On Justice Verma Committee Report

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

 

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau welcomes the report and recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee concerning sexual violence against women. The report and recommendations are comprehensive and situate sexual violence against women within a broader framework of socio-economic conditions and issues concerning governance, the law, politics and social attitudes and the reforms required to ensure justice for women. The Polit Bureau appreciates the excellent work put in by the committee which has completed its work before time.

 

It is incumbent on the Government to act without any delay on the recommendations. The CPI(M) demands:

 

(1) that the concrete recommendations concerning changes in the rape and sexual harassment laws should be placed and passed in the forthcoming session of Parliament

 

(2) that a multi-ministerial committee should be set up with a time-bound mandate of one month to look into the other recommendations concerning different agencies such as on police reform, on bringing armed forces personnel under the purview of the criminal laws and withdrawing protection under AFSPA, changes in the Peoples Representative Act, on khap panchayats, on improvement of conditions in juvenile homes, on specific facilities for disabled women etc.

 

(3) Action taken report on these recommendations should be presented so that urgent reforms required in the areas mentioned by the Verma committee can be taken forward.

Left Front starts campaign for assembly elections in Tripura

Kicking off campaign for the February 14 Assembly elections in Tripura, CPI(M) Party General Secretary Prakash Karat today said this is the best governed state in India so far as law and order was concerned.

"This is the best governed state in the country in terms of maintaining law and order, giving safety and security to the lives and properties of people and improving the standard of lives of people," Karat said in a meeting.

"It is also a model state in the region for combating decades old insurgency," he said.
Asserting that the seventh Left Front government would be installed in the state, Karat said the government "created history" by launching a programme of giving rice to the poor at Rs 2 a kg, implementing Forest Dwellers Rights Act for giving resettlement of tribals and implementing the MGNREGA.

The UPA government at the Centre has become more unpopular during the past six months for taking various anti-people measures by increasing the prices of diesel, essential commodities and rail fare.

Succumbing to the pressure of the USA, the UPA government was giving more facilities to multinational companies and planning to reduce taxes for them upto Rs five lakh crore, he alleged.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said hundreds of CPI(M) activists had sacrificed their lives in the hills and plains of Tripura to end the four-decade-old insurgency in the state which made the lives of people miserable by killing, kidnapping and stalling developments of the state.

"We gave priority to restore peace as peace is the pre-condition for development. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a meeting of the Security Council had appreciated Tripura for restoring peace and stated that it was an example in the country," Sarkar said.

Central Committee Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) held its meeting in Kolkata from January 17 to 19, 2013. It has issued the following statement:

 

Syrian Conflict

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the continuing armed conflict in Syria. For the last one and a half years, a concerted effort is being made to effect a regime change in Syria with rebel groups getting arms and supplies from outside. The threat of the Islamist forces dominating the rebel forces is growing. The United States, the NATO and the Gulf states are fuelling a civil war which has already led to the death of 60,000 people and more than half a million refugees who have fled to the neighbouring countries. The solution to the conflict can only be decided by the Syrian people free from external intervention.

 

The Central Committee condemned the efforts of the United States and the NATO powers to impose their will by backing the armed rebels. The United Nations and the countries of the region should work for a politically negotiated settlement by all concerned forces in Syria.

 

New Burdens on the People

 

The Central Committee discussed the new burdens imposed on the people by the UPA government. The price rise of essential commodities continues to be relentless. The Consumer Price Index inflation rate has gone up from 9.5 per cent in October 2012 to 10.56 per cent in December 2012. There is no respite in the price rise of wheat, rice, pulses and other food items.

 

It is at this juncture that the UPA government has announced steps to deregulate the price of diesel. This will lead to the continuous rise in the price of diesel which will affect transportation and fuel inflation. Farmers will be badly hit. Such deregulation will allow oil companies to raise prices to match international levels. These are much higher than domestic cost of production permitting the oil companies to reap windfall profits at the expense of imposing unprecedented burdens on the people.

 

Even before the railway budget has been presented, the UPA government has increased the railway passenger fares across the board. The government has announced a National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy that will effectively nullify the drug pricing control regime and allow the MNC and big pharmaceutical companies to continue to reap big profits. The Rangarajan committee’s recommendation for the total decontrol of the sugar industry, if implemented, is going to adversely affect the sugarcane farmers and have a cascading effect on the price of sugar for the PDS beneficiaries.

 

The Central Committee called upon its Party units to intensify the struggles against price-rise and the anti-people policies of the UPA government.

 

Cash Transfer Scheme

 

The Central Committee strongly opposes the move to extend the Cash Transfer Scheme to replace subsidized foodgrains, fertilizers, cooking gas and kerosene. In a period of high inflation, cash transfer to replace subsidized goods is meant to actually cut subsidies since the cash to be transferred will not cover the increased cost of the same amount of subsidized foodgrains or fertilizers. Cash transfer in place of foodgrains would end up dismantling the public distribution system. It will lead to increasing malnutrition and hunger in the country. It is illegal for the UPA government to link the various welfare schemes including MNREGA to the Aadhar-UID scheme. The Bill proposed for the UID has not been passed by parliament. In fact the Standing Committee has rejected the Bill and called for its redrafting.

 

Violence Against Women

 

The Central Committee expressed its indignation and condemnation of the alarming increase of sexual assaults on women. The horrific gangrape and murder of a 23 year old paramedical student in Delhi brought this widespread violence to the fore. The protests which have arisen triggered by this tragic incident has also raised issues of the subordinate status of women, the deep-rooted patriarchal attitude towards women and girls and the denial of their rights as equal citizens.

 

The CPI(M) has already submitted a memorandum to the Verma Committee suggesting various measures including life imprisonment for cases of rape and rigorous life imprisonment with no remission for cases of aggravated sexual assault like gangrape and sexual assaults children.

 

In this connection, the Central Committee condemned the sexist and anti-women comments from a range of public figures including political leaders and so-called spiritual leaders. The Central Committee strongly rejected the demeaning views expressed by the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the reactionary views of Asaram, the so-called spiritual leader.

 

The Central Committee called upon the Party and the democratic mass organizations to take the lead to intervene promptly wherever women are subjected to violence and sexual assaults and to take the lead to fight patriarchal notions and male chauvinism in all spheres of society.

 

West Bengal:

Deteriorating Conditions

 

The Central Committee condemned the continuing attacks and violence against the CPI(M) and the Left Front cadres. Since the assembly elections in May 2011, 85 members and supporters of the CPI(M) have been killed. The latest illustration is the assault on Abdur Razak Mollah, former minister and senior leader of the Party. Following this assault, people going to a protest rally were also attacked with three people suffering bullet injuries and many vehicles set ablaze.

 

The Chief Minister and the TMC government are encouraging these attacks keeping in view the forthcoming panchayat elections. The Central Committee strongly demanded an end to such violence and intimidation and peaceful conditions be established for the holding of the panchayat elections in a free and fair manner.

 

The Central Committee expressed its serious concern at the deteriorating economic and living conditions of the people in West Bengal. The non-payment of salaries and pensions to state transport employees is causing distress and has led to the suicide of five employees and pensioners. Nine workers of closed tea gardens have died due to malnutrition. The strong-arm tactics and intimidation by the TMC men have led to companies being forced to leave West Bengal as in the Haldia port. Crimes against women and extortions are growing. The politics of the TMC and the approach of the state governments are giving a fillip to the communal forces.

 

The Central Committee heard a report on the activities and the movements conducted by the CPI(M) and the Left Front. The Central Committee extended its full support and solidarity to the Party and the Left Front in West Bengal in tackling the current situation.

 

Assam Situation

 

The Central Committee noted that even after six months of the ethnic clashes in the BTAD area in Assam, large number of people are still living in refugee camps. There are concerted efforts to thwart the return of the refugees belonging to the Muslim community to their homes and villages.

 

The Central Committee demanded that the state government take immediate measures for the return of all those living in the camps to their homes and their full rehabilitation.

 

Jharkhand

 

With the collapse of the BJP-JMM coalition government in Jharkhand, President’s rule has been imposed. The CPI(M) demands the dissolution of the assembly and the holding of fresh elections without delay.

 

Mass Signature Campaign

 

The Central Committee exhorted all its Party units to complete the mass signature campaign on food security and for a universal public distribution system being conducted by the Left Parties. The good response to the signature campaign indicates that more than five crore signatures will be collected. These will be submitted to the Prime Minister when the budget session of parliament begins in February.

 

All India Jathas

 

The Central Committee finalized the programme of the all India jathas to be conduced by the Party. These jathas which will traverse the length and breadth of the country will propagate the Party’s stand on various major issues affecting the people and the alternative policies of the Left. The issues of food security and price rise; land and house sites; employment; education and health; and the fight against corruption will be focused in these jathas.

 

The four jathas will be from Kanyakumari to Delhi led by Ramachandran Pillai; Kolkata to Delhi led by Prakash Karat; Mumbai to Delhi led by Sitaram Yechury; and Amritsar to Delhi led by Brinda Karat. Jathas to link up with the main jathas will be conducted from Srinagar, Guwahati, Parlakhemundi (Orissa), Ahmedabad and other centres.

 

The jathas which will begin from February 25 and the first week of March will culminate in a mass rally in Delhi on March 19, 2013.

Tripura LF releases Assembly poll manifesto

Ruling Left Front released its manifesto for the February 14 Assembly polls in Tripura promising to make the state a model in terms of development, safety and security, besides maintaining communal harmony.
    Releasing the manifesto, Tripura LF chairman and CPI-M MP Khagen Das said the manifesto focused on developing connectivity, power, industry, irrigation, agriculture, education, SCs and STs, minorities, women, law and order and general administration.
    "We appeal to the people to cast their votes to ensure uninterrupted development in the hilly terrains, plains and towns. Left Front has created the legacy of fulfilling its poll promises and doing even beyond," he said.
    Das alleged that during the erstwhile Congress regime in the state, the standard of life was low and people lived in deplorable conditions and they started getting benefits ofdevelopment only after the LF came to power in 1978.
    He criticised the UPA government at the centre for shrinking employment sectors, reducing regular workers, increasing casual and contractual job openings, initiating New Pension Policy and accepting foreign direct investments.
    CPI(M) state general secretary Bijan Dhar said the Left Front would implement all the 34 poll pledges and will payimportance in peace and development, good governance, improving connectivity, education. Health care, electricity, industries and tourism and uplift of people living below poverty line.
    Tripura would go for polls on February 14 to elect 60 members of the Assembly. Over 23 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections.

CITU Kerala State conference concludes

The three day Kerala state conference of CITU concluded at Kasargod.  Among the various resolutions adopted at the conference, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has urged the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government to refrain from moves to privatise the drinking water distribution system. CITU alleged moves by the UDF government to start drinking water bottling units in the private sector.The State government was trying to dismantle the Kerala Water Authority, it alleged. 

The CITU also called for linking rivers to help neighbouring States get adequate drinking water. The Pampa-Achencoil-Vaipar link project had been conceived as part of the project, the resolution said. Accusing the government of making renewed efforts to privatise water distribution from the Periyar and the Malampuzha dam, the CITU alleged that efforts were under way to float a new company under Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) and distribute drinking water at a price of 25 paise a litre. 

The meeting expressed concern over the crisis being faced by the construction sector owing to a steep hike in prices of cement and other raw materials. 

The CITU planned to take up the cause of new generation employees working in the information technology sector. 

The state conference also elected Com. Anathalavattom Anandan as the new president of CITU state committee. Com. Elamaram Kareem was elected as the General secretary of the new state committee.  K M Sudhakaran will continue to be the treasurer. The conference also elected 13 vice president and 14 vice president, and 157 member state committee and a 430 member General Council

13 വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റുമാരെയും 14 സെക്രട്ടറിമാരെയും സമ്മേളനം തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു. സംസ്ഥാന കമ്മറ്റിയില്‍ 157 പേരും സംസ്ഥാന കൗണ്‍സിലില്‍ 430 പേരുമാണുള്ളത് - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=6#news6

Later, inaugurating a huge public function to mark the culmination of the meet, CITU national president A.K. Padmanabhan blamed the United Progressive Alliance government for pursuing neo-liberal economic policies which, he said, had made life of the common man miserable. The two-day nationwide strike planned from February 20 should be a warning to the Union government to refrain from pursuing such ‘anti-people’ policies, he said.

CPI(M) starts pain and palliative care units in Kerala

Showing a new way to the politics,  CPI(M) on Tuesday, Palliative care day, formally entered a new area of social life: pain and palliative care. The party will take the initiative in registering charitable societies at the District level and raising an army of about 500 volunteers in each area committe, who will look after the functioning of the palliative care units.

CPIM Thiruvananthapuram District Committee has formed Com. E K Nayanar Memorial charitable trust as part of this unit. The inauguration of the programme was done by CPIM leaders in various area committees in the district. Com. Pinarayi Vijayan attended a function in Chalai, Com. V S Achuthanandan inaugurated the function in Mannathala.

In Kottayam, two area committees Puthuppally and Changanassery formally inaugurated the operation of their palliative care units.Inaugurating the Capt. Lakshmi Charitable Society at Pampady, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian church said the emergence of an individual-centred society due to globalisation was the greatest threat faced today. Scores of people, many of them retired hands, attended the function chaired by CPI(M) leader V.N. Vasavan.

All the other district committees are also in the process of forming such pain and palliative units. The state conference of CPIM held in 2012 february took a decision in this regard to take up activities in social arena.

CITU Kerala State Conference Begins

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നിലനില്‍പ്പുതന്നെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരികളുടെ ദുര്‍നയങ്ങള്‍ക്കെതിരെ സമരകാഹളമുയര്‍ത്തി സിഐടിയു 12-ാം സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പ്രോജ്വല തുടക്കം. അവകാശ പോരാട്ടത്തിനിടെ രക്തസാക്ഷിത്വം വരിച്ച വരദരാജപൈയുടെ നാമധേയത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ നഗറിലാണ് മൂന്നുനാള്‍ നീളുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ജാതി-മത-ഭാഷ-രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭിന്നതകള്‍ മറന്ന് നിലനില്‍പിനായുള്ള പോരാട്ടത്തിന് ഏകമനസ്സോടെ അണിനിരക്കാനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമായി സപ്തഭാഷാ സംഗമഭൂവില്‍ ആദ്യമായി നടക്കുന്ന സമ്മേളനം. ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ക്രിമിനല്‍ കാടത്ത നടപടികളെ വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിലൂടെ ചെറുക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിനിധി സമ്മേളനം ഉദ്ഘാടനംചെയ്ത സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി തപന്‍സെന്‍ എംപി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. സമ്മേളനത്തെ അഭിവാദ്യംചെയ്ത ഇതര തൊഴിലാളി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളും വര്‍ഗഐക്യത്തിന്റെ അനിവാര്യതയും പ്രസക്തിയും ഉയര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എഐടിയുസി സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍സെക്രട്ടറി കാനം രാജേന്ദ്രന്‍, യുടിയുസി അഖിലേന്ത്യാ സെക്രട്ടറി എ എ അസീസ് എംഎല്‍എ, എസ്ടിയു സംസ്ഥാന ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി അഹമ്മദ്കുട്ടി ഉണ്ണികുളം, ബിഎംഎസ് സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് അഡ്വ. പി ഭാര്‍ഗവന്‍പിള്ള എന്നിവരാണ് കൂട്ടായ പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം അഭിവാദ്യ പ്രസംഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കുവച്ചത്. സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് ചെങ്കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തിയതോടെയാണ് സമ്മേളനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന്, രക്തസാക്ഷിമണ്ഡപത്തില്‍ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ പുഷ്പാര്‍ച്ചന നടത്തി. സിഐടിയുവില്‍ അഫിലിയേറ്റ്ചെയ്ത 836 അംഗസംഘടനകളുടെ 14,51,170 അംഗങ്ങളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് 512 പ്രതിനിധികളാണ് സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നത്. പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ക്ക് സ്വാഗതമോതി മുന്നാട് കലാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഗാനവും സംഗീത ശില്‍പവും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. കെ എന്‍ രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ് അധ്യക്ഷനായി. സ്വാഗതസംഘം ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ പി കരുണാകരന്‍ എംപി സ്വാഗതം പറഞ്ഞു. സിഐടിയു അഖിലേന്ത്യാ പ്രസിഡന്റ് എ കെ പത്മനാഭന്‍ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഉദ്ഘാടന സമ്മേളനത്തിനുശേഷം ജനറല്‍ സെക്രട്ടറി എം എം ലോറന്‍സ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടും ട്രഷറര്‍ കെ എം സുധാകരന്‍ കണക്കും അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിനിധികളുടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കുശേഷം ആരംഭിച്ച പൊതുചര്‍ച്ച ഞായറാഴ്ചയും തുടരും. സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ജീവനക്കാരും അധ്യാപകരും നടത്തുന്ന പണിമുടക്ക് വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ തൊഴിലാളികളും രംഗത്തിറങ്ങണമെന്ന് സമ്മേളനം ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്തു. കെ കെ ദിവാകരന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), കെ ചന്ദ്രന്‍പിള്ള, ജെ മേഴ്സിക്കുട്ടിയമ്മ, ടി പി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, വി എന്‍ വാസവന്‍, കെ എന്‍ ഗോപിനാഥന്‍, കെ കെ ജയചന്ദ്രന്‍, ജോര്‍ജ് കെ ആന്റണി എന്നിവര്‍ പ്രമേയ കമ്മിറ്റിയായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. വി വി ശശീന്ദ്രന്‍(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), എസ് എസ് പോറ്റി, സി കൃഷ്ണന്‍, എ ഡി ജയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ക്രഡന്‍ഷ്യല്‍ കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങള്‍. മിനുട്സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയായി എം എം വര്‍ഗീസ്(കണ്‍വീനര്‍), വി പ്രഭാകരന്‍, എസ് ബി രാജു, അഡ്വ. സായികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. - See more at: http://citukerala.org/index.php?operator=public&main=NewsView&do=view&id=3#news3

CITU 12 Kerala state conference began in the northern most district of Kasargod on saturday with a clarion call to carry forward the fight against neo liberal policies followed by the UPA government in the Centre and UDF government in the state. The conference was inaugurated by Com. Tapas Sen, General secretary of CITU. The official proceedings of the three day conference began with the flag hoisting by CITU Kerala State president Com. K N Ravindranath. Later the delegates paid floral tributes to the great martyrs who had laid down their lives for the cause of great struggle for socialism. Com. A K Padmanabhan, CITU All India president is also participating in the conference. The inaugural session also was attended by office bearers of all the other trade unions in the state.

Com. Tapan Sen has called upon trade unions in the country to act as corrective forces and arrest the degeneration caused by neo-liberal economic policies in the nation’s socio-economic milieu. These policies, followed by the successive governments at the Centre, had resulted in the plundering of natural resources too, he said.

Expressing concern over the moves to discontinue subsidies on essential goods and services, he said if the government could extend sops by providing tax holiday for business and corporate groups, which constituted a mere one per cent, it could extend similar benefits to the remaining sections too.

Now, legitimacy was being given to criminal and perverse activities in society. When criminality and barbarism gained acceptance in a society, the working class should act as a corrective force, he said. CITU should strive to address such issues by working on a joint platform with other trade unions in the State. Touching upon the ongoing indefinite agitation by the government employees protesting against the contributory pension scheme, Com. Sen said the strike was against the shift in policy by which the employees’ hard-earned income would be managed by private agencies.

512 delgates representing 14,51,170 members of 836 affiliated organisations is participating in the conference. After the inaugural session CITU State Secretary Com. M M Lawrance placed the Organisational Report and Com. K M Sudhakaran placed the statement of Accounts. After that the delegates began group discussion on the reports placed. 

The conference on the first day itself gave its full support to the ongoing indefenite strike of Government Servants and teachers in the state and gave a call to all its units and members to give full support to the striking employees. 

As per the report placed by the Secretary, the organisation has grown since the last conference held at Trissur. 1,14,589 new members were added to the organisation. The membership has grown to 14,51,170 from 13,36,581 in 2009. The number of affiliated organisations has also gone up from 833 to 836. Of the total membership 5,53,026 are women, which was 4,31,858 in 2009. 

The conference is expected to chalk out strong and continuous struggle against the UPA government and tactics for the February 20, 21 National Strike. The conference will also take stock of the preparations for the CITU ALL India Conference to be held in Kannur, next month.  

In the Evening a seminar was organised as part of the conference which was inaugurated by CPIM State secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan. Com. Pinarayi also launched the website of CITU Kerala State Committee (www.citukerala.org) during the occasion. 

Left Front announce candidates for Tripura polls

The Left Front Wednesday announced the names of party candidates in 59 of the 60 constituencies for the assembly elections in Tripura, which will go to polls next month along with two other northeastern states -- Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Of the 59 Left Front candidates, 12 will be new faces. The party has also named five women candidates this time. "This time, we have dropped seven MLAs, including three former ministers, on health grounds and other reasons," Khagen Das, convenor of the Tripura Left Front, told reporter.

"Left Front will come to power for the seventh time as the government has done excellent developmental work and launched various schemes for the well being of the people in the state," Das added.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the leading member of the Left Front in Tripura, will field 55 candidates, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Revolutionary Socialist Party have nominated two contenders each. The Forward Bloc will have only one candidate.

CPI candidate for the Banamalipur assembly seat in Agartala will be declared later.

Among the 59 Left Front nominees, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Anil Sarkar will contest the assembly polls for a record ninth time. Among other prominent Left Front candidates seeking re-election are CPI-M politburo member and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar (from Dhanpur constituency), state Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury (Hrishamukh), Transport Minister Manik Dey (Majlispur) and Aghore Debbarma (Asharambari).

AIDWA STRONGLY CONDEMNS ARBITRARY INCREASE IN RAIL FARES

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

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

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

Massive protest march by Left in response to Trinamool violence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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