Left Front will Organize ‘Ayne Amanya’ on 31st May in West Bengal

Left Front has decided to initiate series of movement focusing 7-point demands that includes CBI enquiry under the aegis of honorable Court on Chit-Fund scam, refund of small investors’ money etc. The campaign movement will continue the whole month of May. In this course all district Left Front Committees will initiate extensive campaign from 20th to 26th May. After that from 27th May to 29th May all district Left Front committees will organize Sit-In agitation programme for 4 hours in each day in front of District Head Quarters. Finally on 31st of May Left Front in all district head quarters will organize Civil Disobedience or Ayne Amanya programme. The city of Kolkata too will participate in the civil disobedience programme.

The civil disobedience is going to focus on:

1) Biggest chit fund scam in the history of the state;
2) Refund of investors’ money;
3) CBI enquiry under Court’s vigilance;
4) Judicial enquiry on Sudipta Gupta murder case;
5) Restoration of law and order and peace and ensure people’s democratic rights;
6) Initiating food security system;
7) Employment generation and curbing corruption;


While addressing the press on Tuesday, the Left Front Chairman Biman Basu pronounced the campaign agenda. He however reiterating the programme said that the Left Front committee will initiate extensive campaign on chit fund issue which is now not just an issue of this state but many other states are also involved in this fiasco. Left Front therefore demands CBI enquiry under the supervision of the Court.

On Sudipta Gupta Murder case, Biman Basu alleged that the state government is trying to hush-up the whole issue. The Left Front clearly demands restoration of law and order and peace in the state. Moreover the state government lodging false cases takes many people in custody.

The state government now is imposing embargo on all oppositions to hold meeting, to organize mass meeting. This act is a brutal violation of democratic rights. Except the ruling party, police is not allowing any opposition party to organize open meeting. This is an act of autocracy.

Basu also said that a Left front delegation led by Surya Kanta Misra will meet President, Prime Minister and Home Minister to submit a deputation carrying all above demands. Former Finance Minister Ashim Das Gupta will also join the delegation.

West Bengal Left Front Memo to PM - Act against Chit Funds

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A delegation of the Left Front of West Bengal met the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh on May 9, 2013 urging for a neutral, fair and high level investigation into the massive fraud of committed by the Saradha Group of companies and also the return of thousands of crores of rupees to all the affected depositors immediately. The delegation comprised of five MPs and 6 MLAs and the former Finance Minister of West Bengal, whose names are appended in the memorandum. The delegation will also be meeting the President. The copy of the memorandum presented to the Hon'ble Prime Minister is given below.

********

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
New Delhi.

Hon'ble Prime Minister,

Please refer to the Memorandum submitted to you on August 22, 2011 by the Left Front Legislative Party in West Bengal as well as the Memorandum placed before you on December 19, 2012 by the Left Front Members of Parliament, drawing your kind attention to the alarming problem of irregularities being committed by certain financial companies (so-called 'Chit Funds' in terms of local parlance in West Bengal) and requesting for an urgent action by the Central Government. Unfortunately, however, no timely intervention was made by the Central Government and the present State Government. As a result, a massive fraud has been committed by an irregular financial company (Saradha Group) by suddenly closing down all its offices and resulting in a widespread default on repayment to lakhs and lakhs of depositors, belonging mostly to the poorer sections in rural and urban areas of West Bengal. Employees in the print and electronic media owned or controlled by this Saradha Group have also lost their jobs due to this sudden closing down. There has been, due to the misdeeds of this company and similar other companies as well as the Central policy of making small saving schemes less attractive and commission of the agents reduced, a severe fall in the small savings collection in the State - from Rs. 8,409 crore of net collection of small savings in Post Offices of West Bengal in the last financial year (2010 - 2011) of the Left Front Government to (-) Rs. 987 crore in the next year (2011 - 2012) and to (-) Rs. 165 crore in 2012-2013 (upto December), adversely affecting the State as well as the small savings agents.

You are kindly aware that among the different types of financial companies, there is one category of companies which raise deposits from the people, invest the money and promise returns in terms of interest, etc. These companies are required to register with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs of the Central Government, and then also obtain permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and function by obeying the guidelines of RBI. If there is any violation of these guidelines, then the RBI can take necessary actions, including stoppage of work of the concerned companies. There is another category of financial companies which raise funds from the people in terms of share/debentures, and then invest the money in various ventures, including real estate, hotels, television channels, newspapers, entertainment business etc., with promise of returns in terms of lands, apartments, etc. These companies are again to register first with ROC and then get approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the Union Finance Ministry, and obey the guidelines of SEBI. If the guidelines are flouted, then SEBI can take action in terms of prohibiting the activities of the concerned companies. The Saradha Group belongs to this second category. It may be noted in the context that the State Government does not have any role in giving approval of these companies.

Grave financial irregularities are committed by both these two categories of companies when they violate the guidelines of RBI or SEBI, as the case may be, by alluring promises in terms of false and unrealizable offers of interest or returns. There is usually a period after which these returns are to be paid back to the depositors. In the intervening period, the concerned companies keep on raising funds and often make very partial payment, and then suddenly close their activities without any notice, thus cheating the common people in a large scale as has been the case with the Saradha Group, as mentioned above.

Under the circumstances, the State Government, within its limited power, can take action if any written complaint of being cheated is obtained, by immediately arresting the proprietors of the concerned companies, attaching all of their properties and then arranging through the Hon'ble Court, the sale of the properties for repaying back to the affected depositors. If there is no written complaint, even then the State Government can conduct enquiry on its own and submit the findings to the concerned Central Agencies (SEBI or RBI) for taking necessary action. The State Government can also pass a Bill in the State Assembly for Presidential assent for implementing the Act, so as to take necessary action at the very initial stage of the offence in terms of decentralized administrative and legal framework in the districts.

The Left Front Government in West Bengal had, during its tenure, taken all these actions. In 1980- 81, when some large financial companies had started cheating people, the State Government, on the basis of written complaint, took exemplary action by arresting the heads of the concerned companies and then attaching their properties for beginning the process of repayment through the Hon'ble Court. When again in 1991- 92, several companies had cheated people, the State Government in the Finance Department and the Home Department (involving both Kolkata Police and District Police), on the basis of written complaint, took prompt action by arresting heads of nearly 96 companies, attaching their properties (both movable and immovable , including bank accounts) and then starting a Public Interest Litigation on its own in the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court with a verdict for selling the attached properties through the Court - appointed special officer for beginning the process of repayment of money to the depositors. In the year 2002 - 2003, when about 17 companies had cheated people, the heads of all of these companies were arrested, again on the basis of written complaints, and a process of prompt repayment was undertaken. Along with taking those steps, the Left Front Government had also introduced in 2003 -2004 a bill (namely, the West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Bill, 2003) for taking early preventive and punishable action against irregular financial companies with a decentralized framework as mentioned before. However after repeated exchange of views and urging by the State Government, when a much delayed Central response (although for substantially similar bills for several other State Governments, Presidential assent was accorded with more promptness) was obtained in August, 2009 with Presidential message for a few changes, these changes were promptly incorporated and a new bill (The West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Bill, 2009) was introduced and passed unanimously (with TMC MLAs also present) in the State Assembly on December 22, 2009. The new Bill was then sent for Presidential assent. However the Presidential assent, despite reminders, could not be obtained during the tenure of the Left Front Government.

It needs to be mentioned that from 2008 - 09, a new feature emerged when several companies within jurisdiction of SEBI had started operating in a manner which created apprehension of cheating of people. However, no written complaint of cheating was received by the State Government. The Left Front Government, therefore, started enquiry on its own involving jointly the Finance Department and Home Department (in terms of Kolkata Police and District Police) and then submitted its findings concerning four relatively big companies (including Saradha Group) to SEBI for necessary action. For the Saradha Group, the attention-drawing letter was sent by the Left Front Government on August 23, 2010. We now find that after closing down of offices of Saradha Group that SEBI has recently issued an instruction on April 23, 2013 on the Saradha Group to pay back to the depositors within a period of three months and with prohibition on taking any further deposit. Although this is a step in the right direction, it has been much too delayed.

It is also noted with serious concern that we still do not know about any follow-up action by the TMC-led State Government regarding the enquiries started by the Left Front Government into the affairs of four companies mentioned above. We do not know because despite our specific queries, no answer was given in the State Assembly. Moreover, when a discussion on this issue was proposed on December 11, 2012 two Left Front MLAs (including one lady tribal MLA) were beaten up. We also do not know what action was taken by the TMC - led State Government on the 2009 Bill which was unanimously passed in the Assembly (with TMC MLAs present) for Presidential assent in the first twenty months of its existence. We now find that on the basis of a communication from OSD & ED Special Secretary to the Governor of West Bengal to the Secretary to the West Bengal Legislative assembly a motion was passed in the Assembly to withdraw the bill. The aforesaid communication reads: The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has now returned the aforesaid Bill, considering it to be withdrawn by the Government of West Bengal as it has been decided to recast the Bill in order to strengthen it for the purpose of protecting the interest of the depositors in Financial Establishments. This appears to be a clear violation of legislative power of the State Assembly, since prior approval of the Assembly was not taken by the present State Government before sending its views to the Centre for return of the bill, 2009. Moreover, in terms of the communication mentioned above, the following sentence in Sl. No. 6 in the statement of object and reasons of this new bill seems confusing: It has been advised by the Government of India to withdraw the said Bill. Then, with only a few changes in the 2009 Bill, the new Bill has been passed in the Assembly and sent for Presidential assent. We also find that some of these changes were not necessary and there is also a possibility of further complications and delay. We suggested a remedial amendment to this new Bill, and a quicker course of action which was not accepted. After raising our anxiety about further delay which may be caused by this bill, we did not however stand on the way of passing of the bill. We want an early action on the part of Hon'ble President in terms of Article 201 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the sufferings of depositors remain unattended. We therefore urge upon you for considering the following actions:

(1) As several states are involved in this massive fraud of Saradha Group, CBI should immediately be involved in the investigation of this fraud under supervision of appropriate Hon'ble Court.

Since SEBI is the nodal Central agency, and the recent verdict of the Hon'ble Supreme Court (2012) clearly directs SEBI to be the agency for necessary action, SEBI should also be instructed in coordination with CBI and SFIO to move into this Saradha case immediately, for a proper and comprehensive investigation into the total list of properties (including different forms of illegal transfers) for immediate attachment and for moving the Hon'ble Supreme Court as well as Hon'ble Kolkata High Court for selling of the properties needed for repayment to the depositors without delay, and also for exemplary punishment for the offending persons.

This entire process of investigation and attachment should be, for reasons of neutrality and fairness, under the appropriate supervision of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble Calcutta High Court.

(2) Where there are reasons for anxiety regarding other financial companies in the State, joint action as mentioned about, may be undertaken immediately for correcting the practices of these financial companies for preventing further damages.

(3) National small saving schemes should be immediately restored by the Central Government to their previous status of attractiveness, with simultaneous restoration of commission of agents by both the Centre and the State Government.

(4) Along with the highest priority on refund of depositors' money, attention may be given from the national level for a massive programme of an economic reconstruction of the lives of affected depositors (small and marginal farmers, small and tiny entrepreneurs, traders etc.) in terms of soft loans from the nationalized banks to the willing persons as well as rejuvenating the movement of Self-Help Groups in the State and democratically elected co-operatives (now rendered inoperative in the State) so that this massive loss can be transformed into a programme of reconstruction for growth of production and employment.

There is also a need for paying attention to problems of journalists, performers and others connected with the closing down of newspapers and TV channels in terms of inducting new entrepreneurs (without any link with irregular financial companies), or in terms of helping formation of co-operative of employees through assistance including soft loan.

(5) An all-out democratic and decentralized campaign should be started immediately among the affected people for convincing them to stay away from these irregular financial companies and to keep their savings, among others, specially in post office small saving schemes, nationalized banks and co-operative banks.

With regards,

Sd/-

Surjya Kanta Mishra
Leader of the Delegation, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly
Sitaram Yechury, MP
Subhahas Naskar, MLA
Barun Mukherjee, MP
Paresh Adhikary, MLA
Manohar Tirkey, MP
Prabodh Chandra Sinha, MLA
Basudev Acharia, MP
Anadamoy Mondal, MLA
Probodh Panda, MP
Chand Mohammed, MLA
Asim Dasgupta, Former Finance Minister, West Bengal

Condemn Israeli Aggression in Syria

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the unprovoked Israeli aggression on Syria. This second attack within 48 hours has occurred in a missile strike in Damascus. Israel is seeking to intervene in the conflict within Syria in order to destabilise the country and advance its expansionist designs, with the backing of the US/NATO.

This blatant aggression against Syrian sovereignty and violation of all international laws must be condemned and stopped by the United Nations Security Council. The Indian government cannot remain silent on the matter and must forthrightly condemn this aggressive action.

YECHURYS SPEECH IN RAJYA SABHA ON DELHI RAPE INCIDENT

‘Lethal Combination of Feudal Patriarchy and Neo-Liberal Consumerism’

Below are excerpts from the speech delivered by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and leader of CPI(M) in Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury in the House on April 22, 2013. He was participating in the discussion on ‘Situation Arising out of Atrocities and Social Exploitation of Women and Girl Child in the Country resulting in growing sense of insecurity in the society’. 

The CPI(M) staged a walkout when deputy chairman P J Kurien sat on chair during this debate. The CPI(M) is boycotting Kurien, who himself is facing allegation of rape, until his name is cleared or he resigns. Only when Kurien vacated the Chair under the pressure of this protest did Yechury return to the House to make the speech.
WE would not have liked to participate in such a debate with any needle of suspicion on anybody sitting in the chair on a similar case. Therefore, I thank you for creating those circumstances. 

But, I rise with a very, very deep sense of anger, anguish and agony because the crimes that are committed against women nowadays have seen a manifold rise; and the gruesomeness of this particular crime, words fail me to actually condemn in the worst possible manner that it should be condemned. I can only recollect four lines that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore wrote when he returned his Knighthood. I quote,
"Give me a voice of thunder,
that I may hurl imprecations upon this cannibal
whose gruesome hunger
spares neither the mother nor the child."

It is with these words he returned his Knighthood. Today, the entire country will have to hang its head in shame that we are just not able to protect our mothers and children. Why this beastly behaviour against the five year old child? Can you imagine how depraved a society can be? Why is this happening at a time when all of us are considering ourselves to be emerging economy? We pride ourselves being a modern country. We are unleashing the animal spirit, which the prime minister keeps talking of, in this manner. Therefore, it is not surprising while we rub shoulders with high and mighty on the high table of the G-20 Summit, you have The Guardian posing questions. I quote: "Of all the G-20 nations, India has been labelled as the worst place to be a woman. But how is this possible in a country that prides itself as being the world's largest democracy?"

TWO SETS OF PROBLEMS
There is a survey conducted by Thomson Reuters' TrustLaw Women, a hub of information and support for women's rights. It ranks India with Afghanistan, Congo and Somalia as one of the most dangerous places for women. What is happening is that in every three out of four cases of rape registered, forget the unregistered, even in the capital city of Delhi, the culprits went unpunished between 2002 and 2011. The official statistics by the National Crime Records Bureau reveal that between 2007 and 2011, the incidents of rape increased by 9.7 per cent. I agree with Shivanand Tiwari that it is not only a question of policing that is important but there is something seriously wrong in our society that is getting more and more depraved; and that is something that this august House must contribute to try and correct. Therefore, I will say there are two sets of problems involved. One relates to the structural problems of a functioning democracy that is, our law enforcement and justice delivery systems continue to remain pathetic. Unless you have the fear of law, you can't have respect for law. With your law enforcement and justice delivery system being pathetic as they are today, you can generate neither fear nor respect for law. There is the Law Commission, which way back in 1987 drew up a blueprint to raise the judge-population ratio from 1.05 judges for every lakh population to five judges within five years. What is the status today? Twenty five years later, the ratio is still 1.4 judges per lakh population. 

How can you deliver justice? If you cannot deliver justice, law enforcement, crime enforcement cannot work. If justice is not delivered, why would investigations take place? Why would cases be filed? It goes down the line. There is an important point here, which I want the government to consider that this is not only an isolated case of rape, not only a general larger issue of great concern and anguish to all of us, that is sexual assaults against women, but this is also a larger case of the question of law enforcement and justice delivery system in our country. Unless that is improved and attention is paid to that, this situation cannot be remedied.

QUESTION OF MODERNITY
The second aspect deals with what is our practice of modern democracy. We call ourselves modern. A noted sociologist, Dipankar Gupta, who was my classmate at one point of time, a most noted sociologist in India today, defines modernity. I think it is important that we all realise this. He defines modernity as characterised by an attitude of equality with, and respect for, others. It is not as if in a modern society all are actually equal. Yet, in spite of the many differences that exist among people, modernity demands a baseline similarity so that people can live with dignity and can realistically avail of opportunities to better their conditions of existence. It is on this bedrock of equality that other differences and inequalities can be added on. But the foundational equality cannot be compromised for it is on this that claims of citizenship are made in modern societies. In traditional orders, there were rulers and subjects, but no citizens. 

We have a social order where there are still rulers and subjects. There are no citizens. We have a patriarchal order that continues to pervade in our society. I can only describe it by invoking a term of an Iranian intellectual who at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini-led Iranian revolution they were talking of the revolution coming from the west; they said this is a westernization of Iran that is taking place -- coined a term called westoxication, not westernization, but intoxicated with the west. I would like to extend this term modernity which we call ourselves in India; it is not modernity, it is modernoxity. It is intoxication with modern things. We can wear Gucci shoes; we can flaunt Mont Blanc pens, but when you want your daughter to be married, it has to be in the same sub-caste. When you want a choice between a son and a daughter, it is the son who is preferred. That is what is modernoxity. We are a toxic society with modern instruments to play with, but we are not a modern society. And that modern society has to be created. I am amazed. Sometimes, my family wonders why I spend so much time looking at the matrimonial columns. On Sundays, I look at the matrimonial columns only to identify the number of people who are NRIs, whose children have never set their foot on the soil of India, but they will put a column looking for a sub-caste match that they want. What is this? Is it a modern society? What we are creating today is a lethal combination. I would say it is a lethal combination; it is a venal cocktail of the hangover of feudal patriarchy and neo-liberal values of consumerism that we are generating, which Ms Mayawatiji has talked about. It is this lethal combination that is destroying our social values. It is this cocktail that is giving rise to all this that we are seeing today. These economic reforms have generated aspirations; they have generated all sorts of things that are shown in terms of TRP ratings in your television sets. That sort of a commercialisation where women are treated as objects of desire, as objects to be shown, but not as human beings, is what feeds the feudal patriarchal values, which continue to coexist. Unless this is shattered, we cannot really control this situation. 

These are not issues on which we would like to give long speeches, but I would only urge this august House and the government to consider that while the system of administration of our democracy in terms of law enforcement and in terms of delivery of justice is vastly improved; while that needs to be done, I think, as a collective body, the Indian Parliament should rise to see to it that this venal cocktail of lethal combination of feudal patriarchy and the consumerist values that today the neo-liberal reforms are creating, is not allowed to grow further. 

This is what is happening and unless you are able to identify the subject holistically, you will not be able to solve this problem. After the unfortunate gang rape that happened in December, one may just look at records. The home minister could please provide us the records. The number of instances of rape has increased, not decreased. What have you done? Have you publicised and made it fashionable! How can, after such a national outrage, rate of this sort of a venal crime increases unless the values of neo-liberal consumerism have actually glamourised something like this? Instead of containing that animal spirit, you are unleashing the most deepest depraved animal instinct in our society; it is something which cant be accepted. 

SLAY THIS DANGEROUS ANIMAL
 
Therefore, I would urge this government to not take up these issues -- one case after another -- in a piecemeal manner and tell us that so many have been arrested and so many have not been arrested. Please do that; please enforce law; please deliver justice. But, at the same time, also understand that in the larger context of the economic reforms that you are following, you are unleashing a new animal in India. This new animal in India is the combination of feudal patriarchy along with your neo-liberal consumerism. That is a very dangerous animal. That is why, I would urge the government to accept the recommendations of Justice Verma Committee; please do whatever is required and needful. I am sure, everybody, cutting across every single political party represented in this House, would support any reform that would be brought about to improve our law enforcement and improve delivery of justice.

We all have to contribute to changing the society. Shivanand Tiwariji quoted a noted writer. Firaq Gorakhpuri; he suddenly comes to my mind. All of us know that he was a professor of English. He belonged to a traditional Hindu upper caste family. Raghupati Sahai was his name. He taught English but he wrote Urdu poetry. That is India. He would be a Hindu, writing in Urdu and teaching English. That is the greatness of our society. Once, there were communal riots going on all around the country. There was a sher-o-shayari taking place in Allahabad. He was there and was not saying anything because he was very depressed. At that time, everybody insisted that he should say something. On their insistence, he said two lines. I just want to repeat those two lines. You know, in sher-o-shayari, it is to do with love, glamour and such things.
“Haasil-e-husn-o-ishq bas itni
Aadmi aadmi ko pehchaane”
 
That is what we have to create. That is the basis of humanism one individual recognising the other individual as an individual. Unless we have that respect for each other, we cant solve this problem. So, while combining all other requirements of administration, let us collectively try to change the consciousness in our society that is getting degenerated by the day, by this lethal combination that I was talking of. Let us stop this from happening. I think, that is the biggest contribution we can all do to our own country and our society.

CPI(M) Demands Safeguard of the Interests of the Depositors

CPI(M) State Committee demands that the interests of the depositors who have been affected by being lured into the chit fund trap be safeguarded. After the state committee meeting on 29th April, in a statement issued, it was said the State Committee has taken a decision of standing beside those depositors who have been affected in this time. At the same time the State Committee has demanded the appropriate punishment of all those culprits who are associated with this Saradha scam.

Polit Bureau member Nirupam Sen presided over the State Committee meeting held in Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan on this day. In the statement it was stated that a major part of the common people in this state have been affected by being cheated after falling into this Chit Fund trap. How people have been affected in the districts, state committee members discussed about it. The nexus between the ruling party and the Chit Fund has come to surface. State Committee has decided that at this time to stand beside the depositors. The Left oriented farmers, workers, youth, student; women organisations have launched movement demanding the safeguard of the interests of the depositors. At the same time the State Committee has also demanded appropriate punishment for those culprits who are associated with this Saradha conspiracy. According to the suggestions of the State Left Front, the State Committee supports holding of conventions by the Leftist student-youth-women organisations with the demand of looking after the interest of the affected people.

In the state committee meeting a vivid description of the voracious attack carried out by the Trinamool Congrees from 9th April onwards, has been placed by the districts. The CPI(M) and other Left Front party offices have been subjected to violent attacks. Many offices have been destroyed, loot and arson is continuing. Different offices of Left oriented mass organisation offices have been broken. A planned attack on people in the villages was organised. From the reports received from the districts, it is evident that the attacking battalion had pre-planned the attacks. In the protests meeting held against these attacks, a large number of people participated.

An uncertainty has risen over holding of the Panchayat Election. After discussion of the members of the State Committee, in his conclusion State Secretary Biman Basu has said, in demand of timely holding of the Panchayat election movement has to continue with people’s participation. In no way can organisational preparation for the panchayat election be slowed down. Adjustment of seats within the left front is almost complete. Whatever little is left has to be completed. Preparation has to be taken for election in the 13 municipalities.

It has been said in the statement, that the CPI(M) Central Committee has called for a nationwide movement in demand of food security and 6 other demands from 15th to 31st May. In West Bengal this movement shall be organised effectively.

Condolence: The state committee from its 11th session expressed its deep mourning in the death of student leader Sudipta Gupta. In the condolence message it has been stated that student leader Sudipta Gupta having taken part in the law breaking movement on the 2nd of April in Kolkata, was assaulted in police custody after being arrested, which resulted in him being killed. The meeting vehemently condemns the comment made by the Chief Minister after the sad demise of the 23 year old bright student leader to hide the responsibility of the police, firstly calling it an accident and then calling it a small and petty incident and demands judicial enquiry into the death of Sudipta. It expresses its deep grief to the father of Comrade Sudipta, his family members, friends and fellow workers.

State Committee also expressed grief at the sad demise of veteran Communist leader, Party’s Darjeeling District Secretariat Member and a great leader of the movement of tea garden workers Comrade Biren Basu.

State Committee also expressed its grief at the death of Bani Dey, mother of youth leader Amit Dey who died of cardiac arrest due to anxiety and anguish when out of sheer political rivalry innocent Leftist workers in Siliguri were put to behind bars along with his son. It also expressed its grief at the death of veteran CPI(M) worker Comrade Jahangir Mistry who died on 24th March being attacked by culprits in Joynagar in South 24 parganas. Condolence was read out in the name of others also who have died in recent past. It also expressed grief at the death of Rita Das on 25th April who died after falling from the train due to excessive crowd on the 31st of March, on the day of the TET exam conducted by primary Education Board in which lakhs and lakhs of Examinees were subjected to disorder and chaos. It expressed grief for those who were compelled to end their life due to poverty on the lack of effectiveness on behalf of the Government.

Resolve Tensions with China Peacefully

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India have issued the following statement:

The CPI(M) and the CPI express their concern at the continued growth of tensions around the Line of Actual Control in Ladhak. This dispute must be resolved peacefully through negotiations urgently, safeguarding India’s interests. Both our Prime Minister and the Minister for External Affairs have expressed confidence of arriving at a solution through talks. India has in fact described the latest developments as a “localized affair”. Both India and China are giant neighbours and must resolve such disputes as mature nations do through negotiations and not through whipping up passions and tensions.

CPI(M) Demands Safeguard of the Interests of the Depositors

CPI(M) State Committee demands that the interests of the depositors who have been affected by being lured into the chit fund trap be safeguarded. After the state committee meeting on 29th April, in a statement issued, it was said the State Committee has taken a decision of standing beside those depositors who have been affected in this time. At the same time the State Committee has demanded the appropriate punishment of all those culprits who are associated with this Saradha scam.
Polit Bureau member Nirupam Sen presided over the State Committee meeting held in Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan on this day. In the statement it was stated that a major part of the common people in this state have been affected by being cheated after falling into this Chit Fund trap. How people have been affected in the districts, state committee members discussed about it. The nexus between the ruling party and the Chit Fund has come to surface. State Committee has decided that at this time to stand beside the depositors. The Left oriented farmers, workers, youth, student; women organisations have launched movement demanding the safeguard of the interests of the depositors. At the same time the State Committee has also demanded appropriate punishment for those culprits who are associated with this Saradha conspiracy. According to the suggestions of the State Left Front, the State Committee supports holding of conventions by the Leftist student-youth-women organisations with the demand of looking after the interest of the affected people.
In the state committee meeting a vivid description of the voracious attack carried out by the Trinamool Congrees from 9th April onwards, has been placed by the districts. The CPI(M) and other Left Front party offices have been subjected to violent attacks. Many offices have been destroyed, loot and arson is continuing. Different offices of Left oriented mass organisation offices have been broken. A planned attack on people in the villages was organised. From the reports received from the districts, it is evident that the attacking battalion had pre-planned the attacks. In the protests meeting held against these attacks, a large number of people participated.
An uncertainty has risen over holding of the Panchayat Election. After discussion of the members of the State Committee, in his conclusion State Secretary Biman Basu has said, in demand of timely holding of the Panchayat election movement has to continue with people’s participation. In no way can organisational preparation for the panchayat election be slowed down. Adjustment of seats within the left front is almost complete. Whatever little is left has to be completed. Preparation has to be taken for election in the 13 municipalities.
It has been said in the statement, that the CPI(M) Central Committee has called for a nationwide movement in demand of food security and 6 other demands from 15th to 31st May. In West Bengal this movement shall be organised effectively.
Condolence: The state committee from its 11th session expressed its deep mourning in the death of student leader Sudipta Gupta. In the condolence message it has been stated that student leader Sudipta Gupta having taken part in the law breaking movement on the 2nd of April in Kolkata, was assaulted in police custody after being arrested, which resulted in him being killed. The meeting vehemently condemns the comment made by the Chief Minister after the sad demise of the 23 year old bright student leader to hide the responsibility of the police, firstly calling it an accident and then calling it a small and petty incident and demands judicial enquiry into the death of Sudipta. It expresses its deep grief to the father of Comrade Sudipta, his family members, friends and fellow workers.
State Committee also expressed grief at the sad demise of veteran Communist leader, Party’s Darjeeling District Secretariat Member and a great leader of the movement of tea garden workers Comrade Biren Basu.
State Committee also expressed its grief at the death of Bani Dey, mother of youth leader Amit Dey who died of cardiac arrest due to anxiety and anguish when out of sheer political rivalry innocent Leftist workers in Siliguri were put to behind bars along with his son. It also expressed its grief at the death of veteran CPI(M) worker Comrade Jahangir Mistry who died on 24th March being attacked by culprits in Joynagar in South 24 parganas. Condolence was read out in the name of others also who have died in recent past. It also expressed grief at the death of Rita Das on 25th April who died after falling from the train due to excessive crowd on the 31st of March, on the day of the TET exam conducted by primary Education Board in which lakhs and lakhs of Examinees were subjected to disorder and chaos. It expressed grief for those who were compelled to end their life due to poverty on the lack of effectiveness on behalf of the Government.

Left Youth Rally in Kolkata

Youth wings of Left parties led by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) today staged a protest rally here demanding justice for the depositors and investors for Saradha Group. "We along with other Left youth wings today marched to the state secretariat - Writers' Buildings - from College Square. But we were stopped at Rani Rashmoni Road," Abhas Roy Choudhury, state president of DYFI, said.

"We had a charter of nine demands which included justice for the depositors and investors of Saradha Group chit funds and restoration of peace in college campuses," he said. Roy Choudhury alleged that they were not allowed to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "We were told to submit the memorandum to the industries minister," he said.

Questions to the PM Share

The following note has been sent by Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G Spectrum scam to other members of the JPC explaining why a conclusive report of the JPC cannot be prepared unless the following questions are answered by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.

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Dear Hon’ble Colleague,

The Need for Answers from the Hon'ble Prime Minister on Certain Questions before the JPC

The Draft Report prepared by the Chairman of the JPC, Shri P.C. Chacko states in Section 10.45 the following:
 

In view of the above, the Committee are inclined to conclude that the Prime Minister was misled about the procedure decided to be followed by the Department of Telecommunications in respect of issuance of UAS licences. Further, the assurance given by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology in all his correspondence with the Prime Minister to maintain full transparency in following established rules and procedures of the Department stood belied.

Shri A.Raja in his letter to Shri Chacko has stated that he had kept the Hon'ble PM informed at each step of the process and through personal meetings as well as during cabinet meetings. The Draft Report also shows that indeed he wrote 3 letters to the PM prior to the 10th January, 2008 when the LoI's for the 120 licenses were issued. The Draft Report also states that the PM asked the PMO to prepare a Note on Shri Raja's letter dated 26th November, 2008 wherein he details the various steps he was proposing to take.

Taking the above into account, it is not possible for JPC to come to any conclusion about the veracity of Shri Raja's claim or the statement in the Draft Report that the PM was misled without the PM answering the following:

1. Is it true that Shri Raja had met him personally in the first week of January, 2008 as stated in his letter to brief the Hon'ble PM about the procedure he was going to follow? In his submission, Shri Raja states, “Thereafter I met the Hon’ble PM in the first week of January 2008 and this issue was again discussed and he agreed with the proposed course of action of the DoT.”
 

2. If this meeting did take place, did the Hon'ble PM agree with Shri Raja on the proposed course of action as Shri Raja claims?
 

3. On what specific count can we hold that Shri Raja misled the Hon'ble PM?
 

a) Is it about not auctioning/indexing license fees of 2001 for 2008?
 

b) Is it about the change in First-come-first-served policy regarding grant of license by which the date of fulfilling LoI first was to be used for grant of licenses and not the date of application
 

c) Is it about securing the consent of the Solicitor General to the procedure that was to be followed as stated by Shri Raja in his 26th November, 2008 letter?
 

4. On what count did Shri Raja not maintain transparency regarding procedures which Shri Raja was following in his communications with the Hon'ble PM as stated in the Draft Report
 

5. Even if the above is true – that Shri Raja misled the PM and did not maintain transparency as claimed by the Draft Report, the following issues still remain, which the Hon'ble PM needs to answer:
 

a) Even after LoI's were issued on 10th January, 2008, since the licenses had not been issued, the Government could have cancelled the LoI's and followed a proper procedure. Why did the Hon'ble PM not take action as he had himself asked that the Note prepared by Pulok Chatterjee, Secretary PM, dated 6th January, 2008 be modified to take into account the status after issuing of the LoI's?
 

b) The Hon'ble PM in October 29, 2011 had stated – in his meeting with TV editors – that the Finance Ministry and the DoT had agreed on keeping 2001 prices for entry and spectrum fees for 2008. Was this agreement between Finance Ministry and DOT reached before 10th January, 2008 or afterwards?
 

c) On what basis did the Hon'ble PM drop the suggestion for auctioning of the licenses he himself had made to Shri Raja in his letter dated 2nd November, 2008?
Keeping in mind the high office he occupies, the Hon'ble PM can give answers to the JPC orally or in writing. Without answers from the Hon'ble PM on the above, it is difficult to understand how the JPC can come to any conclusion regarding the Hon'ble PM being misled by Shri Raja.
The Need for Answers from the Hon'ble Finance Minister on Certain Questions before the JPC
The Draft Report prepared by Shri P.C. Chacko has made a number of observations regarding the Finance Ministry, and therefore of the Finance Minister's handling of the 2G license issues. It is not possible for JPC to come to any conclusion about the role of the Hon'ble Finance Minister without answers to the following questions.
Specifically, the Draft Report mentions in Section 10.43 the following:
The Ministry of Finance have informed the Committee that no communication was sent by the Department of Economic Affairs in response to the letter dated 29 November, 2007 from the Department of Telecommunications. From the sequence of events, the Committee gather the impression that the Ministry of Finance was in agreement with the position explained by the Department of Telecommunications in respect of cross-over fee charged for allowing usage of Dual Spectrum Technology by the existing licensees.
Does the Finance Minister agree with the Draft Report that by not responding to the position as explained by DoT regarding license fees, the Ministry of Finance had in effect given its consent? Why did the Finance Ministry not press the issue of entry and spectrum fee being pegged to 2001 prices in 2008, especially as the DoT had referred to the Cabinet note where it was mandatory to have such an agreement between the Finance Ministry and the DoT as per Section 2.1.2 (3)?
As a formal consent is required from the Finance Ministry to fixing of license fees, did the Finance Ministry give such a consent?
Shri A. Raja is his letter to Shri Chacko has also stated that his actions regarding license fees was with the concurrence of the Finance Ministry and the Finance Minister, whom he had met during the first week of January, 2008. Is it true that such a meeting took place and if so, is it correct that the Hon'ble FM had given his consent to license fee being kept at the 2001 level for the 2008 issuing of licenses?
Why did the Hon'ble FM agree – as can be seen from his note to the PM on 15th January, 2008 – to treat the matter of entry and spectrum fees for LoI's issued on 10th January, 2008 as a closed matter?
 

Why did the Hon'ble agree on 30th January, 2008 in his meeting with Shri A. Raja to treat the entry and spectrum fees for LoI's issued on 10th January, 2008 as a closed matter?
As one of the most eminent lawyers of the country, the Hon'ble FM was undoubtedly aware that LoI's could be cancelled before the formal grant of licenses and therefore his consent was essential for the entry and spectrum fees being kept at 2001 levels in 2008?
Why did the Hon'ble FM not push for the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rule-4, which makes such concurrence mandatory regardless of the Cabinet note?
Why did the Hon'ble FM not push for the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rule-7, which specifies in the second schedule that in cases which involves financial implications on which the Finance Minister desires a decision of the Cabinet and if a difference of opinion arises between two or more ministries and a Cabinet decision is desired, the matter shall be brought before the Cabinet?
Keeping in mind the high office he occupies, the Hon'ble FM can give answers to the JPC orally or in writing. Without answers from the Hon'ble FM on the above, it is difficult to understand how the JPC can come to any conclusion regarding the role of the Finance Ministry or the Hon'ble FM.

Chit Fund Scam Exposes Mamata Government

The chit fund scam in West Bengal has once again exposed the nexus between crony capitalists, money launderers and the ruling party. The unfolding episode of Saradha Group’s fraudulent activities and duping of thousands of people has shattered the media-managed image of Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee herself.
Till this report is written, it has come into open that the Saradha Group has collected deposits from thousands (actually lakhs) in the name of different companies and swindled the money. Their shady operations have collapsed and depositors have lost their money. That the company has collapsed came into daylight with the closure of media houses they were operating. Hundreads of agents came to street as they were being challenged by depositors. Group’s offices in districts were ransacked by angry depositors. In these demonstrations, anger was directed towards TMC Ministers and TMC leaders.
Sudipta Sen, the chief of Saradha Group fled from Kolkata and was later arrested in Sonemarg in Kashmir valley.
From all reports that have appeared in media one feature is clear: Saradha Group expanded its business in close collaboration with TMC. It was in fact a public perception even before the scam was busted. From 2009, after Trinamool won majority seats in West Bengal in Lok Sabha elections and joined the Government at centre, Saradha Group’s activities increased manifold. In 2011 assembly elections the agents of this Group and some other concerns actively joined in campaign against Left Front, created a panic that all such funds would be closed if Left Front returned to power. The Left Front Government has passed a bill in state legislature to control the activities of such shady funds and the bill was sent to centre in 2010. The bill with stringent clauses was not returned with mandatory approval of the President. It was widely believed that TMC, a partner in UPA then, resisted the approval.
The State Government, led by TMC deliberately refused to heed to any warning about these shady funds. In October 2012 Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) of the Corporate Affairs Ministry started probing the chit funds operating in Bengal. Among the big funds, one was Saradha and another headed by a Trinamool MP with interests in food processing and retailing, among others. According to media reports, the agency did not get any specific information from the State Government on the chit funds even after repeated requests.
One Trinamool MP wrote to centre alleging irregularities, but no action was taken. In April 2012, Union Minister of State for Health Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury of the Congress wrote to the Prime Minister, alleging that chit funds were financing the Trinamool Congress. According to reports, then Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily also confirmed there was a direct collusion between the chit funds and the ruling Trinamool Congress. He even accused a TMC MP of acting as a go-between.
The RBI and the state-level bankers’ committee (SLBC), West Bengal, also cautioned the State Government both in public and in closed-door meetings. On December 7, 2012 RBI Governor D. Subbarao said in Kolkata that the State Government was supposed to initiate suo motu action against such companies. Only after bank representatives insisted on strong actions at SLBC meetings, chaired by State Finance Minister Amit Mitra, did the state’s finance department ask the district magistrates in January 2013 for reports on the chit funds operating in their districts. Not a single report has reached the Government. The exercise proved to be an eyewash.
And now, it has come into open that the collusion between TMC and Saradha was deep. Two Rajya Sabha members of TMC Kunal Ghosh and Srinjoy Bose have been directly indicted either taking large amounts from the Group or entering into questionable “deals” with it. Another Lok Sabha member, worked as ‘brand ambassador’ of the company. Allegations have surfaced against Ministers and many district and local level TMC leaders have come into public domain.
CPI(M) and Left Front have demanded independent enquiry and quick approval of the bill that Left Front Government sent for assent. Chief Minister, busy in shielding her associates and party leaders have also advised the losers that "What's gone is gone. Be patient. We are making a law for you." The Opposition slammed Banerjee for such casual remark. Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said: "The CM's message is clear. She said what's gone that's gone and if there is more to be stolen, steal that as well.”