14-day Padayatra by CPIM Khammam District committee flagged off

CPIM Andhra Pradesh State secretary and PB member Com. B V Raghvulu flagged off the 14 day ‘Sagu Neeti Sadhana Maha Rytu Padayatra’ led by the CPIM Khammam District committee for the implementation of various projects and to voice against the antipeople measures of state and central congress government. Party district secretary P Sudarshan presided over the inaugural function on the banks of the Godavari near Dummugudem on Sunday. The party central committee member T Veerabhadram, former MP Midiyam Babu Rao, and former MLAs Sunnam Rajaiah and Kunja Bujji were those present.

An overwhelming number of over 1,000 party workers and leaders clad in green shirts embarked on the 300-km-long Maha Padayatra in 18 mandals to press for allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for early completion of the pending irrigation projects mainly the Dummugudem (Rajiv Sagar) lift irrigation scheme in the district.

CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu has demanded the government cancel the “corruption- ridden Jalayagnam” and announce a new water policy in the next budget session of the Assembly to ensure expeditious completion of the need-based irrigation projects with a thrust on the upland and drought-prone areas in the State.

Addressing a huge gathering of the party cadres, including farmers at the venue adjoining the Sir Arthur Cotton canal, Mr Raghavulu alleged that the Jalayagnam had failed to create any additional ayacut as assured in spite of spending over Rs 65,000 crore under the programme till now. “The lapses pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the implementation of the Jalayagnam and the allegations of large scale irregularities made by none other than the ruling party leaders vindicated our earlier charge that it was a ‘Dhana Yagnam’,” he said.

The corruption ridden programme should be cancelled forthwith and a comprehensive water policy should be evolved to complete the irrigation projects with a pragmatic approach, he demanded asking the other parties to spell out their stand on the issue.

Khammam district deserves top priority in irrigation sector in view of a major chunk of tribal population, he said.

He lashed out at the government for allegedly spending crores of rupees on the Dummugudem-Nagarjunasagar tail pond link canal and Polavaram projects in an unproductive manner detrimental to the interests of the farmers in the district. He appealed to other parties to extend their support to the Rythu Padayatra to espouse the cause of farmers.

CPIM leaders campaign in Himachal Pradesh

Representing an emerging third force and a new state-wide alternative through Himachal Lok Morcha, CPI(M) PB members Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat are campaigning in Himachal Pradesh, specially in constituencies in and nearing Shimla district.

Sitaram Yechury, addressing two rallies on the 30th, first at Chota Shimla and second at Sanjauli Chouk, canvassed for two CPI(M) candidates, Tikender Singh Panwar and Kuldeep Singh Tanvar, contesting from two city constituencies of Shimla-City and Kusumpty. After it's historic win in Shimla Municipal corporation, just a few months back winning both Mayor and Deputy-Mayorships in first direct election with huge margins, CPI(M) is considered having a definite advantage on these two seats. Five wards of Shimla Corporation constitute urban part of Kusumpty assembly constituency. Four of these wards gave big leads to CPI(M) while in fifth it was left behind by only a few votes. Tikender Panwar, is presently Deputy-Mayor of Shimla.

Yechury addressing very receptive crowds underlined that fact that Congress and BJP are indistinguishable not only in their policies but also in their practices, including corruption. For first time people of Himachal have an opportunity of opting really for some change and not having to alternatively choose and reject out of two more or less similar parties. He also pointed out how Congress-led UPA government's policies like FDI in  retail and privatisation cum invitation to foreign investment in Pension Funds and Insurance are sure recipes of disaster for people. But BJP's government in Himachal has also pushed in the same direction by reckless privatisation of Education and Health services.

Addressing both the rallies with people of both the constituencies, Tikender Panvar underlined that the good work done by the newly-elected Shimla Corporation can only be consolidated through CPI(M)'s representation in State Assembly as only that can change the anti-people steps of state government like water privatisation, though currently corporation has blocked the same.

 

Same day Brinda Karat addressed well attended meetings at Koti area under Kusumpty assembly constituency. Before this on 29th, she addressed a big rally at Darlaghat, campaigning for CPI(M) candidate from Arki assembly segment, Ramkrishna Sharma. Darlaghat also known for it's Ambuja Cement factory, has strong Left influence. She is campaigning on 31st in Theog for CPI(M) candidate and Party state secretary, Rakesh Singha. This rural seat of Apple rich belt of Shimla district is threatening to surprise both Congress and BJP. Sitaram Yechury continues to campaign in the coming days in two constituencies of  Shimla city. This includes a noontime meeting at government offices centre, SDA complex.   

CPIM Dharna against sexual violence on women

 

Several hundred activists of the Delhi state committee of CPI (M) held a protest dharna on 30th October at Jantar Mantar against the rising cases of sexual violence against the women and children throughout the country.

The dharna was addressed by Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPI (M), P.M.S. Grewal, Secretary, Delhi State Committee of CPI (M) and other leaders including Asha Sharma, Nathu Prasad, Jagdish Chand, Sonia Verma (all Party State Committee members), Maimoona Mollah (JMS), Sunand (SFI), Kamala (CITU) and G. Mamatha (People’s Democracy). Vijender Sharma, State Secretariat member of the CPI (M), presided.

Prakash Karat pointed to the big increase in the cases of rapes and sexual violence against women throughout the country in the recent past. Children and young women have been the biggest victims. Governments throughout the country have not only failed to tackle these cases; but in many instances the administration, police and state machinery actually ensure that the victim is not even able to lodge a complaint. There is thus an urgent need of an effective law against sexual harassment. However successive central governments have failed to enact such a legislation. The CPI (M) will continue to mount pressure on the UPA government to ensure that such a bill is enacted in the winter session of the parliament.

Prakash Karat also stressed that laws alone will not be enough to curb violence against women. Simultaneously there is an urgent need to combat the retrograde and anti-women values that dominate society.

Various speakers also pointed the need to take this issue right to the level of mohallas, and ensure effective resistance to these regressive acts of violence.

Later a memorandum concerning increased violence against women was submitted to the Union Minister of Home Affairs. 

 

Similar  dharnas and protest meetings were held across the country against the rise in sexual violence on the women.

CPI(M) to observe the Birth Centenary of Samar Mukherjee

The CPI(M) West Bengal state committee has decided to observe the 100th birthday of the centenarian leader Samar Mukherjee. The General Secretary of the party Prakash Karat and state leaders of Left Front will also be present in that occasion. While addressing the press the Left Front Chairman and Secretary CPI(M) state committee Biman Basu announced the programme and also invited left leaderships to attend the programme.

Basu while explaining the decision to observe the birth centenary of Samar Mukherjee stated that Samar Mukherjee has dedicated his life to the party. It is indeed a rare fact that a party leader is becoming a centenarian in his life and that has influenced us taking the decision to observe his 100th birthday this year. The whole programme will be organized at the 9, Dilkhusa Street commune where the legend leader resides.

While sketching the life of Samar Mukherjee, Biman Basu stated that in earlier days of freedom struggle he participated actively in freedom struggle and became member of Pradesh Congress Committee during. Later being attracted to the Communist Ideologies he became a member of Communist Party in 1940. Since then he remained Polit Bureau member of the party, Chairman, Central Control Commission, party leader in the Parliament, and General Secretary CITU etc. He still remains an invitee member to the party Central Committee.

About the reason behind why party except for Kakababu (Mujaffar Ahmed) does not observe birthday of any leadership, Biman Basu explained that it was an exceptional situation the party was facing in 1963 when party existed in three separate wings. Some of the leaderships were in custody, some in underground, and a few were working openly. It was very difficult to organize programmes overtly to propagate ideological issues. So the leaderships in jail and underground have unanimously decided to observe the birthday of Kakababu as a weapon to propagate the political ideological issues.

AIKS statement on the Rangarajan Committee on Sugar Decontrol

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) strongly condemns the Rangarajan Committee recommendation for total decontrol of the sugar industry. This move pushed by the Congress-led UPA Government will only promote the interests of the profit seeking Corporate Sugar Mills at the expense of the farmers, consumers and the Cooperative sector. The Government is pushing for decontrol of sugar to aid the sugar lobby and big corporates who also are defaulters in terms of huge arrears that need to be paid to Cane Growers. This move is at the behest of the sugar lobby which has been demanding removal of controls and allowing for unbridled profiteering. Opinion of AIKS on the major issues raised by the Committee is given below:

On Removal Of State Administered Price: 

AIKS rejects the Committee call for ending the State Administered Price (SAP) of sugarcane set by the States in favour of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) set by the Centre as the minimum. This is against the principles of federalism guiding Centre-State relations as well as against the spirit of the Apex Court judgment in 2004 reinforcing the State Governments’ right to announce SAP. The right of the State in fixing prices must be safeguarded. It is notable that the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price’ used by the Central Government is a deceptive term and is far below the cost of cultivation in all States. In the name of “Rationalisation of Sugar Cane Pricing” the Committee is pitching for the discredited FRP which is neither “Fair” nor “Remunerative”.  This move is against the interest of the Cane Growers. 

On Removal of Levy Sugar Obligation: 

AIKS rejects its recommendation that the levy sugar obligation and administrative control on non-levy sugar must be immediately ended. Under this obligation mills are required to sell 10 per cent of their production to the Government at below market price for the poor under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The Committee also suggests that the States that wanted to provide sugar under the TPDS might procure from the open market through competitive bidding, and then fix an issue price. It also has asked the Government to “rationalize” the current issue price for TPDS sugar. The Food Ministry is reported to have already proposed to double the issue price to around Rs. 23/Kg. This move is going to have a cascading effect on the prices of sugar for the TPDS beneficiaries and States will end up coughing out huge resources for buying sugar from the open market for TPDS supply. The price of sugar in the open market will also sky rocket. In effect the move is against the TPDS and the poor. It has to be noted that earlier the levy sugar obligation was 65 percent and 35 percent alone was for the open market. This had been gradually altered to 10 percent levy sugar and 90 percent for open market. By doing away with the obligation of even 10 percent levy sugar the Government intends to allow a free hand to Private players to fix prices.

On Removal Of The Cane Reservation Area: 

The Committee has suggested the removal of the concept of a Reservation Area of a minimum distance of 15 km between any two sugar mills. As of now it is obligatory that a mill buys cane from growers within the reservation area. Instead the Committee suggests that mills must enter into contracts with farmers and the Cane Reservation Area and bonding must be phased out. This move will only promote monopolies of big corporate sugar mills and destroy the Cooperative sector. Companies will no longer be bound by any agreement on Government fixed prices. It will open the way for loot by the sugar lobby and Cane Growers will be at the mercy of Private players.

On Tagging Order: 

The Committee recommends that the mills must share 70 per cent of the value of sugar and each by-product, including bagasse, molasses and press-mud as cane dues payable to farmers for supplies. The payment to farmers will be made in two steps: the first, the minimum FRP set by the Centre; and the second, subsequent to the publication of half-yearly ex-mill prices. The Tagging Order earlier was 80 percent of the value of sugar and each by-products and the Committee has only reduced it further to the detriment of the Cane-Growers. The Mills have also defaulted on paying this amount. They have arbitrarily fixed the recovery rate often much below the actual and reports of fraudulent weighing of produce are rampant. The Sugar Mills’ word is taken as final on both recovery and weighing and there is no check on them. Cane Growers never really have benefited from value of by-products. There is no mechanism in place to ensure that the Cane Growers get any share of the value of by-products. In such a context to give a free unregulated role to the Sugar Millers will only lead to their strangle-hold over the market.

On Export and Import Policy: 

The Committee in the name of a stable trade policy calls for outright ban or doing away with quantitative restrictions once and for all. It calls for liberalisation of sugar trade over a two to three year period in a calibrated and phased manner. It suggests a moderate duty on imports and exports and suggests that Export and import policy should not be guided by domestic availability. It argues for promoting exports by arguing that even though India contributes 17 per cent to the global sugar output, its share in exports is only four per cent. It also keeps the doors open for imports from outside as well as the possibility of dumping of sugar by calling for an outright ban on quantitative restrictions. We have seen the adverse impact of withdrawal of quantitative restrictions and import duties as well as linking of prices to the volatile world market prices in the case of other commercial crops. While farmers bear the brunt of falling global prices, the Corporate Mills earn huge profits when global prices rise without transferring any benefit to farmers. Like in the case of decontrol of Seed industry, Fertiliser industry, Pesticide industry and Petroleum industry, the move will only lead to increased prices for the consumers and unending profits for the Companies. 

AIKS calls upon the State Units to rise up in protest against this move and resist this retrograde move tooth and nail. AIKS demands that the Government reject these recommendations and a Comprehensive Sugarcane Policy be evolved through consultation with the Cane Growers and Peasant Organisations. 

SFI Sweeps Hyderabad Central University Polls

Students Federation of India swept the polls in the election to students union of Hyderabad Central University. SFI bagged all major executive posts in the Union including President, Vice President, General Secretary Joint Secretary and GS CASH with a clear majority defeating its major opponent ABVP and opponents like NSUI, Telangana Students Association etc.

SFI candidates, Amjad Basha(President) , Vasista Reddy (Vice President), Arvind Kumar (General Secretary) and Vani Prashamsa (Joint Secretary),Uma Bharathi (Gender Sensitivity Committee Against Sexual Harassment,GS CASH) registered their victory by securing a total of 1084, 1082, 1030, 1117 respectively `with a clear margin of 21, 220, 37, 120, 25 votes.

NSUI and Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) alliance came third and Telangana Front stood fourth in these polls, results of which were declared just now.

SFI approached the elections with a clear cut manifesto upholding its uncompromising stand against the privatisation and commercialization of education and its unparalled zeal to preserve  the secular fabric of the campus. Reacting to the victory, SFI unit committee stated that the mandate proves a strong message against the communal politics of ABVP and the neo-liberal education policies followed by the UPA government.
 
During the last two years SFI contested  Students Union polls in alliance with ASA. However this year SFI went alone on the basis of the struggles it waged against the unjust policies of university administration in matters related to increase in hostel fees and the scrapping of BBL fellowships for the students which it could successfully resist through its pertinent role in the Students Union. SFI HCU unit committee thanked the student community for the support.

Both SFI and DYFI state committee congratulated newly elected SFI representatives in the students union.

CPIM Releases Poll Manifesto for Himachal elections

Communist Party of India- Marxist on Saturday offered a third alternative to the people of Himachal through its election manifesto for the coming assembly election, that was released by the senior party leaders at Shimla. CPIM recommended the need for a peoples’ alternative against the anti-people and neo liberal policies being pursued by both the BJP and Congress while announcing its political agenda before the polls.

State Secretariat members Dr Onkar Shad, Dr Kuldeep Tanwar and Tikender Panwar in a joint press conference announced that for a first time after 1990 a joint front comprising of CPI-M, CPI and Himachal Lokhit Party, is fighting on all 68 seats of the State assembly. The party will contest 15 seats.

It is a result of our persistent struggle against the mainstream parties who were chasing the pro-rich, pro-corporate neo liberal agenda from past two decades, that we have come in a position to challenge them today”, said the leaders.

 

Exposing the dismal financial condition of the hill State, the party demanded a special status to the hill State again which was lost during the 9^th Finance Commission recommendations. The tough social and geographical conditions in the State should be reconsidered and it should be provided an extra grant of Rs 1000 crore for protecting its forests and environment, every year. The party also demanded 10 percent royalty on every per unit of electricity it is producing in the State and an increase in the 12 percent distress cost it is getting so far. The State should also be allowed to charge a levy on cement and other industries and the industrial package snatched by the Congress led UPA-II government should also be restored for the industrially backward hill State.

The CPI-M has promised a daily wage of Rs 300 to the workers and 70 percent reservation to the people of Himachal in all jobs generated in the state. With an emphasis on self employment it has assured an unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 per month to all the jobless people in the State, if voted to power. It has insisted for more subsidies to the farmers in distress and an emphasis and special incentives for the organic farming in the State. A 90 percent subsidy has been demanded for the anti hail nets to save the produce of farmers.

The left leaders have suggested a strict implementation of the recommendations of the regulatory authority that has been made to check the functioning of private universities and other educational institutions that have mushroomed up in a large number in the State. The outsourcing in health services should be immediately stopped and more medical staff should be sent to the remote and tribal areas of the State. More food stuff should be given in the PDS to the poor and marginal people of the State, said the CPI-M.

The infrastructural facilities should be improved and roads that are life lines in hills should be given a top priority. The party has promised fast track courts for deciding the corruption cases, vigorously fighting the FDI in retail, more powers to the urban and rural local bodies, forest and timber rights and eradication of wild animal menace from the State. (Courtesy : Hill post)

Neoliberal Agenda is Causing Social Disarray : Prakash Karat

Plenty of neo-liberal projects are not causing political and economical disorders only; they are resulting in enormous chaos and massive attack on the democratic space inspiring social disarray, said Prakash Karat, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on the occasion of the 93rd foundation day of the party. The Kolkata District Committee of the party had organised a discussion program at the Pramod Dasgupta Bhavan in Kolkata. He said that attacks on the female citizens are on all time high throughout India; it is not the distress of law and order only, it has its roots deep beneath the social frenzy caused by the neo-liberal installation. Commodity logic of open market economy is showing its dual destructive impact by seizing popular democratic rights and on the other hand it is re-aspiring medieval conservatism.

CPI(M) would set forth for organizing Protest Day all over the country on 30th of October 2012 on the issue of growing number of crime and attacks on women demanding social security for them. Karat uttering on this program said, wherever be the democratic space of the people get breached by the neo-liberal installations, communist party would be there to protest and demand for roll-back of anti-people projects and insist on baring the hands of neo-liberalism.

Karat reminded the party members that communists are sworn to intensify the continuous struggle against imperialism and now it is their responsibility to defend independence and sovereignty of this country from the fraudulent attacks of finance capital. The Left Front Government was the prime apparatus of the communists to ban crime against female citizens in this state for a long time. But now with the TMC Government in power, female citizens are experiencing unprecedented attack. The first female CM of the state astonished us all by not taking any stern stapes to curb those crime rather she is all busy with cover up acts that tends to defend the miscreants.

Commenting on allowing FDI in Retail trade in India he said that the Government has done serious mistake by bypassing the parliament. He said that this sort of serious issues must have to be discussed in the parliament and then decided. Government must call upon for ballots in parliament on this issue to check what the mass representatives of that house are thinking. He discussed all the cons of this policy and how it is going to affect the livelihood of the Indians. He also raised the issue of epidemic of corruption by discussing coal block scam and discrepancy surfaced on Robert Bhadra’s land and many other, he opined that in every sort of scams and discrepancies the collaborations of ministers and big corporate and bureaucrats. Someone cannot turn to be corrupted overnight; it is the effect of intensification of capital as a whole. The state is intervening to serve for the growth of profit for the bourgeoisie. Where corporations like Wal-Marts are in the scene to occupy the market, how could one expect national sovereignty and independence to dwell in this society?

The CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee’s Secretary Biman Basu and Polit Bureau member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were also present at this program.

CPI(M) demands formation of mineral development corporation in Goa

 

Hundreds of CPI-M workers converged at the Azad Maidan in Panaji capital city of Goa after winding through the main streets of the city on Wednesday morning demanding immediate resumption of legal mining and compensation to the people affected directly or indirectly due to ban on mining operations in the state. They also demanded formation of Goa Mineral Development Corporation. 

 

CPIM Central Committee member and CITU All India President Com Tapan Sen charged political parties for alleged mining irregularities in the state as well as in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Com.  Sen stated that private mining firms and government officials are responsible for the present mining industry crisis and as such they should be brought to book and punished accordingly for the mining scam.

He demanded immediate resumption of legal mining or some kind of assistance to those who are directly or indirectly affected by halting of mining operations. "The initiative should come from the central government as well as from state government to compensate these stakeholders of mining industry," he stated. He further said that nearly one lakh workers have been affected due to ban on mining and if there are four members in a family then the equation comes to nearly four lakh people and added that this is a very big number for a small state like Goa. He said that mine owners are now shying away from their responsibility and are well aware that there is no demand for iron ore either in European or Chinese markets so they are silent and "once the demand goes up then slowly they will reopen and export the ore for better price." "This is not the case of Goa alone similar situation is prevailing throughout the nation wherever there are mines and ore is being expor ted," he stated. He said that if Goan ore extraction is 67 million tonnes per year the mines will be exhausted or closed for want of ore. He said it should be streamlined through formation of Goa Mineral Development Corporation.

CPI-M Goa State Secretary Com Thalmann Pereira cautioned that if legal mining was not resumed with immediate effect they would make ‘life miserable’ for the concerned ministers and MLAs. Com. Jatin Naik and Com. Sugandhi Francis vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana, also spoke.

AIDWA letter to National Commission for women against Police lathicharge in Haryana

Women’s organizations have written to the NCW demanding action against the Haryana police who lathi charged a peaceful demonstration in Rohtak on Oct 15th 2012. The rallyists were demanding that justice be done to rape victims in Haryana. The male police wielded batons mercilessly against the women, including young girls, within a short distance of the DC office. Inst ead of assisting the victims of rape to access justice, the police have actually filed cases against Brinda Karat, Jagmati Sangwan, and many other activists who were in the rally! Women’s organizations have severely condemned the illegal assault on women by male police, and are demanding action against those responsible for it. 

With thanks,
Sudha Sundararaman
(General Secretary, AIDWA)

copy of the memorandum

 To
The Chairperson,
National Commission for Women,
New Delhi.

Subject: Demanding enquiry into illegal lathi charge on women’s rally by male police in Rohtak, Haryana, and action against the police and authorities responsible for it.

Dear Ms. Mamta ji,
We wish to bring to your attention the inhuman and barbaric lathi charge that was unleashed against unarmed women by male police in Rohtak, Haryana, on October 15th 2012. 

The rally was being held to demand justice for victims of rape in Haryana. After a mass meeting, the participants were proceeding in a peaceful manner to submit their memorandum containing the demands charter to the Chief Minister. Many leaders of the women’s movement were present in the march, including- Ms. Brinda Karat (ex MP), Ms. Jyotsna Chatterjee (JWP), Ms. Kavita Srivastav, (PUCL) Ms, Shabnam Hashmi  (ANHAD), Ms. Suneeta Dhar( Jagori), Ms. Gargi Chakravarti ( NFIW), Ms. Leila Passah, (YWCA), Ms. Sudha Sundararaman (AIDWA) Ms. Ranjana Kumari, (CSR) Ms. Jagmati Sangwan, (AIDWA), etc. Families of the rape victims were participating in the earnest hope that the Haryana administration would come forward to listen to their plight, provide relief, and ensure that the perpetrators would be severely punished. Young girls and women from the most marginalized sections of society came along to raise their  voice against the spate of rapes, especially against dalits and minors. 

Instead of facilitating this process, so that the victim’s families could get the support of the state, the rally was attacked by the lathi wielding policemen when they tried to approach the DC’s office. The incident has been captured by the media, and has been widely aired by a number of channels. Many women have suffered injuries, 15 women have been hospitalized in Rohtak alone.

We call on the NCW to take note of the illegal action by the Haryana police, and ask the State Govt to take severe action against those policemen who were carrying out the lathicharge and those who authorized them to do so. Violations of such a serious nature by authorities sworn to uphold law and order must not go unpunished.

AIDWA protest against atrocities against women in Haryana

Thousands of women, led by senior leaders of AIDWA including CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, staged a protest march at Rohtak in Haryana on Monday against the failure of the State government to halt the continuing violence and rape of Dalit women and minors and also the reckless statements made by senior political leaders on issues related to women.

Taking serious exception to the unconstitutional solution by Khap panchayats to deal with rapes, the activists said silence of the government on Khap panchayats was a matter of serious concern. The panchayats had said lowering of the marriage age could help in containing rapes.

Families of victims, students and rural women from various districts gathered at the HUDA Complex where there was a public meeting. They then took out the march to meet District Collector. A statement on behalf of the organisations said they were not allowed to meet the Collector and police lathi-charged the protesters causing injuries to various protestors.

At the public meeting, Ms. Karat condemned the Hooda government for failing to first provide security to women and the police and administration for refusing to lodge FIRs or arrest the accused.

Slams Khaps

“She also took on the Khaps and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala and wondered how they could even have suggested a solution of decreasing the age of marriage, which is against the law. Is legitimising rape within marriage a solution she asked? She also said that education and freedom from fear was the right of every girl and we all demand that women’s rights are not curtailed any more,” the statement said.

Sudha Sundararaman of AIDWA pledged that till justice was delivered to the victims and safety ensured for women they would not give up the struggle. Jagmati Sangwan, vice president of AIDWA, who has been spearheading the struggle in the State, placed a resolution against violence on women and it was passed unanimously.

The police registered a case under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332, 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 427 (mischief), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly) against protests . The police FIR named 12 persons including Karat, AIDWA activists Jagmati Sangwan, Iti Chaudhary, Dimpal, Shahnawaj, Prem Rani and male activists Satvir Singh, Ramesh Laura, Inderjit Singh, Preet Singh, Naresh and Ramniwas as accused besides a number of unidentified accused. 

CPIM CC Press Communiqué

 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from October 12 to 14, 2012. It has issued the following statement:

 

Onslaught on People’s Interests

 

The UPA government has undertaken a series of measures which are meant to appease foreign finance capital and big business on the one hand and to squeeze the people and burden them with steps to increase price rise and cut subsidies on the other.

 

The decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the disinvestment in profitable public sector enterprises and the efforts to increase FDI in the insurance sector and privatize pension funds are all meant to profit foreign capital and big corporates.

 

The sharp hike in diesel by Rs. 5 per litre has stoked inflation and in such a situation the limitation in subsidized gas cylinders is a serious attack on the budgets of ordinary families.

 

The Manmohan Singh government has increased the price of subsidized gas cylinders by Rs. 11.40 and the price of urea by Rs. 50 per tonne in recent days. These callous measures will only further increase the burdens on the people. The UPA government is not  bothered with the food inflation rate which has crossed 10 per cent.

 

The Central Committee noted the growing political isolation of the UPA government. The withdrawal of the TMC from the government, even the partners of the UPA government differing with the anti-people measures adopted – all go to show that the Manmohan Singh government has no mandate to push through such reforms. The September 20 all India protest and hartal showed the discontent and fighting mood of the people. The Central Committee resolved to intensify the movements and struggles in defence of people’s livelihood and to mobilize the people against high level corruption.

 

Intensified Struggles

 

The Central Committee endorsed the decision of the Left parties to conduct conventions against FDI in multi-brand retail in state capitals and major cities in the month of November. The CPI(M) will resolutely oppose the opening of foreign supermarkets and will build up a broadbased movement to stop Walmart and other foreign supermarket chains entering India.

 

The Central Committee also decided to intensify the movement for food security and against price rise. From the second half of November and the whole month of December, Party units at all levels will take up the task of enlisting people who have no BPL cards and ensuring that they get the cards, conduct struggles for adequate supply of foodgrains through the PDS and campaign for an effective food security law. Along with this, the Party will conduct the struggle against the limitation in gas cylinders and the rise in fertilizer prices for farmers, increase in electricity rates etc.

 

Massive Corruption

 

The recent period has seen the UPA government and the Congress leadership being engulfed in corruption scandals one after the other. There is no sector in which corruption and loot of resources is not going on.

 

Coal Block Scandal

 

The Central Committee reiterated that a high level enquiry should be conducted on the allocation of captive coal blocks. The largescale misuse and corrupt practices which have been exposed by the CAG report has to be comprehensively enquired into. Since the Prime Minister was looking after this ministry, the role of the PMO should also be probed. Those found responsible for the irregularities and malpractices should be prosecuted; allocations made to the private companies should be cancelled and steps taken to recover the loss of revenue.

 

Other Cases

 

The CPI(M) demands that nothing should be done to undermine the nationalized coal industry. The captive coal mining route should not be used as a backdoor method of privatisation. Instead of competitive bidding for captive coal blocks, the alternate route should be that such allocations for private steel and power producers should be made through the nodal agency of Coal India Ltd and the mining should be undertaken by the CIL and its subsidiaries and coal supplied to the private power and steel producers through fuel supply agreements.

 

The Central Committee demanded that action be taken on the basis of the CAG reports on the Sasan ultra mega power project and the Delhi International Airport Ltd. In both cases windfall profits have been made by illegal allotments and benefits.

 

The Central Committee demanded that enquiry should be conducted by the relevant authorities into the business dealings of Robert Vadra. His companies and its links with the giant real estate company DLF and the nexus with the Haryana government should be probed and action taken if there is any wrongdoing.

 

Situation in Assam

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the ethnic clashes which took place in the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District areas. Even two and a half months after the clashes nearly two lakh people are living in relief camps, the bulk of them Muslims. All steps should be taken to see that people can return to their homes and lands and the state should ensure their safety and security. The Central Committee condemned the efforts of certain extremist forces to communalise the whole situation in Assam.

 

The Central Committee reiterated that the right of people belonging to different states and regions to go for work and residence in other parts of the country must be protected.  Regional chauvinism and divisive forces who seek to disrupt the unity of the people should be firmly combated.

 

 

Increase in Crimes against Women

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern of the increase in the crimes against women which according to the NCRB figures for 2011 is as high as 2.28 lakh registered cases. Rape is the fastest growing crime in India and shockingly, sexual assaults on children under the age of 14 were as high as 10 per cent of the 24,000 cases registered in 2011. The dismal record of convictions shows that 75 per cent of the rape accused walk free, encouraging criminals to commit this heinous crime. The recent incidents in Haryana and West Bengal where those in power have sought to brush aside the increasing sexual assault cases as “a conspiracy against the Government” add insult to injury, demean rape victims and are condemnable.

 

In protest against increasing cases of sexual assault and crimes against women the CPI(M) will observe a day of national protest on October 30. The Party will campaign to mobilize public opinion against the attacks on women and young girls. The Party will demand the passage of the Bill pending with the Government against Sexual Assault; Accountability procedures and punishment to police officials guilty of delaying filing of FIR, medical examination; ensuring time-bound framework for rape cases through Fast Track Courts.

 

Prosecution of Minority Youth

 

The Central Committee deplored the continuing harassment and targeting of Muslim youth who are being arrested in cases connected with terrorism charges. Many instances have occurred of arrest of innocent youth and their being in jail for long period and finally being acquitted by the courts. The State investigative and intelligence agencies have displayed a bias in targeting Muslim youth. Steps have to be taken to step such biased investigations and procedures. The Central Committee decided to campaign for the protection of the democratic rights and civil liberties of the minority community in all such cases.

 

Assembly Elections

 

The Central Committee discussed the Party’s participation in the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assembly elections. It approved the decision on the seats to be contested in these two states.

 

Support to Joint Trade Union Call

 

The Central Committee supported the call of the Central trade unions for the movement against the anti-working class policies of the government and for the protection of the rights of workers. The Central trade unions have given a call for a two-day strike on February 20-21, 2013. The Central Committee directed all its Party units to work for the success of the strike and to campaign for the success of the protest action among the working class and mobilize other sections of the working people to join the strike call. 

CPIM CC Resolution on Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan’s Stand on Kudankulam Nuclear Plant

The Central Committee reiterates the approach of the Party on the use of nuclear power for civilian purposes. The Political Resolution adopted by the 20^th Congress of the Party has opposed the setting up of  nuclear parks with imported nuclear reactors which are a consequence of the Indo-US nuclear deal. These are not viable on technical and economic grounds and also from the point of view of safety.

 

In the case of the Kudankulam reactors, the resolution has made an exception as the agreement for these reactors were signed two decades before the Indo-US nuclear deal, at a time when the US and other western countries had imposed sanctions on India. Since then, two reactors from Russia have already  been constructed at considerable cost and they are at the final stage before commissioning. However, the resolution has stressed that given the local people’s apprehensions about their safety and livelihood after the Fukushima accident in Japan, these concerns should be met. There should be an independent safety audit and necessary safety measures must be put in place before the reactors are commissioned.

 

Such an independent safety review has not been conducted. In the meantime, the people protesting at Kudankulam have been subjected to police repression and a large number of cases have been foisted against them. The Party has condemned the repression and demanded that the cases of sedition and other charges be withdrawn.

 

Com. V.S. Achuthanandan has taken a position contrary to this stand. He has also criticized the Party’s position on Kudankulam as explained by the General Secretary. The Central Committee rejects his views. It censures him for his refusal to abide by the stand which was worked out at the Party Congress. The Central Committee directs Com. V.S. Achuthanandan to adopt the stand taken by the Party.

CPIM observes martys day in Tripura

CPIM Tripura State Committee on Friday observed the 25th Martyrs day to commemorate the deaths of 13 people, including 11 party cadre, who were brutally murdered during the Congress-led regime 25 years ago. Eleven CPI-M cadres and two security personnel were butchered in Birchandra Manu village in 1988 when the Congress-led government ruled the state. A series of programmes has been planned by the CPI-M to mark the day. People assembled in large numbers Friday at Birchandra Manu, about 85 km from here, where a 50-foot memorial was built earlier in honour of those killed.

CPI-M politburo member and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, addressed the gathering.

With assembly elections due in Tripura in February next year, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today alleged that opposition parties were conspiring to incite communal tension between tribals and non-tribals and to use insurgents to snatch power through the back door. 

Com Manik Sarkar called for the installation of the seventh Left Front government in the state to give a fitting reply to the Congress which he said was trying to come back to power through the back door by inciting communal tension.  "Formation of the seventh Left Front government is very significant because the entire country is looking at Tripura how it survives after the debacle of the Left in Kerala and West Bengal," the chief minister said.

"Our victory will give a new orientation to the Left movements in the country, Sarkar, a CPI(M) politburo member said. Referring to killing of 13 people including 11 party activists including an Executive member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council on this day in 1966, allegedly by the Congress, the chief minister said it was a barbaric incident. "It was barbaric, but not exceptional because Congress and reactionary forces have tried to throttle the Communist movement by using barbaric ways," the chief minister said at Birchandra Manu, 

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Bijon Dhar alleged that during the Congress-led coalition's regime (February 1988-April 1993), total 301 CPI-M leaders and workers were murdered across the state. "Ahead of the assembly elections, we want to expose the killings and anti-people policies of the Congress before the people, especially the new generation," he said.

Prakash Karat Visits Relief Camps in Assam

 CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat visited relief camps in the violence hit districts of Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon on October 5 and also inaugurated distribution of relief materials to the affected people. It may be noted that the CPI (M) has given a call for collection of relief materials and funds for the displaced people of Assam who are residing in the relief camps till today. The ethnic violence that took place in the month of July had rendered more than five lakhs people  homeless in the BTAD areas. According to the government sources, nearly two lakh people are still in the relief camps leading a deplorable life. Of these, 1.5 lakh people still displaced are Muslims.

One of the thickly populated relief camps is the Lakhipur relief camp where 392 Muslim families are taking shelter without having basic amenities. Out of them, 112 families have lost their houses. Visiting this camp, Prakash Karat interacted with the people and said that the CPI(M) is raising the demand that the state government and the BTAD administration must take all measures so that people can go back to their homes at the earliest. Explaining the conditions of the people of the camp Ahmed Ali, secretary of Lakhipur relief camp said that the people are residing in the camp without any basic amenities. There is no sanitation, no drinking water and the students are out of schools for all this period. The conditions of women are even worse. The government is providing rice, dal and salt. The question of nutrition is completely neglected. There is no firewood to cook. There is no electricity and the government is providing only two candles in three weeks.

The relief camp speaks volumes about its own condition. Prakash Karat expressed great concern at the utter negligence on the part of the government towards the people in the relief camps. He personally visited each and every hut made of plastic sheets and was astonished to see how people can be left to live in such condition by the Congress government in the state. Prakash Karat also inaugurated the distribution of relief materials to the people. He said that the CPI(M) is collecting funds to provide some relief to the affected people. He also said that the West Bengal committee of the Party is taking special steps in so far as collection of funds for relief work is concerned.

Earlier he visited Kakrikhola M.E. School relief camp in Kokrajhar district. In this camp, 200 Bodo families are taking shelter. The MLA of the constituency Pramila Rani Brahma welcomed the initiative of the CPI(M). Prakash Karat stressed that it is the urgent need of the hour that people go to their respective homes. All other issues can be addressed after peace and normalcy returned to the state. CPI(M) Assam state secretary Uddhab Barman, CPI(M) leader Hemen Das and other leaders of the districts accompanied Karat.

After visiting the relief camps, Prakash Karat addressed a public meeting at Bijni. The meeting was presided over by veteran leader Dr Mahodar Pathak. Addressing the gathering, Prakash Karat said that the incidents in the BTAD and its adjoining districts have repercussions throughout the country. The exodus of people of the North-East from the Southern part of the country is a clear manifestation of this. This affects the working people the most. We must identify the forces of division and defeat their conspiracies. Karat stressed that all the people in the relief camps must be allowed to go back to their homes and villages. The minority community should not be targetted as demanded by the communal forces. The meeting was also addressed by state secretariat members Hemen Das and state secretary Uddhab Barman. They called upon the people of the state to fight all conspiracies to divide people on communal lines. They also criticised the state government for its utter failure in safeguarding the lives and properties of the people of the state.

CPI(M) protest rallies in Haryana against atrocities on women

CPI(M) workers held protest rallies and demonstrations across Haryana on Friday to protest against the rising number of cases of sexual assault on women and minor girls and increasing "lawlessness" in the state. Angry demonstrations were held at all district centres denouncing the alarming situation of "unabated cases of rapes" especially those of the weaker sections and Dalits.

Panchkula district unit of the party took out a demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the Haryana Governor, urging him to ask state government to take effective action to restore sense of security in the state.Party state secretary Inderjit Singh claimed that protest rallies were organised in all districts in which large number have taken part including women.

He said that CPI(M) has also given full support to a women rally planned for 15 October at Rohtak. This state level rally will be addressed by Com. Brinda Karat.

SFI sweeps polls in Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi Universities

Victory rally taken by comrades of Government Women's college Trivandrum

The Students Federation of India once again proved that it is the dominant force in college campuses of the University of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University. After these elections SFI emerged as the biggest students organisation in the state that won all the University Unions viz, Kannur, Calicut, Sanskrit, Kerala and MG along with the Poly Techinic Union and most of the school parliaments.

In University of Kerala SFI won college union elections in 38 of the 46 colleges where elections were held on Friday. Out of the 55 councillors 46 are SFI comrades. SFI, candidates were elected unopposed to all posts in 12 colleges affiliated to the varsity which includes University College, Government Arts College, Govt Fine Arts College,Govt College Karyavattom, IHRD College Parassala,  Govt. Music College, Govt Sanskrit college. In 16 colleges in Thiruvananthapuram district, the SFI bagged all seats that were contested. Of the 82 seats of university union councillor, the SFI cornered 65. The organisation recaptured the union in various colleges including the Government College for Women Thiruvananthapuram, SN College Punalur, KNM College Kanjiramkulam and the Government College Varkala. 

Other colleges in Trivandrum were SFI made impressive victory includes Mar Ivanios College, Iqbal College Peringamala, Govt College Nedumangad,

In Mahatma Gandhi University Students Federation of India has taken control of the students’ union in 73 out of the 90 colleges that went to polls on Friday. The SFI also wrested control over the University Union by winning 36 councillors out of the 46 posts.

The elections were conducted on the basis of the recommendations of J.M. Lyngdoh Committee Report on Campus Politics. While presidential model of elections, direct election of the college union office bearers, was followed by 18 colleges, other colleges adopted the parliamentary model where the office-bearers were elected indirectly by class representatives. Interestingly, two colleges, St. Berchmans’ College, Changanassery, and St. Thomas College, Pala, which took a strong stance against campus politics, saw the SFI take over their students’ union. In CMS College, Kottayam, the SFI made a comeback.

Earlier SFI won in Kannur University, where it bagged 34 out of the 40 college Unions. Of that too in 20 colleges all the posts were elected unopposed. Out of the 47 Councillors in the Kannur university 40 are won by SFI. In Calicut University, SFI won 58 out of the 87 colleges. 76 out of the 108 Councillors are from SFI. In Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University all the 8 colleges SFI made impressive victory. In that too 4 college unions were won unopposed. In the election to the Polytechnic unions SFI won 45 out of the 55 polytechnics in the state.

CPIM conducts agitation in Kerala for raising the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders

The Area committees of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) organised  marchs to the Civil Supplies offices and various central government offices in Kerala on Wednesday to protest against the Centre’s decision to put a cap on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders.The activists demanded that the cap on subsidised LPG should be raised from six to 12 cylinders.

The CPI(M) Kerala state committee has called for a mass agitation against the decision to restrict the supply of LPG cylinders and to slash subsidy which will make cooking gas dearer. It also demanded immediate withdrawal of the Union government decision to restrict LPG to six cylinders for apartment complexes. Its worst casualty would be the lakhs of people living in flats. CPIM called there should be an agitation till each family was assured of 12 LPG cylinders a year.

CPIM blamed oil companies for the recent changes in government policy on the supply of cooking gas and alleged that the companies effected the changes with an eye on profit. The steep price increase had caused cooking gas scarcity and acute shortage of LPG cylinders. Many found it difficult to cook at home.

CPIM Haryana to conduct a week long campaign against worsening law and order situation

CPI(M) Haryana State secretariat has given a call to all its units to conduct a week long campaign`on the issue of worsening law and situation. In a pess note issued today party has expressed deep anguish over alarming rise in serious crimes all over the state. Sexual crime against women has assumed serious proportions causing grave insecurity for women in general and those belonging to socially weaker sections in particular.

Party will organise protest actions, village and mohalla level meetings from 6 to 13 October against callous attitude of law enforcing agencies and ruling party leaders in the matter of ensuring security to common people through effective curbs on crime.Party will also seek community efforts in isolating the criminal elements and demand strict action for offences like gang rape.

CPI(M) has reiterated its criticism of the distorted and bankrupt nature of neo-liberal development path resulting not only into economic disparities and joblessness but also giving rise to organised crime, marginalisation of disadvantaged sections, caste hostilities and their social oppression. Party has also demanded the Chief Minister to issue a public statement over unabated spate of crime incidence against women all over the state.

CPIM Haryana State Committee Condemn the gruesome gangrapes in Haryana

Haryana state committee of CPI(M) has expressed grave concern over rising graph of crime posing a serious threat to security of common people in general and that of the women in particular. In a press note issued today party state secretary Inderjit Singh has alleged while the state has gone into the grip of organized crime state government continues to be totally insensitive to the situation.

Citing the cases of Dabra in Hisar,Piloo Khera in Jind and Gohana in Sonepat as most disturbing instances of gang rape he has said that women in general and dalit women in particular have become soft targets of criminal elements.

The committee also expressed astonishment at Haryana Chief Minister’s statement that spurts in crime figures were due to increase in registration of crime by the police. Party has also condemned the mention of increasing investment as a proof of better law and order situation by the CM at Chandigarh on Friday.

Party has decided to launch a mass campaign against deteriorating law and order situation throughout the state soon with other concerned organizations and citizens.

CPI(M) to contest 16 seats in Himachal assembly elections

The Communist Part of India (Marxists) have announced candidates who would be contesting in 16 seats for the next month's assembly election in Himachal Pradesh.

The party will support the Himachal Lokhit Party and the CPI in remaining 52 seats, a CPI-M release said in Shimla on Tuesday.

CPI-M state secretary Rakesh Singha, Deputy Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation Tikender Panwar and senior party leader Kuldeep Tanwar were among those who would contest the election.State CPI(M) secretary Rakesh Singha would be contesting the election from Theog,. Another prominent CPI(M) leader, Kuldeep Singh Tanwar would be contesting the seat from Kasumpati. 

Kushal Bhardwaj — Joginder Nagar

Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar - Kasumpti

Paras Ram - Balh Constituency

Tikender Singh Panwar -Shimla (Urban)

Rakesh Singha - Theog

Gurnam Singh -- Una

Other candidates nominated by the party are: -

1. Sudesh Kumari, ——– Bhattiyat
2. Sat Pal Maan, —— Renuka
3. Prem Gauttam —– Lahaul Spiti
4. Ram Krishan Sharma —- Arki
5. Jagdish Kumar Thakur —— Seraj
6. Jagdish (Jaggi) ———- Dharamshala
7. Hari Ram Shastri ——– Shilai
8. Ashok Katoch ———– Sulha
9. Anil Mankotia ———- Hamirpur Constituency
10. Narayan Chauhan —— Banjar