AIDWA STRONGLY CONDEMNS ARBITRARY INCREASE IN RAIL FARES

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

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

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

Massive protest march by Left in response to Trinamool violence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DYFI - SFI oppose Rail fare hike

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

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

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

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

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

Government Employees and Teachers goes on indefinite strike in Kerala

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

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

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

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

Protest Rail Fare Hike

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Horrific Attack in West Bengal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Condemn Attack on CPI(M) Leader Rezzak Mollah

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

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

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

Youth March for castless and secular society in Kerala begins

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

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

AIDWA condemns statement by RSS supremo

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

CPIM Note to Justice Verma Commission

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Administrative Steps

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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