CPI(M)'s Parivartan Yatra in Rajastan ahead of Assembly Elections

THESE days a Parivartan Yatra, organised by the Rajasthan state unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is in progress in the state and has already covered a number of places in the state. The month long yatra commenced from Jaipur on January 15 and will conclude on February 15.

On January 17, the yatra rath moved at about 10 a m from Jhunjhunu and entered Churu district, after having moved through Bagad, Nuniya, Gothra, Chidawa and Pilani. It is notable that Bagad, Chidawa and Pilani are hubs of educational institutions in the state and thousands of students from not only Rajasthan but from all over the country come to study; the Birla Institute of Pilani is a world renowned institution. It was from Pilani that the industrial house of the Birlas originated.

Heavy rains greeted the yatra as soon as it entered Churu district. Yet it addressed a big mass meeting at Chaandgoti village in Rajgarh tehsil. Hundreds of people welcomed the jatha here with loud slogans, and garlanded its members. CPI(M) MLA Amra Ram, who is leading the yatra, welcomed the first winter showers before he addressed the gathering. Describing the four years of Congress rule in the state as an utter failure, he said the rising prices of essential commodities are proving backbreaking for the people. Corruption pervades all through the administration and almost every minister of the state government is tainted. The whole system of administration has collapsed. The director general of Rajasthan Police, its inspector general, police superintendents and more than 200 of the lower level officials are behind the bars. They are facing charges of rape, fake encounters, illegal killings and involvement in corrupt deals. Amra Ram urged upon the people to defeat the Congress as well as the BJP in the next elections and to elect the Left and democratic candidates in large numbers.

Pema Ram, another CPI(M) MLA, referred to the increasing atrocities against dalits, women and minorities in the state, accusing the state government as responsible for collapse of law and order in the state. Vidyadhar Singh Gill, deputy chairman of Jhunjhunu Zila Parishad, stressed the necessity of political change in the state. CPI(M) district secretary Kulda Ram, among others, also addressed the mass meeting that continued despite the rain.

From Chaandgoti, the yatra moved through Binjawasm Nima, Hamirwas and Borasar Bada to reach Borasar Chhota where about 1000 men and women welcomed it and attended the meeting despite heavy rain. Using the rath itself as a platform, Amra Ram, Vasudev, Pema Ram, Girdhari Singh and others addressed the people. Amra ram congratulated the people for their victory in the recent militant struggle in Churu district, led by the CPI(M) and All India Kisan Sabha, for insurance claims against the damages done to crops by heavy rains. He said it was this struggle that won for the affected peasants insurance claims worth more than 2.25 billion rupees.

From Borasar, the jatha moved to Mithdi, Balwantsinghpura, Mithdi Kesarisingh, Devipura, Ratanpura and Jaitpura to finally reach Churu district headquarters, and then to Balsara village where hundreds of people welcomed it. Here Amra Ram and Pema Ram addressed a well attended mass meeting amidst rain.

The jatha reached Ajeetsar at about 8 p m and addressed a mass meeting that was organised in a school. Here Amra Ram stressed on the need of defeating the Congress as well as the BJP and of forging a Left and democratic alternative in order to ensure some betterment in the life of the peasantry. Pema Ram, Chhagan Chaudhari and Ram Singh also addressed the meeting.

The jatha was in Sardarshehar at 9 p m and was received in Raja Garden. Like Sikar and Jhunjhunu, Churu district too has been a centre of anti-feudal struggles and, under the leadership of former MLA and freedom fighter Comrade Mohar Singh, the peasants of the district once fought a militant struggle for land ownership. These three districts can also be proud that a number of their inhabitants sacrificed their lives in defence of the country, and one comes across a martyr’s statue in every fifth village or so. Churu too has been the place of origin of some big industrialists; steel king Lakshmipati Mittal too was born in Sardarshehar. The latter has also been known for its educational institutions.

Because of incessant rains, a mass meeting started here only at 12 noon, and it was attended by hundreds of peasants, including women, from the nearby villages. Amra Ram here referred to the struggles waged by the Kisan Sabha and the party in the last four years. Pema Ram referred to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the growing atrocities against the weaker sections, while CPI(M) state secretary Vasudev lambasted the Rajasthan chief minister, Ashok Gehlot, for having granted permission to FDI in the state. Ghanshyam Pareek, Chhagan Lal and Ram Singh were other speakers here.

Having covered a distance of 70 km, the jatha reached Taranagar at about 4 in the afternoon; here a militant peasant struggle is going on for the last six months. Here, because of rains, the mass meeting took place in a hall which got over-packed while more than twice the people had to stand outside. All the speakers here stressed the need of a third alternative for the sake of a better future for the people.  

Amra Ram, who is president of the state unit of Kisan Sabha, inaugurated a two-day conference of his organisation in the same hall at about 6 p m. About 200 delegates were already there to take part in this conference.

On Justice Verma Committee Report

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

 

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau welcomes the report and recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee concerning sexual violence against women. The report and recommendations are comprehensive and situate sexual violence against women within a broader framework of socio-economic conditions and issues concerning governance, the law, politics and social attitudes and the reforms required to ensure justice for women. The Polit Bureau appreciates the excellent work put in by the committee which has completed its work before time.

 

It is incumbent on the Government to act without any delay on the recommendations. The CPI(M) demands:

 

(1) that the concrete recommendations concerning changes in the rape and sexual harassment laws should be placed and passed in the forthcoming session of Parliament

 

(2) that a multi-ministerial committee should be set up with a time-bound mandate of one month to look into the other recommendations concerning different agencies such as on police reform, on bringing armed forces personnel under the purview of the criminal laws and withdrawing protection under AFSPA, changes in the Peoples Representative Act, on khap panchayats, on improvement of conditions in juvenile homes, on specific facilities for disabled women etc.

 

(3) Action taken report on these recommendations should be presented so that urgent reforms required in the areas mentioned by the Verma committee can be taken forward.

Left Front starts campaign for assembly elections in Tripura

Kicking off campaign for the February 14 Assembly elections in Tripura, CPI(M) Party General Secretary Prakash Karat today said this is the best governed state in India so far as law and order was concerned.

"This is the best governed state in the country in terms of maintaining law and order, giving safety and security to the lives and properties of people and improving the standard of lives of people," Karat said in a meeting.

"It is also a model state in the region for combating decades old insurgency," he said.
Asserting that the seventh Left Front government would be installed in the state, Karat said the government "created history" by launching a programme of giving rice to the poor at Rs 2 a kg, implementing Forest Dwellers Rights Act for giving resettlement of tribals and implementing the MGNREGA.

The UPA government at the Centre has become more unpopular during the past six months for taking various anti-people measures by increasing the prices of diesel, essential commodities and rail fare.

Succumbing to the pressure of the USA, the UPA government was giving more facilities to multinational companies and planning to reduce taxes for them upto Rs five lakh crore, he alleged.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said hundreds of CPI(M) activists had sacrificed their lives in the hills and plains of Tripura to end the four-decade-old insurgency in the state which made the lives of people miserable by killing, kidnapping and stalling developments of the state.

"We gave priority to restore peace as peace is the pre-condition for development. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a meeting of the Security Council had appreciated Tripura for restoring peace and stated that it was an example in the country," Sarkar said.

Central Committee Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) held its meeting in Kolkata from January 17 to 19, 2013. It has issued the following statement:

 

Syrian Conflict

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the continuing armed conflict in Syria. For the last one and a half years, a concerted effort is being made to effect a regime change in Syria with rebel groups getting arms and supplies from outside. The threat of the Islamist forces dominating the rebel forces is growing. The United States, the NATO and the Gulf states are fuelling a civil war which has already led to the death of 60,000 people and more than half a million refugees who have fled to the neighbouring countries. The solution to the conflict can only be decided by the Syrian people free from external intervention.

 

The Central Committee condemned the efforts of the United States and the NATO powers to impose their will by backing the armed rebels. The United Nations and the countries of the region should work for a politically negotiated settlement by all concerned forces in Syria.

 

New Burdens on the People

 

The Central Committee discussed the new burdens imposed on the people by the UPA government. The price rise of essential commodities continues to be relentless. The Consumer Price Index inflation rate has gone up from 9.5 per cent in October 2012 to 10.56 per cent in December 2012. There is no respite in the price rise of wheat, rice, pulses and other food items.

 

It is at this juncture that the UPA government has announced steps to deregulate the price of diesel. This will lead to the continuous rise in the price of diesel which will affect transportation and fuel inflation. Farmers will be badly hit. Such deregulation will allow oil companies to raise prices to match international levels. These are much higher than domestic cost of production permitting the oil companies to reap windfall profits at the expense of imposing unprecedented burdens on the people.

 

Even before the railway budget has been presented, the UPA government has increased the railway passenger fares across the board. The government has announced a National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy that will effectively nullify the drug pricing control regime and allow the MNC and big pharmaceutical companies to continue to reap big profits. The Rangarajan committee’s recommendation for the total decontrol of the sugar industry, if implemented, is going to adversely affect the sugarcane farmers and have a cascading effect on the price of sugar for the PDS beneficiaries.

 

The Central Committee called upon its Party units to intensify the struggles against price-rise and the anti-people policies of the UPA government.

 

Cash Transfer Scheme

 

The Central Committee strongly opposes the move to extend the Cash Transfer Scheme to replace subsidized foodgrains, fertilizers, cooking gas and kerosene. In a period of high inflation, cash transfer to replace subsidized goods is meant to actually cut subsidies since the cash to be transferred will not cover the increased cost of the same amount of subsidized foodgrains or fertilizers. Cash transfer in place of foodgrains would end up dismantling the public distribution system. It will lead to increasing malnutrition and hunger in the country. It is illegal for the UPA government to link the various welfare schemes including MNREGA to the Aadhar-UID scheme. The Bill proposed for the UID has not been passed by parliament. In fact the Standing Committee has rejected the Bill and called for its redrafting.

 

Violence Against Women

 

The Central Committee expressed its indignation and condemnation of the alarming increase of sexual assaults on women. The horrific gangrape and murder of a 23 year old paramedical student in Delhi brought this widespread violence to the fore. The protests which have arisen triggered by this tragic incident has also raised issues of the subordinate status of women, the deep-rooted patriarchal attitude towards women and girls and the denial of their rights as equal citizens.

 

The CPI(M) has already submitted a memorandum to the Verma Committee suggesting various measures including life imprisonment for cases of rape and rigorous life imprisonment with no remission for cases of aggravated sexual assault like gangrape and sexual assaults children.

 

In this connection, the Central Committee condemned the sexist and anti-women comments from a range of public figures including political leaders and so-called spiritual leaders. The Central Committee strongly rejected the demeaning views expressed by the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the reactionary views of Asaram, the so-called spiritual leader.

 

The Central Committee called upon the Party and the democratic mass organizations to take the lead to intervene promptly wherever women are subjected to violence and sexual assaults and to take the lead to fight patriarchal notions and male chauvinism in all spheres of society.

 

West Bengal:

Deteriorating Conditions

 

The Central Committee condemned the continuing attacks and violence against the CPI(M) and the Left Front cadres. Since the assembly elections in May 2011, 85 members and supporters of the CPI(M) have been killed. The latest illustration is the assault on Abdur Razak Mollah, former minister and senior leader of the Party. Following this assault, people going to a protest rally were also attacked with three people suffering bullet injuries and many vehicles set ablaze.

 

The Chief Minister and the TMC government are encouraging these attacks keeping in view the forthcoming panchayat elections. The Central Committee strongly demanded an end to such violence and intimidation and peaceful conditions be established for the holding of the panchayat elections in a free and fair manner.

 

The Central Committee expressed its serious concern at the deteriorating economic and living conditions of the people in West Bengal. The non-payment of salaries and pensions to state transport employees is causing distress and has led to the suicide of five employees and pensioners. Nine workers of closed tea gardens have died due to malnutrition. The strong-arm tactics and intimidation by the TMC men have led to companies being forced to leave West Bengal as in the Haldia port. Crimes against women and extortions are growing. The politics of the TMC and the approach of the state governments are giving a fillip to the communal forces.

 

The Central Committee heard a report on the activities and the movements conducted by the CPI(M) and the Left Front. The Central Committee extended its full support and solidarity to the Party and the Left Front in West Bengal in tackling the current situation.

 

Assam Situation

 

The Central Committee noted that even after six months of the ethnic clashes in the BTAD area in Assam, large number of people are still living in refugee camps. There are concerted efforts to thwart the return of the refugees belonging to the Muslim community to their homes and villages.

 

The Central Committee demanded that the state government take immediate measures for the return of all those living in the camps to their homes and their full rehabilitation.

 

Jharkhand

 

With the collapse of the BJP-JMM coalition government in Jharkhand, President’s rule has been imposed. The CPI(M) demands the dissolution of the assembly and the holding of fresh elections without delay.

 

Mass Signature Campaign

 

The Central Committee exhorted all its Party units to complete the mass signature campaign on food security and for a universal public distribution system being conducted by the Left Parties. The good response to the signature campaign indicates that more than five crore signatures will be collected. These will be submitted to the Prime Minister when the budget session of parliament begins in February.

 

All India Jathas

 

The Central Committee finalized the programme of the all India jathas to be conduced by the Party. These jathas which will traverse the length and breadth of the country will propagate the Party’s stand on various major issues affecting the people and the alternative policies of the Left. The issues of food security and price rise; land and house sites; employment; education and health; and the fight against corruption will be focused in these jathas.

 

The four jathas will be from Kanyakumari to Delhi led by Ramachandran Pillai; Kolkata to Delhi led by Prakash Karat; Mumbai to Delhi led by Sitaram Yechury; and Amritsar to Delhi led by Brinda Karat. Jathas to link up with the main jathas will be conducted from Srinagar, Guwahati, Parlakhemundi (Orissa), Ahmedabad and other centres.

 

The jathas which will begin from February 25 and the first week of March will culminate in a mass rally in Delhi on March 19, 2013.

Tripura LF releases Assembly poll manifesto

Ruling Left Front released its manifesto for the February 14 Assembly polls in Tripura promising to make the state a model in terms of development, safety and security, besides maintaining communal harmony.
    Releasing the manifesto, Tripura LF chairman and CPI-M MP Khagen Das said the manifesto focused on developing connectivity, power, industry, irrigation, agriculture, education, SCs and STs, minorities, women, law and order and general administration.
    "We appeal to the people to cast their votes to ensure uninterrupted development in the hilly terrains, plains and towns. Left Front has created the legacy of fulfilling its poll promises and doing even beyond," he said.
    Das alleged that during the erstwhile Congress regime in the state, the standard of life was low and people lived in deplorable conditions and they started getting benefits ofdevelopment only after the LF came to power in 1978.
    He criticised the UPA government at the centre for shrinking employment sectors, reducing regular workers, increasing casual and contractual job openings, initiating New Pension Policy and accepting foreign direct investments.
    CPI(M) state general secretary Bijan Dhar said the Left Front would implement all the 34 poll pledges and will payimportance in peace and development, good governance, improving connectivity, education. Health care, electricity, industries and tourism and uplift of people living below poverty line.
    Tripura would go for polls on February 14 to elect 60 members of the Assembly. Over 23 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections.

CITU Kerala State conference concludes

The three day Kerala state conference of CITU concluded at Kasargod.  Among the various resolutions adopted at the conference, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has urged the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government to refrain from moves to privatise the drinking water distribution system. CITU alleged moves by the UDF government to start drinking water bottling units in the private sector.The State government was trying to dismantle the Kerala Water Authority, it alleged. 

The CITU also called for linking rivers to help neighbouring States get adequate drinking water. The Pampa-Achencoil-Vaipar link project had been conceived as part of the project, the resolution said. Accusing the government of making renewed efforts to privatise water distribution from the Periyar and the Malampuzha dam, the CITU alleged that efforts were under way to float a new company under Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) and distribute drinking water at a price of 25 paise a litre. 

The meeting expressed concern over the crisis being faced by the construction sector owing to a steep hike in prices of cement and other raw materials. 

The CITU planned to take up the cause of new generation employees working in the information technology sector. 

The state conference also elected Com. Anathalavattom Anandan as the new president of CITU state committee. Com. Elamaram Kareem was elected as the General secretary of the new state committee.  K M Sudhakaran will continue to be the treasurer. The conference also elected 13 vice president and 14 vice president, and 157 member state committee and a 430 member General Council

13 വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റുമാരെയും 14 സെക്രട്ടറിമാരെയും സമ്മേളനം തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു. സംസ്ഥാന കമ്മറ്റിയില്‍ 157 പേരും സംസ്ഥാന കൗണ്‍സിലില്‍ 430 പേരുമാണുള്ളത് - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=6#news6

Later, inaugurating a huge public function to mark the culmination of the meet, CITU national president A.K. Padmanabhan blamed the United Progressive Alliance government for pursuing neo-liberal economic policies which, he said, had made life of the common man miserable. The two-day nationwide strike planned from February 20 should be a warning to the Union government to refrain from pursuing such ‘anti-people’ policies, he said.

CPI(M) starts pain and palliative care units in Kerala

Showing a new way to the politics,  CPI(M) on Tuesday, Palliative care day, formally entered a new area of social life: pain and palliative care. The party will take the initiative in registering charitable societies at the District level and raising an army of about 500 volunteers in each area committe, who will look after the functioning of the palliative care units.

CPIM Thiruvananthapuram District Committee has formed Com. E K Nayanar Memorial charitable trust as part of this unit. The inauguration of the programme was done by CPIM leaders in various area committees in the district. Com. Pinarayi Vijayan attended a function in Chalai, Com. V S Achuthanandan inaugurated the function in Mannathala.

In Kottayam, two area committees Puthuppally and Changanassery formally inaugurated the operation of their palliative care units.Inaugurating the Capt. Lakshmi Charitable Society at Pampady, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian church said the emergence of an individual-centred society due to globalisation was the greatest threat faced today. Scores of people, many of them retired hands, attended the function chaired by CPI(M) leader V.N. Vasavan.

All the other district committees are also in the process of forming such pain and palliative units. The state conference of CPIM held in 2012 february took a decision in this regard to take up activities in social arena.

CITU Kerala State Conference Begins

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

CITU 12 Kerala state conference began in the northern most district of Kasargod on saturday with a clarion call to carry forward the fight against neo liberal policies followed by the UPA government in the Centre and UDF government in the state. The conference was inaugurated by Com. Tapas Sen, General secretary of CITU. The official proceedings of the three day conference began with the flag hoisting by CITU Kerala State president Com. K N Ravindranath. Later the delegates paid floral tributes to the great martyrs who had laid down their lives for the cause of great struggle for socialism. Com. A K Padmanabhan, CITU All India president is also participating in the conference. The inaugural session also was attended by office bearers of all the other trade unions in the state.

Com. Tapan Sen has called upon trade unions in the country to act as corrective forces and arrest the degeneration caused by neo-liberal economic policies in the nation’s socio-economic milieu. These policies, followed by the successive governments at the Centre, had resulted in the plundering of natural resources too, he said.

Expressing concern over the moves to discontinue subsidies on essential goods and services, he said if the government could extend sops by providing tax holiday for business and corporate groups, which constituted a mere one per cent, it could extend similar benefits to the remaining sections too.

Now, legitimacy was being given to criminal and perverse activities in society. When criminality and barbarism gained acceptance in a society, the working class should act as a corrective force, he said. CITU should strive to address such issues by working on a joint platform with other trade unions in the State. Touching upon the ongoing indefinite agitation by the government employees protesting against the contributory pension scheme, Com. Sen said the strike was against the shift in policy by which the employees’ hard-earned income would be managed by private agencies.

512 delgates representing 14,51,170 members of 836 affiliated organisations is participating in the conference. After the inaugural session CITU State Secretary Com. M M Lawrance placed the Organisational Report and Com. K M Sudhakaran placed the statement of Accounts. After that the delegates began group discussion on the reports placed. 

The conference on the first day itself gave its full support to the ongoing indefenite strike of Government Servants and teachers in the state and gave a call to all its units and members to give full support to the striking employees. 

As per the report placed by the Secretary, the organisation has grown since the last conference held at Trissur. 1,14,589 new members were added to the organisation. The membership has grown to 14,51,170 from 13,36,581 in 2009. The number of affiliated organisations has also gone up from 833 to 836. Of the total membership 5,53,026 are women, which was 4,31,858 in 2009. 

The conference is expected to chalk out strong and continuous struggle against the UPA government and tactics for the February 20, 21 National Strike. The conference will also take stock of the preparations for the CITU ALL India Conference to be held in Kannur, next month.  

In the Evening a seminar was organised as part of the conference which was inaugurated by CPIM State secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan. Com. Pinarayi also launched the website of CITU Kerala State Committee (www.citukerala.org) during the occasion. 

Left Front announce candidates for Tripura polls

The Left Front Wednesday announced the names of party candidates in 59 of the 60 constituencies for the assembly elections in Tripura, which will go to polls next month along with two other northeastern states -- Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Of the 59 Left Front candidates, 12 will be new faces. The party has also named five women candidates this time. "This time, we have dropped seven MLAs, including three former ministers, on health grounds and other reasons," Khagen Das, convenor of the Tripura Left Front, told reporter.

"Left Front will come to power for the seventh time as the government has done excellent developmental work and launched various schemes for the well being of the people in the state," Das added.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the leading member of the Left Front in Tripura, will field 55 candidates, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Revolutionary Socialist Party have nominated two contenders each. The Forward Bloc will have only one candidate.

CPI candidate for the Banamalipur assembly seat in Agartala will be declared later.

Among the 59 Left Front nominees, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Anil Sarkar will contest the assembly polls for a record ninth time. Among other prominent Left Front candidates seeking re-election are CPI-M politburo member and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar (from Dhanpur constituency), state Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury (Hrishamukh), Transport Minister Manik Dey (Majlispur) and Aghore Debbarma (Asharambari).

AIDWA STRONGLY CONDEMNS ARBITRARY INCREASE IN RAIL FARES

AIDWA strongly condemns the totally unnecessary and arbitrary increase in rail fares by the UPA Government on Jan 13th, 2013, which will come into force from the midnight of Jan 21-22nd. The sharp increase in second class fares by 15-40%, and sleeper fares by 13-34% will further burden the ordinary people, who are already suffering from the steep increase in the prices of all other essential commodities. A large section of workers, especially women in the unorganized sector, who commute daily by suburban trains will be severely affected by the hike.

This unreasonable increase occurs just a few weeks before the annual rail budget, thereby exposing the callousness of the Government towards maintaining democratic norms of decision-making.
 

This additional assault on the people must be pushed back. AIDWA calls for widespread protests demanding a roll-back in the fares for all the classes used by the common people, and urges all its units to participate in the demonstrations against the increase in rail fares.

Massive protest march by Left in response to Trinamool violence

A massive protest march was led by the leadership of the Left Front, including former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and chairman Biman Bose, on the streets of the city on Wednesday 9th of January condemning the recent attack on senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Abdur Razzak Molla and the subsequent violence by supporters of the Trinamool Congress.  

Senior leaders of the Left parties held up a banner and led the march while an overwhelming crowd walked behind them. Their numbers were so large that the car in which Mr. Bhattacharjee came to the protest could not make its way to the area where it started off from and he could only join it midway.  

Waving red flags, banners and posters, they chanted slogans against the Trinamool Congress government for failing to take action against the perpetrators of the attack on Mr. Molla on Sunday and the violence witnessed at Bamanghata in the Bhangar area of the State’s South 24 Parganas district on Tuesday.  

The violence in the area occurred even as both parties are gearing up for the upcoming rural polls and the developments are sure to influence the campaign, not only in Bhangar but also elsewhere in the State.   Mr. Molla, who is yet to recover from his injuries and is presently admitted to a private hospital in the city, was assaulted in the Bhangar area allegedly by supporters of the Trinamool Congress. According to the CPI(M) MLA, the attack was led by former Trinamool Congress MLA Arabul Islam, who also delivered the first blow.  

The Trinamool Congress leadership has whole-heartedly backed Mr. Islam and it was in protest against the failure of the police to arrest him that a demonstration had been organised outside the office of the district’s Superintendent of Police on Tuesday.  Supporters of the party were on the way to this demonstration when they were again attacked, this time by armed activists, allegedly of the Trinamool Congress. The Left Front claimed that at least 13 of their supporters sustained bullet injuries and 14 vehicles were set ablaze. 

Allegations that at least ten of the injured were prevented from being taken to hospital have only made matters worse. Significantly, the party has also alleged that in an attempt to downplay the attack on Mr. Molla, the hospital authorities were being pressurised by the Trinamool Congress government to discharge him to substantiate the party’s claims that he was “faking it.” 

Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra has pointed out that even as the hospital authorities told journalists that he was fit to be discharged and was only being kept at the hospital on his family’s insistence, a fracture in his ribs was detected during an MRI scan. 

Tese claims of supporters and leaders being denied medical attention following the incident of political violence comes in the wake of the scenes in the West Bengal Assembly last month when MLAs of the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress clashed. Left Front MLAs were merely administered first aid and sent away from the State-run SSKM hospital, although it was later detected that some of them had suffered serious injuries. 

 
CPI (M) held a demonstration outside Banga Bhawan to protest against the assault on left leaders and activists in Bamanghata, in the outskirts of Kolkata by Trinamool miscreants. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted slogans condemning the attack.

The demonstration was addressed by central secretariat members Com Joginder Sharma, Com Hannan Mollah and Com Nilotpal Basu and Com Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of CPI (M).

The incident is the latest instance of the continuing violence by Trinamool Congress against CPI (M), the Left parties and the opposition and the democratic rights of individuals are under constant threat in the State. speakers demanded immediate arrest of TMC goons responsible for the incident; and reiterated that CPI (M) would defeat all such anti-democratic designs.

CPI-M Tripura State committee organised demonstrations across the state to protest attacks on party members in West Bengal, including on veteran legislator Abdur Rezzak Mollah, allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists.

"Thousands of people, including women and party leaders, organised demonstration and protest rallies across Tripura to condemn the series of attacks on the CPI-M leaders and members in West Bengal by the ruling Trinamool Congress," Tripura CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters.

DYFI - SFI oppose Rail fare hike

The Central Executive Committees of the Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Students federation of India strongly oppose the all-round hike in rail fares announced by the railway minister.

In a rare decision just a month ahead of the Budget, Railway minister Pawan Kumar

Bansal, today announced an across-the-board hike in fares of all classes from midnight of January 21, the first such increase in a decade. The minister while announcing the decision did not rule out a hike in the freight tariff.

By raising price of diesel, cooking gas and now rail fare, UPA government has shown its real face to voters. The hike in the fares of second class, sleeper and suburban fares is particularly unjustified as they will burden the ordinary people who are already suffering from all-round price rise. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the fare hikes.

The CEC of DYFI and SFI calls upon all its units to organize protests against the new burden being imposed on the people

Government Employees and Teachers goes on indefinite strike in Kerala

The indefinite strike by service organisations owing allegiance to Left parties  which began on 8th January, Tuesday, against the Kerala State government’s decision to introduce Participatory Pension Scheme for government employees and teachers had badly affected functioning of government offices and educational institutions in the state .

Though the government issued orders making ‘diesnon’ (no work, no pay) applicable to striking employees, attendance at offices was thin. The organisations called for the strike after talks held by the government with service organisations failed.

Even after the government had warned of stringent measures against protesters and using police force against the agitating workers the indefinite strike is a huge success. The pro-LDF unions of KSRTC and KSEB also struck work on Tuesday to express solidarity with the agitation. The agitating employees took out marches in front of the various government offices in the state on Tuesday morning.

On the second day the congress is using goons to destablize the strike. CPIM State secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan in a press meet has clearly given a warning against such attempts by congress goons to attack agitating workers.

Protest Rail Fare Hike

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

 

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes the all-round hike in rail fares announced by the railway minister. The hike in the fares of second class, sleeper and suburban fares is particularly unjustified as they will burden the ordinary people who are already suffering from all-round price rise.

 

The railway minister has shown contempt for parliament by announcing these fare hikes just a month before the railway budget is to be placed in parliament.

 

The Polit Bureau demands the withdrawal of the fare hikes in all categories except the top two classes – AC I and AC II.

 

The Polit Bureau calls upon all its Party units to organize protests against the new burden being imposed on the people.

 

Horrific Attack in West Bengal

In a horrific attack on CPI(M) activists who were coming to join a rally protesting attack on senior Party leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, Trinamool Congress goons indiscriminately fired and burnt the vehicles carrying people. The gruesome incident took place in Bamanghata, in the outskirts of Kolkata today. At least three CPI(M) activists with serious bullet injuries have been admitted in hospital while some more received grievous injuries. 8 trucks and mini trucks were burnt and four more were ransacked. The entire attack was led by Arabul Islam, a TMC strongman and former MLA, the prime accused in the attack on Rezzak Mollah. Hundreds of people from Bhangar and adjoining areas in South 24 Parganas were coming to a rally in Kolkata to demand the arrest of Arabul. TMC activists were well prepared for the attack. Eye witnesses told media that Arabul himself started firing from his revolver and then TMC activists began to fire forcing people to run for shelter. Police reached the spot much later. Some injured fled to villages and could not be brought to hospital till evening.

Meanwhile, thousands of people marched to Alipore in Kolkata, the headquarters of South 24 Parganas district administration at the call of Left Front. The rally was called to demand arrest of Arabul Islam and other criminals who attacked Rezzak Mollah on Sunday. In the huge rally, Left Front leaders including Suryakanta Misra, opposition leader, criticized the state government for allowing mayhem in the state. Left Front leaders met Superintendent of Police and asked his explanation for not arresting the criminals.

Left Front chairman Biman Basu condemned the attack in Bamanghata, saying the democracy in the state is now under threat. Left Front will organize processions all over the state on Wednesday. A central rally will be organized in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon.

In the writers Building, the state secretariat, Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee defended the attack on CPI(M) but hurried to flee away from media persons without answering any questions.

Member of the West Bengal State Committee of CPI(M), veteran leader of the peasant movement, present MLA of Canning East constituency and former Minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah was assaulted and beaten up by a group of Trinamool Congress hooligans, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday, 6th January, 2013. Rezzak Mollah went to visit a Party office which was ransacked and burnt down by the TMC goons on Saturday. Arabul Islam himself along with other miscreants attacked him. The senior leader was hit on the eye, lips and stomach. His vehicle was also badly damaged. The local Party comrades rescued him. He was admitted to a private nursing home. The state administration, in the most inhuman manner, pressurized the hospital to discharge Rezzak Mollah even before he was treated properly. On Monday, the hospital authorities declared that except stitches in the inner portion of his mouth, there is no injury to Rezzak. But in a great embarrassment for them, the scan report of the same hospital showed on Tuesday that he had a fracture in his waist.

CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu said that the party strongly condemned the “barbaric” attack on Rezzak Mollah. Describing the incident as the latest instance of the continuing violence by Trinamool Congress against CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition, he pointed out that the democratic rights of individuals are under constant threat in the State and demanded immediate arrest of TMC goons responsible for the incident.

Instead of condemning the horrific attack, the TMC leader and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said the incident was a minor one and in a way legitimized the attack. This has become a regular phenomenon in the state - where the ruling party and the administration always protect the attackers instead of the attacked persons. Attacks and extortion on the Party workers are on the rise. The TMC leaders perhaps have understood that if they allow people’s voice to spread then that will be disastrous for them in the coming Panchayat polls in West Bengal.

Condemn Attack on CPI(M) Leader Rezzak Mollah

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the physical assault on Comrade Abdur Rezzak Mollah, member of the West Bengal State Committee of the CPI(M) and MLA. Rezzak Mollah was assaulted by a Trinamul Congress leader Arabul Islam and others while visiting a Party office which had been burnt down by the TMC men. Rezzak Mollah received injuries to his face and has been hospitalized.

This is the latest instance of the continuing violence by the Trinamul Congress against the CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition. The CPI(M) demands that the TMC leader and others responsible for the attack be immediately arrested.

The Polit Bureau appeals to all democratic forces to raise their voice of protest against the thuggish violence indulged in by the Trinamul Congress in West Bengal.

Youth March for castless and secular society in Kerala begins

Youth march organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India Kerala State committee with the slogan “Casteless society and secular Kerala” began on 4th January in Kasargod. Com Nilolpal Basu CPIM Central Secretarite member inaugurated the march by giving the white flag to march leaders. The march, led by DYFI State president Com M. Swaraj and DYFI State Secretary Com. T V Rajesh MLA has been organised to highlight the recent developments in Kerala ruled by the Congress-led United Democratic Front, which, the organisation said, had tarnished the cherished secular values of the State and turned it into a hotbed of caste and communal wrangles. The month long march will conclude in Thiruvananthapuram on the 4th of February with a huge youth meeting planned to be attended by 1 lakh youngsters from Thiruvanathapuram district alone. The march will conclude in Thiruvananthapuram after traversing through 13 districts.

 DYFI All India president M.B. Rajesh, MP; P. Karunakaran, MP; P. Sreeramakrishnan MLA and CPI(M) district secretary K.P. Satheesh Chandran were present during the inaugural ceremony. A huge youth rally was organised on behalf of the function in kumbala.

AIDWA condemns statement by RSS supremo

Press Statement
AIDWA condemns the statement made by the RSS Supremo Mohan Bhagwat, reported in some leading newspapers on 4.1.13 that rape is prevalent mainly in cities where Indians are deeply influenced by western values, and not by rural India. The reported comment that such crimes hardly occur in “bharat” - exposes a total disconnect with women’s experience across India, and the extent of sexual violence and assault being suffered by women in rural India. There is sufficient evidence from NCRB data which disproves his assertion, and shows the extent of rapes and sexual crimes across regions, not only restricted to urban India. AIDWA condemns the attempt to trivialize the horrendous degree of suffering especially of poor, tribal, dalit, landless sections who have been victims of repeated onslaughts by the elite and powerful sections of feudal society. Such statements are an added injustice to women who have already been denied their rights and dignity. This attempt to drive a wedge in the popular protest in support of women’s entitlement to a violence free life cannot be tolerated by the democratic women’s movement. We assert that the India versus Bharat divide that is propounded by the RSS, and which has been repeated by Shri Bhagwat will be rebutted by the united voice of the Indian people who have risen up in protest against sexual violence and attacks on women in our country.

CPIM Note to Justice Verma Commission

Note from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) On Amendments to Relevant Laws and Measures to  Deal with Sexual Assaults & Violence against Women

 

 

This is in reference to the public notice issued by the Government of India regarding the formation of the Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Verma to suggest possible amendments in the “ criminal laws and other relevant laws for quicker trials and enhanced punishment of criminals accused of sexual assault of an extreme nature on women.”

 

We believe that a much more holistic approach is required and regret that the terms of reference are limited only to these two issues. The Committee had been set up in the wake of the heinous crime of extreme brutality including gang rape committed on a young para medical student in Delhi. Subsequently, the young woman succumbed to the injuries inflicted on her. This particular case of gangrape and murder would certainly fall in the category of “rarest of the rare” cases. Within the existing legal framework itself the sentence could be the death penalty for the criminals for which there are already legal precedents.

 

However in a situation where crime against women and in particular the crime of rape is the fastest growing crime it is essential for the Government to review the present laws and the proposed amendments so as to cover all the major aspects. In this context we would like to draw your attention to the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on October 19, 2012, which seeks to “amend the IPC, the CrPc, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act” in so far as it concerns rape and sexual harassment of women (henceforth referred to as the Bill). Some of these proposals are flawed. It will amount to the application of double standards to the crime of sexual harassment and assault on women if only clauses pertaining to a particular type of sexual crime are considered for improvement while the law remains weak and ineffective on a range of other issues connected with sexual crimes. We would also like to point out that in a society based on class and caste inequalities, women of the economically exploited and caste oppressed sections, particularly dalits and tribals are even more vulnerable to sexual assault.  We therefore seek your indulgence in accepting this memorandum which deals with issues which we consider are germane to the prevention of and punishment for cases of rape and cases of sexual assault and harassment.

 

1. Clauses in the IPC and other relevant laws concerning sexual assault have to be gender specific not gender neutral as proposed in the Bill referred to above. It is a total trivialization of the issue of sexual assault on women to suggest that it is a gender neutral crime. Thus the amendments moved to sections in the IPC namely 375, 376,376A 376B, 376C and 376D to make them gender neutral must be withdrawn. We hope you will make this recommendation.

 

2. The Bill widens the definition regarding sexual assault which is welcome. However it falls short in enhancement of punishment.   The Bill proposes amendments in Sec 375.2 (a to l) in the redefined clauses. The perpetrators of the crime in these sections are men who are public servants such as police personnel, management of staff of jails, other institutions etc. This list should be expanded to include army men, paramilitary forces. Sexual assault committed by them should be considered as Aggravated Sexual assault. Aggravated sexual assault should include gangrape, custodial rape, child rape, rape during communal or caste driven violence, rape of a woman suffering mental or physical disability, sexual assault which causes grievous bodily harm or disfigurement.

 

3. In such cases of aggravated sexual assault/rape the punishment should be rigorous life imprisonment till death.

 

(Where the sexual assault is accompanied by other forms of violence leading to the death of the victim, the rarest of rare categories, which could include the death penalty, may be applied by the courts.)

 

4. In other cases of rape the maximum sentence should be life imprisonment. It is found that courts rarely give the maximum sentence.  It is therefore essential to increase minimum sentences in all cases of sexual assault from the existing level which are only seven years for rape and ten years for aggravated sexual assault/rape. The present legal framework also permits courts to further reduce the sentence to even less then the minimum in the name of extenuating circumstances. This must be prohibited.

 

5. The critical issue is the requirement for time-bound processes of justice in all cases of rape. The law must specifically mention the formation of special fast track courts for all cases of rape.

 

6. In all cases of sexual assault the case must be completed within three months.

 

7. Since our proposal is for speedy justice, the accused must by law continue to remain in jail till the verdict is pronounced. No bail can be granted to a rape accused while the hearings are on as the entire process will be time-bound.

 

8. Public servants not implementing the law including timely filing of FIR should be punished with a minimum punishment of one year and fine which may extend to three years. In the proposed amendment on this issue in the Bill there is no minimum prescribed.

 

9. There must be rehabilitation measures including financial help mandated by law for victims of sexual assault which should be decided according to the requirements. It is humiliating and insulting to women when so-called rape compensation packages are declared such as 20,000 rupees etc. by some State Governments. The rehabilitation should include medical expenses and also may also include a Government job. Counselling and other help must be mandatorily provided.

 

10. Acid attacks on women are a fast growing crime. A new clause is sought to be introduced in the Bill under Sec 325 B. Depending on the extent of injury the law must provide for life imprisonment while the minimum sentence must also be enhanced. The law must provide for medical rehabilitation.

 

11. Sec 354 and 509, which contains such archaic terms as “outraging the modesty of a woman” must be redrafted to specifically use the term sexual harassment and the punishment enhanced. Sexual harassment has nothing to do with the modesty of a woman and everything to do with impermissible sexual behaviour and assertion of power by the criminals. The sentence should be enhanced to a minimum of one to five years depending on the degree of harassment, whether verbal, physical etc. and also a fine imposed. Serial offenders should be punished with the maximum.

 

12. In this connection steps are required to prevent the broadcast or publication of demeaning and highly sexist advertisements that tend to commodify women’s bodies. With the wide reach of satellite channels these advertisements promote aggressive misogynist cultures. The relevant rules and laws must be amended to prevent such advertisements, since on this count, self-regulation has failed.

 

13. The law must mandate the setting up of a monitoring mechanism to audit the steps being taken by various Government agencies to prevent, control and punish those involved in sexual crimes against women including minors. An annual report of the monitoring mechanism must be made public.

 

14. The legal framework against sexual crimes must make it mandatory to include in all educational syllabuses in schools and colleges, gender sensitization courses for boys and girls, men and women. This is essential to change the thinking of a predominantly male-child preference based society along with culturally sanctioned retrograde male privileges.

 

15. In spite of the surge in so-called honour crimes the Government has failed to bring any stand alone law for the purpose. The illegal fatwas of Khap Panchayats are a case in point. These diktats range from fatwas on dress codes for young women and school girls, to bans on friendships, self choice partnerships, the punishment also ranging from boycotts to public lynching and  killings. Narrow vote bank politics has influenced Governments leading to inaction and even encouragement to these self-proclaimed panchayats in spite of repeated instruction for action from various courts including the Supreme Court. We request the Commission to recommend a stand alone law to cover all honour related crimes and to take strict action against the diktats and their enforcement by the so-called khap panchayats including their disenfranchisement.

 

There are other flaws in the Bill and the legal framework which need to be addressed and which have been raised by women’s organisations.

 

Administrative Steps

 

Along with the legal framework, it will also be necessary for the Government to urgently take administrative steps. One of the critical issues is to make public spaces safe and secure for women at all times. This must include all forms of public transport. With the privatisation of  transport systems, the accountability of the Government has been diluted and no action is taken against private bus owners. For example even now many buses in Delhi have black tinted windows. Strong regulations for security must be ensured and accountability fixed including punishment for officers guilty of non-implementation. Mapping of vulnerable areas in the city and towns must also be a regular procedure to be followed. Specifically, provision for  public toilets for women must be made and the area be properly lit.

 

For fast track courts to be set up, it is essential for the Government to recruit a large number of judges at various levels. Recruitment must go hand in hand with strict standards of the quality of the recruitment. Judges often reflect retrograde social outlooks towards women. Thus gender sensitive standards must be set for such recruitments.

 

It will also be necessary to recruit many more women police personnel to be able to speed up the investigations and be involved in help-lines etc. and training courses are required for this

 

It is essential for the Central Government and the State Governments to work out standard operating procedures which should immediately come into place once a complaint of sexual harassment and/or rape is reported.

 

We are aware of the far reaching recommendations you had made for legal measures against sexual harassment at the work place. Unfortunately not only has the Government diluted or subverted some of those important recommendations but it passed the Bill without discussion in the lower House while it is yet to be placed before the upper House. We mention this only because of our anxiety that without a comprehensive report on the issues connected with sexual harassment and assault, Government may find a short cut to ignore the issues which will be of great disservice to women and girls in particular and the society at large. It is with the request that the Committee take note of the wider issues  involved that we submit this memorandum to you. The urgent requirement is to reform the laws and take urgent administrative steps to do justice to the brave young woman whose life was brutally cut short and also the countless others who have been victims of sexual assault and are yet to get justice.