CPI (M) protest against price rice in Tamil Nadu

 CPI (M) workers across Tamil Nadu were arrested when they staged road roko to highlight the steep hike in milk price, bus fare and proposed power tariff increase.

In south Chennai, the party's State secretary G. Ramakrishnan led the cadres in the protest. Addressing the cadre, Mr. Ramakrishnan called upon democratic forces to come together to fight against the price rise, which had severely affected the poor and the middle class. “The government is making huge profits through sale of liquor and sand quarrying and the money could be used to fill the deficit. There is no need to increase the price.” 

In north Chennai, the protest was led by the party's Legislative Party leader A. Soundararajan. Com Soundararajan and others were arrested. They were released in the evening

In Tirunelveli the protest demonstration was led by state committee member of the party P. Sampath, the cadres blocked traffic near Parasakthi Building in Tirunelveli Junction and 101 protestors, including six women, were arrested. In similar agitation organised at ten places in rural Tirunelveli, 427 persons were detained. All the arrested protestors were released.

A total of 104 cadres were arrested after staging a road roko. Spearheading the agitation, K.S. Arjunan, town secretary, said the commoners could not bear the burden of the price hike abruptly. Nagercoil

The members staged a road roko in Nagercoil, Kuzuthurai, Kulasekaram and Melpuram. The police arrested 500 activists while they staged road roko in four places. Later they were released. The district secretary, Murugesan, led the agitation in Nagercoil. They earlier took out a procession on Semmankudi road and staged the agitation.

Nearly 1,100 cadre of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) were arrested in  Thanjavur and Tiruvarur district. In Thanjavur 500 members, including 100 women were arrested when they stopped buses at the old bus stand and squatted on the road. T.K.G.Neelamegam, district secretary, led the agitation. Protests were organised at 12 places in the district. All the arrested were released later.

In Tiruvarur, Balasubramaniyan, state executive committee member, spearheaded the protest. Agitations were held at Tiruvarur, Mannargudi, Koradachery, Needamangalam, Nannilam and Edaiyur.

Over 1,300 CPI(M) cadre, including women, were taken into custody when they organised picketing at 10 places in the district on Monday. Nagai Mali, MLA, and V. Marimuthu, former MLA, both at Kizhvelur, A. V. Murugaiyan, district secretary of the party, Sikkal, were among the arrested. The CPI (M) functionaries were arrested in Mayiladuthurai, Melapidagai, Sembanarkoil, Kariapattinam, Thittachery, Sirkazhi, Kuthalam, and Thalaignanayiru. All of them were released in the evening. 

A total of 441 cadre, including 68 women, were rounded off at 16 places in Pudukottai District. P. Shanmugam, district executive committee member, and Agathialingam, state Secreteriate member, were present at the agitation. Similar protests were conducted at Tirumayam, Gandarvakottai, Arimalam, Ponnamaravathi, and Avudaiyarkoil.

Forty-three CPI (M) members courted arrested near Kamaraj arch in Perambalur. The protest was led by Mani, state secreteriate committee member.

About 154 cadre were arrested at Ariyalur, and Jayamkondam. CPI M cadres were arrested in the Thiruchy city and elsewhere in the Tiruchi district. CPI (M) functionaries carrying party flags assembled at the Chathram bus stand in the city to carry out the agitation. Led by the party's district secretary S.Sridhar, the party members raised slogans against the government for hiking bus fares and increasing milk price. They sat on the road near the bus stand before being arrested.

The party cadre were also arrested at Manachanallur, Thuraiyur, Uppiliapuram, Musiri, Thottiyam, Tiruverumbur, Manapparai and Lalgudi when they attempted to indulge in picketing agitations. All those arrested were later released.

The police arrested Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres when they tried to block roads at Namakkal, Tiruchengode, Elachipalayam, Vepadai and Kumarapalaya.

More than 800 activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were removed by the police at 13 places in the Coimbatore district .In the city, Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan led the demonstrators. More than 500 activists were removed by the police when they attempted picketing at Flower Market, Gandhipuram, Ganapathy, Saravanampatti, Singanallur, Town Hall and Kuniamuthur. In Coimbatore rural district, more than 300 activists were removed when they attempted picketing at Malumichampatti, Kavundampalayam, Thudialur, Mettuppalayam, Sulur and Pollachi.

A total of 778 CPI (M) members courted arrest in Tiruppur when they blocked roads in various parts of the district. Tirupur South MLA K. Thangavel, who was among those arrested, said the government's justification that the costs were increased to reduce the losses of respective corporations/federation such as Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), was wrong. “For example, when private buses are running in profit even at the older ticket rates, how come the State-owned TNSTC was registering losses year after year?” he asked. The CPI (M) men were of the opinion that the inefficiency in the operational front was the sole reason for the respective three government bodies to incur losses every financial year.

On the power front, transmission losses and electricity theft compounded with poor administration deteriorated the fiscal state of the TANGEDCO. “The government should rollback the prices of these essential things without any delay and save the poor,” the agitators demanded. The agitations were held at Tirupur city, Gudimangalam, Palladam, Uthukuli and six other places.

A total of 180 members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) including the party's Central Committee member N. Varadharajan and Dindigul MLA K. Balabarathi were arrested when they picketed AMC Road in Dindugal District. Addressing the gathering, the CPI(M) Central Committee member, N. Varadharajan, said that the people elected AIADMK and chose Ms. Jayalalithaa as the Chief Minister as an alternative to the DMK hoping that she would ensure better governance. But Ms. Jayalalithaa had started adopting anti-people policies. Sudden hike in bus fare and price of milk had already burdened the people much.

A total of 220 CPI(M) partymen including 19 women in Theni and 110 members including 10 women were arrested in Cumbum when they picketed Theni-Madurai Main Road before Theni bus stand and Cumbum Main Road in Cumbum in the Theni district. poured milk on the road near Nehru statue to protest against the hike in prices of milk and bus fare.

In Erode town, members of the party took out a rally before blocking the traffic in front of the Collectorate. They blocked roads at Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Bhavani, Kodumudi and a number of other places in Erode District. The police arrested the agitators and released them in the evening.

As many as 561 cadre of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were removed for blocking roads at nine places in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. In Krishnagiri, a total of 230 CPI (M) cadre including 23 women were removed by the police for staging road roko agitation.

CPI (M) district secretary D. Ravindran participated in the agitation near Denkanikottai bus stand. As many as 55 cadres, including seven women, were removed. Only 14 cadres took part in the agitation held before the office of the Revenue Divisional Officer in the Old Bengaluru Road. In Hosur, the agitation was held before the Municipal Office . P. Sundararajan, State Committee Member, gave a special address. Forty five cadre, including five women, were removed in Hosur. Thirty-nine cadres were removed in Shoolagiri and 35 in Pochampalli.

In Dharmapuri district, 331 cadres including 93 women participated in the road blockade agitation at Dharmapuri and Harur towns. In Dharmapuri town secretary D. Ramachandran presided over the agitation in front of the Taluk Office.

CPIM Cadres staged a demonstration in front of the Madurai District Collectorate. Hundreds of party workers both men and women joined the protest, which was led by the party's Madurai urban district secretary, D.Vikraman and State committee member and M.L.A. R.Annadurai. Similar protests were held across the district in eight places in the rural areas.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPIM Udupi District Conference Concludes

The fourth Udupi district conference of the CPI (M) ahead of the 20th Party congress to be held in 2012, held on Sunday December 4 and Monday December 5. A massive rally was held from Service Bus Stand to Lions Bhavan, Brahmagiri, at the venue of the public meeting on Monday at 4.30 pm.

Addressing a large gathering of the general public and CPI (M) activists, former MLA G V Sriram Reddy said that the state tops in corruption in the country and a united struggle is essential to curb rampant corruption in state departments. “The support of regional parties is also needed in this regard. The CPI (M) opposes the union government’s policies which are responsible for the hike in prices of essential commodities,” said the former MLA.

It was decided at the conferene to urge both the state and union governments to take necessary action against environmental issues related to UPCL based on experts’ reports, without shutting down the existing power plant, to complete execution of Varahi irrigation project in the district, which has been going on over a decade, at the earliest, to rejuvenate Brahmavar Sugar Factory, to begin round-the-clock inter-city train services between Mangalore and Karwar, to erect a seawall along the erosion prone sea shore in the coastal district, and allot housing plots to the homeless.

Adamar Sripati Acharya, Vishwanath Rai, Dogu Suvarna, K Shankar, Dasa Bhandary, Vittal Poojary, Venkatesh Koni, Rajeev Padukone, and Ramesh Mendon were present on the occasion.

(Courtesy : Dajjiworld.com)

Yet Another untouchability wall pulled down in Tamil Nadu

Dalits of Sanyasipatti near Sankagiri in Salem district fought bitterly for five days before forcing the district administration to take firm action to demolish a four-foot-high and 20-foot-long wall erected right across a tar-topped road with the intention of preventing them from using it.

The ‘wall of untouchability' erected on November 29 in the middle of the night by some caste Hindus was pulled down on Sunday by those who put it up after revenue authorities intervened.

The wall had come up across the road laid by the village panchayat some 15 years ago to provide better access to the Arunthathiyar colony, where 200 Dalits families are living.

A caste Hindu group, which had constructed a temple adjacent to the road, had been at loggerheads with the Dalits for using the road. The group told the Scheduled Caste members that as the temple was located near the road, they should refrain from using it.. “We were asked to take a circuitous route through the fields to reach the colony,” said a youth who was among the agitators opposing the construction of the wall.

With CPI (M) and DYFI leading the agitation, the Dalits laid siege to the tahsildar's office at Sankagiri till late Saturday night, forcing the officials to take the decision to have the wall demolished. “The officials first removed just a portion of the wall. But we insisted that it should be totally removed,” said Sekar, a DYFI activist. CPI (M) floor leader in the Assembly A. Soundararajan who visited the spot said the fight would continue till the wall was demolished totally.

On Sunday, a team of revenue officials led by Tahsildhar S Razyia Begam arrived on the spot. Since talks between two groups had failed with caste Hindus objecting to the demolition and Dalits demanding it, there was threat of a law and order problem. But Sankagiri police provided security for the officials who later asked the caste Hindus themselves to pull down the wall.

S Gopalakrishnan, a bus conductor from the colony said it was a great relief for the people of the Arunthathiyar colony, as women and children were put to a lot of hardship. “Suddenly, we saw the wall of hollow bricks right across the road in the morning of November 30 and were shocked,” he said.

The Tahsildhar told The Hindu that she had convinced both the groups to sort out the issue amicably. “Accordingly, those who erected the wall came forward to remove them. Everything went on smoothly,” she said.

This is the third wall symbolising social ostracisation that has been demolished in Salem district within a span of two months. Earlier officials removed a wall right in the heart of Salem city that separated Dalits from others while another was demolished near Omalur that blocked pathway to Dalit colony from the main thoroughfare.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

13th International Meeting of Communist Parties : An event of major importance

More than 100 foreign delegates that represent 83 communist and workers’ parties from 64 countries of the world, from all continents  are expected to take part in the procedures of the 13^th international Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties which will be hosted by the KKE (Communist Party of Greece) in Athens on 9-11 December 2011.

The International Meetings of the CPs were initiated by the KKE 13 years ago, and met a big and positive response from dozens of CPs which understand the necessity for the communists to exchange views, to discuss the developments and the duties they face, to exchange experience but also to coordinate their joint activity.

These annual international meetings, which started in Athens, have been established as an important international event for the communist movement. They are no longer organized by a single Communist Party but by a Working Group of Communist Parties. Besides Athens, where they took place for 7 consecutive years they continued in Lisbon (Portugal),Minsk (Belarus), Sao Paolo (Brazil), New Delhi (India), Tshwane (South Africa). This year after a “trip” to 5 countries and 4 continents (Europe, America, Asia, Africa) they return to Athens (for this year).

The recognition of the significance of the workers’ and people’s struggles which have been developed over the recent years by the KKE , the All Workers’ Militant Front (PAME) and the other people’s rallies has played an important role in this decision. The slogan of the KKE in Acropolis in May 2010 which called on the people to rise up has become a symbol for the struggles that followed and continue up to now in Greece and in other countries and give hope and inspiration to the communists and the peoples who struggle.

The theme of the meeting this year is:

“Socialism is the future! The international situation and the experience of the communists 20 years after the counterrevolution in the USSR. The tasks for the development of the class struggle in conditions of capitalist crisis, imperialist wars, of the current popular struggles and uprisings, for working class-popular rights, the strengthening of proletarian internationalism and the anti-imperialist front, for the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of socialism”.

20 years after the overthrow of socialism in the USSR and the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe the largest meeting in terms of participation is expected to take place in Athens.

The list of the parties that take part in the meeting:

Country	Party
Azerbaijan	Communist Party of Azerbaijan
Albania	Communist Party of Albania
Algeria	Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism
Armenia	Communist Party of Armenia
Australia	Communist Party of Australia
Bangladesh	Workers’ Party of Bangladesh
	Communist Party of Bangladesh
Bahrain	Democratic Progressive Tribune Bahrain
Belgium	Workers’ Party of Belgium
Brazil	Communist Party of Brazil
	Brazilian Communist Party
Britain	Communist Party of Britain
	New Communist Party of Britain
Bulgaria	Communist Party of Bulgaria
	Party of the Bulgarian Communists
Canada	Communist Party of Canada
Colombia	Colombian Communist Party
Croatia	Socialist Workers’ Party of Croatia
Cuba	Communist Party of Cuba
Cyprus	AKEL
Czech Republic	Communist Party of Bohemia Moravia
Denmark	Communist Party in Denmark
	Communist Party of Denmark
Egypt	Communist Party of Egypt
Finland	Communist Party of Finland
FYROM	Communist Party of Macedonia
France	French Communist Party
Germany	German Communist Party
Georgia	United Communist Party of Georgia
Greece	Communist Party of Greece
Hungary	Hungarian Communist Workers’ Party
India	Communist Party of India
	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Iran	Tudeh Party of Iran
Iraq	Iraqi Communist Party
Ireland	Communist Party of Ireland
	Workers’ Party of Ireland
Israel	Communist Party of Israel
Italy	Party of the Italian Communists
Jordan	Jordanian Communist Party
People’s Democratic Republic of Korea	Workers’ Party of Korea
Laos	People’s Revolutionary Party of Laos
Latvia	Socialist Party of Latvia
Lebanon	Lebanese Communist Party
Lithuania	Socialist People’s Front Lithuania
Luxemburg	Communist Party of Luxemburg
Malta	Communist Party of Malta
Mexico	Communist Party of Mexico
	Popular Socialist Party of Mexico
Nepal	Communist Party of Nepal (UML)
Netherlands	New Communist Party of Netherlands
Norway	Communist Party of Norway
Palestine	Palestinian People’s Party
	Palestinian Communist Party
Pakistan	Communist Party of Pakistan
Paraguay	Paraguayan Communist Party
Peru	Peruvian Communist Party
	Communist Party of Peru (Patria Roja)
Poland	Communist Party of Poland
Portugal	Portuguese Communist Party
Romania	Romanian Communist Party
Russia	Communist Party of the Russian Federation
	Communist Workers' Party of Russia - Revolutionary Party of Communists
	Communist Party of the Soviet Union
	Union of Communist Parties — Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Serbia	New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
	Party of Communists of Serbia
Sri Lanka	Communist Party of Sri Lanka
South Africa	South African Communist Party
Spain	Communist Party of Spain
	Communist Party of the People’s of Spain
	Party of the Communists of Catalonia
Sudan	Sudanese Communist Party
Sweden	Communist Party of Sweden
Syria	Syrian Communist Party
	Syrian Communist Party (United)
Turkey	Communist Party of Turkey
	Labour Party (ΕΜΕΡ), Turkey
USA	Communist Party USA
Ukraine	Communist Party of Ukraine
	Union of Communists of Ukraine
Venezuela	Communist Party of Venezuela
Vietnam	Communist Party Vietnam

CPI-M demands judicial inquiry into Bengal police firing

The Communist Party of India-Marxist West Bengal State Committee demanded a judicial inquiry into the police firing in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas - which claimed two lives - and asked for a "stable job" for family members of those killed. Leader of Opposition in Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra said: “The Government has to be blamed for it.” Speaking to reporters at a press conference Mishra said a six-member team they sent to the spot found the administration responsible for the deaths.

A woman and a 14-year-old girl died and several were injured in the police firing. Several cops were also injured in the mob fury.

"A stable job should be given to the family members of those killed in this unfortunate incident. Various police officers have given different accounts of the incident. Only through a judicial inquiry the truth can be revealed," former state minister and CPI-M leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah said. He, along with several other lawmakers from the party, will meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to give their account of the incident. "We are slated to meet the chief minister Dec 9 and there we will give our account of the incident," added Mollah. The CPI-M had also called for a 12-hour shutdown in South 24 Parganas to protest against "police excesses", said Mollah. Two people were killed and 22 others, including 16 policemen, injured as clashes between a mob and security forces over illegal electric connections in Magrahat in Thursday led to police opening fire. Mollah and other leaders also criticised Banerjee for blaming the CPI-M for the incident. "She already has started to blame us. But she must know that we are neither at the government nor at the panchayat or block level. Then how can we get the police to fire. It is they (Trinamool Congress) who are the culprits," said Mollah.

CPIM Stand On Mullaperiyar Dam

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now in session at New Delhi, has issued the following statement:

The CPI(M) stand on the Mullaperiyar dam issue has always been guided by two principles. The first is the Mullaperiyar dam provides water to Tamilnadu which has proved vital to the agriculture and development of the areas concerned. The water supply to Tamilnadu should be assured in the future too.

The second issue is the safety of this 115 year-old dam in the hills of Idukki district of Kerala. The apprehensions about the safety of the dam have to be allayed and measures taken to ensure the safety and security of the people in Idukki and the three adjoining districts in Kerala.

The issue of the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam has come to the fore with the recent tremors recorded in Idukki. This has sparked off widespread fears among the people about the safety of the dam.

The Mullaperiyar dam issue is being considered by the Supreme Court which appointed an empowered committee to enquire into the various aspects of the problems. The Supreme Court should expedite the process and come to an early judgement on the matter. Till then, the Central government should intervene and decide on the immediate measures that are required to ensure the safety of the dam, in consultation with the Kerala and Tamilnadu governments.

The Polit Bureau would like both the states of Tamilnadu and Kerala to adopt an attitude which will help resolve this longstanding and complex issue amicably.

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The Peasants shall Continue Their Struggle for Price: Com Madan Ghosh

 

 

Paschimbanga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha along with the other left peasants' organisations has decided to go for civil disobedience movement with the demand of proper price for the food grains, supply of the fertiliser at reasonable price and against the anti-peasant agricultural policies of central and State Government. Comrade Madan Ghosh, Secretary of Krishak Sabha talked to the party website on various issues and problems of the farmers of West Bengal in the first six months of the TMC led Government.

Question: How will you distinguish between the agricultural policy of the current TMC led Government and the Left Front Government earlier?

Madan Ghosh: The most significant success of the Left Front Government was the Land Reforms. Land Reforms meant not only the distribution of the land but also the recording of barga (share-croppers). The peasants who got the land because of the land reforms got incentive for extra production. Additionally, with the expansion of irrigation and technical support, West Bengal became self-sufficient in production of food. In rice production we became top in the country. Another important thing that we have witnessed is that the farmers, who were been forced to sell the produced crops in lesser price and suffer the financial crisis and could not be self-sufficient earlier, began to get prices for their produces. Because of the land reforms the number of the small and marginal farmers had a significant growth. Currently, they constitute 84% of total number of peasants of West Bengal. Due to this changed scenario capital became a necessity to these farmers. With time, agriculture became more and more dependent on capital. However, the banks have always shown less interest to invest in agrarian sector. The situation remained unchanged even after bank nationalisation. So, the investment in agricultural sector was either by the rich farmers (In case of West Bengal) or the Jotdars (at all India level). This capital is primarily used to buy the tools and machine. One of the contributions of the Left Front Government was that it could ensure the supply of capital to the small and marginal farmers by the development of the cooperative system in the state. Out of the given loan, 4% of the interest amount used to be subsidised by the Government in cases of timely return of the loan amount. To prevent the distress sell of the crops the Government played vital role to open the rice purchase centre. Gradually these arrangements became strengthened with the involvement of self-help group, as the buyers of the crops. It is also important to note that the Central Government Agencies like FCI, JCI (in Jute) have been adequately used to ensure the selling of the crops. The Left Front Government had also paid adequate attention to provide assistance to price control and exporting the potatoes. All together these factors have created the incentives for the farmers to produce more at the time of Left Front Government.

But we have seen in the first six months of the Trinamool led Government that the Government has not played any positive role to consolidate these factors. Like in case of Jute it has failed to use the JCI, therefore the jute farmers have suffered a huge financial losses. Likewise in case of rice the payment of 50% bonus by the State Government has been stopped along with no attention to form the rice purchase centre at any of the districts. The policy to use self-help groups as the buyer of rice has been rejected by the new Government. None of the initiatives has been taken for proper distribution of the fertiliser. This situation is so gross that the peasants are not getting the Minimum Support Price for the crops (Lesser than the production cost) fixed by the Central Government. Hence the farmers are going towards a ruinous path. We are already receiving the news of farmer's suicides from some parts of West Bengal, which was not even imaginable during tenure of the Left Front Government. In Kerala we have seen such a situation earlier during the time of UDF Government, but during the LDF period there was no farmer suicide. Again of farmer's suicides are increasing in Kerala. Wayanad is a district from where large numbers of farmer's suicides have been reported within the 6months of new UDF Government. The problems of the farmers cannot be understood without mentioning the anti-peasant agricultural policy of the Central Government. That includes fertilisers and other necessities. Under this situation a section of farmers of our state are not willing to harvest Boro crop in this season. This was also an unprecedented picture at the time of LF. But unfortunately no initiatives have been noticed from the side of any ministers of TMC led State Government. If the farmers decide to continue with such decision then a large sections of farmers and field workers shall face a dangerous problem. Altogether such a situation will be ruinous at state and national level.

Question: What kind of role a State Government can play to control the price of fertiliser or to prevent black market?

Madan Ghosh: Firstly, The ruling party of the state is also a partner of the Central Government's decision to de-regulate the fertiliser business. Secondly, there has been a serious lack of initiative from the side of the State Government to ensure the supply by keeping regular contact with EFCO and other production agencies; thirdly the State Government has failed to direct the concerned district officers to ensure the supply and distribution of the fertiliser. Fourthly State Government has failed to take any enforcement measure to declare publicly the total quantity reserved to a dealer and agent and lastly to take preventive measure to transfer the license or permit of the traders. The price of the fertiliser is increasing because of these combined effects. These are also causing the rise of black market and speculation in agriculture. In this context it needs to be mentioned that most of these dishonest agents are acting as the allies of the ruling party in the state.

Question: What kind of effect has been reflected on the production of Jute, Rice and Potato due to the absence of MSP?

Madan Ghosh: In case of Jute the Minimum Support Price is Rupees 1670 per Quintal whereas the production cost is Rupees 2400- 2800 per Quintal. The current Government has never demanded for the increment in MSP. The CM only sent a letter to provide a bonus per quintal. A pre-condition of such bonus is that the FCI has to open a JCI purchase Centre if Central Government gives its consent, which has not happened. It caused the distress sell of the crops. In some cases they have even got only Rupees 800- 1000 per quintal. At last, when the State decided to give Rupees 100 as bonus per quintal in Jute, nothing was actually done due to the existence of JCI purchase Centre in State. The State Government has not declared any bonus in rice it has also not arranged for adequate number of purchase centre as it failed to develop the infrastructure. So the farmers have suffered irreparable losses in some parts of the state and they are forced to move on the same path. The season of potato production has just started. Here the main problem has arisen because of the seeds and fertiliser. Since the state is not self-sufficient in potato seeds so it was necessary to bring in high quality seeds. But the agricultural department of the state has not taken any initiative to collect the seeds. On one hand the supply of the fertiliser has also become speculative and other hand due to distress sell 30% cold storages has no empty space. So because of the scarcity of the high quality seeds and the necessary fertiliser due to their high price, the total area and production of potato might decrease in near future.

Question: How will the Kishan Sabha and other left peasants' organisation combat the situation?

Madan Ghosh: We have decided to go for civil disobedience movement with other left agricultural organisations. The civil disobedience will be observed at district and sub division level till coming 25th November. On 28th November the Left Front has called for the civil disobedience, the peasants will take part in that programme also. The left peasant's organisations will sit together and decide their future plan. The movement will continue.

Left Front will Carry On Movements on Peoples' Issues : Biman Bose

Left Front has called for State-wide Civil Disobedience movement against the Price Hike, Corruption, and Curtailment of democratic rights, State-wide terror by TMC and in defence of Democracy. After Districts and Sub divisional level, Left Front will centrally conduct Civil disobedience on 28th November. Biman Basu, The Secretary, CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee and the Chairman of Left Front Committee West Bengal has talked to the party website before this programme.

Question: Why the Left Front is going for Civil Disobedience on 28th November?

Biman Basu: CPI(M) independently and state Left Front unitedly adopted a series of mass programme since new Government led by TMC has resorted to attack on different political parties and mass organisations including trade unions. In many parts of the state, TMC workers along with the hoodlums have attacked the party offices, mainly the CPI(M) offices. They killed 45 valuable leaders and activists of CPI(M) and other Left Parties. They have also forcefully occupied 77 democratically elected students union offices. Our Leader of Opposition has drawn the attention of the Government in number of occasions. Left Front has also drawn the attention through submitting memorandum to the Governor of West Bengal and the Prime Minister. Our Party has independently observed month long solidarity campaign in different state capitals and cities at the call of the Party's Central Committee. They have also collected funds for the terror victims of West Bengal. Left Front conducted the campaign in West Bengal. The campaign was conducted From 1st to 6th November. Trade Unions observed a successful 'Jail Bharo' on 8th November. Thereafter the campaign programmes have been continued at village level in District and at ward level in cities against high prices, corruption, curtailment of democratic rights and terror tactics of TMC and also in the defence of democracy from 11th to 20th November. Left Kishan organisations have also drawn a joint programme of campaign on the said issues and called for Civil Disobedience. The State Left Front has declared that the Civil Disobedience shall be conducted at subdivisional and District level from 21st to 25th November. The campaign and movement has successfully mobilised thousands and peoples' issues have come in the forefront. Left Front has decided centrally to observe civil disobedience on 28th November in Kolkata.

Question: What will be the next phase of campaign after the completion of the Civil Disobedience Movement on 28th November?

Biman Basu: We will take stock of the campaign movement of November and plan the further programme. It will do after 28th November. TMC led Government is moving to curtail the democratic rights of the three tiers elected Panchayat functionaries. The Government is also trying to create anarchy in the field of education by issuing Ordinance for Universities and certain other decisions related to the management of different educational boards or councils. Therefore in the month of December, we are to pin point the demands, which are linked to the day-to-day life of the common people and announce the programmes in an appropriate manner.

West Bengal Left Front Organizes Mass Civil Disobedience

Left Front of West bengal has organised Mass civil disobedience, protesting against spiralling price hike and food inflation, unprecedented corruption and unleashing violence against left workers and common people of the state of West Bengal. It is now being observed across districts. The State Left Front Committee would organize a central disobedience programme on 28th of this month. From 9th of this month continuous mass campaign was held in almost every para, mahalla, village, sub-division and districts that became a full-blown effort on the consecutive disobedience programme from 21st to 25th of this month in all districts.

The mass civil obedience programmes raise voice against the double folded crisis: unprecedented price hike along with food inflation and volatility of growth market on the one side and deliberate political violence against the left workers and common people in the state of West Bengal on the other have been leading the situation toward absolute anarchy. Already 45 left workers and innocent people have been killed in the state. Left parties are being denied to organize meetings and conferences in different localities and areas. Farmers are constantly being evicted from their lands and share-croppers are denied their Burga and Putta rights in many villages. Industrial workers and labourers are not even spared. Severe retrenchment along with the ousting of regular workers in factories like Kanoria Jute Mill and many other places has become a regular event where local TMC goons along with promoters are recruiting TMC people replacing even skilled and experienced workers.

Left front in this series of civil disobedience movements has already placed five point demands:

(i) Curbing down the price rise;

(ii) Immediate withdrawal of education ordinance;

(iii) Regulating fertilizer prices and incentive measure to give farmers enough relief;

(iv) Stop FDI in retail market;

(v) Stop political violence against left party workers;

CPI(M) Kerala State Conference logo released

Jnanpith-winning poet O.N.V. Kurup on Saturday released the logo of the 20th  Kerala State conference of the Communist party of India (Marxist) to be held at the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram from February 7 to 10, 2012.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri. ONV Kurup said only politicians who did not have a national perspective could oppose the proposal for a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

Only a person who could understand the pains, sorrows and anxieties of others could see the rationale behind Kerala's demand for a new dam. Several of the politicians at the national level had either regional or family interests uppermost in their minds.The only exception to this contemporary trend was the Left parties which stood and fought for the greater common good, the poet said.

CPIM State Committee member and reception committee Chariman Com. M. Vijayakumar chaired the meeting, which was attended by poet Neelamperoor Madhusoodanan Nair, film-maker Lenin Rajendran and V. Sivan Kutty and Koliyakode N. Krishnan Nair, MLAs, among others.

Welcoming the gathering, CPI(M) district secretary Kadakampally Surendran said the logo, designed by U.M. Binny of the Neeravil Prakash Kala Kendram, Kollam, was selected from among 54 entries.