COMRADE DIPANKAR MUKHERJEE AMAR RAHE

Com Dipankar Mukherjee, National Secretary CITU, expired on 18th June 2012 at Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi at the age of 70 years, after about a fortnight’s confinement there. On 30th May 2012, he was admitted to Hospital with serious illness, on 1st June he had to undergo a major 9-hour-long surgery in pancreatic zone for removal of a lump which lasted for about nine hours. After surgery, he was slowly recovering at the initial phase, but from 14th June onward, the situation took a complicated turn and he finally breathed his last on 18th   June morning.

Dipankar Mukherjee was born in June 1943 in Calcutta. His father was a railway worker. He had a brilliant educational career throughout his student life. He graduated in electrical engineering from Banaras Hindu University and started his working life in BHEL in Bhopal. He also worked in high position in Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation, Ramagundam Plant in Andhra Pradesh. He was closely associated with Peoples’ Science movement.  He left the coveted job of Additional Chief Engineer of Haldia Fertilisers and joined as a whole timer of CITU in 1991 and took active part in trade union movement since then. Having deep knowledge of industrial engineering and industrial economics across the industries, particularly in power, fertilisers, petroleum he made useful contributions in the struggle for revival of sick industries and sick-PSUs in particular and also against the anti-PSU policies of the successive governments. As a trade union leader, he was acclaimed for his deep knowledge and his consistent class outlook. He was elected National Secretary of CITU in 2003 and represented CITU in various forums. He was CITU representative in Central Board of Trustees of Employees Provident Fund Organisation till his demise.

Com Dipankar was a brilliant parliamentarian with versatile capabilities. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 1994 from West Bengal as a CPI(M) member and played important role in intervening effectively on all crucial economic and industrial policy related issues during his 12 year-long parliamentary stint till 2006. He made notable contribution in developing an alternative workable vision on pricing of petroleum products in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas during his tenure in that committee—totally opposite to the present policy of deregulation. His interventions in parliamentary debates in exposing the faulty and anti-people policy of the successive govts on fertilizer, power, petroleum, etc, his brilliant speeches in exposing the privatization of blue chip PSUs like Balco, IPCL etc., the shady deal of sale-out of Centaur Hotel,   the conspiracy behind dubious game-plan of disinvestment of the shares of PSUs  to set in the process of “creeping privatization”, the shady deals to hand over the control and business of Delhi and Mumbai Airports to private players are some of the instances which will be remembered for ever. He had been also very vociferous in raising the issues on rights and livelihood of working class and peasantry on the floor of Parliament in a regular manner.  He also his mark as Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport & Tourism, Chairman, Committee of Petitions and Chairman, Committee on Subordinate Legislations at different spell of his Parliamentary tenure.

He was a prolific writer on trade union, economic and political issues and used to contribute regularly in the trade union and political journals. He wrote many pamphlets which were published by CITU. Notables were his pamphlet exposing the “Indo-US Nuclear Deal” and booklet on “Employees Pension Scheme”.  He discharged the responsibility as Working Editor of “The Working Class” and “CITU Mazdoor”, the monthly journals of CITU in English and Hindi till the last day of his life.

In Dipankar Mukherjee’s death, CITU has lost one of its frontline leaders, the trade union movement has lost a leading figure working for unity of the working class in the frontline of struggle, the country has lost a committed soldier for the cause of the working people. While expressing grief for the departed comrade, CITU conveys condolence to his colleagues, friends and family members and dips its flag in respect to his memory.

Condolence to Dipankar Mukherjee

Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sent the following condolence message on the demise of Dipankar Mukherjee:

I am deeply grieved to hear the news of the demise of Comrade Dipankar Mukherjee, Secretary of the CITU and former CPI(M) member of the Rajya Sabha.

Dipankar was a comrade who dedicately served the Party and the working class movement. In Parliament, he displayed his versatile qualities and made a mark as an able parliamentarian. As a trade union leader he was known for his deep knowledge of working class issues and his consistent class outlook. Comrade Dipankar was a valuable comrade and we had expected him to continue to contribute to the movement given his abilities and competence. He fell seriously ill and the best medical treatment could not save him. His death at this juncture is a big loss.

I convey my heartfelt condolences to all his colleagues and family members.

Central Committee Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on June 9-10, 2012. It has issued the following statement: 

Grim Economic Situation

The Central Committee expressed concern at the economic slowdown facing the country. The GDP growth rate declined to 6.5 per cent in 2011-12 and there is a slowdown in industrial production. The trade deficit is widening in the backdrop of slowdown in exports. The Indian rupee has depreciated to over Rs. 55 per dollar. There is a sharp increase in the external debt. Even as the economic slowdown is occurring, the inflation rate continues to be high with food inflation touching 10.5 per cent. This is adding to the suffering of the people. 

The ruling establishment and the corporate media are portraying this deterioration as a failure to push through neo-liberal reforms. This is a travesty of facts. On the contrary, like in the rest of the world, the worsening economic situation in India is a direct outcome of the pursuit of neo-liberal policies. The increasing income inequalities have made the growth process unsustainable; deregulation and concessions for speculative finance and the big corporates are affecting the stability of the financial sector.

The Central Committee strongly opposes the moves to push through more neo-liberal measures. The Central Committee condemns the move to open up the FDI in multi-brand retail. The Party, along with other Left and democratic forces, will conduct a widespread movement to block any such move. The Central Committee calls upon all the opposition parties in Parliament to oppose the legislations which seek to increase the FDI limit in banking and insurance sectors and the Pension Bill, which is meant to privatize pension funds. 

Food Stocks

The Central Committee noted that the total stock of foodgrains in central pool has reached 7.11 crore metric tonnes in May 2012. This is 5 crore metric tonnes in excess of the buffer stock norm. Much of these stocks are also rotting in the absence of adequate warehousing space. Yet the government refuses to offload these stocks of wheat and rice at cheap prices to the poor and malnourished. The government is more interested in exporting foodgrains, even by incentivizing private traders. 

The Central Committee demands that the Union government release these food stocks at BPL prices through the PDS and under special schemes for the drought-affected areas and to the poor and destitute sections.

Petrol Price Hike

The Central Committee reiterated its opposition to the steep petrol price hike. The reduction of the price by Rs. 2 per litre is totally inadequate since the price is still higher by over Rs. 5.50 per litre. The Central Committee demands that a full rollback of the petrol price increase. 

Coal Block Allocations

According to reports, the Comptroller and Auditor General has found the process of allocation of coal blocks to various companies, faulty. This has resulted in huge profits for the private parties and massive loss of revenue to the government. The Central Vigilance Commissioner has already referred the matter to the CBI for investigation. The response of the Prime Minister’s office to the allegations on the allocations is not credible.

The Central Committee demands a thorough investigation by the CBI into the matter and to fix the responsibility of those involved. 

Kerala Situation

The Central Committee discussed the prevailing political situation in Kerala. After the killing of T. P. Chandrasekharan on May 4, there has been a concerted campaign blaming the CPI(M) for the murder. This campaign has been unleashed by the Central Minister of State for Home, the Chief Minister and the Congress leaders in Kerala. This propaganda was kept up in view of the Assembly bye-election in Neyyattinkara which was held on June 2. 

The police investigation is sought to be influenced by the government and the ruling party. The police is trying to implicate leaders of the Party in Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The Party has condemned the brutal killing and denied any involvement in the incident. The Party has strongly asserted that it does not believe in the elimination of political opponents. The Party leadership has also stated that on enquiry, if it is found that there is involvement of any Party member at any level, strong action will be taken. The Central Committee called upon the Party ranks to unitedly face this anti-Communist campaign and mobilise the people to rebuff the attempts to defame the Party.

Shimla Elections

The Central Committee congratulated the Himachal Pradesh state committee of the Party on the victory achieved in the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections to the Shimla Municipal Corporation. The defeat of the Congress which was running the corporation and the BJP which is in state government shows that the people will vote for an effective alternative to the Congress and the BJP, if it is presented. 

US Strategic Designs 

The US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta visited Delhi in order to involve India in the United States strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. In the words of Panetta, India should be a “lynchpin” in the US strategy in Asia. The UPA government should realize the dangers of involving itself in a strategic alliance with the United States and firmly turn down any such role in the American strategic designs in Asia.  

The Central Committee called upon the UPA government not to fall in line with the US-NATO and the Gulf states on the developments in Syria. The Indian government should not become party to moves to stoke civil war conditions and destabilize Syria. The Central Committee strongly criticized the UPA government’s steps to curtail oil purchases from Iran. This is being done under pressure from the United States and it goes against the vital interests of the country with regard to energy security.

Movement for Food Security

The Central Committee endorsed the call given by the Left parties for conducting the movement for food security and a universal PDS. The campaign will demand a universal public distribution system with no targeting of APL and BPL; 35 kilograms of foodgrains at not more than Rs. 2 per kg for every family per month. Throughout the month of July, the Left parties will mobilise and conduct struggles, from the block level onwards, on the issue of PDS and adequate supply of foodgrains. It will culminate in a continuous dharna during the monsoon session of Parliament in Delhi from July 30 to August 3, in which thousands of people will participate.

Central Secretariat

The Central Committee elected a six-member Secretariat consisting of Prakash Karat, Hari Singh Kang, Hannan Mollah, Nilotpal Basu, V. Srinivasa Rao and Jogendra Sharma.

Central Discipline Commission

The Central Committee elected a four-member Central Discipline Commission consisting of S. Ramachandran Pillai (Chairperson), Madan Ghosh, V. Srinivasa Rao and U. Vasuki.

CITU GENERAL COUNCIL CALLS COUNTRYWIDE CAMPAIGNS AND HEIGHTENING THE UNITED STRUGGLE

All India General Council of CITU meeting at Coimbatore from 2^nd to 5^th June has decided:

 

·         To organize a wave of massive and militant campaigns and struggles in the country against the regime of loot and plunder on workers and the mass of the people let loose by the neo-liberal policies of the government of India and on the pressing demands of the working people in various sectors. These campaigns with a countrywide campaign week from 2^nd to 8^th July 2012 raising issues like price rise, leading the exploitative system of contractorisation prevailing in all sectors in the country, equal wage for equal work, minimum wages of at least Rs. 10,000 per month and ensured pension for all. Campaigns will be organized at workplaces and residential areas.

 

·      General council reviewed the 28^th February 2012 General strike and decided to continue the joint struggles against the polices of the government as the Government of India has failed to look into any demands raised by the unions during the struggles in the last 3 years.

·         CITU along with other central trade unions and national federations will go for countrywide campaigns and struggles culminating in multiple days of countrywide strike as to be decided jointly by the Central Trade Unions.

·         Protesting against the cruel exploitation of millions of workers especially women in the name of honorarium, workers in various schemes of the government of India like anganwadi, mid-day meals and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), CITU will organize countrywide struggles demanding regularization of these scheme workers with proper wage scales and social security benefits. The programme will include state level campaigns and mobilizations culminating in a ‘Mahapadav’ (massive mobilization) in front of the Parliament during November 2012. 

·         CITU will organize struggles of various sections of unorganized sector workers on issues like minimum wages of at least Rs. 10,000, social security benefits, welfare board and other statutory benefits as part of these struggles. Construction workers will organize a countrywide strike on 6^th November 2012.

 

·         CITU will organize solidarity actions with the workers in central PSUs, who are struggling against privatization. CITU extends solidarity with the steel workers’ united strike in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL) on 27^th and 28^th June against disinvestment.

 

·         CITU expressed solidarity with the struggles of various sections of workers in Tamilnadu who are demanding end to victimizations, ensuring trade union rights, wage increases and proper functioning of the welfare boards of unorganized sector workers. 

·         CITU General Council has decided to conduct movements and campaigns on issues of social and gender oppressions in different parts of the country. 

·         General Council has decided to conduct its 14^th National Conference by the end of March 2013 and will be preceded by state conferences. 

·         Working Women Co-ordination Committees of CITU will also organise state and national conventions of working women before March 2013. 

Civic Elections Results in West Bengal

In six civic bodies in west Bengal, Trinamool Congress has won in 4 while Left Front won in Haldia and Congress, contesting separately won in Coopers’ camp notified area.


The elections were held in vitiated atmosphere, with TMC terrorizing the whole campaign period. Opposition candidates were threatened, attacked and their families were heckled in Haldia, Panshkura. In reality, Left Front could not go for a peaceful campaign in both these areas. In Durgapur, the terror was unleashed throughout the campaign period and CPI(M) activists were attacked. On the day of elections too TMC unleashed violence and meticulously planned terror tactics in all three civic areas. Even Congress alleged that elections were not fair and TMC terrorized people while administration remained crippled.


Despite this, Left Front won 15-11 in Haldia. This industrial town in East Midnapore district witnessed TMC terror from 2009 after they won the parliamentary elections. Hundreds were forced to leave their houses, CPI(M) leaders were detained in false cases, TU offices were destroyed or captured. It was a determined fight from the Party workers and people that TMC could not wrest the municipality from Left Front.


In Panshkura, TMC won 11-5, despite attacks. In Durgapur Municipal Corporation, TMC won 29 wards, Left Front 11, Congress 1, BJP1 and others one. In Nalhati TMC retained their hold. In Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district, the voting was peaceful and Left Front was defeated. In Coopers Camp Congress retained its hold despite all efforts from TMC.


Biman Basu, Chairman, Left Front congratulated the people of Haldia for supporting Left Front despite terror. ‘It was a silent protest against incessant terror” Basu said. In Haldia, just after the results were out, Tamalika Panda Seth, Chairperson of the outgoing municipality was attacked. Many CPI(M) activists were attacked and some of them had to be hospitalized. Biman Basu condemned the violence. In Durgapur, A large section of people voted in favour of the Lefts braving terror, Basu pointed out.


Surjya Kanta Mishra, opposition leader in the state, while commenting on the results, said, “This result is a yellow card to TMC State Government. People will show a Red card if they don’t change their way”.

Rollback Full Price Increase

After increasing the price of petrol by Rs. 7.54 per litre including taxes, the oil companies have now announced a token cut of Rs. 2 per litre. This is unacceptable because the increase in the price of petrol is still Rs. 5.54 per litre.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demand that there should be a rollback of the entire price increase.

The Left parties will continue their agitation for the reversal of the price increase.

Railway Accidents : Minister's Responsibility

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deep concern at the spate of railway accidents occurring in the country. The latest accident on May 31 is that of the Howrah-Dehradun Express that derailed in Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Five persons were killed and several injured. The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Just nine days before, there was another major accident when the Hampi Express rammed into a goods train killing 25 passengers and injuring 55 persons on May 22. Prior to this, on May 6, the Ferozpur-Punjab Mail drawn from Mumbai had a derailment of six coaches in Rohtak in which 29 persons were injured.

The responsibility for this shocking state of affairs in the railways lies with the Railway Minister Mukul Roy. He seems more pre-occupied with the Trinamul Congress affairs and assignments in West Bengal.

The talk of sabotage by the Railway Minister and Ms. Mamata Banerjee cannot hide the fact that the railways are in a poor state with elementary safety standards being neglected.

The Prime Minister should not ignore the dereliction of duty by the Railway Minister and remain a hapless spectator.

Don't Bypass Parliament on Foreign Educational Institution Entry

It is reported that the HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, on the eve of his visit to the USA to attend the Indo-US CEO Forum meeting, is keen to find a way to satisfy the demand of US educational institutions for easy entry into India, by introducing liberalised UGC rules which do not require the assent of Parliament. Since the relevant Bill for entry of foreign educational institutions is pending before Parliament, this would be a clear case of bypassing Parliament and is contempt of Parliament.

The CPI(M) warns the Minister against any such move. On the contrary those foreign owned institutions operating in India in violation of the law must be proceeded against and steps taken to prevent any further violations.

Historic victory for CPIM in Shimla Municipal Corporation Elections

Communist Party of India (Marxists) has created history in hill town of Shimla by winning the posts of Mayor and deputy mayor by huge margins. Results announced on Monday has left Congress and BJP shocked as both parties were claiming to win the elections comfortably.

CPI-M’s mayoral candidate Sanjay Chauhan won the election by defeating his nearest BJP rival SS Minhas, a former surgeon, by 7,868 votes. Chauhan got 21,903 votes. Congress candidate and sitting mayor Madhu Sood finished third with 13,278 votes. 

The state assembly elections are due in December, 2012 but is likely to take place in October.

For the post of deputy mayor, Tikender Panwar of the CPI-M won the post by defeating his nearest rival Digvijay Chauhan of the BJP by a margin of 4,778 votes. Panwar polled 21,196 votes. Congress candidate Devinder Chauhan finished third (13,205 votes).

Since the creation of Shimla municipal corporation in 1851, this is for the first time when CPI(M) has clinched the top two political posts of the civic body. Congress for last 26 years was enjoying majority but this time voters in Queen of Hills decided for a change.

BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 12 councillors seat while Congress won 10 seats. CPI (M) besides winning two mayoral posts also won three councilors seat.

Election to the Shimla municipal corporation are considered as mini assembly polls as it seats the voting trend for assembly polls which is due late this year. Considering the fact that people from all 12 districts of state residing in Shimla participate in the corporation election political parties consider the results crucial to understand voter's nerve.

But today's election have shown that people are in favour of change as they have rejected the Congress and BJP candidates by favouring CPIM) for mayor and deputy mayors post. Union minister Virbhadra Singh while campaigned for Congress candidates, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his entire cabinet had thrown their weight behind BJP candidates. CPI (M) candidates besides relying on their state leadership had invited Sitaram Yechury as star campaigner.

Whitewashing Black Money

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

 

The Finance Ministry’s White Paper on Black Money presented in parliament reflects a trite exercise devoid of any political will. Neither has any credible estimate of black money stashed abroad been provided by the white paper nor any concrete measures suggested to retrieve the illicit funds.

 

The paper states that the total amount held in the Indian deposits of Swiss Banks fell from Rs. 23373 crore in 2006 to Rs. 9295 in 2010. The government seems to have no clue as to where this amount has gone. There is no assessment of Indian deposits in other offshore financial centres. The paper suggests that much of illicit financial outflows are round-tripped into India through FDI via the Mauritius route or via FII investments through Participatory Notes. Yet there is no specific recommendation to ban Participatory Notes or to scrap the DTAA with Mauritius. 

 

The paper cites the Global Financial Integrity study which estimated the current value of illicit financial flows from India between 1948 and 2008 to be around $462 billion (Rs. 25 lakh crore approximately). The fact that these are not gross overestimates can be seen from the information provided by the white paper: over the last two financial years (2010-2012) alone the Directorate of Transfer Pricing has detected mispricing (such as over-invoicing and under-invoicing of imports and exports) to the tune of a whopping Rs. 67768 crore in 1343 cases. Rs. 48951 crore has also been collected by the Directorate of International Taxation in just two years, between 2010 and 2012. It is clear that these amounts detected or collected over the past two years still comprise the tip of the iceberg. 

 

The white paper reveals that the amounts of undisclosed income of Indians, who figure in the lists of secret bank account holders received from the German and French governments respectively, are Rs. 40 crore and Rs. 565 crore only. These are minor parties. The Indian individuals and entities, who are holding bulk of the illicit wealth in offshore accounts, are yet to be identified. The white paper disappointingly reiterates the myriad technical difficulties involved in retrieving these huge amounts stashed abroad.

 

The lack of progress in this direction raises doubts over the sincerity of the UPA government on this crucial issue. The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) demands that a serious effort be made to quantify illicit funds stashed abroad by Indians and identify the culprits. Undisclosed assets of Indians located abroad should be confiscated by the government as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act.