CPIM Polit Bureau Communique

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on December 26 and 27, 2009. It has issued the following statement:

Copenhagen Climate Talks

The Copenhagen climate conference failed to reach the required agreement on reducing carbon emissions due to the unreasonable stand of the United States and other developed countries which worked to bypass the Kyoto Protocol and undermine the United Nations Climate Change Framework. No legally binding agreement was arrived at and the industrialised countries refused to commit to deep emission cuts. Instead, by negating the principle of differentiation between the industrialised and developing countries, they sought to pressurise the developing countries to take on the major burden of reducing global emissions. The United States which is historically the main culprit for carbon emissions sought to impose monitoring and verification of voluntary emission reductions by the developing countries.

The lesson to be learnt from the Copenhagen summit is that the Indian government which sought to adjust to the policies of the United States and make unilateral concessions could not prevent the maneouvres of the developed countries. It is only the unity of the BASIC bloc comprising China, India, Brazil and South Africa which to some extent prevented an outright capitulation.

It is imperative that India work in concert with the BASIC and G77 countries and evolve a strategy to ensure that the United States and the developed countries accept their historical responsibility and commit to affect deep emission cuts and provide the finances for appropriate technology for the developing countries to mitigate carbon emissions.

US Troops to Afghanistan

The Polit Bureau strongly opposed the decision of the United States President to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. With this increase, the total number of US troops will reach nearly 100,000 apart from the troops from the Nato allies. It is eight years since the United States launched its war in Afghanistan. The intensification of the war will only lead to more civilian casualties. The people of Afghanistan will never accept foreign occupation by the US-Nato troops and this will only provide sustenance to the Taliban.

It is deplorable that the UPA government supports the continuance of the US-Nato occupation of Afghanistan. By the Af-Pak strategy the United States is attempting to draw India into its Afghanistan strategy for serving its geo-political interests. India should demand the withdrawal of the US-Nato troops. India should be part of a regional initiative comprising countries like Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to address the Afghan problem.

Mobilisation Against Price Rise

The Polit Bureau reviewed the rallies against price rise and for a strengthened public distribution system in the different states. Price rise is a major issue for the people and the campaign has had a positive response with large mobilisations. The stubborn refusal of the Central Government to change its food policies has been highlighted by the refusal to ban future trading in wheat. It will be recalled that the earlier ban on futures in wheat was stealthily removed just before the new government was sworn in. The refusal to increase the number of families under BPL in spite of the recommendations of various official committees to increase the number of BPL families in the rural areas to between 41 and 50 per cent is another example of the wrong policies. The Party will intensify the struggles to bring relief to the people on the basis of the demand for alternative policies.

All India Rally

The Polit Bureau decided to make the all India rally call by the Left parties during the Budget Session of parliament a big success. The issues of price rise, land, employment and other immediate problems of the people will be highlighted in this rally.

No Civil Nuclear Liability Bill

The Polit Bureau reiterated its opposition to the proposed Civil Nuclear Liability Bill. This legislation demanded by the US as part of the operationalisation of the 123 agreement, absolves suppliers of nuclear reactors of liability in the case of nuclear accidents. Further, it has set the liability limit for the operator at a meagre Rs. 300 crores, when a nuclear accident can affect the lives of lakhs of people.

The Polit Bureau demanded that the Government abandon such a nuclear liability law. It called upon all political parties to oppose the Bill, if it is brought to parliament.

Kota Bridge Collapse

The Polit Bureau expressed deep sorrow at the deaths of many workers late on December 24^th in the collapse of the bridge being constructed over the Chambal river near Kota, Rajasthan. 28 bodies have been recovered so far. The actual number of workers who died cannot be confirmed as it is the practice of companies not to register the workers who are usually on contract to deprive them of their legal rights. One of the companies responsible for the Kota accident is Gammon India. This is the same company responsible for three accidents in the Delhi Metro project, caused by gross and criminal negligence in which several workers lost their lives. It was reported at the time that the company has been banned for two years from construction by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Gammon India should be banned from all Government projects throughout India. The Central Government has to ensure that all private companies/contractors which are given projects by the Government guarantee the workers their full legal rights which is not the case at present.

Rectification Campaign

The rectification report of the Polit Bureau was discussed. This will be finalised and placed before the meeting of the Central Committee.

Anniversary of Keezhvenmani carnage observed

Somber moment: N.Varadharajan, State secretary, CPI (M),
hoisting the party flag at Keezhvenmani in observance of the
41st anniversary of 1968 Dalit massacre in Nagapattinam on Friday.

KEEZHVENMANI (NAGAPATTINAM): Even as the world gears up to observe the fifth anniversary of tsunami, a day before, on December 25, another anniversary was observed some 20 km from Nagapattinam.

An arch painted in red opens the road to Keezhvenmani. The red flag of Communist Party of India (Marxist) flutters against the wind from the mounted platform of the memorial.

Names engraved

Forty-four names along with the names of 14 victims from the same family are engraved on the black granite. A plantain bud carved out of monolithic red granite mounted on a platform serves as a memory of the dead. The plantain bud was reminiscent of the ‘continuity of the revolution.’

On December 25, 1968, 44 Dalits, women, men and children, were locked in a hut and set fire in Keezhvenmani. The violence was a response to their demand for wage hike.

Keezhvenmani marked a watershed in the semantics of Dalit violence in post-Independent India and Tamil Nadu. It has since become a reference point for Left ideology in the East Thanjavur region.

Cry of salute

On Friday as khakhi-clad police littered across the mud-laden narrow stretch, and as red flags fluttered, cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) marched with a cry of salute for the “Venmani martyrs.” Wreaths were placed at the memorial for Venmani’s children devoured by the flames.

While Venmani became a reference point for left politics, it also marked a socio-political cry for a Gandhian struggle by ‘Sarvodaya couple’ Krishnammal Jeganathan and Jeganathan in the region. It triggered off a spate of non-violent agitations for re-distribution of temple and Trust lands in Valivalam to landless Dalits, under their leadership. The couple had since formed an organisation for land re-distribution among Dalits.

Fresh in my mind

“I could not sleep last night, and the sight of the violence feels fresh in my mind - fresh blood of a butchered child, and charred bodies of women and children, who had taken refuge in a hut,” observed Krishnammal Jeganathan over phone, on the occasion of the anniversary.

“I decided to make it my life’s mission to restore land to landless Dalit women,” she said.

According to Ms.Jeganathan, the issue that snapped the victims’ lives short was still alive, with over 49 per cent of Dalits still landless.

“We have touched just the surface, and the work remains incomplete.”

Varadarajan slams draft fisheries Bill

“The cause of their martyrdom at Keezhvenmani remains unfulfilled” more than four decades after the massacre of Dalits, said N. Varadarajan, State secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), considering the current status of Dalits and Arundhathiyars in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to reporters here on Friday on the sidelines of the 41st anniversary of the Dalit massacre, Mr. Varadharajan pointed out to the non-filling of 3 per cent seats reserved for the Arundhathiyars, while filling 5,700 posts of teachers.

He slammed the provisions of the draft Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, 2009, and called for complete annulment of the Bill. In pursuit of their demand, the CPI (M) would organise a demonstration outside Raj Bhavan on February 2, 2010.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

On The Situation In Andhra Pradesh

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep concern at the situation in Andhra Pradesh. The Congress Party and the Central Government have thoroughly mishandled the issue of Telengana that has resulted in the current rise of tensions and conflicts. It is the responsibility of the Congress Party to work for the restoration of normalcy. Though the Central Government had announced that it would undertake a process of consultations with all political parties and civil society, the modalities for this is not announced so far. The Central Government must begin this process immediately in order to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

The CPI (M) reiterates its consistent position that the linguistic basis for the organisation of the states in the country should not be disturbed as this would lead to innumerable demands all across the country, given our vast diversity and plurality. Further the linguistic re-organisation of states constitutes the bedrock of India’s federal policy that should not be disturbed. Therefore, in the background of the reports that the Central Government is contemplating the establishment of a second states re-organisation commission the CPI(M) thinks that this is unnecessary.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) condemns the wanton destruction of properties and attacks on political leaders in the state. It appeals to the people of Andhra Pradesh, all political parties and civil society to exercise the utmost restraint and work together for restoring normalcy.

December 25 : Venmani Martyrs Day

On 25 th December 1968, 44 agricultural workers including 20 women and 19 children were burnt alive. They were in the midst of a struggle for wage increase. Later part of nineteen sixties
saw struggles of agricultural workers in the whole of the then East Thanjavur District. Strikes took place in several hundred villages in this area. During these days the police shot dead Comrade Pakkiri of Poonthazhangudi village. Ramachandran of Kekkarai village and Pakkirisami of Sikkal village were attacked and killed by the goondas of landlords. Situation was thus tense in the district as a whole.

The landlords demanded that the red-flags hoisted in the villages should be brought down and that the flags of the landlords association should be hoisted in their place. Besides, they said any increase in wage will be given liberally, if they do this. The agricultural labourers organized under the banner of CPI(M) did not relent. They organized meetings in each village and declared that it was the red flag which brought them honour and recognition and they would never allow the red flags to be brought down – come what may. Keezha Venmani, a tiny hamlet in Nagapattinam taluk, was chosen to attack the agricultural workers by the landlords. Hired goondas of the landlords entered the village on 25.12.1968 at 8.30 p.m. with guns, petrol and other weapons. They shot at all people there and everyone ran away to protect their lives. Women, children and elderly men who could not run away took shelter in a small hut (measuring 12’ x 12’). These goondas finding that they were all inside bolted the door outside and set fire to it. They poured petrol all over and ensured every one inside was burnt to death. Totally 28 huts were burnt. This incident shook the conscience of the world.

After this incident, the government announced a commission for deciding wages for agricultural workers. A memorial has been raised in the same place where the hut was situated. This memorial looked like one at Jalianwalabagh. The people used to come and pay their respects to the martyrs. Since then, the CPI(M) has been observed a Venmani Martyrs Day each year stressing the peasant – worker unity. On this day, thousands of people from various parts of Thanjavur district and Tamilnadu used to come and pay their respects to the martyrs.

Left Rally on People's Issues

Press Statement

Leaders of the Left parties held a meeting today. They have issued the following statement:

The Left parties took stock of the joint campaign conducted in the states against price rise, on problems of drought and flood and for food security.

The government has totally failed to curb the continuing steep rise in the prices of food items. The problems of land and unemployment have become acute. Therefore, the Left parties decided to hold an all India rally during the Budget session of parliament in March 2010. The rally will be organised to highlight the problems of the people and to give a thrust to the all India movement.

Those who attended the meeting are: Prakash Karat & Sitaram Yechury from the CPI(M), A.B. Bardhan & D Raja from the CPI, Debabrata Biswas from the AIFB and Abani Roy from the RSP.

DYFI plans direct action against untouchability

CHENNAI: The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) will launch direct action against untouchability in 31 places in 21 districts on December 25, Venmani Martyrs Day, when 44 Dalits were burnt to death in 1968.

Talking to reporters, DYFI state secretary S. Kannan and president S.G. Ramesh Babu said untouchability was being practised in eight forms in the State. Besides being denied entry into temples, in some places Dalits were not allowed to use common roads.

“They can neither bathe in village tanks nor use water for other purposes. They cannot visit a barber’s shop or use footwear. In many places they are served tea in separate cups.”

Mr. Kannan said DYFI cadre would launch direct action in 21 places and organise demonstration in 10 others.

Mr. Babu said consistent efforts by his organisation had secured temple entry rights for the Dalits at Kokkarayanpet in Tiruchengode taluk. On Tuesday, the Iswaran temple authorities entered into an agreement with the DYFI for allowing all sections into the temple.

Mr. Kannan said the government should take all steps to ensure that all forms of untouchability were eradicated in the State. “Dalits should be allowed to participate in public events.”

Revamp PDS to control price rise: CPI(M)

Party workers stage dharna at civil supply office at Gandhinagar

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Poor and middle class bearing the brunt, says MP

New card holders not getting rations, alleges CPI(M) secretary

VIJAYAWADA: The CPI(M) on Wednesday staged a dharna demanding the government to take immediate steps to regulate the prices of essential commodities by revamping the public distribution system. Rajya Sabha member P. Madhu, who addressed the dharna at the civil supply office at Gandhinagar, expressed concern that the poor and middle class was bearing the brunt of the spiralling prices of all important commodities. He alleged that the government was playing the role of a mere spectator even as the prices of all the commodities were touching the sky. He demanded that the government extend a helping hand to the poor by distributing all the commodities through public distribution system free of cost.

“Instead of addressing the burning issue of price rise, the government is according top priority to the issue of separate Statehood to Telangana. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities is the major problem of the poor now,” he said. The MP felt the need to revamp the public distribution system and take the initiative to regulate the prices.

CPI (M) city secretary R. Raghu said there were many poor families in the city that were depending on rice and other commodities being distributed through the ration shops. “Unfortunately, there is a cut in the quota of one or more commodities every month. In addition to this, the government is cancelling ration cards by claiming them as bogus ones,” he said.

Mr. Raghu alleged that the new ration card holders were not getting rations for the last one year and despite several complaints there was no action from the officials. Referring to the prices of vegetables, Mr. Raghu demanded that the government take steps to regulate the prices of vegetables too and distribute them on subsidy.

In a memorandum submitted to Assistant Supply Officer Krishna Rao, the party leaders urged the government to regulate the prices and ensure proper distribution of commodities through ration shops. They stressed the need for distributing two litres of kerosene each to those who had only single cooking gas cylinder. Distribution of ‘kandipappu’ at a price of Rs. 30 a kg though the fair price shops, distribution of sugar and dal on ration cards, distribution of 30 kg rice a month to white ration card holders were the other demands of the CPI(M).

DYFI Kerala State Conference

The 11th State Conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Kerala , will be held from 2010 January 8 to 11 in the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

The delegates’ meet will be held from January 8 to 10 and a rally and a public meeting on January 11. As Part of the state conference various programmes have been organised around the state and especially in Thiruvanathapuram. These include seminar series, meetings against imperialism, for women’s empowerment, drama festivals, a documentary film festival and a book fair.

On the concluding day there will be a rally which will be participated by 1 lakh youth from Trivandrum district alone.

SFI CEC Press Statement

Press Release

The Central Executive Committee meeting of Students’ Federation of India, held at New Delhi on 20^th and 21^st December, 2009 has taken up the following decisions.

20^th January, 2009 to be observed as West Bengal Solidarity Day:There has been an unprecedented attack on the organisation in West Bengal All the anti SFI forces have entered into a grand alliance against us. Physical and ideological attacks are on the rise with every passing day. In this time period a number of students have been killed by the Maoists TMC combine. There are attempts to capture elected students Unions by force. During this time period, braving all sorts of obstacles SFI has been victorious in 121 college and university union elections out of the 184 Students Union elections held till day. The combined opposition of all shades has won in 63 colleges. To stand in solidarity with the comrades of Bengal, who are everyday fighting for maintaining the democratic peaceful environment of the educational campuses there SFI will observe 20^th of January 2010, as West Bengal Solidarity Day throughout the country.

29^th January, 2010 to be observed as a Campaign Day regarding Price Rise and Food Security: Campaign regarding the realities behind the enormous price rise, the question of food security will be taken up in the campuses. The issue of mid day meals and about the quality of food in the student hostels will also be taken up. January 29, 2010 will be observed as a campaign day in this regard.

Combat Centralisation and Commercialisation; Observe Badge Day on 16^th February: The Congress led UPA 2 government is on the lines of implementing commercialisation and centralisation in the education sector in a big way. Various initiatives in this regard have been taken up by them. Ongoing campaign in the campuses in this regard in the campuses will be intensified in this period. An all India Badge day vowing to Combat Centralisation and Commercialisation will be observed on February 16, 2010 throughout the country.

All India Convention on Education: As a response to the proposed changes and the new challenges in the education sector an All India Convention on Education involving the leadership of the organisation will be organised on 22^nd and 23^rd February 2010 at New Delhi. Delegates from all over the country will be participating in the convention. The convention will deliberate on issues of school, college and university and professional education.

Uphold the undying legacy of our Martyrs: In this period three of our leading comrades have been brutally killed by the reactionary and fundamentalist forces. In Kerala, SFI Trissur District Secretariat member Comrade A B Bijesh has been killed by the NDF fundamentalists. In West Midnapore district of Bengal SFI Jhargram Rural Zonal Committee member Comrade Avijit Mahato and Salboni Zonal Committee member Comrade Tilak Tudu have been killed by the Maoist-TMC combine. SFI dips its flag in memory of the great fighters and vows to carry forward their undying legacies.

With you in our hearts, Comrades,

We build, we think, we breathe, we live and we fight.

Released by,

PK Biju, MP Ritabrata Banerjee

President General Secretary

On Copenhagen Agreement

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

The Copenhagen Climate Conference has ended without meeting its goal of a legally binding agreement for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Without a treaty committing the rich and industrialized countries to deep emission cuts, the lives and well-being of hundreds of millions of people, especially in the developing world, have been put at risk. This will most adversely affect people in South Asia, large parts of Africa, least developed countries and island nations that could be entirely submerged under rising sea-levels. People all over the world had been hoping that the Conference would chart out a clear course to save humanity and the planet from runaway global warming and climate change. This has not been happened. The political leaders who gathered in Copenhagen have failed their people by not delivering an effective and equitable climate change agreement.

Such an agreement in Copenhagen was made impossible by the positions and tactics of the US and other developed countries. From the first day to the last at Copenhagen, the US and its allies tried their utmost to kill the Kyoto Protocol itself, negate the cornerstone principle of differentiation between the industrialized and developing countries, and pressurize the developing countries to take on the major burden of reducing global emissions. Their inability to achieve these aims was due to the stiff and united resistance put up by the developing countries, a resistance which was one of the few positives in Copenhagen.

Major developing countries such as the BASIC bloc of China, India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as Mexico and Indonesia, voluntarily announced reductions in emissions growth rates in the interests of humanity, going far beyond their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. However, the US, EU and other developed countries did not budge an inch from the low emission cuts they had declared before Copenhagen. A leaked draft UN Report has revealed that pledges made by large developing countries will contribute more to emission reductions than the low commitments of the US and other developed nations.

The CPI(M) had warned the Indian Government that unilateral concessions, before the negotiations, and without conditional linkages to deep cuts by developed countries, would not yield results. This is indeed what has happened.

A complete failure in Copenhagen has been averted with the face-saving text of a “Copenhagen Accord” with the promise of a legally binding agreement in 2010. The Accord was crafted in the closing hours of the Conference by the US, the BASIC countries and 22 other developed and developing countries from different continents and groupings. Though the Accord has no legal status and would not bind countries, it at least provides some way of keeping future negotiations going along the current twin tracks. Without this, the failure of the Conference could have meant the collapse of the Climate Treaty and the Kyoto framework.

However, this Accord is extremely weak in terms of the deep and immediate emission cuts by developed countries that are required to tackle climate change. It is deeply ambiguous with several loopholes and the possibility of different interpretations, particularly with regard to emission cuts by developing countries, and fund and technology transfers.India should therefore ensure that in future negotiations, the red lines committed by the government in Parliament are adhered to. India must also press for deep and immediate emission cuts by the US and other developed countries and work with other developing countries to ensure sustainable development and equitable terms in any final Treaty.