July 5: All India Hartal

Left Parties Statement

 

The Congress-led government has delivered another cruel blow to the people by increasing the price of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and cooking gas steeply and by deregulating the prices and leaving it to the market.  This comes after its refusal to take any effective step to curb price rise of food items and essential commodities which is causing acute suffering to the people.

 

On top of the food inflation at nearly 17 per cent and the general inflation rate in double digits, the Congress-led government has callously raised the fuel prices making the burden on the people unbearable.

 

The government is putting forth deceptive arguments to justify the hike and refuses to listen to the protests of the people.

 

The only way for the people is to launch a powerful collective protest to compel the government to heed their voice to withdraw the hikes.

 

The Left parties have consulted other secular opposition parties. Along with the Left parties, the AIADMK, Telugu Desam Party, Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (S) and Indian National Lok Dal have decided to call for a countrywide hartal on July 5. Discussions with some other secular opposition parties to join the hartal is also on.

 

We appeal to all sections of the people to register their protest by joining the hartal.

 

The hartal will be from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

 

All essential services like supply of water, milk, electricity, hospital and emergency services will be exempt from the hartal.

Chinese communist party membership nears 78 Million

Wang Qinfeng, deputy head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, said at a press conference.Communist Party of China (CPC) said Monday that the number of CPC members has increased to almost 78 million over the past six decades.

 

By the end of last year, the CPC had a total of 77.99 million members, about 116 times of the figure in 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded,he added.

Last year, more than 20 million people applied to join the CPC and the Party recruited about 2 million new members, Wang said.

Of the total 78 million CPC members, about 18.5 million were under 35 years old, and close to 28 million held a college degree or above, he said.

Wang said more than 640,000 of the country's 2.77 million enterprises, including 438,000 non-public enterprises, had set up their own grassroots CPC party organs.

He said CPC members had taken the lead in helping China host the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in 2008, celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China last year, and in the relief work of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008 and the Yushu earthquake in April this year.

CPC members in Qinghai alone had donated more than 27 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S dollars) in "special membership fees" to help with Yushu quake relief, he said. 

 CPC Members' age distribution

Age	Members	% of Total
Below 35	18.47 million	23.7%
36-45	16.88 million	21.6%
46-59	22.84 million	29.3%
Over 60	19.81 million	25.4%

 

CPC Members' career distribution

Careers	Members
Industrial Workers	6.94million
Workers in Farm, Animal husbandry and fishing	24.02 million
Government/CPC Employees	6.6 million
Management & Professionals	17.73 million
Students	2.27 million
Retirees	14.53 million
Others	5.92 million

• By the end of 2007, Chinese Communist Party has 74.153 million members. Among these members, female shares 20.4%, and 32.4% members have college or higher education, and 23.7% members are below 35 years old. (July 1, 2009)
   
• Total Number of Branches: Over 3.3 millions (grass-roots branches)

• The Increase of Total Numbers of CPC

Year	Total CPC Members	Remarks
1997	60.417 million
1998	61.877 million
1999	63.221 million
2000	64.517 million
2001	65.749 million
2002	66.355 million	(June)
2005	70.80 million	(Dec.)
2007	73.36 million	(Oct.)
2009	77.995 million	(Dec.)

Turmoil in Kashmir

EDITORIAL ; Peoples Democracy

THE last two weeks have seen Kashmir in turmoil. The death of a teenage student, Tufail Ahmed Mattoo, who allegedly died due to injuries suffered by a teargas shell fired at a demonstration in Srinagar led to protests in the streets. Subsequently, two more young men have died in police firing during successive rounds of protests, Rafiq Bangroo and Javed Ahmed Malla. The latest incident having occurred on June 20 when a paramilitary police picket fired when they came under attack by a crowd. There was a complete strike in the valley on June 21 in protest against the killing.

Though there has been a sharp drop in the extremist violence, the alienation of the people is expressing itself through mass protests and strikes whenever there are atrocities committed by the security forces. In early May, there was the shocking revelation that three young men from villages in North Kashmir were lured by the promise of jobs and taken to the Line of Control and shot dead by an army unit, who later claimed that they had killed extremists when they were trying to cross the LoC. Such incidents have further angered the people and provided a handle for the separatist forces to step up their propaganda. Despite the prime minister’s assurance of zero tolerance towards human rights violations, little was done to punish those in the armed forces who have indulged in such atrocities.

In order to restore normalcy, it is imperative that the state government and the central authorities take firm action against those responsible for the death of the three youth.  Given the tactics of the hard-line separatist forces of inciting the youth to confront the police forces, maximum restraint should be observed and the stone throwing youth must be tackled without resorting to firing. 

The army is working under difficult conditions in Jammu & Kashmir having to protect the borders and tackle terrorist violence. But the stance taken by the Army Commander Lt Gen B S Jaiswal declaring that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is sacrosanct and should not be amended, is unwarranted. The experience of the AFSPA, both in the North East and in Jammu & Kashmir, shows that some of the draconian provisions of the Act tend to be misused. It is necessary to amend the Act, so that such arbitrary and unaccountable provisions are removed. 

What stands out in the Jammu & Kashmir situation currently is the complete lack of any political initiative by the central government.  The prime minister’s visit to Srinagar in the first week of June was remarkable for the lack of any worthwhile political initiative to tackle the basic problems. The round table talks have gone nowhere. The UPA government seems oblivious of the need to revive the political process whereby issues such as provision of maximum autonomy for the state and regional autonomy for the three regions can be discussed and concretised alongwith the dialogue with Pakistan which is just beginning to resume. In the absence of such a political initiative and the ineffectiveness of the National Conference-Congress coalition government, the separatist forces represented by persons like Syed Ali Geelani are having a free run.  It is time that the Manmohan Singh government gets down to the serious business of providing the political framework for the process of dialogue and the crystallisation of a political settlement within the state of Jammu & Kashmir.   

INTERVIEW WITH BUDDHADEB BHATTACHARYA ON 33 YEARS OF LEFT FRONT GOVT IN BENGAL

'The Meaning of So-Called  “Change” is Anarchy'

The Left Front government in West Bengal has achieved the distinction of continuing for 33 years at a stretch. It has started the journey of 34th year on June 21, 2010. In an interview to Ganashakti, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has highlighted some issues in the context of present situation in the state. Below we give excerpts of the interview:

On the recent defeats in polls

The Left Front has gained majority support for consecutive seven terms from 1977. The results of last Lok Sabha elections was an exception. Same trends have been noticed in other elections thereafter. After the Lok Sabha elections, we have reviewed the results. We have identified the areas in government’s planning and actions where there are mistakes. For example, we are now alert on the question of land acquisition. We will protect the fertile lands while non fertile lands would be used for industrialisation. In this case too, we have to be much more sincere on compensation and rehabilitation. If the poor people feel ignored in any area of government and panchayat activities, we have to correct those mistakes. We have to be more sincere about the development of minorities. 

We have also identified problems in the organisation of Party. There have been instances of undesirable activities which have dented Party’s image. We have decided to rectify quickly.

Is there a problem in the relationship with the peasantry?

The Left Front was born through continuous peasant movement along with the movements of workers, employees, teachers, students, youth, women. Left Front has progressed through land struggle and struggle for sharecroppers’ rights. The peasantry was deprived in the Congress regime. They were given due honour during the Left Front period. Around 11 lakh acres of land was distributed to the poor and marginal farmers through land reforms. More than 15 lakh sharecroppers were recorded. Overwhelming sections of the peasantry support the Left. One aspect of the Singur and Nandigram episode was our target for industrialisation and generation of employment. But a section of the peasantry and the general people did not accept our stand. To them transfer of land for industries became major concern while they did not comprehend the alternatives. We have now become more careful. The policies for acquisition of land for industries and rehabilitation  must be made more realistic, so that the peasantry and the people in general accept that and participate voluntarily.

On the continuous obstruction by opposition parties

It is true that the organised obstruction to resist governmental projects has increased after the last Lok Sabha elections, for example, in Nayachar petrochemicals project, in power project in Katwa, expansion of national highway etc. Despite this, we have progressed during this period. The agricultural production has increased. More than Rs 7000 crore have been invested in industries in the last one year. Clusters for small industries have been constructed. The number of schools and colleges has increased while new universities have been started. Very soon work of Sidho-Kanu University will start.

It would have been correct for the opposition parties to support the government in developmental activities. However, they have continuously put obstacles. Whatever be the situation, we will forge ahead with our programme. We cannot remain idle.

On the priorities of the Left Front government

The priorities can be best summarised as follows: to take the success of states’ agriculture to a new high banking on the success of the land reforms in the state; to fasten up the pace of the process of industrialisation in the state; to advance  in the field of human resource development through advancing the success in  education, health  and related areas. Our topmost emphasis is on the socio-economic development of backward sections, including schedule castes, schedule tribes and minorities.

We have emphasised in distribution of homestead lands in rural and urban areas. Emphasis has been given on employment generation. 

On Maoist terror

One of the major problems in the Jangal Mahal area is the terror and annihilation campaign unleashed by the 'Maoists'. We are fighting them both politically and administratively. But the complexity of the situation is that the main opposition party and some organisations are encouraging them either directly or indirectly. We treat this problem as a political problem. 

Of course, the problem has an all-India perspective. 'Maoists' are active in seven to eight states. As they have chosen poorer areas as their terrain, it is necessary to initiate socio-economic measures to isolate them. It is also necessary to face them politically apart from activating the police and administration. It is a long term fight and there is no easy solution.

On the so-called slogan of “change”

What is the real meaning of so-called slogan of “change”? Whatever has been done by us, would be changed retrogressively? Will the lands which have come in the hands of the peasants be returned back to landlords? Will the investments for industries be returned? Will the decentralisation of power through panchayats and urban local bodies be dismantled? The people of West Bengal have marched forward in the last 33 years. What are the alternative policies of the opposition? Anarchy can not bring any real, meaningful change. We want to march towards the light, not retard back into darkness.

Centre should enact new body to regulate private educational institutions : Sitharam Yechury

Former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Vasanthi Devi 

interacts with  CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan and 

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury at the seminar in Chennai on Sunday.

The Centre should enact a law to establish a regulatory body to bring all private educational institutions under its control, said CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury.

Addressing a Save Education Conference organised by CPIM in Chennai, Com Yechury said regulatory body should address four important issues: an admission policy ensuring reservation for backward and weaker sections, fee structure on a par with government institutions, fair salary for teachers and a syllabus reflecting the national character.

There was a need to maintain a balance among three factors — equity, quantity and quality till universal education was achieved in India. Quantity could be achieved by greater investment in education by the government, equity by implementation of reservation in both government and private educational institutions. Quality, he said, could be achieved only if there was a control over the nature of education provided in private institutions. As regards using mother tongue as medium of instruction, he said mother tongue was the instinct with which one could express oneself and the instinct formed the foundation for the process of learning. “If the instinct is removed the process of learning is handicapped. 

Lay the foundation on mother tongue and build on that for higher education,” he said appreciating the state unit of the party for supporting education in the mother tongue.

Later talking to reporters he came down upon the Congress-led UPA government for hiking the price of petroleum products. “The hike will add to the food inflation. Rationalise the tax structure and withdraw the price hike,” he said, adding that the Left parties were talking to other secular-democratic parties on organising a nationwide agitation. When asked about extradition of Warren Anderson, former CEO of Union Carbide, he wondered why did the government allowed him to leave the country in the first place 25 years ago. “Now he is retired and gone, he said.

Com. Yechury said since India was keen on strategic relationship with the U.S., it could put pressure on Dow Chemicals to remove the toxic waste in Bhopal. In this context he recalled the way US President Barack Obama had handled the oil spill caused by the British Petroleum.

CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan explained how the Indian Bank Employees Association, CITU and a few party workers were running schools with the objective of providing education to the weaker sections.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Vasanthi Devi said the next class war would be fought in the field of education, as the present system was ensuring good education only to the children of rich people.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Left Parties played a significant role in giving Tamil, Classical status

CPIM Polite Buro Member Sitaram Yechury said that the Left parties had played a significant role during the previous tenure of the United Progressive Alliance in fighting for classical language status for Tamil. Left parties also played a significant role in giving Kannada and Telugu the classical status earlier. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Engum Tamil, Ethilum Tamil’ (Tamil everywhere, Tamil in everything) held as part of the World classical Tamil conference in Coimbatore . Tamil language continued to develop unlike other classical languages such as Latin because it had maintained its liveliness by being constantly being spoken among people he added. He said the 'universality' of Tamil would enrich the civilisation and oneness of the country.He urged Karunanidhi to take steps to document and preserve for the future generation the tradition of Tamil, its folk arts and village habits. Chief Minister Sri Karunanidhi Presided over the function. CPI national secretary Com D Raja also spoke on the occasion.

CITU DEMONSTRATION AGAINST PETRO PRICE HIKE

CITU activists under the leadership of its senior leader and Vice President MK Pandhe held a protest demonstration and burned the effigy of the UPA II government at the busy ITO centre in New Delhi against the steep increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas and not even sparing kerosene. Several office bearers of CITU including Swadesh Dev Roye, Dipankar Mukherjee, Hemalata, Kashmir Singh Thakur, Shdha Bhaskar and S Punyavathi, working committee members including AR Sindhu, Amitava Guha and large number of CITU members from Delhi participated in the demonstrations.

Addressing the gathering, Pandhe severely condemned the insensitive attitude of the UPA II government towards the sufferings of the common people. In stead of controlling the rising prices, the UPA II government has increased the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene which would further increase the prices. He also criticised the decision of the government to link the prices of petroleum prices to international prices. He warned that this would further result in the price rise. Pandhe demanded the government to immediately withdraw the hike and also the decision to link the prices of petroleum products to international prices. He told that such demonstrations were being held all over the country and if the government did not withdraw its decision, CITU, along with all the other trade unions would intensify the struggle.

Left front calls Tripura Bandh on Monday

The Left Front called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Tripura on Monday to protest the hike in prices of petroleum products.

A press statement issued by the Left Front said the bandh was called by the Left Front committee, CITU and other frontal organisations of the front to protest the decision of the UPA government which is "anti-people and a cruel attack on people" and would lead to further inflation.

"The UPA government imposed the burden of hike in the prices of fuel when the country was facing 17 per cent hike in the prices of foods and other essential commodities," the statement said.

The ruling CPI(M) and its frontal organisations like DYFI and SFI today organised processions and squatting in different parts of the state to protest the hike in petroleum products.

(PTI)

Protests over fuel price hike

There was a huge protest over the hike in the price of petroleum products across the district. At Sangareddy, the CPM leaders led by party district general secretary Ch. Ramulu held a protest on the main road by pulling a car with ropes. Later, an effigy of the Union government was burnt

Protesting the hike in the prices of petroleum products, the activists of CPI (M) burnt the effigy of the Union government at Telangana crossroads in Mahaboobnagar. Several speakers including Kille Gopal, district Secretary of the party, criticised the UPA government for increasing the prices of petroleum products once again. They said that common people were already facing much hardships in purchasing the essential commodities and the latest increase will add fuel to the fire. They demanded the government to roll back the prices immediately. 

 Incensed over the reported decision of the Central government to hike the prices of fuel, kerosene and cooking gas, the activists of  CPI (M) organised protest demonstrations in the Nalgonda Town. The CPI (M) activists, led by the party district secretary N Narasimha Reddy, staged a novel demonstration with empty LPG cylinders from the party office to the clock tower centre in a symbolic protest against the price hike.  Activists of CPI(M) staged dharnas and burnt effigies at different places in Rajahmundry and Kakinada on Friday evening protesting against hike in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas by the Centre.

CPI((M) workers staged dharna at Bhanugudi Centre in Kakinada and Nandam Ganiraju Centre in Rajahmundry. They burnt an effigy of the Union Government and raised slogans against the Petroleum Minister and the Central Government. CPI(M) leaders said the UPA government had miserably failed in keeping its election promises and chose to levy heavy burden on lower and middle class people by hiking prices of fuel. It also failed to check spiralling prices of essential commodities. They said even vegetables, pulses, sugar, tea powder were not in the reach of common man.

CPI (M) leaders took out a rally and burnt an effigy of the government at Raghavaiah park on Bandar road in Vijayawada. They said that instead of providing relief to the common man, the UPA government was hell bent on taking the prices of petrol and diesel to new heights, “which clearly shows their anti-people policy.” The move will have far-reaching effect on common man's life. Stating that the hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG would have impact on the prices of essential commodities already ruling high, the CPI (M) city committee took out a protest rally on Friday evening.

The hike was the fourth since the UPA came to power for the second time and the 18 th in the last six years, CPI (M) Visakhapatnam district secretary Ch. Narsinga Rao said addressing the rally. He accused the government of not taking any alternative measures suggested by the CPI (M) and toeing the line of the oil companies. Reducing the quota of kerosene and increasing the price was a big burden, he added. The Left parties will launch a State-wide protest on Monday. CPI (M) city secretary K. Lokanadham and party leaders B. Ganga Rao, M.Jaggu Naidu, V.S. Padmanabha Raju, R. Bhagyalakshmi and Araku Valley ZPTC Killo Surendra participated.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPI(M) slams Andhra Government on malaria fevers in Agency area

The State Government has once again failed to control malaria, jaundice, fevers and other diseases in the Visakha Agency and instead of providing relief to the Girijans it is lethargic and indifferent while the Minister for Tribal Welfare P. Balaraju is trying to play down the situation, CPI (M) district committee said here on Friday.

As many as 56 deaths were reported during June so far and 1,243 cases of malaria have been registered in the 12 out of 33 PHCs of the area but Mr. Balaraju claimed that only 125 cases have been registered. The Minister should tour the Agency to understand the situation, CPI (M) district secretariat member and Paderu division secretary M. Satyanarayana, Araku Valley ZPTC Killo Surendra, district committee members P. Appalanarsa and M. Narsinga Rao Padal said at a press conference. The State Health Minister was also not concerned about the Girijans, they alleged.

Survey

The CPI (M) conducted a survey in the 11 mandals of the Visakha Agency from June 17 to 20 and found that malaria would spread further if the Government failed to take action. malathion

(Courtesy : The Hindu)