Lok Pal law be adopted in the winter session of parliament itself. There should be no further delay in the matter.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act

The Central Committee reiterates its stand that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act be repealed as it is a draconian law which violates the fundamental rights of citizens. In place of the AFSPA, suitable legislation can be enacted to enable the army to operate in civilian areas when required. In this connection the Central Committee endorsed the demand that the AFSPA be withdrawn from those areas in Jammu & Kashmir where militant activity has ceased and the army is no more deployed. It is unfortunate that even after a year since the review of the AFSPA in the state was decided, no action has been taken.

Manipur

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the continuing blockade of the national highways leading to Manipur. The people of Manipur are suffering from shortage of goods and exorbitant prices of essential commodities. The blockade started by a group demanding a separate district was settled after 92 days, but it has been continued by another group imposing a blockade opposing the settlement.

The Central Government has not taken any action to see that the blockade is lifted from the national highways. It has been callous to the sufferings of the people. The Central Committee demanded immediate steps to see that the blockade is cleared and the problems involved should be settled through political negotiations.

West Bengal:

Threat to Democratic Rights

The assumption of office by the TMC-led government in West Bengal and its actions are posing a serious threat to accepted democratic principles of governance. The killings of opposition political activists continue unabated. Since the formation of the new government, 44 Left activists have been killed, thousands have been rendered homeless, hundreds have been framed in false cases and literally crores have been collected forcibly from political activists of the Left. The forcible takeover of opposition Party and trade union offices also continues. The latest in the round of muzzling political freedom – and the freedom of association is the forcible stoppages of conferences of Left parties by the goons belonging to the ruling party and the involvement of the police.

Subversion of the police has reached a new high with the Chief Minister herself rushing to a local police station and getting miscreants detained by the police released. The Chief Minister, who also happens to be the Home Minister, got the Officer in-charge of the Police Station (Bhawanipur) suspended and then transferred even though this happened to be part of the South Kolkata Lok Sabha constituency which is having to a by-election.

The powers of the panchayats are being usurped and handed over to the bureaucracy. The most obnoxious move of the state government has been to promulgate a draconian ordinance to nullify all the existing university Acts which were in place. The ordinance usurps powers of the elected senates and syndicates and concentrates them in the hands of the state government. The elected character of university governance is replaced by nominated bodies, totally bureaucratizing the running of the university management. Provision for elected representation of students, non-teaching employees and alumni of the institutions have been given a go by.

Kerala

The Central Committee condemned the brutal repression unleashed by the UDF government against students. The UDF government is openly protecting its corrupt leaders. It has given remission in the jail term of R Balakrishna Pillai who was convicted for one year by the Supreme Court.

The Central Committee strongly upholds the democratic right to hold meetings on the roadsides. This has been the traditional practice in Kerala. However, the Kerala High Court imposed a prohibition on the holding of such meetings. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had passed a law to ensure the right of holding roadside meetings in a regulated fashion. This has been set aside by the Kerala High Court. Here is a case of the higher judiciary encroaching on the rights of the Assembly to make laws concerning the democratic rights of the people. The CPI(M) strongly opposes this judicial intervention. In this connection, the decision of the Kerala High Court to sentence a CPI(M) leader to six months in prison on contempt charges is an example of how contempt laws are utilised to suppress critical opinions about the judiciary.

Trade Unions Jail Bharo

The Central Committee noted the big response to the call of the central trade unions for a “jail bharo” on November 8. Around 7.5 lakh workers participated in the protest action including court arrest. In view of the continuing anti-people and anti-working class policies of the central government, the working class actions should be intensified.

Ideological Resolution

The Central Committee discussed a draft of the ideological resolution presented by the Polit Bureau. On the basis of this discussion, the next meeting of the Central Committee will finalise and adopt the draft ideological resolution which will then be circulated in the Party for discussions before placing it in the Party Congress.

Term Limitation

The Central Committee discussed a proposal for limiting the terms of secretaries of Party committees at all levels to a maximum of three terms. The proposal was adopted by the Central Committee. It will now be placed before the Party Congress for approval.

SEVERAL LAKHS OF WORKERS COURT ARREST AGAINST GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Several lakhs of workers all over the country courted arrest on 8th November 2011 to express their serious resentment against the apathy of the UPA government towards their demands. The call for ‘Jail Bharo’ was given jointly by all the 11 central trade unions including CITU, BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, AICCTU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA.

In the national capital Delhi, several thousands of workers marched towards Parliament and around 10500 workers led by the central trade union leaders including AK Padmanabhan and Tapan Sen, president and general secretary of CITU, Baijnath Rai (BMS), Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC) and Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC) were arrested.

The anger of the workers against the incessant price rise, unemployment, attacks on labour rights, lack of social security benefits for the unorganised workers, the institutionalised corruption etc were evident in their massive response to the call for countrywide courting arrest. Workers from both the organised and unorganised sector, men and women, in more than 500 out of the 640 districts in the country, in the state capitals and industrial centres, marched together with their colourful banners and flags and held dharnas, rasta rokos, processions etc and courted arrest. Workers courted arrest in all the districts in Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala and also in several other states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, etc. Around 3 lakhs workers courted arrest in 23 centres in Tripura. 1.25 lakhs workers joined the action in West Bengal. In Malda police resorted to severe lathi charge injuring 32 workers. In addition to the state capitals and district headquarters, thousands of workers also courted arrest in several industrial centres in Karnataka, Odisha, and Chattisgarh etc. Several coal-workers in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, and Maharashtra etc courted arrest en masse. Hundreds of workers marched on the streets of Jammu and courted arrest. In Jamui in Bihar, thousands of women beedi workers courted arrest. Thousands of fishers joined the industrial workers in several states in the Jail Bharo action. In many states, bank, insurance and telecom employees, state and central government employees also joined the demonstrations on the occasion. As per reports received till 3.30 PM, more than a million workers participated in the ‘Jail Bharo’ programme; the number is most likely to double when reports from all the centres in different states are received.

Addressing the meeting held near Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the central trade union leaders declared that the united struggle would be further intensified including a countrywide general strike in the coming months.

CITU congratulates the working people for their magnificent response to the call of countrywide Jail Bharo/Satyagraha and calls upon them to prepare for countrywide general strike in the coming months against the anti-people policies perpetrating a regime of loot and plunder on the people at the behest of corporates, speculators and black-marketeers.

Jammu & Kashmir
A massive protest/Jail Bharo programme was organized by J&K Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today i.e., on 8th of Nov, 2011 on the call of Central Trade Unions and National Federations to oppose anti-youth new recruitment policy of J&K govt., high price rise, enforcement of labour laws, fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs. 10,000/- per month.

The workers of various unions i.e., J&K ASHA Workers Union, Railway Loading & Unloading Workers Union, Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, Teacher,s Association, Building & other Construction workers unions, J&K Kisan Tehreek, Chinab Hydro Power Project,s workers union, Bhartiya Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Kalakot, Medical Representatves Union etc. assembled at Bikram Chowk, Jammu. The rally passed through main bazaars of city like Jewel Chock, Gumat Chowk, City Chowk and culminated at Indira Chowk and hundreds of activists led by M.Y.Tarigami courted arrest.

M.Y Tarigami State President CITU and MLA while addressing the rally criticised the frequent hike in the petro-products which lead to overall in-flationatry trends especially of the food items, thus, affecting adversely the poor sections of the society. He demanded that government should refrain from affecting intermittent hikes in petroleum products and LPG that have direct implications on the consumers and demanded an affective Lok Pal Bill to check the corruption prevailing at all levels of the government. Rampant corruption prevalent in the state, if not checked with punitive measures is bound to play havoc in the state. Strongly criticizing the anti youth new recruitment policy of the J&K State Govt. He demanded it’s immediate withdrawal. He further urged the centre and state governments for strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws, universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendations of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and stoppage of disinvestment of Central and State PSUs. He demanded an affective Lok Pal Bill to check the corruption prevailing at all levels of the government. Rampant corruption prevalent in the state, if not checked with punitive measures is bound to play havoc in the state.

Om Parkash, General Secretary, (CITU) demanded amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedule and fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs.10,000/- per month with index price and removal of all ceiling on payment and illegibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity. CITU supports the Strike of workers of Bhartiya Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Kalakot and Four Lane construction of Road and Tunnel for their just and genuine demands.

Sham Prasad Kesar, Regional Secretary, CPI(M), Jammu stressed for assured pension for all workers and compulsory registration of Trade Unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions 87 and 98. Kesar further demanded the regularisation of services of ReT teachers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Pawan Gupta, and Ramesh Chand Divisional Secretary & Joint Secretary of LIC Northern Zone criticized the disinvestment of Profit making PSUs. Smt. Sunita Bhagat , Anita and Anu leaders of ASHA Workers Union, Kishore Kumar, Sohan Lal and Banarasi Dass, Kisan Leaders also addressed the gathering.

West Bengal
The workers & employees of all the central unions, including, INTUC & BMS joined CITU in a nation-wide civil-disobedience & courted arrest. Lakhs of workers have come on the streets & made their demands clear to the govt. Their charter of demands focused on rights of all workers, including contract employees & setting the minimum wage at Rs.10,000/- pm. They warned the govt against curbing the workers’ democratic right to unionise & ensure that all companies implement the ILO conventions without any exceptions.

While the movement was carried out in an orderly manner, the police lathi charged, injuring several CITU members. Inspite of being a part of the govt in Bengal & Delhi, the INTUC was a part of this movement & one with CITU on all the demands. The INTUC Bengal chief’s demand to stop the Mamata govt’s terror on workers & unions speaks volumes about the Mamata govt’s fascist-like behavior towards common people, including workers.

JAIL BHARO IN ANDHRA PRADESH

The jail bharo call given by the central trade unions was a big success in many places of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in industrial centres in Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Nellore, Vijayawada etc.

In Hyderabad thousands of agitators gathered in front of Hyderabad district collectorate office and picketed it. Among them included both organised and unorganised workers, bank employees, government employees and others. They were addressed by state leaders of CITU, INTUC, TNTUC, AITUC, HMS, BMS, APNGOs, Central Govt Employees Confederation etc. The police arrested the picketers and lodged them in Goshamahal stadium for few hours.

The trade union leaders lambasted the neo-liberal, anti-working class policies of the central and state governments and vowed to intensify the agitations to pressurize these governments to reverse the policies. The unprecedented price rise and disinvestment in public sector companies were strongly criticized.

Addressing the picketers, CITU state president S Veeraiah lambasted both the governments for being utterly irresponsible to the plight of aam admi. He said the UPA-II government was on one hand giving away Rs 9.5 lakh crore as tax concessions to the corporate sector while on the other heaping greater burdens on the aam admi through repeated petro hikes. He warned of more militant and united struggles to force the government to backtrack from such an anti-people approach. AITUC general secretary Chandrashekar said this unity of workers would continue ahead and reminded how the working class conducted 13 general strikes in the past 20 years against government's anti-people policies.

1.25 lakh workers arressted in TN

Chennai:The jail bharo call given by the central trade unions was a big success in in Tamil nadu as 1.25 lakh workers held picketting hundreds of centers including Chennai and Madurai.
In Chennai thousands of agitators gathered at two centers. At North Chennai, infront of memorial hall CITU state gen.secretary A.Soundrarajan MLA., S.Kuppusamy, president of DMK's LPF, SS Thiyagarajan, state secretary of AITUC and leaders of BMS, HMS and other TUs led the massive picketing and courted arrest.
At South Chennai, near Panagal Palace, Saidapet, TK Rengarajan MP., vice president of CITU led the movement. Thousands of workers arressted.

In Madurai, CITU state president R.Singaravelu, state secretary B.Vickraman and leadres of other TUs led the massive picketing in front of railway junction. Hundreds of women courted arrest along with 2000 more workers.
CITU state leaders participated at various cities including Coinbatore, Tiruppur, Thirunelveli, Tiruchi, Salem, Erode etc. In these cities thousands of textiles workers, enggneering workers, garment workers participated.
Industrial towns like Hosur, Sivakasi witnessed a good response. At Hosur a huge rally was held.
In Kanyakumari district, thousands of horticulture workers picketed.
Across the state middle class organisations held massive demonstrations in support the workers movement.

The trade union leaders lambasted the neo-liberal, anti-working class policies of the central and state governments and vowed to intensify the agitations to pressurize these governments to reverse the policies. The unprecedented price rise and disinvestment in public sector companies were strongly criticized.

-Sp Rajendran.

Don’t make AFSPA in Jammu Kashmir repeal prestige, political issue: CPIM

Asserting that situation has improved considerably for ‘gradual’ revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said the decision should not be made a “prestige issue.” “There is a significant improvement in the situation as infiltration and other incidents have come down considerably. Time has come to declare some parts of the state as peace areas. It should not be a prestige issue to revoke Disturbed Area Act (DAA) and AFSPA from the state,” Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, Jammu Kashmir State Secretary of CPI (M) and MLA Kulgam told reporters.

The CPI (M) leader said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the state government should review the situation and take decision on gradual revocation of AFSPA. “The withdrawal of AFSPA will be in favour of the country and it will repose confidence among the people of the state who had been suffering from the last two decades,” he said.

“When the government of India drafted this Act for Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, the situation was quite different. There had been no review on J&K situation since then. The Act was implemented for special situations and the government should take into account the improving situation in the state,” he said.

He regretted that the repeal of AFSPA was being made a “prestige issue”. “Is AFSPA a symbol of patriotism? It should not be a political issue or gimmick. Let the CCS and the state government sit together and review the situation,” the CPI (M) leader said. Tarigami also recalled that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in 2007, requesting him to review the situation. “I had written to the Prime Minister, apprising him about the improving situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I demanded gradual revocation of AFSPA from the state. Seven years down the line, no decision has been taken thus far,” he said.

Taking a dig at the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition government, Tarigami said the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah was “under scanner” and people were keenly “noting down” his “activities”, especially in the aftermath of NC worker Haji Syed Muhammad Yousuf Shah killing. “As of now, I am not sure that it is the time to celebrate the performance of this government, which is completing its three years,” he responded in reply to a question about the performance of the ruling coalition.
DEMANDS WITHDRAWAL OF NEW RECRUITMENT POLICY

Criticizing the new recruitment policy, Tarigami alleged that the policy was yet “another blow” on the job aspiring educated youth, who were already disillusioned by the “anti-youth” policies of the state government.

“Not much has been done by the successive governments to address the alarming unemployment problem and redress the grievances of the educated youth. The policies and programmes aimed at containing the unemployment by the centre and state governments are quite inadequate and whatever under implementation is not giving satisfactory results,” he alleged.

Tarigami said it was much “astonishing and unexpected” that instead of pooling resources and exploring possibilities of jobs, the government has resorted to a “much harsh employment policy” providing for reduction in the salaries of intending employees to just 50 per cent and 75 per cent of basic pay for first two and next three years respectively.

“The policy which has been announced in hurry without consultations at appropriate fora should be withdrawn forthwith and instead the government should come up with a youth friendly policy that could bring out our youth from disillusionment, who have been the worst sufferers,” the CPI (M) leader said.
(Courtesy : greaterkashmir.com)

Human right violations at its worst during Moradabad police-Muslim clash

Subhashini Ali

Central Committee Member CPI M,

Moradabad: In recent weeks, reports have been circulating on the Internet about the post-July 6th situation in rural areas adjacent to Moradabad city, in which serious violations of the rule of law human rights have taken place. A CPI (M) delegation led by Subhashini Ali, Member, CC, visited the affected villages on the 2nd November and spoke to dozens of affected people.

The background to the events of 6th July is an incident of the kind that occurs in hundreds of villages and urban areas every day: two Muslim families who are neighbours in Bagha village have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over various petty matters. In the first week of July, Yusuf, son of Kamrul, is alleged to have misbehaved with his neighbor, Muslim’s mother and Muslim is alleged to have misbehaved with Yusuf’s sister. Meanwhile Kamrul complained to the police against Muslim.

Muslim’s family was convinced by the village Pradhan not to go to the police and that the matter would be sorted out amicably ‘within the village’. The result was that the police came looking for Muslim early in the morning of the 6th. Before they entered his house, all the male members had to run away and only his young sister, Noorjahan (about 14 years old) remained. They ransacked the house and abused her (there is photographic evidence of this) and, apparently, threw a copy of the Koran on the floor.

Rehan in Safdarjang Hospital

After they left, the terrorized young girl ran into the village and told everyone about what had happened. The news of ‘desecration’ of the Koran spread like wildfire through nearby villages which are heavily populated by Muslims. By 9.00 a.m. thousands of people started accumulating on the main road resulting in a massive road blockade.

The local police took the help of Muslim leaders of the area including Haji Atiq and Kamil (Pradhan of Dingarpur) and the road-block at Bagha village was soon cleared. By the time they returned to Thana at Mainethar they found that besides the large crowd, a jeep had been set onfire. Again with the help of local people, the crowd was dispersed.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate, Raj Shekhar and DIG of Police, Ashok Kumar (large districts in UP have seen SSPs replaced by DIGs) had left Moradabad for the area and they had to stop at Dingarpur where a mob had collected. All these large villages are located off the main road and have taken on the attributes of small Kasbahs with large markets. As a result, there are always large crowds around the main road as people from a large catchment area come for their daily needs, for work and also to go to school and college. At Dingarpur too, the crowd was large and angry.

The DIG, in the belief that his personal intervention would restore peace; soon got out of his vehicle and went to talk to the people. At this point, quite inexplicably, the DM along with his large armed escort turned around and left the area, leaving the DIG quite alone in the middle of an angry mob. Apparently, the DIG did fire from his service revolver but the situation was out of control and he was badly beaten by members of the crowd. Soon PAC and Police re-enforcements arrived and he was taken to the hospital.

After this, it was the police that went berserk. They entered homes in Dingarpur village and beat men and women mercilessly and ransacked their homes. People were beaten and sent to jail with serious injuries. At least four minors suffered bullet injuries (one of them has since succumbed to them) and among the 38 persons still in jail there are at least three minors.

The first person we met was Haji Atiq, a prominent Congress worker of Moradabad, who belongs to Bagha village. His family runs two large schools in the area and enjoys considerable prestige. He told us that on the 6th morning, the Mainethar Kotwal requested him to come to Bagha to help pacify the huge crowds that had collected. Haji Atiq readily agreed. He says ruefully that his going there and requesting people to go back to their homes, accompanying the Police to Mainethar actually turned many people against him. He however, feels that he was doing his duty and has no regrets. What he does regret is the fact that he, his two brothers and brother-in-law (the former Pradhan of Manethar) have all been named in the FIR as persons who attacked the police and public property. He says that this has been done at the behest of the BSP Minister, Akbar Husain [his political rival] who is the MLA from the area.

Haji Atiq told us that the entire administration knows and appreciates the role that he played but has been unable to help him. He also told us that his Party leaders also have been of no help – Azharuddin the local MP and Rajya Sabha MP from Moradabad, Rashid Alvi, both belonging to the Congress. He was also unhappy that no Congress leader – not even Digvijay Singh, he said – had bothered to visit Moradabad since July.

We then went to Mainethar village where a large number of people were waiting for us. There is a CPI (M) branch here and the Secy. Is Zulfikar. The interesting point made by those present is that nothing happened in or around the village on the 6th. The Thana, however, bears the village name and is at a distance from the village. When the Kotwal returned to the thana from Bagha it was surrounded by a mob and a police vehicle had been set on fire.

Not a single person from the village, however, was arrested from the scene. Many days later, more than 50 of them were named in two consecutive FIRs. There are many interesting aspects to these names. The first is that all of them are active supporters of the current Pradhan, Om Prakash. He was also present in the meeting and testified to this. He said that he had been meeting the police and the administration regularly in the last 6 months and his interventions have been successful in ensuring that no arrests have been made and the police until then have not raided any homes in the village. Many of those named in the FIRs had signed affidavits as to their whereabouts on the 6th July. Just to give a few examples – Haji Bhure was in Saudi Arabia performing Umra; his brother Rizwan, is severely handicapped with only one leg; Sabir was away in Ghaziabad painting the house of the former Station Officer (Police) who is now posted there.

According to the villagers, the entire list of accused was given to the police by a group of people who were supporting another candidate in the Panchayat elections.

Our last stop was Dingarpur, a village still shrouded in sorrow and seething with suppressed anger. The Pradhan Kamil’s house is one of the first as one turns into the village from the main road, so we went there and several people who wanted to speak to us, came there.

Kamil’s wife, Saimeen, is a brave and outspoken woman. She told us that her husband had been asked by the Manethar Kotwal to come to Bagha to help him pacify the crowd there. He went immediately and returned to Dingarpur in the Kotwal’s jeep. By the time they reached, the badly injured DIG had already been removed. Kamil talked to the people in the crowd many of whom were not from the village. When he felt he could do no more he went home. He had barely sat down to eat when more than 40 PAC constables entered his house and started beating him mercilessly. They also beat Saimeen who still has bad bruises on her legs. They did a lot of damage to the household – breaking beds, cupboards, dishes and setting fire to a motorcycle. Then they dragged Kamil away and sent him to jail in a very battered condition. He still has not been given bail along with the 37 others arrested. Saimeen told us that other people from the village who took shelter were also badly beaten and many were arrested.

Saimeen’s neighbor, Salma also met us. Her 15 year old son, Tauseef, who is in the XIth, got caught up in the turmoil. He along with 2 other minor boys from Asadpur and Bhikapur, both of whom are students, have all been sent to jail after having been badly beaten. When their lawyer made an application regarding their minor status, their school certificates were not accepted as proof of age in contravention of the law. Medical checkups too were denied. Instead a Civil Magistrate was sent to the jail to decide on their age and he certified them as being ‘Adults’.

As a result, these young boys have not been tried by a Juvenile Court and are being held with hardened criminals instead of at the Juvenile Home. Saimeen and Salma told us that 3 young boys – all minors – also received bullet wounds on the 6th July. None of them was given any medical attention by the administration and their families have been pauperized by their treatment. We could confirm the names of two, Ghulam Rabbani (15) and Mohd. Kamran Ali both still to recover from their injuries.

Rehan's mother Nasreen

Our most heartbreaking encounter was with Nasreen. Her 14 year old son, Rehan, succumbed to his bullet injuries on the 19th of October. Someone brought his bleeding body and left it on the street outside Kamil’s house on the 6th evening. His father, Ahsan, rushed him to the Meerut Govt. Hospital where he was treated for sometime. Then he shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital but, when, he did not seem to be recovering, he brought him home about two months back. And on the 19th of October, his frail and battered body gave up the fight.

Nasreen said that they are very poor people. So poor that they could not afford to educate their only son, Rehan. His elder brother had died some years ago. On the 6th of July, he had gone to the market to buy soap when the bullet hit him. Her husband has lost whatever little he had in trying to save his child’s life. He had a meagre two bighas of land that he has sold. He is heavily in debt. He has no time to grieve but has to look for work, everyday.

Not a single FIR has been filed by any of the injured and beaten. Only Saimeen had the courage to give her statement to the police and civil administration, including the District Magistrate, it has not been converted into an FIR as should have been done in view of the fact that she has a medical certificate proving her injuries from the beating she suffered from the PAC constables.

All the other families, including Rehan’s parents, are too terrified to file reports against the police. Only those who know the history of the district since the horrific Eid-gah riot of 1980 can appreciate the extent of terror that the PAC uniform carried out in Muslim homes, especially among the women.

It was completely incomprehensible to us; however, the administration too had done nothing for those suffering from bullet injuries. Rehan’s long hospitalization and treatment at home was known to them but they did nothing. They were informed about his death but did not conduct a post-mortem. In fact, the family was encouraged to proceed in haste with the burial.

We could not, unfortunately, meet with the District Administration for an interesting reason. When they came to know about my planned visit, they informed the District Party that we would not be given ‘permission’ to enter any of the villages because this could create a ‘law and order’ problem. In view of this it was just not possible to make any appointments with senior members of the administration.

We did, however, hold a well-attended Press Conference after we got finished with our investigations. The local Hindi and Urdu papers gave excellent coverage for our statements. In the days after 6th July, the Media had been completely hostile to the villagers so it was only on the 3rd November that people in the area were made aware of what had happened that day.

The CPI (M) has decided to make efforts to see that FIR’s are registered and that the death of Rehan is investigated. The Party has also decided to make regular visits to the area so that further harassment of the villagers can be stopped.