CPIM to oppose privatisation of water in Kerala

Water, its shortage and the perceived moves for its privatisation, is to be the central theme of the string of agitations being planned by the State CPI(M) from the first week of May. The CPI(M) Kerala State committee, which on Thursday and Friday, has chosen water shortage and privatisation, Centre’s neglect of Kerala, and ‘anti-people’ policies of the UDF government as the three key issues to be highlighted during its agitations that would begin with picketing of taluk offices from May 2 to 5.

Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the committee, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said branch committees of the party would visit homes and organise people’s conclaves on May 3 and 4 to discuss the issues sought to be raised through the agitation.

Party workers would hold marches at the level of the area committees from May 9 to 16, he said. Kerala, the CPI(M) leader pointed out, faced severe challenges on the water front despite the State receiving an estimated 3,000 mm of rain every year.

The situation was grim in most parts of the State due to the current dry spell. The situation would worsen if the UDF government went ahead with its plans to privatise water distribution through a company modelled after the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).

The government would have only minority shareholding in the proposed company. This would mean that the private players would take all the crucial decisions regarding water pricing and distribution. The State was currently supplying 1,000 litres of drinking water at Rs.4.20. This would go up to Rs.250 once privatisation becomes a reality. The UDF government had already done much to undo the major efforts made by the LDF to put the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) in a position of strength. With privatisation, it would cease to have any role. The CPI(M) would not allow the government to have its way on this issue, Mr. Vijayan said.

Central investment

The CPI(M) agitation would also seek to draw public attention to the falling Central investment in the State from 3.1 to 2.6 per cent of the GDP. The State government’s failure to hold the price line and its various ‘anti-people’ policies would also figure in the campaign, the CPI(M) leader said.

(Source : The Hindu)

CPIM Delegates welcomed in Vietnam

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) should continue promoting their relations through the exchange of delegations and theories as well as the sharing of experience in party building and economic development, said a senior CPV official.

Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, made the statement at a reception for a visiting delegation from the CPI -M led by Politburo member M.A. Baby in Hanoi on March 26.

Huynh described the March 25-31 visit as a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship between the two parties and peoples.

He expressed his wish that the CPI -M, with its important role in the Indian political arena, will continue to make active contributions to further consolidating the Vietnam-India multi-faceted cooperation and strategic partnership.

For his part, M.A. Baby congratulated the Vietnamese people on great achievements they have made in the renewal process.

He said he believes that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, will speed up the nation’s industrialisation and modernisation process, as well as realize the target of turning Vietnam into a strong country with prosperous people and a democratic, fair and civilised society.

He affirmed that the CPI-M will try its utmost to continuously consolidate and further develop the traditional friendship between the two parties and peoples, thus strengthening the two nations’ strategic partnership.

Left parties calls for Andhra Pradesh bandh on April 9

Leaders of Left parties have called for a State-wide bandh in Andhra Pradesh on April 9 to protest against the hike in power tariffs and the fuel surcharge adjustment. At a meeting of the leaders of these parties  on Wednesday, it was resolved to intensify the agitation, starting with protests in every mandal and district headquarters town across the State on April 1, culminating in a bandh.

Earlier in the day, all seven leaders of Left parties on a hunger strike for the past four days were discharged from Gandhi Hospital.

The Left parties’ leaders declared that they would not relent till the government realised its folly and came up with a people-friendly energy policy, also absorbing the entire burden of the FSA.

Sri Lanka Resolution: Ground Realities Not Considered

RESOLUTION OF THE TAMIL NADU STATE SECRETARIAT OF THE CPI(M), March 27, 2013

The Tamil Nadu State Secretariat of the CPI(M) is of the view that the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils today (March 27, 2013) has been passed without taking into account the ground realities facing Sri Lankan Tamils.

Even though four years have passed since the end of the war between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan armed forces, the Sri Lankan government has not found a solution to the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces against the Sri Lankan Tamils in the final stages of the war and the violations of human rights have had severe consequences. Forty thousand innocent Tamils have been killed in the final stages of the war. It causes great distress that the trials and tribulations faced by Sri Lankan Tamils continue without end.

The CPI (M) urged in 2009 itself when the war between the LTTE and the SriLankan Armed Forces reached its peak that the United Nations and the government of India must intervene to stop the war, make efforts to devolve powers in Sri Lanka through negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE and prevent the deaths of innocent people trapped in the war zone.

From the beginning, the CPI(M) has continuously insisted that armed conflict will not solve the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka, that the Northern and Eastern provinces (of Sri Lanka) where Tamils live must be merged and given greater autonomy and that the Tamils and the Tamil language must receive equal treatment in Sri Lanka at all levels. It has also urged that both as a member of SAARC and as a neighbour, India must intervene diplomatically to help find a political solution to the question of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The immediate need of Tamils affected by the war is that of ensuring basic livelihood and guarantee of rehabilitation. Along with the withdrawal of armed forces from areas where Tamils live to create a democratic atmosphere, Sinhalisation should be stopped. A political solution and devolution alone will enable Tamils to live on a basis of equality with the Sinhalese people. No other proposed solution will help put an end to the travails of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Demanding a referendum on the demand for a separate Eelam or announcing that Sri Lanka is not to be regarded as a friendly country will not only not help solve the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. It will in fact complicate the issue further.

The immediate task before us today is not to demand an international inquiry into the war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces. Instead, we must make the Sri Lankan government agree to conduct a credible inquiry by an international panel of judges and punish those found guilty. We must raise our powerful and united voice urging upon India and the United Nations to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to grant maximum autonomy including devolution of powers to Sri Lankan Tamils.

The CPI(M) shares the feelings underlying the struggles conducted by students in Tamil Nadu for several days now condemning the atrocities against Sri Lankan Tamils and urging devolution of powers. In view of the fact that all democratic forces in Tamil Nadu and the people of the state have raised their united voice in support of Sri Lankan Tamils, the CPI(M) appeals to the students to end their agitations and pay attention to their curricular tasks.

CPIM to contest in 18 seats to Karnataka Assembly Election

CPIM Karnataka State committee has decided   to  contest  from 18 constituencis for the coming Assembly elections. Vidhana Sabha election, will be held on May,5th’2013. CPIM has decided to support CPI candidates in their constituencies. The party had not decided on extending support to candidates in constituencies where they were not contesting.

The CPI(M) would field candidates from Bagepally, Gouribidanur, Chintamani, Bangarpet-kgf), Gulbarga Rural, Mangalore, Mangalore south, Belthangady, Malvalli, Hospet, Kampli, Kanakagiri, Kundapur, Bainduranakal, Doddaballapur, Krishnarajpura, Tumkur, Chickballapur. he constituencies are;  Mangalore South, Mangalore and Belthangadi. Some of the candidates have also been announced. 

Vasantha Achary

Krishnappa Salian

Adv B M Bhat

The Dakshina Kannada district committee of the party has taken a decision to field candidates in three constituencies and will decide soon on supporting able candidates in other constituencies. The party's state secretariat members Vasantha Achari, BM Bhat and Krishnappa Salian will file nominations for Mangalore City South, Belthangady and Mangalore constituencies respectively.

Vasantha Achari, who is an advocate, is the state secretary of CITU, the trade union of CPI(M). He is the general secretary of Motor Transport and Engineering Workers Union and state secretary of Karnataka State Building and Other Construction Workers Federation.

BM Bhat, who is also an advocate, is the state vice-president of CITU. He is the president of Belthangady Taluk Beedi Workers Association and the state vice-president of Karnataka State Building and Other Construction Workers Federation.

Krishnappa Salian is the district vice president of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha.

Arrest of Raghavulu and other left leaders in Andhra Condemned

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

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the arrest of its Polit Bureau Member and Andhra Pradesh State Secretary, B.V. Raghavulu and other Left leaders in Hyderabad

Ten Left parties in Andhra Pradesh had jointly given a call for protest against the exorbitant hike in the electricity charges in the state. This hike comes in addition to the burdens being imposed on the people through the hike in prices of all essential commodities. The hunger strike protest continued for five days when the Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly was in session. As soon as the assembly session ended, the Andhra Pradesh government cracked down on the protesting leaders, who are currently in hospital.

Such brutal attacks on popular protests against the burdens being imposed on the people will not be tolerated.

Left parties in AP to intensify stir over power tariff hike

Members of Left parties in Andhra Pradesh, who began an indefinite fast against the power tariff hike, today warned of intensifying their stir if the state government failed to "respond positively".

CPI state secretary K Narayana and his CPI(M) counterpart B V Raghavulu, who started the indefinite fast yesterday, demanded that the government immediately roll back its move to hike power tariff and stop collecting the fuel surcharge adjustment.
 

They said that the Congress government should not be stubborn in its response to the demand to relieve the burden imposed on common men.
 

The Left parties also organised rallies and sit-ins at several places in the state today over the power tariff hike. The main opposition Telugu Desam and other parties also expressed their solidarity with the indefinite fast by the Left parties.

Call of the Sangarash Sandesh Jatha : Picket Govt Offices for One Week from May 15-31

The Sangharsh Sandesh Jathas organised by the CPI(M) concluded with a big public meeting organised at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on March 19. In an impressive gathering that reflected the diversity of India, the Party gave a call for further intensifying struggles in the coming days on the six basic demands it had raised during the  jathas – land to the landless, house to the houseless, ensuring employment, education, health and universal PDS, ensuring social justice and an end to corruption. Between May 15 and 31, for one whole week, the Party had called for picketing of all government offices from block, tehsil, district to the state level throughout the country. This programme will also include actions like breaking the law and resorting to civil disobedience.

Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Party, addressing the rally emphasised that the Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha has been organised not with elections in mind, but to strengthen the struggles for alternative policies. Flanked by all the leaders of the Left parties – S Sudhakar Reddy, general secretary of the CPI, Debabrata Biswas, general secretary of the AIFB and Chandrachoodan, general secretary of the RSP – he called upon the people to join the struggle for an alternative to the policies pursued by both the Congress and the BJP. Criticising the 'Gujarat model' as a model that is beneficial to the rich corporates, he also brought to the notice the communal and authoritarian tendencies of Modi's rule in Gujarat.

The jatha leaders recounted their experiences in the public rally. S. Ramachandran Pillai, who had led the Southern Jatha recalling his experiences said that 32 suicides were recorded in the last 30 days in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, a region through which the jatha passed through. He also mentioned about how he was questioned by some women from the jhuggi jhopris near Nagpur, who wanted to know how their problems could be solved.

Brinda Karat, talking about her experiences in leading the Northern Jatha, particularly mentioned the problems of the peasants in Haryana who were issued kurki (land eviction) notices. She also spoke about how the Haryana government is taking away the BPL cards from many of the poor people in the name of weeding out bogus cards. She said Haryana government is giving away thousands of acres of prime land to industrial houses and real estate agents, and driving out peasants from agriculture.

Sitaram Yechury who led the Western Jatha from Mumbai narrated how his jatha had started from Southern Mumbai, one of the richest areas in India and travelled through Thane, Dhule and Nandurbar, which are among the poor and backward regions of the country. He said that due to the neglect of the governments, peasants in Nandurbar are facing drought. He stated that if the government does not give tax concessions to the rich and corporates, many irrigation projects across the country can be completed, to ensure that there is no drought in the country.

Biman Bose who was part of the Eastern Jatha that started from Kolkata spoke about the experiences of his jatha and criticised the policies of the UPA government that is responsible for the hardships of the people. He said the Left Front in West Bengal was formed through struggles waged on the issues of the people for many years before it had come to power. He said that only struggle will ensure a real alternative for the people.

Manik Sarkar, chief minister of Tripura addressing the rally said the alternative policies which are pro-people that the Left Front government in Tripura pursued has strengthened the progressive forces in the state and paved the way for the formation of the Seventh Left front government in Tripura. He exhorted the people to fight for a better future.

Huge Rally at Ramlila Grounds Calls for Mass Struggle for Alternative Policies

 

 CPI(M) calls for wide spread movement to establish the six fundamental demands raised for the people. In a massive rally on 19th March at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi it announced a programme of Dharna or sit in demonstration with civil disobedience in the districts, blocks offices across the country from 15th to 31st May keeping the demands in forefront of land, food security, employment, Right to education and health, equal rights for women. The movements are to be launched from people’s gathering. If necessary one will court arrest also, announced CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat. This is but the initiation of a bigger struggle for implementation of alternative policies aimed at the betterment of the people. The thousands and thousands of people gathered in the heart of the capital resolved to launch a non-stop united struggle with other Left Parties across the country. The rally marked the convergence of four Jathas from across the four corners of the Country that traversed about 10,000km distance. The top leadership of the CPI(M) led these Jathas from various parts of the country. It started on 24th February from Kanyakumari with the Southern Jatha. In between 14th to 16th March the four Jathas reached New Delhi. After this was this gathering. The motive behind this Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha was to explain in front of the people about the necessity of struggle to establish the alternative policies. To carry the message of struggle to the masses. As CPI(M) Polit Bureau member said in this rally that people want struggle. People want to be a part of the struggle. At the call of the CPI(M) people had gathered in the heart of the capital as a part of the struggle and had left with the news of struggle.
In the gathering, the President of the meeting Prakash Karat in his commencing speech at the very onset made it clear about the very purpose of the meeting by saying when others are thinking about the forth coming election, this meeting is not for vote but for struggle. At the beginning of his speech he said in this gathering the bidi workers of solapur, the land labourers of Bihar-Uttar Pradesh are there and the toiling masses are there. This is the real India.
Prakash Karat said gradually the state of the toiling masses is worsening. The land of the farmers are being taken away, there is no food security, lakhs and lakhs of youth remain unemployed, there is no scope for education and health for all, atrocities on women is increasing. The central policies are for the multimillionaires; it is being framed for the benefit of the richest. All the assets of the country from land-factories-mines are being handed over to the multimillionaires. Due to the policies of the Government, prices of commodities are rising. In this year’s Central Budget there has been curtailment on subsidies on things, which are of use to the common people. Subsidies on petroleum product have been curtailed. After decontrol, the price of petrol has risen 21 times. The price of diesel is now going to rise every month. The farmers of this country are in trouble but Government subsidy is being curtailed. From 1999 onwards 2lakhs 90thousand farmers have committed suicide. The Government is unperturbed. Now by allowing 100 percent foreign investment in retail business, the livelihood of four crores of retail businessmen is going to be endangered.
He said unless the UPA Government can be removed from its seat, the condition of the people will not change. What is the alternative? The BJP is walking in their path of same liberalization policies, pampering the national and international capital. On the other hand they are competing with Congress in corruption. In recent times The BJP Chief Minister of Karnataka has been jailed for illegal mining corruption. BJP’s Narendra Modi’s Gujrat model is being talked about but what actually is this model that the multimillionaires know very well. They are being given land for no cost, electricity with no surcharge, tax benefit. So that they can ensure more profit. Gujrat is lagging behind in education-health. Gujrat is in the forefront in child malnutrition. The minorities have been awarded a second-class citizen status. This model will cause the downfall of the country.
Karat said that the only option against these policies of liberalization is to fight for the cause of the alternative policy. Through the mass struggle of poor, labours, farmers, youth, women, tribals a strong alternative policy has to be framed. The non-congress, non-BJP parties have to think whether the condition of the poor people can improve without an alternative policy. They should come forward but whether they come or not CPI(M) along with other Left Parties will continue with the fight for an alternative policy.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau members, Sitaram Yechury, Biman Bose, Brinda Karat, Manik Sarkar also addressed the gathering.
The huge gathering of poor people under the banner of the red flag in the heart of the capital will take back the message of struggle to all the parts of the country. In the coming days the struggle of the poor for the alternative policies will spread to the nook and corner of the country. That is the message of the huge rally at Ramlila Grounds, New Delhi.

AIDWA PRESS RELEASE ON THE CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL, 2013

AIDWA notes with disappointment that the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2013 passed by the UPA Government in the Lok Sabha today to amend the rape laws has not taken into consideration the objections and issues that have been repeatedly raised by AIDWA and other women's organizations. We reiterate that the opportunity to provide comprehensive justice for women who have been subjected to sexual violence should not be lost, and call for their inclusion even at this stage. Some of the objections to the Bill are as under:

• Despite comprehensive suggestions made by the Verma Committee in the laws relating to sexual assaults the bill does not change patriarchal and anti-women provisions like Sections 354 and S509 of the archaic Indian Penal Code relating to molestation and “eve teasing” .These only punish assaults and gestures which “outrage the modesty of a woman” and are demeaning and insulting to woman.

• Further, the Bill retains the marital rape exception and states that sexual intercourse or sexual acts with a wife is not rape. This is against the provisions of the Indian Constitution which considers women as equal human beings who have a right to live with dignity and be free from violence within and outside marriage. The government is however not willing to recognize and punish sexual violence within the marriage. The Verma Committee report had pointed out that this exception “stems from an outdated notion of marriage which regarded wives as no more than the property of their husbands….”.

• Apart from this, while the proposed Government Bill of 2010 had added that if rape is committed by a person in a position of social, economic and political dominance this would be considered an aggravated form of offence, the present Bill completely dilutes this suggestion and removes the words “social, economic and political” from Clause (k) under Section 376(2) of the IPC. This clause was meant to address rape which is often committed with impunity by those in positions of power on women from the most vulnerable sections of our society. Rapes by higher caste men on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women should be considered an aggravated form of rape.

• AIDWA and other national women’s organisations had pointed out that young boys who are in a consensual relationship with a young girl who may be between 16 and 18 years of age must be protected from the criminal consequences of statutory rape. The social reality is that there are many instances of consensual sexual activity between girls who may be between the ages of 16 and 18 and boys who may be the same age or slightly older and it would lead to injustice if these young boys were prosecuted for rape. It had therefore suggested that such consensual activity should be exempted from the purview of statutory rape provided the accused person was not more than five years older. However, this suggestion has not been inserted in the law.

Apart from this AIDWA had demanded that command responsibility must be recognized as recommended in the Verma Committee Report and made other suggestions regarding the non inclusion of death penalty in the Bill and other procedural changes which have not been inserted. AIDWA therefore demands that these changes should be incorporated in the final Act and the Bill passed in the current session of parliament to ensure substantial justice for women.

On Sri Lankan Tamils Issue

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

Though four years have passed since the end of the hostilities between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE, no meaningful steps have been taken to address the issues of atrocities committed during the last phase of the war. Enough evidence exists about war crimes against innocent civilians. The UN Human Rights Council had adopted a resolution in March 2012 asking the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Since then, there has been no progress in the matter.

At the UN Human Rights Council meeting, the Government of India should take the stand that the Sri Lankan government should agree to a high level, credible and independent enquiry on the allegations of war crimes committed during the last phase of the civil war.

It is also a matter of concern that the Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa has declared that no autonomy will be given to the Tamil-speaking areas. By this, he has gone back from his own stand that something more than the 13th amendment to the Constitution can be provided in terms of devolution of power to the Tamil-speaking region. The Government of India should take up this matter and press upon the Sri Lankan government to arrive at a political settlement so that adequate power is devolved to the Tamil-speaking areas.

XV Congress of the Communist Party of Russian Federation

Our Goal is the Victory of Socialism

Sitaram Yechury

135 fraternal delegates from 91 fraternal parties attended the 15th Congress of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF), held on February 23-24. It began amidst great enthusiasm and a high level of optimism markedly different from that seen in the recent past. The significantly improved showing of the CPRF in the last elections in the Duma (parliament), and its growing role in giving meaningful inputs to issues on national agenda, are to a large extent responsible for this justifiable feel of a sense of pride in being a communist in today's Russia. During the last two decades, the Communists in Russia have gone through many trials and tribulations. Against all odds and repression, they managed to reorganise themselves initially as an underground force and fought the way to acquire the status of a legitimate political party in post Soviet Russia. Since then, they have seen many an ebb and tide in their activities and acceptance by the people. Over the years, through sheer hard work and a public display of steadfast commitment to the Russian nation and increased prosperity of its people, they have today emerged as the second largest political force and a recognised parliamentary opposition in the country.

While battling through the immediate conditions in the country, the CPRF has been increasingly rallying a large number of people around its agenda of building a better Russia, which they never hesitate to add, is the prerequisite for the re-emergence of socialism in their country. This effort of the CPRF, it must be noted, has come in the background of a severe anti-communist propaganda that is sweeping across Europe, particularly in the countries of former socialist Eastern Europe. In many of these countries there are efforts to ban the communist parties, their affiliate organisations and deny them the universal and basic human rights and liberties. All across Europe, the effort is to legitimise the equation of communism with fascism, decrying both as being anti-human. In contrast, in Russia today, Joseph Stalin and the leadership that he provided to the Soviet Red Army and the Soviet people in the mighty victory against fascism is recollected with immense pride and accomplishment. Stalin today has emerged as one of the most powerful and popular figure in the country's history. To carry a portrait or a badge of Stalin in Moscow today has become synonymous with supreme patriotism and the commitment for the creation of a better Russia.

The discussions during the Congress reflected this national milieu. The accompanied high level of enthusiasm and optimism was all the more refreshing as a large number of youth not only participated in the discussion but were elected to the central committee and more importantly to the highest authority of the CPRF, it Presidium. The 15th Congress elected 180 members to the CC and 116 alternate members to the CC through a secret ballot. The CPRF can no longer be called a party of the retired or of the nostalgic. It has now assumed the character of the party of the future. However, how this will be translated into reality was the issue on which a large part of the discussions concentrated upon.

The Congress adopted a rather longish report presented by the Chairman of the Central committee Gennady Zyuganov who has been subsequently re-elected as the Chairman by the 15th Congress. For the first time after the dismantling of the USSR and the formation of the CPRF, this report was subjected to a pre-Congress party discussion in all party units and was thoroughly discussed in the Congress. In that sense the CPRF has now emerged as a truly organised communist party with grassroot level units and intermediate level committees leading up to the central committee and the party Congress. Following the demolition of the Soviet Union, in an atmosphere of widespread disillusionment and repression unleashed against communists, a band of committed communists around Comrade Zyuganov worked tireless braving all attacks to re-build the communist party. This 15th Congress, in a sense signalled a fair degree of success in achieving this as a consequence of the work done by this committed group of communists.

For the first time since the demise of the Soviet Union, the Russian communists received not inconsiderable media attention. The CPRF's programme for the rejuvenation of Russia as a powerful industrial nation is receiving largescale support. It must be noted that in the last two decades since the Soviet Union ceased to exist, there has not been a single megawatt of power generation that has been added. Likewise, the entire infrastructure from public transport to heating, so necessary for Russian winter, etc, remains the same as it was during the last days of the Soviet Union. This in itself is a telling testimony of the superiority of socialism. The CPRF's members of parliament today head many parliamentary committees that are mandated to lay down plans and proposals for the industrial resurgence of Russia. All in all, this 15th Congress marked a qualitatively positive shift in the position and role of the communists in contemporary Russia. In the immediate Russian context, the Congress put out a programme for the rejuvenation of the country under the slogan 'Russia demands a change'.

The Congress discussed various possibilities that currently Russia is pregnant with. Comrade Zyuganov's report describes this in the following: “There may be different outcomes to the current crisis for Russia. Below are some of the scenarios:

- the establishment of a repressive, openly dictatorial regime by oligarchic capital and still greater oppression of the masses;

- accelerated processes of disintegration of Russia with the participation of external forces;

- left-wing-patriotic forces coming to power by peaceful means through bourgeois-democratic procedures;

- a social revolution as a result of a nationwide crisis that breaks out regardless of the wishes of social classes, parties and leaders.

Our party will do everything to make our programme one for the salvation of the country so that Russia’s pivot to the left be consolidated by the formation of a government of popular trust.” The Congress drew up specific plans for the transformation of Russia through accelerated development into economic growth; for Russia, that will put an end to poverty and social degradation through a change in State priorities; for a cultural upsurge that will be an indispensable condition for the revival of Russia and for a Russia with strengthened national security that will have a new foreign and defence policy.

Reiterating its commitment to proletarian internationalism based on its commitment to revolutionary ideology of Marxism-Leninism, the report concludes by stating: “World development is dialectical. With the strengthening of the forces of progress and socialism new threats to the modern world are growing. Another aspect of dialectics is that the counter-offensive of imperialism is fraught with colossal danger, but at the same time it reveals its true nature and thus contributes to the growth of revolutionary struggles.

The world is experiencing massive economic, social, political and cultural changes. These changes will have far-reaching consequences. Their outcome would depend on the actions of the entire front of the forces that oppose imperialism. Individual states and their ability to unite in pursuit of common goals will play a part. The degree of mobilisation of peoples to struggle for their sovereignty and independence will be important. The struggle of the working class and other proletarian strata for their rights will be highly significant. The balance of forces that will take shape as a result of all this will determine the future of mankind.

New vistas are opening up for the champions of socialism. The complex and contradictory situation demands from us, Communists, a profound theoretical analysis, energetic practical actions and an unerring approach to choosing the forms and methods of struggle.

The CPRF has developed and presented to society a comprehensive programme for taking Russia out of the crisis. It reflects the interests of the absolute majority of citizens. Increased support for the party in elections held in recent years means that the voters trust our position. The future activities of the CPRF will be connected with propaganda and popularisation of our programme in attempting to rally the broad masses to support it. The masses must take a conscious, persistent and creative role in the building of a new society. Following that rule, the CPRF is helping the country’s workers to understand the need for replacing capitalism and encourages them to self-organise and join class struggle.

Capitalism is dangerous. Humanity’s need to get rid of it is becoming ever more urgent. “Socialism or barbarism” – this is an increasingly stark choice.

We Communists have no right to lose that battle. Our policy is the policy of the majority. Our goal is the victory of Socialism.

(Peoples Democracy)

Left parties picket Government Offices in Andhra Pradesh against power tariff hike

Activists of the Left parties, CPIM, CPI, CPI ML, CPI ML New Democracy laid a siege to the government offices in every mandals of Andhra Pradesh against the electricity tarrif hike. Activists protest against imposition of additional Rs 720 crore Fuel Surcharge Adjustment Charges (FSAC) for second quarter of this fiscal. The leaders said the people would teach a lesson to Congress party for its anti-people policies, alleging that the Congress government had failed in all sectors.

The government was increasing power tariff and imposing surcharge at will to cover up its failure to secure adequate gas and coal to generate sufficient power, they alleged. The Congress government would incur people’s wrath in the next general elections as it was throwing a heavy burden on the people, without exploring avenues to generate power using thermal, solar, wind, hydel or gas resources, they warned. The people, farmers and industries were hard hit by the prolonged power cuts in the State, they said.

Protest Against Wal-Mart in Haryana

Even a suspicion of Wal-mart trying to gain a backdoor entry into retail trade was enough for people here to come out in protest against US multinational retail giant. Hundreds of workers of CPI(M) and mass organisations such as AIDWA, CITU, SFI and DYFI demonstrated in front of Kisan Mart being inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda raising slogans "No To Wal-Mart". Only after police arrested around 75 protesters led by AIDWA Vice-President Jagmati Sangwan, did the chief minister able to hastily inaugurate the same mall. It is reported that Hooda government has already committed to give an entire floor in the sprawling Mall to Bharati-Walmart.

Later, addressing a public meeting here at Sriram Rangshala, in connection with the Northern Jatha of CPI(M)'s Sangharsh Sandesh Brinda Karat, Member CPI(M) Polit Bureau congratulated the anti-Wal-Mart protesters. She also warned the UPA government that it may have succeeded in manipulating a majority for it's resolution on FDI in retail, it should not be under illusion that now Wal-Mart can enter India. “People of India won't allow that and the Left along with other trade organisations will resist any such attempts on the streets.

Eastern Jatha Reaches Delhi

After traversing nearly 2650 kilometers, Eastern Jatha of the Sangharsh Sandesh, completed its journey when it reached Delhi on Thursday evening. This jatha, led by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat started from Kolkata on 1st March. On its way, the Jatha crossed West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, through numerous towns and villages, addressing thousands of people, calling upon them to unite for the fight for alternative policies.

The Jatha spent 2 days in West Bengal, 2 days in Jharkhand, 5 days in Bihar and 4 days in UP. On its way, 33 public meetings were held – 8 in West Bengal, 5 in Jharkhand, 14 in Bihar, 6 in UP. Many roadside smaller meetings too were held. In more than 125 places jatha was received by people, raising slogans and garlanding leaders. One of the most important feature was many organisations submitted memorandums and people brought their problems to the notice of the leaders.

People from all walks of the society were present in the meetings. While steel and coal workers received Jatha in Raniganj and Durgpur in West Bengal, the last point of such felicitation was Ferozabad in UP, where glass workers, bangle makers were present. Peasants and agricultural workers were of course the majority in these gatherings. ASHA and scheme workers in their uniforms were enthusiastic in almost every area, as they have found in CPI(M) their only friend among all political parties.
 

Etawah

On Thursday, there was one public meeting in Etawah. The peasants of Etawah are fighting a grim battle against forcible land acquisition for a dedicated freight corridor of railways. Nearly 500 acres of land will be acquired, the notification for which has been issued. Peasants are offered very low compensation. CPI(M) is in the forefront demanding justice for the peasants. Already many forms of resistance movements have been organised. Peasants from this area came to attend the meeting in Kachari – the district court area. Lawyers gathered in good numbers in the meeting and welcomed the leaders. It was also reported to CPI(M) leaders that despite being the home district of Mulayam singh Yadav and his chief minister son, in Etawah hundreds of people, particularly from minorities do not have even a ration card. Many muslim women came to the meeting and submitted their grievances in writing.

Prakash Karat, while addressing the rally, said until and unless a powerful movement for alternative policies could be built, there would be no change in the lives of the poor and dispossessed.

Jatha in Delhi
The Jatha was received in Mayur Vihar by the Delhi state committee of the CPI (M). Prakash Karat addressed the gathering. After that, a convoy of vehicles accompanied the Jatha to the party Central Committee headquarters, AKG Bhavan. AK Padmanabhan, Polit Bureau member, Basudeb Acharia, Tapan Sen and Hari Singh Kang, members of the central committee led the members of the CC units in welcoming the leaders at the AKG Bhavan.

CPI(M) Khammam District Committee plans ‘chalo Hyderabad’

The CPI (M) Khammam district committee will organise a ‘chalo Hyderabad’ programme on March 16 to mount pressure on the State government allocate Rs 10,000 crore in the ensuing State budget for speedy completion of all the pending irrigation projects in the district. The party had earlier organised a 14-day long “Saagu Neeti Sadhana Maha Padayatra” involving 1000 party cadres in the district in October last year to press the demand.

Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday, CPI (M) district committee secretary P Sudarshan Rao, said the ‘Chalo Hyderabad’ programme had been planned to mount pressure on the government to earmark Rs 10,000 crore in the State budget for completing the irrigation projects including the Rajiv Sagar (Dummugudem) and Indira Sagar (Rudramkota) lift irrigation schemes. The present regime headed by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had finalised the tenders for Polavarm project in the dead of the night in a hasty manner, he alleged lamenting that the government was turning a blind eye towards execution of several long-pending and need-based irrigation projects such as Rajiv Sagar. The unabated suicides by the farmers were a clear pointer to the gravity of the irrigation woes of the peasants, he said stressing the need for expeditious completion of the irrigation projects in the district to find a lasting solution to the multitude of problems confronted by the farmers.

The party would stage a demonstration at the dharna chowk in the State capital on Saturday in pursuit of the demand. CPI (M) State secretary B V Raghavulu, central committee member T Veerabhadram, party floor leader in the Assembly J Ranga Reddy and a host of other senior party leaders besides the participants of the last year’s “Maha Padayatra” would take part in the dharna.

(Source : The Hindu)

Eastern Jatha in Lucknow

Eastern Jatha reached Lucknow today crossing more than 275 kilometers through central Uttar Pradesh. The journey started from Varanasi, where a big public meeting was held last night. The meeting took place in Kacchibagh area, commonly known as Bunkers’ area. It is here the artistry of famed Benarasi saris have flourished. Both handloom and powerloom weaving are being done here in almost every other house. Weavers, numbering almost 50,000 in Varanasi, are facing multi-dimensional crisis for last few years. The problem is more acute for the handloom weavers, who, by the way earned their skills through generations. Benarasi saris had to be made with intricacy and needs long hours to complete one. Handloom weavers are facing challenges from powerlooms, while in the later, workers or the actual weavers are not paid their fair share.

Weavers have formed their organization and are fighting a difficult battle for survival of the trade and their own demands. CPI(M) has strong influence among Bunkers which was reflected in the meeting on Monday evening which went on for hours. Mostly from the minorities, the weavers gathered and listened to CPI(M) leaders explaining how centre’s policies were ruining the livelihood of the people.

On Tuesday, jatha on its way was warmly received in three places in Jaunpur district. At the entrance of the district, a street corner meeting was addressed by Prakash Karat. In Jaunpur town, an unscheduled meeting had to be conducted as people were eagerly waiting with enthusiasm.

The public meeting in Sultanpur was not only quite a large one, but reverberated with enthusiasm. Peasants and agricultural workers from nearby villages attended the meeting. Most notably, students and youth participated in good numbers. Students' front is active in Sultanpur town and in the district. Many teenagers, with both red flag and flag of the student front came to listen to the leaders. They continued slogan shouting as long as the rally continued. Dalits and minorities were present in good numbers.

By evening the Jatha reached Lucknow. A public meeting was held in the field adjacent to CPI(M) state office on Vidhansabha Marg. As soon as the Jatha reached the border of Lucknow city, poor women virtually blocked the bus and garlanded leaders. In the public meeting, student and youth front activists raised slogans and sang songs with gusto.

South & West Jatha Merge in Bhopal

The Southern Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha which began its journey on February 24 from Kanyakumari and traversed through Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra reached Bhopal on Tuesday evening. Simultaneously, the Western Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha that began its journey from Mumbai on March 08 reached Bhopal after covering Maharashtra. Both these jathas merged at a public meeting organised by the CPI(M) Madhya Pradesh state committee at Neelam Park in Bhopal. Now, one jatha will continue its journey to Delhi from tomorrow. 

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and leader of Southern jatha S Ramachandran Pillai, addressing the gathering said there is no magic or mantra to achieve the most important and genuine demands of the people placed in this jatha programme. The only option is to conduct militant struggles and for this the people must unite overcoming all attempts to divide them on religious, regional and caste lines. He said these struggles must be waged in a consistent and continuous manner to achieve the demands relating to food, housing, wages, social justice etc. 

CPI(M) central secretariat member and Western jatha member Nilotpal Basu in his speech lambasted the UPA-II government for favouring corporates and neglecting the genuine demands of the common people. He explained the purpose of jatha programme and called upon people to join in large numbers the March 19 rally in Delhi. 

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M A Baby, CPI(M) central secretariat member V Sreenivasa Rao, both members of Southern Jatha and CPI(M) central committee member Md Salim and CPI(M) Maharashtra state secretariat member Mariam Dhawale, both members of Western Jatha were also present. CPI(M) Madhya Pradesh unit state secretary Badal Saroj spoke in the meeting.

Earlier, the Western Jatha had an impressive meeting in Sihor town, around 40 km away from Bhopal. More than 80 per cent of participants were women, mostly agricultural workers and various scheme workers. They connected to the speeches made by jatha leaders. 

In the morning at a 'Meet the Press' held at Indore Press Club, Nilotpal Basu and Md Salim highlighted the danger of communal forces to the nation. Indore, which has been a hotbed for Hindu fundamentalist forces with most of the conspirators of Hindutva terror group coming from here, the CPI(M) leaders pointed out that internal security can be ensured when all citizens are made to live in harmony and security. Just buying up arms would not help, said Salim in reply to a question. And those who talk a lot about internal security, it is in their areas only where people are made to feel more insecure due to divisive policies.

Southern and Western Jatha enters Madhya Pradesh

On the fourth day after flag off, the Western Jatha entered Madhya Pradesh state on the afternoon of Monday, March 11 through Bharwani district bordering Maharashtra. The jatha was received at the border point by Party comrades from Madhya Pradesh state committee. Maharashtra state secretary Ashok Dhawale and AIKS state secretary Kisan Gujar accompanied the jatha till the border, from where they returned back. 

After the first meeting in Rajnagar in Bharwani district of Madhya Pradesh, again a tribal region, the jatha moved on to Mhow, the birthplace of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. After paying tributes to Ambedkar at the statue erected near his ancestral home, Yechury addressed the public meeting. He started by saying that one of the main intentions of the jatha is to underline the need for struggles to resolve the basic contradiction pointed out by Babasaheb Ambedkar when he presented the draft of Indian Constitution to the Constituent Assembly. Ambedkar had warned that unless socio-economic inequalities, where one man does not possess one value, are not removed, our political structure, where one man has one vote, will be blown asunder. Yechury said today socio-economic inequalities are growing at a fast pace in the country. He called for intensifying struggles against the neo-liberal economic policies that are the root cause of such growing inequality.

Earlier in the morning, the jatha's Maharashtra leg of the journey concluded with an impressive public meeting in Prakasha village in the tribal dominated Nandurbar district with over 4000 tribals attending it. As was recurrent through out this leg, tribal women dominated in numbers. The jatha was received few kilometres from Prakasha by a contingent of around 100 red volunteer motorcyclists.

As the convoy reached the venue, it was greeted by a large group of tribal men and women with traditional music and dance. The rhythmic beat from two huge drums, accompanied with howling sounds of the youth and the gracious steps of women, both old and young, charged the atmosphere. Yechury, Nilotpal Basu, Mohd Salim, Mariam Dhawale and Ashol Dhawale walked with the sloganeering crowd for around a kilometre to reach the venue. The leaders were given traditional tribal headgear before the start of the meeting. Yechury called upon the gathering to come and join the March 19 public meeting in Delhi which would give a clarion call for struggles to better the lives of common masses. Others also addressed the gathering.

At a press conference at the government rest house in Nandurbar town, Yechury said there is growing pressure from below within political parties that were pursuing neo-liberal economic policies to change course. He cited the case of Samajwadi party that had protested on the streets against FDI in retail but supported the government in parliament on the same issue. He said the struggles outside would help in forcing such parties leadership to change course.

The fourth day of jatha concludes with a public meeting in the night in Indore city.

Nagpur welcomed the Southern Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha with receptions at different points in the city on March 10. The first reception was at Khapri where the workers from Central Institute of Cotton Research, students, youth and women welcomed the Jatha. There were two other receptions in the city and comrades led the way in bikes. The Jatha vehicle was taken through the crowded streets of Nagpur to a hall meeting at the Shikshak Sahakari Bhavan. The meeting was addressed by the Jatha leaders. Over 500 people from all sections of society attended the hall meeting. Notably leaders of other Left and Democratic Parties like CPI, Forward Bloc, All India Bolshevik Party and the Republican Party of India also attended the meeting.

On 11th March the Jatha left early for Madhya Pradesh and travelled over 350 kilometres. The Jatha was received at Sosar on the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border by comrades. There were meetings at 3 places today, at Chhindwara, Kareli and Ghadwara in Narasinghpur District. At Kareli, the Jatha members marched for about a kilometre through the market place with slogan shouting comrades accompanying them. A press conference was held at Kareli. At Ghadarwara comrades were waiting despite the 4 hour delay in the arrival of the Jatha. M.A.Baby and Ramnarayan Kuraria Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Kisan Sabha addressed the gathering.

On the 12th of March the day began with a reception and meeting at Saalichowka in Narassinghpur District. Comrades received the Jatha with slogans and the beating of the “Dhol”. A meeting was held which was addressed by S.Ramachandran Pillai, Ramnarayan Kuraria and Salil Shukla CITU leader.