Massive Response to Strike Call

 

The countrywide General Strike on 28th February 2012 will be recorded as a milestone in the history of the trade union movement in the country. The working class of the country responded magnificently to the call for the General Strike given by all the eleven central trade unions and all India industrial federations in almost all the sectors of the economy. For the first time in the history of our trade union movement, INTUC and BMS both joined the other central trade unions and industrial federations to give the call for an all India General Strike. This unprecedented unity evoked massive response from the workers. As per initial estimates, more than ten crore workers all over the country - from Jammu & Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, from Assam in the east to Gujarat in the west participated in the strike opposing the anti worker and anti people policies of the government.

This General Strike, the fourteenth after the advent of the neoliberal economic policies in our country is significant because of the unprecedented unity of all the central trade unions and the demands raised by them that reflected the concerns not only of the workers but also of all sections of the toiling people. Besides, joint campaigns at the state and lower levels were also conducted this time on a wider scale. The joint campaign undertaken by the central leadership of the trade unions inspired many independent and state level trade unions to join the strike. Thus the 28th February strike will be etched in the annals of our trade union movement as the biggest ever strike action by the working class till date.

The major demands included concrete measures to curb price rise and provide some relief to the people, effective implementation of all labour laws and stringent punishment to those who flout them, universal social security for all unorganised workers by creating a National Social Security Fund with adequate financial allocations, stopping contractual labour in permanent jobs and equal wages and benefits to the contract workers as the permanent workers of the establishment, universal coverage by minimum wages Act and statutory minimum wage of not less than Rs 10000, pension for all, removal of all ceiling on eligibility for bonus, provident fund etc, and compulsory registration of the trade unions within a time frame of 45 days.

The expectations of the ruling classes that the defeat of the Left Front in West Bengal and the threats of the present chief minister to instil terror among the workers in the state would dampen the strike were totally belied by the workers of West Bengal who participated in the strike in a big way, facing brutal repression and ignoring all threats and intimidation. The impact of the strike was such that the corporate media, which usually chooses to ignore such actions by the working class, was forced to report about it and highlight the fact that West Bengal along with Kerala was the worst hit by the strike.

However, not only in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura but in several other states like Assam, Manipur, most parts of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh etc a bandh like situation prevailed with public transport coming to a grinding halt and shops and markets being completely closed. In many places in West Bengal, police resorted to brutal lathi charge and arrests. Workers peacefully demonstrating in Srinagar in J&K, Bhiwani in Haryana and Guwahati and Numaligarh in Assam were beaten up and arrested by the police. In addition, the striking workers in West Bengal were physically assaulted and injured by the hoodlums let loose by the ruling party to break the strike. Normal activities in many of the industrial areas in the national capital Delhi and the National Capital Region of Faridabad and Gurgaon were hit due to the massive strike action by the workers.

The CITU congratulated the working class of the country for the massive response to the strike all over the country and across the sectors. CITU saluted the heroic resistance by the striking workers to threats and intimidating tactics of the state government and the hoodlums of the ruling party to break the strike in West Bengal and extended all solidarity to them.

The strike encompassed workers and employees from almost all the sectors including the strategic sectors as well as the unorganised sector, as the following reports indicate. 

* Strike was almost total in the entire financial sector in the country including banks and insurance involving around 20 lakh workers and employees.

* All the central public sector units and major industrial units in the private sector in Bangalore and Mysore were completely paralysed

* Strike was total in all the ports in the country; even in Haldia port, in West Bengal which witnessed the terror unleashed by the ruling party in the state, the strike had visible impact

* Around 6 million state government employees, teachers, employees of state public sector units, boards and corporations covering almost all the states except a few, participated in the strike; even in West Bengal where the government issued threats of break in service and other measures of victimisation for participating in strike, the state government employees responded in a magnificent way.

* More than 2000 workers including CITU leaders Manik Sanyal and Zia ul Alam were arrested.

* Central government employees all over the country participated in the strike in a big way; in the defence production sector, participation in the strike was around 80%

* In the Major Defence PSUs viz., BEL and HAL, strike was almost total in all the units throughout the country. Workers in four plants of BHEL in Trichy, Ranipet and Bangalore were on total strike.

* Majority of the 6 lakhs coal mine workers in nine companies – ECL, BCCL, CCL, SECL, NCL, CMPDIL etc joined the strike; strike was partial in Singareni Collieries; strike was near total in the non coal mining belt spread over Jharkhand, Odisha, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

* More than 70% of the telecom workers and employees in BSNL participated in the strike

* The strike in the petroleum sector- in the upstream, refineries and marketing, was total in the eastern, north eastern and southern parts of the country while more than 70% workers in this sector in the western and northern India participated in the strike

* In the steel industry, contract workers in eight steel plants participated in the strike en masse; 90% of regular workers in Vizag steel plant, 85% of them in Salem steel plant, and 70% of Alloy steel plant workers in Durgapur participated in the strike. In Durgapur steel plant and IISCO strike was 50% and in Rourkela steel plant it was 40%; strike among regular workers in Bokaro and Bhilai steel plants was however partial.

* The participation of transport workers, particularly of the state road transport corporations in the strike was massive in many states, like Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, etc completely paralysing the public transport; in several states private transport workers too responded to the strike magnificently

* Electricity workers including the contract workers and daily wage workers participated in the strike in large numbers in many states

* Plantation workers in West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala participated in the strike en masse; in Tamil Nadu, Assam and Karnataka too strike was massive among the plantation workers

* In all the states the unorganised sector workers in brick kiln, construction, head load workers, loading and unloading workers, beedi workers, mandi workers, auto rickshaw drivers, etc participated in the strike in a massive way and also in the rallies, demonstrations, rail and rasta rokos in huge numbers.

* Strike was total among the construction workers in the organised sector including in all the Hydel projects in Himachal Pradesh

* Around 15 lakhs anganwadi employees and lakhs of ASHAs and mid day meal workers participated in the strike; in several states they held demonstrations and burnt the effigies of the government

* Overwhelming majority of the 1.5 lakhs medical and sales representatives all over the country joined the strike

* Lakhs of fishers and fisheries workers all over the country joined the strike

The massive participation of workers of all affiliations and irrespective of any affiliations in the strike indicates their anger and resentment at the attacks on their working and living conditions and the determination to resist them. This was also reflected in the wide support the strike received from the common people. While the Left parties firmly supported the strike, in some states some local political parties also extended their support. The reports received from different states illustrate the area and the spread of the strike.

Some state wise details of the strike, in addition to the impact on the banking and insurance sectors, and state and central government offices, which were severely affected all over the country, are given below:

Andhra Pradesh

A highly successful strike was observed all over the state, its impact visible even at the mandal level. Workers in 1072 mandals and 138 municipal towns in all the 23 districts in the state participated in the strike. The strike in most of the public sector units in Vizag and Hyderabad was total. It was total in Vizag Steel, Shipyard, BSNL, ECIL, BEL, HCL, and BHEL (R&D). In Singareni Collieries 80% contract workers and 20% permanent workers went on strike. It was significant that the strike was total in the SEZs in Visakhapatnam and in the Apachi SEZ in Kadapa where thousands of workers in Brandix and other units participated. 240 workers were arrested and non bailable cases were foisted on them in Kadapa. While all the contract workers in HPCL and Defence participated in the strike, participation of permanent workers was 50% in HPCL and 75% in Defence. In BHPV 75% of employees went on strike. In Hyderabad 1800 units in private sector with more than 2 lakhs workers were closed; in Srikakulam strike was 100% in Aurobindo Pharma and workers in 16 private industrial units went on strike. Auto rickshaw drivers in 120 stands in Hyderabad were off the roads. Private transport in several major cities like Visakhapatnam, Adilabad etc went off the road. Hundreds of railway workers demonstrated in support of the strike in Visakhapatnam and some other cities. Strike was also massive in the industrial areas in Medak and Ranga Reddy districts. 11 workers were arrested in Medak. Strike was 100% among the anganwadi employees, mid day meal workers, ASHAs, etc; lakhs of beedi workers, construction workers, loading and unloading workers, shop employees, small vendors etc participated in the strike and in the demonstrations that were held at the mandal level. As per initial reports around 414709 workers participated in the demonstrations.

Assam

The strike resulted in a virtual ‘bandh’ like situation in the state. Road transport, both private and public, was totally off the road. In Oil India, Numaligarh refineries, Coal India, Powergrid Corporation, the strike was almost total; it was partial among the regular workers in BRPL and Digboi while all the contract workers were on strike. It was highly successful in the paper mills. The tea plantations, the major industry of the state, witnessed unprecedented massive strike due to the joint initiative of CITU and INTUC. The strike was also massive in BSNL, postal, defence and other central government establishments. However, it was partial among the state government employees. More than 2000 workers were arrested throughout the state including Asit Dutta and Tapan Sharma president and secretary of Assam state committee of CITU and Ananta Deka, MLA.

Bihar

Most of the industrial units in Hazipur, Patna, Begusarai remained closed due to the strike. Auto rickshaws remained off the road in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur. Beedi workers in Jamui participated in the strike; Jute mills in Samastipur were paralysed. Unorganised workers joined the strike in all the districts and participated in massive rallies 

Chattisgarh

Strike was successful in the coal mines and other industries in the states. In Rajhara and Nandini Iron ore mines, strike was 100%. State Govt Power Plant at Korba and also the Power Plants of LANKO and BCCP in the adjoining area were closed due to strike. A most successful strike was witnessed in BALCO. In the 2nd shift, the striking workers were attacked by the security guards and local goons injuring many workers; three workers including President of CITU union in BALCO were severely injured and hospitalised. 15 workers including Lalji Kurre, the president of the BALCO workers’ union were injured. Strike among Beedi workers, Anganwadi workers, head-load workers in mandis and construction workers throughout the state was almost total.

Delhi

Workers in most of the industrial areas in the capital struck work and took out massive joint processions and demonstrations voicing the demands. Rasta roko was held in several places. In some industrial areas, the employers themselves closed the units for the day in view of the strike. Wazirpur industrial area in North Delhi was totally shut down, while most of the factories in Jahangirpuri, GT Karnal Road and Bhorgarh in the same area were closed with thousands of workers joining the processions. Half of all the factories in Okhla Phase I industrial area in South Delhi were closed due to the strike; around 10000 workers marched on the streets; the street vendors also participated in the strike. Around 200 factories in Mayapuri industrial area in South West Delhi were closed; workers conducted rasta roko blocking traffic for around one hour and burnt the effigy of the government. In the Mongolpuri Phase I and Phase II industrial areas in North West Delhi, workers went on strike and around 7000 participated in the procession. Udyog nagar was closed. 4000 workers joined the demonstrations in Kirti nagar industrial area. The loading and unloading workers in several markets joined the strike. Strike was total in Jal Board. Medial and sales representatives were on strike. The airport cargo workers went on strike for 2 hours. Anganwadi employees also participated in the strike and demonstrations.

Gujarat

In Gujarat, for the first time, more than 5 lakhs workers participated in the strike. Big processions and demonstrations were held in many cities and district headquarters. The strike was total in Kandla and Bhavnagar ports; it was 60% in the Naulaki port; around 20000 loading and unloading workers participated in the strike. Medical representatives, beedi workers, hawkers, auto rickshaw drivers, in their thousands joined the strike. Strike was total among the 92000 anganwadi employees in the state; they participated in large numbers in the joint trade union demonstrations, in 4-5 districts outnumbering the other sections of workers. Around 15000 ASHAs too joined the strike. 70% of workers of Ahmedabad bus service participated in the strike while the state road transport workers and postal employees withdrew the strike. Strike was total in Baroda engineering, chemical, Makerpura GIDC and Nandesari GIDC; industrial workers, mostly in the engineering, foundries, ceramics, plastics etc in Junagarh, Rajkot, Bharuch, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Vallabh Vidya nagar joined the strike, as also the municipal corporation workers in Bhavnagar. The power loom workers and a section of diamond workers and the chemical workers in Surat also participated in the strike. Around 50000 workers participated in the demonstrations held in different places in the state.

Haryana

The strike was total in Haryana Roadways, tourism, non teaching staff of universities, educational board and municipal corporations all over the state; effective strike was observed in the health, PWD and power sectors; workers affiliated to CITU, HMS, BMS and other unions in the industrial area of Faridabad went on strike; many workers not affiliated to any union also joined the strike. The national highway was blocked for one hour. Demonstrations were held by CITU in all the district headquarters and at the division level also; in Panipat, around 2000 participated in rasta roko for 1 hour and rail roko for 30 minutes; in Jind and Narwana around 1100 and 1400 workers conducted rasta roko; in Bhiwani around 160 workers were arrested; police also resorted to lathi charge;

Around 30000 workers in dozens of units in Gurgaon went on strike; RDC, Xerox India, Hema engineering, Suzuki motorcycles, IMT Manesar, Munjal Soha, Satyam Auto, Hylex, Lumex, MESL, IFB, GKN, Rico Auto and several other units participated in the strike; anganwadi employees, ASHAs, mid day meal workers, village chowkidars, sweepers, forest workers, construction workers etc in the unorganised sector also participated in the strike in large numbers.

Himachal Pradesh

Strike was total in all the Hydel power plants in the state. It was also observed all over the state by the anganwadi employees and mid day meal workers; hotel workers and construction workers also joined the strike. In the industrial areas in Solan, Parawanoo and Una districts industrial workers joined the strike action in a big way.

Jammu and Kashmir

There was a complete strike in the central PSUs like NHPC, Power Grid, etc and in state PSUs like SRTC, JK Minerals, Kalakot Mines and Baglihar Hydle Project. Besides, construction workers, Four Lane Road and Tunnel Workers, Sangaldan Railway Project workers, ASHAs, anganwadi employees, railway loading and unloading workers, medical sales and representatives, daily wagers of PDD were on strike in Jammu Region. 

For the first time a joint demonstration of workers led by CITU, AITUC, BMS and INTUC was held in Jammu in which around 3000 – 4000 workers participated. In the Kashmir valley too there was complete strike in the central and state public sector undertakings including NHPC. ASHAs and anganwadi employees also participated in the strike. A rally was organised by CITU in Sher e Kashmir Park in Srinagar in which around 2000 workers from different unions participated. Police resorted to brutal lathi charge and used tear gas shells on the workers when they tried to march towards the Divisional Commissioner’s office after the public meeting. The workers including anganwadi employees and ASHAs put up stiff resistance against the highhandedness of the police force. Dozens of workers including Abdul Rashid Najar, secretary of J&K state committee of CITU were injured; 2 workers became unconscious; more than 20 were arrested 

Jharkhand

The strike was successful in the state; 80% of coal workers including the contract workers in all the coal companies in the state - CCL, BCCL, ECL, CMPDI and IICM participated in the strike; around 1.5 lakh coal workers in the coal fields in Dhanbad, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Latehar, Bokaro, Godda and Deogarh districts participated in the strike; strike was total among state government, postal, BSNL, telecom, central water board, GSI, Income Tax and other central government employees; 90% of electricity employees were on strike; it was 100% in Mython thermal power plant; contract and casual workers of DVC joined the strike; around 1 lakh beedi workers and 15000 stone quarry workers in Sahebganj and Pakur districts of Santal Paragana; strike was total in state transport; in private transport strike was effective in Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj while it was partial in Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, and Jamshedpur; loading and unloading workers of MGR working for NTPC were totally on strike; more than 5 lakh construction workers went on strike; workers of 800 small industrial units in Adityapur industrial area of Saraikela - Kharsanwa participated in the strike and conducted a dharna; 300 workers were arrested; strike was total in Hindusthan Copper Limited, in Barud factory; more than 5000 medical representatives participated in the strike; in IFICO sales wing around 80% were on strike; work in mines came to a total halt; rice mills in Dalbhumgarh and Chukulia were closed; strike was observed in the engineering units in Dhanbad and Ramgarh districts; 20% regular workers and 80% contract workers in Bokaro steel went on strike; in HEC in Hatia in Ranchi around 30% workers including contract workers participated in strike; anganwadi employees went on strike and around 1500 held demonstration in Godda; however strike had no impact on Tata industrial area except for a few contract workers; a massive rally was organised in Ranchi by CITU and courted arrest; several CITU leaders including the president and general secretary of the state committee, Sudhir Das and DD Ramanandan were arrested. 

Karnataka

The strike call evoked spontaneous response from the workers in different sectors in the state. In many districts, a complete bandh like situation prevailed with markets closed, transport paralysed and streets deserted. It was reported that in around 41 taluks out of the total 175 there was total bandh while in another 15, there was partial bandh.

Strike was total in the public sector enterprises of BEL, BHEL, HAL, ITI, BEML and Hatti Gold mines, with the contract workers participating in their full strength. Strike was also total in the private sector – in Bosch, Volvo, Toyota, Federal Mogul, Kennametal, L&T, ITC, WIPRO, Coca Cola, Pepsicola, Vikrant, Harihara Polyfibres, Kirloskar Electricals, Rajashree Cements, INDALCO, Jindal and other big industries. 

In Bangalore the industrial strike was total and all the industries closed their operations. Auto drivers also kept away from roads and participated in the strike. Thousands of workers took out protest marches in all industrial areas and blocked highways. The workers took a largest protest march in the central part of the City and blocked road for more than 4 hours at KG Road in Bangalore. Road block was also organised in Mysore. 

Anganwadi employees in 98 taluks participated in the strike; around 300 – 900 anganwadi employees joined the demonstrations in each of these taluks. Mid day meal workers, auto rickshaw drivers, head load workers, beedi, gram panchayat and construction workers etc all over the state joined the strike and participated in large numbers in the protest actions.

The Pre University examinations scheduled on 28th February have been postponed. Several Colleges and Schools in the limits of 23 districts were closed down on the call of Students Federation of India in support of workers strike.

Kerala

The strike is total in the state. 18 trade unions including all the central trade unions and several local trade unions like STU, KTUC participated in the strike. Workers in the two industrial centres of Kerala viz. Kochi and Alwaye in Ernakuklam district and Kanchikode in Palakkad district participated in the strike totally. Strike in the Kochi port was almost total. The industries under the state and central public sector as well as private sector did not function. 

As per preliminary assessment, a total of 75 lakh workers struck work in the state. Shops were closed even in the remotest villages. Vehicular traffic was almost absent. Motor transport workers totally took part in the strike. Unorganised sector workers totally participated in the strike. Agriculture workers, Plantation workers, cashew workers, fisheries workers, coir workers, construction workers, artisans, hand loom, khadi, beedi workers etc. went on strike. Strike in the electricity sector and BSNL was total.

State government employees totally struck work ignoring the dais non declared by the state government. Joint rallies were organised all over the state in district head quarters, industrial centres and panchayat head quarters and towns. Thousands of workers participated in rallies.

Madhya Pradesh

The impact of strike was widely felt in the state. In Gwalior, there was a total bandh and workers and other sections of working people resorted to rail roko. Strike was total in BSNL and Defence industry. Medical representatives all over the state joined the strike and held demonstratins. The functioning of the state and central government offices was badly affected due to the strike. In coal industry, the strike was near complete in different areas of WCL; it was 95% in Pathkhera, 75% in Pench kanhan, 60% in SECL’s Kotama, 40% in Hasdev and Pali 40. However, in BHEL in Bhopal, only 20 – 25% permanent workers participated in the strike. All the contract workers in NFL, Guna, in Sanjay Gandhi Power House in Pali participated in the strike. 

It was total among the anganwadi employees, ASHAs and USHAs, while 80% loading and unloading workers in the mandis participated in the strike. Industrial workers held massive demonstrations and rallies in the different places in the state. In all the district headquarters big joint rallies and demonstrations were organised.

Maharashtra

The working class of Maharashtra joined the all India strike in a big way. It is estimated that more than 20 lakh workers from the organised and unorganised sectors participated in the strike. Mumbai and JNPT Ports were paralysed. Massive strike was reported from industrial areas of Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, Thane, Nasik, Ichhalkaranji, Nagpur and other areas. Strike in HAL, Nasik was total. All the 35 district head quarters witnessed big processions of striking workers and employees. A huge rally was held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Bharatiya Kamgar Maha Sangh also joined the strike.

 

Manipur

Strike was effective in the state with the attendance in state government offices being badly affected; central government offices like post offices, BSNL, telecom and telegraph offices, AG office and insurance offices were closed; passenger vehicles, petrol tankers, goods trucks etc were off the road; shops and markets in Imphal and other towns in the state were closed; educational institutions, both government and private were also closed

Odisha

There was bandh like situation in the state on 28th February. Transport came to a complete halt; auto rickshaws did not ply and shops were closed. In Rourkela steel plant around 40% regular workers and 100% contract workers participated in the strike. Adhunik Metalics, OCL Steel, Iron ore mines and sponge iron factories and other industrial units in Sundergarh district were completely closed. Small scale units were also totally closed. Mines and industries in and around Badbil could not function. Work in Paradeep port and other industries in Paradeep came to a standstill due to the strike. The headquarters of Mahanadi coalmines was closed. 

Contract workers in NTPC in Talcher thermal plant totally joined the strike. In NALCO in Angul and Damanjodi, the strike was partial; the regular workers held dharna near the factory gates while the contract workers joined the strike. Workers in the industrial estates of Balasore, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Khurda, and Jajpur Road joined the strike paralysing production.

Thirty thousand auto drivers along with the state road transport workers joined the strike totally paralysing public transport. Train services were disrupted by the picketing by the workers in all the major railway stations in the state. Anganwadi employees, ASHAs and mid day meal workers participated in the strike almost totally. More than 1 lakh workers all over the state participated in the rallies and demonstrations. Around 1000 including Bishnu Mohanty were arrested and detained in Rourkela.

Punjab

The strike evoked massive response from the working class in Punjab and Chandigarh. Around 80000 industrial workers in Ludhiana, Bathinda, Sangrur, Nawahshahr, Ropar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Rajkot, Patiala, Derabassi, Mohali, Batala, Malekotla, Ahmedgarh, Mandigobindpur, Jagraon, Rajpura, Patran etc in around 120 big and medium and around 400 small scale industrial units participated in the strike. 

Thousands of brick kiln workers, anganwadi employees, ASHAs, mid day meal workers, forest workers, workers of Food Corporation of India, construction workers, private transport workers, loading and unloading workers, state transport corporation workers, medical representatives went on strike. Around 8000 Punjab Roadways workers observed strike for two hours and held rallies and demonstrations near the bus depots. 65% of the electricity workers in Punjab and around 70% in Chandigarh joined the strike. Strike was total in the defence sector, 70% in BSNL. Rallies and demonstrations were held in 110 places; road blocks in 50 places. In many places where no joint trade union rally was held anganwadi employees organised rallies on their own.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan was one of the states where the strike had a big and visible impact. All the offices of central government in the state were closed due to the strike; no bus of state transport plied; all the 48 state road transport corporation depots were closed; autos were off the street; in Jodhpur, the entire public transport was affected. 85% of the textile units in the Bhilwara industrial hub were closed; auto rickshaws were off the road in Sikar, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu and Sri Ganga nagar. Factories and industrial establishments in Bhilwara, Rajsamund, Jodhpur, Kota, Sri Ganganagar, Jaipur, and Khetri etc were closed due to the strike; big industrial establishments like J& K Tyres, NBC Bearings, Anil Steel, Hindusthan Zinc, Khetri Copper etc were totally closed. Strike was total in Atomic Power Plant in Rawatbhata. State government employees and teachers took mass casual leave.

Tamil Nadu

Strike was massive in the state. The strike was total in banks, insurance, BSNL, state and central government offices, district collectorates, block development offices, income tax offices, and medical department in the entire state. Participation was impressive in the units of state public sector units in electricity, transport, civil supplies, Tamil Nadu Minerals, Poompuhar shipping, Tamil Nadu Magnesite, Dalmia Magnesite, TWAD Board. Strike was total at BHEL Ranipet, IOC, Chennai Port, New and Old Ports at Tuticorin. 90% participation was reported at BHEL Trichy, SAIL Salem, Defence units at Avadi. It was near total in the manufacturing units in and around Chennai which include TVS Group, Simpson, Ashok Leyland, MRF, Eveready, TI Group, Audco Valves, Rane Engine Valves, Rane Motors, L & T, Corborandum, Ennore Foundry, Areva, KCP, Kaparo, Asian Paints, SSL-TTK, HM Lancer, Indian Furniture, TCL, Bharat Aluminium, etc. Strike was 100% in BHEL, Ranipet. Workers of Mettur Power plant, state transport, electricity, cooperatives, road transport, sanitary workers in the local bodies etc went on strike all over the state. 

The participation of the workers as well as some of the employers in the small and tiny industries was noteworthy. Coimbatore witnessed a bandh like situation with almost all textiles and industrial units being shut. Autos did not ply. More than 50% of the traders also participated in the call by closing down their shutters. More than three lakh workers have reportedly participated in the district. In Tiruppur, around five lakh workers belonging to hosiery industry, power loom, and metal utensil manufacturing industry have effectively responded to the call. More than 2000 hosiery and their subsidiary units remained closed. In Hosur, strike was total in the strategic automobile industry including the main manufacturing units of TVS and Leyland. In Dindigul strike was total in more than 50 tanneries; 60% of autos did not ply. Strike was total in Suzlon industry in Puducherry, where a rasta roko was also held. 

Lakhs of workers in the unorganised sector – the plantation workers in Salem, Nilgiris, Dindigul and other districts, beedi workers in Tirunelveli and Vellore, the salt pan workers including the government salt pan workers in Tuticorin, construction workers, loading and unloading workers, auto drivers, small vendors, tailoring workers, road transport workers, hand loom workers, anganwadi employees, etc - all over the state participated in large numbers in the strike and the demonstrations. Around one lakh workers participated in the demonstrations held all over the state on the occasion.

Tripura

Strike was total in all sectors in the state resulting in a bandh like situation. Transport was completely paralysed. Workers in different sectors like plantation, electricity, construction, beedi, anganwadi employees, mid day meal workers, ASHAs etc went on strike and held massive demonstrations.

 

Uttar Pradesh

Despite the ongoing elections to the state assembly, the 28th February strike evoked good response from the employees and workers in the state. All the offices of public sector banks and insurance companies remained closed. Medical and sales representatives were on strike. The employees of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) expressed their anger by wearing black badges. The glass bangle workers in Firozabad were on strike and participated in a big rally along with construction workers, hotel workers and bank and insurance employees.

West Bengal

The 28th February strike was highly successful in the state despite the severe repression let loose by the administration and the hooligans of the ruling party in the state with the chief minister herself issuing threats of victimisation and suppression. 

90% of the tea garden workers in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur participated in the strike; the Adivasi Vikas Parishad also joined the strike. In Jute industry, strike was 85%; in coal 82%; in steel it was 65%. Hosiery industry witnessed total strike. Except very few, all the engineering units in Hooghly, Howrah, North and South 24 Paraganas and Kolkata were closed. Significantly 85% IT sector workers in Salt Lake participated in the strike. All the workers and employees of state electricity board, CESC, DVC, NTPC and Power Grid went on strike, except for emergency duties. The electricity consumption was 600 megawatt less than on an ordinary working day. 

Transport service was severely affected due to the strike. The train services were irregular; the local trains were deserted; the few taxis that ran in the morning went off the roads by the afternoon; 80% auto rickshaws were off the road. Private bus operators were threatened to run the buses but there were very few passengers. In different districts, NBSTC, SBSTC, Surface transport authorities failed to run the buses; people did not board the buses that were forcibly put into service. The launch services were totally stopped. Unorganised workers participated in the strike in a massive way. Except in a few towns, where the workers were threatened by the TMC hooligans, municipal workers all over the state participated in the strike. Most of the establishments in the Bantala leather complex were closed. Workers of IOC, ONGC, BPCL, HPCL participated in the strike; Budge Budge terminal was closed. Around 50% of the workers in the Haldia industrial area took part in the strike, despite the threat by the TMC. 90% of BSNL employees and 75% of Defence employees were on strike. 

More than 2000 leaders and workers including Manik Sanyal and Zia ul Alam, leaders of the plantation workers and working committee members of CITU were arrested. Police resorted to severe lathi charge and arrests in many places. Srikumar Mukherjee, former minister and leader of IOC union, journalists of Star Anand and 24 Ghanta were attacked. In West Midnapore, anganwadi employees and school teachers were threatened of dire consequences. In Uttarpara, insurance employees and officers were physically assaulted.

Reports of strike by workers of some industrial units and establishments were received from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. In Goa also port workers and workers of some industrial units joined the strike. In Port Blair of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Govt employees took staged day-long mass dharna in support of the General Strike. 

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) congratulates the millions of workers and employees throughout the country who have struck work and registered a strong protest against the neo-liberal economic policies being pursued by the UPA government.

 

The call for the strike was given by the united platform of all Central trade unions.  This is the first joint strike call by all the Central trade unions and the all India Federations of employees in various sectors. Reports indicate that over ten crore workers and employees participated in the strike.

 

The general strike was a huge success in the banking, telecom, defence, insurance, mining, transport, insurance, various public sector units, central and state government offices and departments. Shops and markets remained closed in various places. In many places in West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, the striking workers had to brave brutal attacks by the police and also large scale arrests. Besides police attacks, the striking workers in West Bengal had to face severe physical attacks by hoodlums let loose by the ruling TMC.

 

The strike call was given to demand among other things concrete measures to contain price rise; strict enforcement of labour laws; universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers; against disinvestment of PSUs etc.

 

The massive response to the strike should serve as a warning to the government that the working people and their unions would not accept such indifference and neglect lying down and they will further intensify their struggle if their basic demands are not addressed. The unity and militancy displayed during this strike should be carried forward for bringing in alternative policies.

28th February All India Strike : A CHALLENGE BEFORE THE WORKING CLASS

Tapan Sen (General Secretary : CITU)

The trade union movement of the country has entered into a new phase with all the eleven Central Trade Unions in the country having different affiliations and political line-up coming together on a single platform for joint action on common issues facing the working class of the country. It is the culmination of mass scale resentment among the common workers at the grass root against the grievous fall out of the policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation on their life and livelihood and an urge increasing for united action. The decades-long process of united trade union action by many central trade unions and independent employees federations and also the experience of united actions in many sectors like banks, insurance, defence, telecom, coal and in many other public sector units also have contributed in a big way towards developing such a prospect of all in unity in the trade union movement in the country. That process has witnessed 12 countrywide general strikes by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions since the onset of the neoliberal policy regime in 1991. The platform of the 13th General Strike got further widened with INTUC joining the strike action on 7th September 2010. The 14th General Strike on 28th February 2012 is going to create history in the annals of the trade union movement embracing all the eleven central trade unions including BMS and LPF on its platform.

 

The Issues before the Working Class

The call for the countrywide general strike was to press for the 10 point charter of demands pertaining to the most burning problems facing crores of the working people in the country. 

The problems relate to their survival, which is being put in jeopardy by the neoliberal policies being pursued by successive governments. This strike is intended to make the voice of the toiling people heard by the government so far insensitive to their demands.

 

Price Rise

One of the major demands is against the continuing price rise of essential commodities demanding concrete action to contain the same. The trade unions have put forth in concrete terms the measures to be taken to arrest the spiralling rise in prices before the government. They have demanded universalisation of public distribution system and a complete ban on speculation and futures trade in commodity market which alone can contain the rising prices; there cannot be a third way for the same.

The government is refusing to adopt those concrete measures to contain price-rise. Instead, every now and then, the Prime Minister, Finance Minister et al announce that prices would come down or get moderated soon which did never happen.

The government is also claiming that prices are going up owing to increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the farmers! In 2011, minimum support price of rice was Rs 1080/- per quintal, i.e., Re 10.8/- per kg. But for the consumer it is no less than Rs 24 to Rs 28 in the open market. The minimum support price of wheat is Rs 1120 per quintal working out to be Re 11.20 per kg. For the consumer, it is no less than Rs20/- per kg. How does the MSP influence the prices in the retail market? Some of the regularly used pulses like tur and urad dal cost hardly Rs 30 per kg as per the minimum support price; but none is available at below Rs 60 to Rs 100 in the open market. Even in the public distribution system for the APL category, the price of rice and wheat is much above the MSP level, even if procurement, storage and transportation costs are taken into account. Talking of minimum support price to justify price rise is nothing but a shabby act of deception and fraud on the people.

Another plea put forward by the government, by no less than a person the like Prime Minister is that the prices were going up because people have more money in their hand owing to rise in their incomes as a result of economic growth. Workers themselves know the utter falsehood of such a claim. Nothing else can be farther from truth. Increase in GDP is no doubt a contribution entirely of the toiling class but the fruits of growth are looted away by the employer’s class-the corporates and big-business, both domestic and foreign, under the government’s active patronage. GDP is growing, and at the same time growing is the number of contract workers with low wages with sharply declining regular workers in almost all the workplaces. The share of wages in the net value added has come down to around 9.2 per cent while the share of profit has gone up to 53.8 per cent.

 In fact the realities are exactly the opposite. As per the latest Economic Survey, growth of private final consumption expenditure has fallen from 8.6 per cent in 2005-06 to 7.3 per cent in 2010-11.

During the last five year period, population has increased and even then the growth of private final consumption expenditure has fallen. Can this ever be possible unless the mass of the consumers are consuming less?

The rise in the prices of essential commodities is being promoted by the government through their deliberate policy of weakening and debilitating the public distribution system on the one hand and patronising corporate consolidation in commodity trade, particularly in food and related commodities on the other. When the price of rice and wheat were soaring in the market, the government most shamelessly, kept locked a huge stock of 600 lakh tones of food grains in the FCI godowns preventing prices from coming down, just to please their trader bosses. When a part of the stock was released, the public distribution system route was bypassed and the grains were released in the open market to facilitate private corporate traders to lift the stock for hoarding. In fact the price-rise has become a joint venture of the government and the corporate traders to facilitate windfall profits for the latter.

The public distribution system has been virtually dismantled throughout the country except in a few states. A large number of people have been pushed out of its purview on the restrictive plea of ridiculous poverty line to make them the sacrificial animal for profiteering by the traders lobby, both domestic and foreign. To add fuel to flame, petroleum price has been deregulated, energy prices are being pushed up, and urea prices are being doubled.

 

Enforcement of Labour Laws

Trade Unions have been demanding for strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws. Violation of labour laws by the employers with active connivance of law enforcement machinery has become a major instrument for increasing profit where workers and workers alone are targeted for cost-minimisation in the production or services in all the workplaces. So in majority of the workplaces, statutory minimum wages are not paid, basic social security benefits are denied with impunity. In fact, 90 % of the disputes and conflicts going on in different workplaces in the country relate to just non implementation of the existing labour laws. The employers’ class in close connivance with the respective governments and the labour departments in particular have made a gang up to subject the mass of the working people, who create wealth for the economy, revenue for the exchequer and profit for the employers, to worst form of exploitation and loot through just non implementation of the basic labour laws pertaining to minimum wages, working hours, safety in workplace, social security benefits etc.

To prevent the workers to organise and resist such barbarous exploitation, the governments flung into action in support of the employers to prevent formation of trade union activities in their workplaces. In most of the private sector workplaces and even in some public sector units, whenever workers take initiative to form trade union, those taking such initiatives are thrown out of employment on some fabricated charges. Implicating the workers in false criminal cases for taking part in trade union activities has become a regular practice in many of the states. The recent happenings at Maruti Suzuki Plant at Gurgaon/Manesar at Haryana, incidents at Hyundai and Foxconn at Tamilnadu, Allied Nippon at Ghaziabad, and Mother Dairy in Delhi are some glaring examples of such government - employers’ gang up to crush trade unions in workplaces. Trade unions are not being registered; applications for registration of trade unions gather dust in the office of registrar for months together in most of the states in the country. This is nothing but an attack on right to freedom of association and right to collective bargaining which is considered to be essential component of labour rights in any civilised society and codified as “core labour standards” by ILO which adopted specific conventions no 87 and 98. The government of India has not yet ratified these conventions on flimsy grounds. The Central Trade Unions therefore have put forth specific demand that there must be compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days after the application is made and the government of India must ratify the ILO Conventions nos. 87 and 98 without further delay.

 

Universal Social Security for Unorganised Sector Workers

More than 93% cent of country’s workforce is in the unorganised sector. They have been practically kept outside the purview of most of the labour laws and do not have any protection in respect of working hours, minimum wages, social security and above all any kind of job security despite contributing around 65% to the country’s GDP. Since the onset of neoliberal policy regime, the unorganised sector workforce is expanding fast along with simultaneous decline in the size of regular or permanent workers in all the sectors of economy. Due to pressure from the trade union and popular movements the government after long dilly dallying enacted the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act in 2008 but that legislation is nothing but a fraud on the unorganised sector workers. The provisions of the said legislation practically throw overwhelming majority of the unorganised sector workers out of the purview of the social security schemes envisaged under the same. Almost all the ten social security/welfare schemes listed in its schedule are meant for only the persons below the poverty line. The official definition of “poverty line” is such that overwhelming majority of the unorganised sector workers will not qualify and therefore will not get any benefit under those schemes. The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) constituted by the UPA-I government recommended universal coverage of all unorganised sector workers by a National Floor Level Social Security cover and constitution of a National Social Security Fund with adequate fund provision. This was unanimously upheld by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour. The National Social Security Board constituted under the Act also made the same unanimous recommendation. But the government has done nothing on this till now.

The deceptive approach of the government towards the unorganised sector is reflected by the nature of fund allocation for the social security benefit for unorganised sector workers. Union Budget (2010-11) allocated a paltry amount of Rs 1000 crore for the purpose. No body yet knows how that money was or has been spent. The government has been boasting that more than 2 crore people have been issued “smart cards” under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). But, the allocation made by the central government in 2010-11 Budget cannot take care of even 1% of the below poverty line (BPL) families, not to speak of the unorganised sector workers in general. The RSBY envisages covering all the 6.52 crores families estimated by the Planning Commission to be BPL, in5 years. The government would have to spend Rs 4,875 crores annually to pay the 75% of the annual premium of Rs 750, as per the RSBY. But, in the 2009-10 Budget, only Rs 308 crore was allotted in that account. The last budget has not increased the allocation.

This is an integral part of the ongoing process of loot being engineered by the neoliberal policy regime while the government seeks to befool the people chanting aam admi slogan on every occasion. To cry halt to such cruel approach towards the overwhelming majority of country’s working people, the Central Trade Unions demanded in one voice that concrete measures have to be taken for 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 recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

 

Stop Disinvestment

The Central Trade Unions also demand complete stoppage of disinvestment of shares in profit making Central and State PSUs. The government is arguing that disinvestment is meant for expanding peoples’ ownership including employees’ ownership of public sector companies, for garnering resources for social sector welfare expenditures and also for modernisation expenditures for public sector companies themselves. It is also pleading that only minority shares will be disinvested and hence there is no fear for privatisation. Such plea of the government is nothing but a total falsehood widely propagated to befool the workers and the people.

It is utterly obnoxious to talk about expanding people’s ownership through disinvestment. Peoples’ ownership of PSUs can no way be ensured through ownership of PSU shares by private individuals. Rather 100% government ownership and accountability to the parliament elected by the people ensure peoples’ ownership over the PSUs. Any dilution of such status through disinvestment dilutes public ownership in favour of private corporates. The profile and character of private shareholdings in the PSUs disinvested so far clearly exposes this reality. Hardly 1- 1.5% of disinvested shares has gone to private individuals. The majority of them have been cornered by private corporate entities including MNCs and by private mutual funds, both domestic and foreign.

Secondly PSUs do not require to sell their equity for funding their modernisation because they are having huge reserves and surpluses at their command amounting to around Rs five lakh crore plus.

PSUs listed for disinvestment in the current phase are all carrying on their modernisation projects with their own resources without any budgetary support from the government. Moreover, the debt equity ratio of the PSUs is around 0.75 which shows that PSUs can very much go for loans from the banking system if they require for funding their capital expenditure and any dilution of equity for resources with such low-debt-equity ration can no way be justified.

Social sector welfare expenditure for the people is a responsibility of the government elected by the people and is recurring and continuous in nature. Any idea of funding such expenditure through disinvestment of shares of PSUs makes the disinvestment process also a continuing exercise ultimately culminating in privatisation of the PSUs. This clearly exposes the real game plan of privatisation by the government for befooling the people.

 

No contractorisation

The widespread contractorisation and casualisation of work in most of the workplaces has created an alarming situation. As per official estimate, of the total workforce in work in the country, 51 per cent are self employed, 33.5 per cent are casual and hardly 15.6 per cent are in salaried employment. Of the salaried employment, majority are on contract. In public sector units, share of contract employment is around 50% of the total workforce on the average and in private sector; more than 70% are on contract. These vast sections of contract workers are mostly deprived of almost all statutory benefits barring rare exceptions; their employment is always under threat by the respective contractor and the principal employer. This has given rise to a dangerous dichotomy where, under the same roof, contract workers doing the same work as the regular workers in the establishment, are getting hardly the sixth or even less than their counterpart among regular workers. Continuity of such a grossly discriminatory situation would not only aggravate exploitation of contract workers but also put downward pressure on the wages and service conditions of the regular workers. That is precisely what is taking place in most of the workplaces particularly in private sector establishments. The average level of wages is going down owing to sharp decline in the size of the permanent workers and widespread contractorisation of work. This can no way be tolerated by the working class movement lying down. That is why the demands for “same wage as regular workers for same work for the contract workers”, “benchmarking of minimum wage at not less than Rs 10,000/-”, “removal of all restricting ceiling on provident fund, payment of bonus, gratuity etc” have come up as most pressing demands before the working people of the country as well as before the entire trade union movement voicing their concern.

 

Assured Pension for all

The present economic policy regime has been working overtime to drastically curtail whatever meager social security benefits available to workers. A grave conspiracy is afoot to drastically dilute the existing pensionary rights of the workers and employees.

The Employees Pension Scheme launched with much fanfare in 1995, despite staunch opposition by CITU has finally proved to be a farce for crores of retired workers who are getting a meager amount as pension compared to their last-drawn wages. In the days to come maintenance of existing level of pension also is going to be difficult given the attitude of the government in administering the present EPS scheme. There has already been curtailment of number of benefits promised under the Employees Pension Scheme at the time of its introduction. The existing pensionary benefits for the government employees are being sought to be dismantled and replaced by a so called New Pension System (NPS) which make the defined pension benefit for the retired government employees totally uncertain and market dependent despite making them to pay 10 per cent of their wages every month for the pension fund. The Pension Fund Development & Regulatory Authority Bill has already been introduced in Parliament to legitimise such retrograde and anti worker exercise. Experience worldwide has already proved that market can never ensure an assured pension for the workers.

In case of the NPS, workers would be made to pay for their pension corpus and the corpus will be used in the stock market for speculation through various fund managers. Not only that, the government is also trying to trap and allure vast section of unorganised sector workers to accept the NPS and subscribe to this scheme from their meager income to the Swavalamban scheme although they will not have any guaranteed amount of pension even after contributing towards the scheme for long thirty years. Just like the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, the Swavalamban scheme under NPS is another exercise of deception on the unorganised sector workers to harness their contribution to pension corpus for speculation in the stock market.

Through all these exercises in the name pension, the government is making the pension for the workers market dependent and absolutely uncertain. Such evil design cannot be allowed to pass. Hence, the trade unions have unitedly demanded “Assured Pension for all”.

The issues raised by the joint platform of strike action have to be carried to each worker and toiling people in each work place and workers habitations through intensive campaigns. Preparatory campaign for the strike must unleash initiatives of widespread joint campaign at the work place level countrywide. This alone can get the unity percolated at the grass root level and build up sustained and heightened united action against the mounting offensive of the exploiting class and their governments and carrying our struggle to offensive height. That is the way before us. We must leave no stone unturned in carrying the preparatory campaign for the strike to widest possible section of the workers and unleashing joint initiative of campaign in each workplace countrywide to make the General Strike a resounding success throughout the country.

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state conference begins

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu State 20th Conference began on Tuesday in the east coastal port town of Nagapattinam. Conference proceedings began with veteran Communist leader R.Umanath raising the red flag at the inaugural session of the conference. Earlier Martyrs torch which came from Keezhvenmani Martyrs Memorial , Chinni Palayam Martyrs memorial torch and Salem Jail Martyrs torch were lit up at the conference venue. The Red flag was brought from the Com. Lelavathi Memorial in Madurai.

 

The party MLA K. Balakrishnan read out a resolution to pay respects to the veteran communist leaders. Polit Bureau members K. Varadharajan, Brinda Karat, S. Ramachandran Pillai and B.V. Raghavulu, State secretary G. Ramakrishnan and delegates from various parts of the State participated. 

 CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat inaugurated the conference and made a clarion call to the working class of Tamil nadu to make a grand success of the 28th February general strike.

He explained the importance of this united movement of the all central trade unions in the background of rising attacks of the UPA government on the working people. Inaugurating the 20 th state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tamil nadu unit at today, Prakash Karat asked the delegates to build the CPI (M) as a powerful force and build the left and the unity of the left.

He expressed happiness about his presence in Nagapattinam and recalled that this district has historic revolutionary tradition of vibrant movement of agricultural workers.Prakash Karat outlined the abrupt failures of the UPA 2 government. He questioned the government's record during the past 3 years rule. "We have seen unprecedented price rise; massive corruption; and the continuation of the agriculture crisis; the government continue to pursue pro-US foreign policy" he said.

He vehemently criticized the BJP that it is also advocating the same policies and it is also indulging massive corruptions. Prakash Karat have seen no difference between Congress, BJP and other regional capitalist parties. “The only political alternative to save the people of India is CPI (M) and the left", he claimed.

He noted the historic massive rally at Kolkata on the last day of the Bengal state conference of the party and said that the lakhs and lakhs of working people gathered in the Brigade Parade ground gave a clear message that the CPI(M) and left front will be powerful force again and it will inspire the whole working class of the nation. Earlier,  CPI state secretary D.Pandian greeted the conference.

In the delegates’ session, state secretary G.Ramakrishnan placed the political and organisational report. The conference vehemently condemns the brutal kiiling of comrades Pradip Tah and Kamal Gayen in West Bengal by the goons of TMC.

The conference will conclude on 25 th with massive rally and red volunteers parade..

Condemn TMC Politics of Murder in West Bengal

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Nirupam Sen, opposition leader of the West Bengal state assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra paying their tribute to Com. Pradip Tah and Com. Kamal Gayen on Wednesday in Burdhaman.

In a brutal attack, two district committee members of CPI(M) in Burdwan were killed on Wednesday morning. Pradip Tah and Kamal Gayen were murdered when Trinamool Congress anti socials violently attacked a rally, which was brought out in support of 28th February’s strike, in Dewandighi in Burdwan town.

Yesterday, TMC activists tore down festoons and banners in support of 28th’s strike. Some CPI(M) supports were attacked when they protested the vandalism. Today, at about 10.30 in the morning, a rally was organized in Dewandighi by CPI(M) in support of the strike. The rally was huge in numbers. People of that area including unrorganised workers joined the rally. Suddenly TMC anti socials attacked the rally with axe, sharp weapons and arms. Pradip Tah and Kamal Gayen were brutally and repeatedly attacked. Tah died on the way to hospital. Gayen was first admitted in Burdwan Medical College hospital but later he was being shifted to Kolkata. He died on the way to Kolkata. CPI(M) supporter Rupkumar Gupta has also been injured badly and admitted in hospital. Some other Party workers and sympathizers were also injured.

Pradip Tah was former MLA of Burdwan North assembly constituency, former District Secretary of DYFI, and now a CITU leader. He was a leading organizer of the unorganized workers; Kamal Gayen was a district level leader of cultural movement. With them 58 CPI(M) and Left leaders and activists have become martyrs in last nine months in the state.

CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu has strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, Basu said, these attacks throughout the state were planned. The attack has been intensified after massive rally in Brigade Parade Ground on 19th February. TMC has been jolted by the massive participation of people in that rally. Armed activists of TMC have unleashed desperate terrorization to thwart the strike of 28th February.

CPI(M) has called a 12hour Burdwan bandh on Thursday and two day protests throughout the state. CPI(M) leaders Nirupam Sen, Madan Ghosh, leader of the opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra and others have rushed to the spot. Thousands of people gathered in Burdwan to protest the killing.

TMC and Mamata Banerjee Government have declared a war against the 28th’s strike. Already the State Government has issued dictate that no employee would be allowed to take leave on that day. Trade unions are being threatened not to participate in strike. Moreover, the TMC leadership has asked its cadres to actively oppose the strike. It is clear from today’s incident that this active opposition is nothing but an euphemism for attacking and murdering CPI(M) cadres. But, the working people of the state are not going to bow down before such terror tactics. 28th February will teach a lesson to the TMC when the working people will participate in the strike on the face of all terror and attack.

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

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the murder of two leaders of our Party in West Bengal, both members of the Burdwan district committee of the CPI(M) – Comrade Pradip Tah and Comrade Kamal Gayen – in open daylight in the Dewandighi on the outskirts of the Burdwan town by the Trinamool Congress goons. Comrade Pradip was a former MLA representing the Burdwan (North) Assembly constituency. These heinous murders took place when both these leaders were leading a huge procession of people which was protesting against attacks on Party sympathisers campaigning for the all-India strike of February 28 called by the Central trade unions. These are murders most foul and is part of planned attacks and killings of Left leaders and activists after the assumption of office by the Mamata Banerjee led government. These two murders takes up the toll of people killed to 58 since the change of government. These attacks come in the background of the massive popular mobilization, at the call of the CPI(M), in the Brigade Parade Ground on February 19 which reflected people’s anger against the politics of violence and vendetta. Frustrated by the growing resistance of the people, the TMC led goons have indulged in this gruesome act. This act of violence is also to try and at any cost stop the certain overwhelming success of the industrial strike at the call of the Central trade unions. The Polit Bureau calls upon the Party units and all other Left and democratic minded people in the country to raise their voice of protest against such politics of violence and terror.

Red flag is fluttering and can never be brought down in West Bengal : Call of the CPIM West Bengal State Conference

The Communist Party of India-Marxist 23rd state conference re-elected Comrade Biman Bose as the secretary on the concluding day of the state conference on sunday. A state Committee of 83 members has been elected from the conference.25 resolutions have been passed from the conference. 175 delegates have been elected for the 20th Congress of C.P.I.(M), to be held in Kozhikode, Kerala in April 2012. Comrade Nirupam Sen has been elected as the treasurer of the Party State Committee.The control commission, consisting 4 members, has been elected from the conference.

The biggest highlight of the concluding day of the conference was the mammoth rally carried out by party members and sympathisers in the Brigade Parade ground in Kolkota. This is for the first time after the Left front government was voted out, that the party has arranged this rally. The participation of more than 10 lakh people itself came as a shock to the medias and corporates who have "written off" CPIM from WB state politics.

Wave after wave of crimson troops flooded the heart of Kolkata. For all those who were intimidated, attacked, forged, raped, evicted and vandalized under the autocratic ruling of the Trinamool Congress led coalition government, it was the day for reclaiming their lost independence. The reign of terror across Bengal districts for last nine months of the new government received a big bash by the red brigade . Every living being that still crawls, creeps even after the rule of terror converged into the Brigade Parade ground.

This Brigade rally was important for being the first one after the historic 34 years of the Left Front government discontinued. 13th May 2011 is already in the hallmark as this day not only marks the end of a lengthy pro-people government, it started the decline of democratic rights of common people in West Bengal. The last nine months were all haunted with political murders, infant’s death, farmers’ suicide, unleashing attack on students and college campuses etc.  Every red-clad youth of this state avowed their protest against the TMC-led state government .

Massive rallies of farmers, agricultural labourers and working people emerging from all across the state attended the Brigade with full confidence to recapture the lost democratic rights and to set forth a new political journey. The 23rd state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) concluded on 18th February with the call for intensive class struggle and mass movements in the state. Strengthening mass base among poorer class of people with class ideology; removing all predicaments and organizational inertness were the prime call of the 23rd conference. The scheduled proceeding of the open session started from sharp 1 P.M. when the newly elected state secretary Biman Basu commenced his presidential address.

 

Basu's life-size picture, alongside that of former party general secretary H.K.S. Surjeet, adorned the stage in the open session at the Brigade Parade ground, that brought the curtains down on the CPI-M's 23rd state conference.

Two prominent CPI-M leaders began their speeches by remembering Basu and the role he played in consolidating the party in the state and also guiding it in national politics.

"This is the first (state) conference when comrade Jyoti Basu is not with us. During earlier conferences he used to give directions and guide us. We will always remember the path he has shown us and follow his guidance," party general secretary Prakash Karat told the rally at the sprawling ground, where the late leader had addressed big crowds dozens of times during his long political career.Karat's comments drew loud applause from the lakhs of party supporters who shouted in unison 'comrade Jyoti Basu amar rahe'. Referring to the large assembly of people, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said: “The message being sent across the country and the world by this sea of humanity that has converged here today is that the red flag is fluttering and can never be brought down in West Bengal.”

  

Claiming that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the State had never before been able to rally people together in such large numbers on the scale it did here on Sunday, the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told a massive congregation that the very size of the gathering “proves that we are standing on firm ground and from which they [those in power now] have not been able to evict us.”

He was speaking at the open session that marked the conclusion of the 23rdState Conference of the CPI(M).

This was the first public rally to be organised by the party at the Brigade Parade ground since the Trinamool Congress-led government assumed power in the State in May 2011.

Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Surya Kanta Mishrasaid: “The Chief Minister, I understand, is at home; I only hope she is watching it [the rally] on the television. I kindly request her not to switch off the set.”

Her government, Dr. Mishra said, “is trying to silence the CPI(M) both inside and outside the Assembly, but never would it be able to silence so many lakhs of people [gathered at the rally].”

 “We [CPI(M)] are here because you [the people] are there.” he added.

CPIM West Bengal State Conference begins

The 23rd State Conference of Communist Party of India (Marxist) commenced at Kolkata today by hoisting the red flag of the Party and offering floral tributes to the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives to carry forward the ideology of the Party. The red flag of the Party was hoisted by Com. Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the Party. The Politburo members including the General Secretary of the Party Com. Prakash Karat, West Bengal State Secretary Com. Biman Basu, Com. Sitaram Yechury, Com. K Vardarajan, Com. Buddhadev Bhattacharya, Com. Brinda Karat, Com. Md. Amin and Com. Nirupam Sen offered floral tribute to the martyrs on the martyrs’ column. The other delegates also paid their homage to the martyrs by offering flowers.

The conference is being held at Comrade Jyoti Basu Nagar (Kolkata) and Comrade Harkishen Singh Surjeet Manch (Pramod Dasgupta Bhawan). To conduct the proceedings of the conference, the following comrades were elected in the Presidium: Com. Binoy Konar, Com. Bonani Biswas, Com. Md. Selim, Com. Rupchand Murmu and Com. Dinesh Dakua.

At the beginning of the delegate session condolence resolution was moved in the memory of Comrade Jyoti Basu, Comrade Harkishen Singh Surjeet, Comrade M.K Pandhe three politburo members of the Party, Com. Subhash Chakraborty, Secretariat member of West Bengal CPI(M), who died after the last State Conference. The condolence resolution also remembered all great personalities from politics, arts, literature and sports who passed away since the last state conference was held. A martyrs’ resolution was also moved at the conference, remembering the sacrifices of all those who were martyred while keeping high the banner of the party and Marxism-Leninism.

Com. Biman Basu, secretary of the State Committee of CPI(M) placed the political-organizational report in the conference. While placing the report, Com. Basu mentioned that since the last conference till April 2011, 506 comrades were martyred and since the new government came to power, in May 2011, 56 more comrades have been martyred. These comrades were martyred because they were fighting to keep up the red flag of the party. The party has to live up to the sacrifices of these comrades. The party has to rectify the mistakes and emerge as an ideologically and politically strong party with an increased mass base amongst the poor people. Com. Basu also pointed out that the policies pursued by the state government are no different from the policies pursued by the central government, which are basically anti-people policies. In the coming days, the party has to struggle and mobilize people against these anti-people policies propagated by both the central and state governments.

The General Secretary of the party, Prakash Karat delivered the inaugural speech in the conference. In the course of his speech he made the following salient points:

On International Issues

He analyzed the international situation prevalent at the current juncture and stated that capitalism is in a deep crisis. In order to come out of the crisis, capitalism is trying to put more burden on the common working people through the imposition of austerity measures. Simultaneously, imperialism is becoming more aggressive in its efforts to emerge from this crisis. Imperialism, led by the US continues to further the ‘Washington Consensus’. However, in the aftermath of this crisis, the economic policies of neo-liberalism and the Washington Consensus are being questioned by the people. People, across the nations, have risen up in protest against the anti-people policies imposed by neo-liberalism.

He discussed the differing nature of the anti-imperialist movements, the spontaneous ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests in 1500+ cities around the world, the experiences of the left-democratic governments of Latin America executing an independent, sustained pro-people policy framework and the increasing success of China. While the US and other developed western capitalist powers are on the wane economically, China continues to grow as an economic power. He however cautioned that in spite of the crisis, the US continues to maintain the hegemony of its imperialistic economic ideology over the globe. He also cautioned about the current US policy of hijacking people’s uprisings for its own designs, as seen in Libya, Egypt, etc.

He said that while the capitalist world is mired in a severe economic crisis with high sovereign debts and deficits, China continues to generate a huge surplus every year, which the capitalist world now seek to aid its rescue. India too, is facing a relentless assault by these imperialistic forces. The party needs to focus on getting the masses to participate in this agitation against imperialism.

On National Issues

The results of the last few elections, Prakash Karat agreed, have weakened the left’s capability to intervene to some extent. In this situation the party has to increase its independent functioning to move ahead. Movements have to be built up raising the demands of the vast masses of the people who are being adversely affected by neo-liberal policies. At the same time, movements need to be built upon on local issues. Emphasis should be laid on building movements of the unorganized sector workers and the rural poor. Secondly, the left and democratic forces should be strengthened. This should not be taken merely as a propagandist slogan. In order to materialize this, the left parties, left forces and left minded people should be unified. The democratic forces should be rallied. Thirdly, in the current situation, issue based movements have to be built up against the Congress and BJP rallying other bourgeois regional parties. This will not become the Third Alternative immediately.

On West Bengal

Prakash Karat noted the immense gains of the 34- year Left Front government and said that the current dispensation, led by reactionary forces are on the path of reversing all the gains made by the people. Their attempt at destroying the economic and social infrastructure created by the left is clear and that while West Bengal has been an oasis of social stability and peace in the ‘identity-politics’ ridden India, the forces of reaction are attempting to nurture the divisive forces by encouraging identity politics, as is clear in their bonhomie with the separatist forces in the hills, Maoists, etc. He observed that the Bengal government has unleashed a campaign of political terror to mortally wound the party’s organization across the state. However, the people of Bengal are increasingly getting resentful of the government’s policies and the party needs to commit itself to provide leadership to the people’s movements.

Prakash Karat observed that the West Bengal party has to go back to establishing a close relationship with the people and severe steps have to be taken to deter any unwanted trends in the party. It is through this rectification process that a stronger party will be built. The current government will continue escalating the miseries of the people and the party has to build a movement along with the people, patiently. The West Bengal Party, honed through great sacrifice, struggles and loss of lives will succeed, he said emphatically.

(Courtesy : WWW.cpimwb.org)