Fight neo-liberal policies: CPI(M)

Stating that BJP-led NDA was no alternative to the UPA-led Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member K. Varadarajan exhorted the poor people to come together to fight against the UPA government's neo-liberal economic policies.

Speaking after opening the Lavu BalaGangadhar Rao Bhavan in Ongole to house CPI(M) frontal organisations, Mr Varadarajan, CPI(M) All India Kisan Sabha national general secretary, alleged that the ‘corrupt' Manmohan Singh government was indifferent when the poor people were reeling under periodic rise in fuel prices having a cascading effect on all essential commodities and peasants committing suicide in large numbers.

“The BJP, which claims itself to fight corruption at Delhi but indulge in graft in Karnataka, is no alternative to the Manmohan Singh government,'' he said.

The UPA government was all out to barter national interest to ‘imperialist forces', he said, adding Parliament had been kept in the dark on a series of Indo-US agreements signed during the recent visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Calling for collective fight for the people, of the people and by the people against the policies of liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation of the Manmohan Singh government, he said activists of the CPI(M) and its frontal organisations were ready to sacrifice even their lives for realising pro-poor policies in the country.

Telangana Armed Peasants struggle fame Mallu Swarajyam, AIKS national vice-president S Malla Reddy were among leaders from frontal organisations who graced the occasion.

(Courtesy :The Hindu)

Stand of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Lokpal

Lokpal: For An Effective Anti-Corruption Body

Introduction

Corruption has become a major public concern in the wake of successive scams unfolding over the past few years. In a country like India, where millions of people still suffer from acute poverty, hunger and lack of socio-economic opportunities, the pillage of public resources through corruption amounts to a crime of a very serious nature. Besides impeding economic development, accumulation of ill gotten wealth through corruption is widening the inequalities and ruining the moral fabric of our society.

The recent exposures in the 2G spectrum allocation case, CWG scam etc. have shown how thousands of crores worth of public resources have been illicitly cornered by a section of corporates, bureaucrats and ministers. What is worse, tainted ministers have been allowed to remain in office for months and the investigations manipulated, in order to obstruct the course of justice. While corruption in high places has been a feature of our political system for many decades, what has emerged as a dominant trend in the post-liberalization period is a thorough distortion of the policy-making process at the highest levels of the government. A nexus of big corporates, politicians and bureaucrats have matured under the neoliberal regime and is threatening to subvert our democracy. It is clear that the current economic regime has made our system more vulnerable to cronyism and criminality.

The battle against corruption, in order to be effective today, can be achieved only through a comprehensive reform of our political, legal, administrative and judicial systems and not through one-off or piece-meal measures. The establishment of an effective Lokpal institution is one such measure. This needs to be complemented by other measures. There has to be a grievance redressal set-up for citizens, based on a legislation. There has to be a National Judicial Commission to oversee the higher judiciary; there has to be electoral reforms to check the use of money power in elections which is another source of corruption. Urgent steps also need to be undertaken to reform our tax system to plug loopholes and unearth black money, much of which is stashed in offshore bank accounts and tax havens. Firm steps need to be taken to break the big business-politician-bureaucrat nexus. Only a comprehensive systemic reform can effectively curb corruption.

Lokpal Bill

The institution of Ombudsman, which exists in many countries across the world, has provided avenues to redress public grievances on corruption and abuse of public office. However, the fact that the Lokpal Bill could not be passed in the Indian parliament in four decades exposes the lack of political will to fight corruption. Several governments in the past have taken it up only to shelve it later under various pretexts. The present government has also been compelled to initiate discussion on this bill because of public outcry over successive corruption scandals. It is imperative that a Lokpal Bill which deals with corruption in high places is tabled in the forthcoming session of parliament.

In the wake of the on-going debate on what should be the scope and role of the Lokpal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) wishes to set out its stand on the main issues concerning the constitution of a Lokpal.

1. Definition of Corruption

Corruption involves a whole range of activities from bribery, influence peddling, patronage or favour, nepotism, cronyism, electoral fraud, embezzlement, kickbacks to officials and involvement in organized crime.

The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 has defined the offences that constitute a corrupt act. This definition requires to be widened. The linkage between misuse of public power for private gain or enrichment is a highly restrictive understanding of corruption. In many cases, power is misused to benefit an entity like a private company which is not a “person” as required under the PCA 1988. Often, there may be no traceable kickbacks or embezzlement but there may be a huge loss to the public exchequer and breach of public trust for example through sale of PSUs due to a willful misuse of power.

The definition of corruption has to be widened to include “willfully giving any undue benefit to any person or entity or obtaining any undue benefit from any public servant in violation of laws or rules”.

2. Clarity on Functions

The Lokpal should essentially be a fact-finding body that receives complaints, enquires, investigates and forward cases to Special Courts where prima facie there is a case of corruption for prosecution and punishment in a time bound manner. It should have powers to recommend an enquiry and investigation suo moto. It should oversee the entire machinery related to corruption cases at the Central level. Finally, it should have the powers to recommend executive action and to approach Courts when these are not accepted.

The Lokpal should be entrusted with quasi-judicial powers and autonomy to fulfill these functions in an independent, accountable, transparent and time-bound manner.

The separation of powers between legislature, executive and judiciary is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution. The institution of Lokpal should conform to this basic structure.

An issue to be considered regarding the functions of a Lokpal is whether it will deal with corruption or will it also perform functions of grievance redressal. The CPI(M) favours separation of these functions. There must be a separate mechanism for grievance redressal. This should be set up by a separate legislation. The grievances of citizens about the citizens charter etc should be brought under this set up.

3. Selection & Composition of Lokpal

The Lokpal Act should lay down an objective and transparent criteria such as competence, experience, qualification etc for the selection of candidates for appointment to the Lokpal. The selection committee should be broad-based consisting of members of the executive, leaders of parliament, members of the higher judiciary, jurists and academicians. The search committee constituted by the selection committee should also be broad-based.

Composition: Apart from the chairperson, there should be 10 members in the Lokpal. Out of these four shall be judicial members, three can be persons with administrative and civil service backgrounds and the other three should be drawn from fields such as law, academics and social service. There should be no member drawn from commerce and industries just as there can be no politician.

4. Jurisdiction

While corruption in high places has to be tackled on a priority basis, for the ordinary citizen, it is the corruption faced by them in daily life and in dealings with public authorities that also needs to be urgently taken up. Much of this sphere of corruption falls in dealings with authorities at the states-level. The Lok Ayuktas set up on the lines of the Lokpal should bring all state government employees, local bodies and the state corporations under their purview. Further, a citizen’s grievances redressal machinery that we have proposed be set up separately, should address all grievances regarding delivery of basic services and entitlements for citizens.

a) Prime Minister: The Prime Minister should be brought under the purview of the Lokpal with adequate safeguards. The office of Prime Minister along with all public servants was brought under the purview of Lokpal by the V.P. Singh Government in 1989 and in all subsequent draft legislations, the Prime Minister has been placed under the Lokpal. In fact a Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Shri Pranab Mukherjee had made precisely this point while examining the 2001 Lokpal Bill. For the first time since 1989, this government presiding over a large number of scams, is unwilling to ensure accountability of the highest executive office. Clearly, all public servants of the Union Government within the definition in the Prevention of Corruption Act, which includes the Prime Minister, must fall within the purview of the Lokpal.

b) Judiciary: The judiciary too needs to be brought under scrutiny and made more accountable, and the stringent requirement of prior permission and sanction from the Chief Justice to file FIRs and investigate corruption charges has resulted in a de facto immunity to them. But the proposals to bring them under Lokpal encroach upon the constitutionally guaranteed independence of the Supreme Court. If a mere allegation of mala fide is enough for the Lokpal to start an inquiry into the actions of judges, it may not allow judges to act without fear.

Complaints about corruption against the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts should be handled by a separate body, the National Judicial Commission. This Commission should take care of the appointments in the higher judiciary and oversee their conduct and enquire into the complaints of corruption. For this, necessary legislation will have to be passed. The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 is woefully inadequate for this purpose.

c) Members of Parliament: At present, the scrutiny of the conduct of Members of Parliament with regard to any corrupt practice is weak and unsatisfactory. For Members of Parliament, Article 105 of the Constitution provides protection with regard to freedom of speech and voting. The real issue is how to ensure that this freedom and protection does not extend to acts of corruption by Members of Parliament.

This can be done through an amendment to Article 105, on the lines recommended by the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution”.

Alternatively, if feasible, there can be legislation that if any Member of Parliament indulges in any act of corruption that motivates his or her action in Parliament (voting, speaking etc.), then this act falls within the purview of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC.

5. Lok Ayuktas

In the states, Lok Ayuktas should be set up on the model of the Central Lokpal.

6. Protection of Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers must be protected in order to combat corruption. Monitoring and ensuring protection of whistleblowers can be a part of the mandate of Lokpal, but this needs a comprehensive statutory backing. The provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Information) Bill, 2010 needs to be strengthened and the bill enacted expeditiously.

7. Big Business-Public Servant Nexus

It is necessary to recognise that an important source of corruption since liberalisation stems from the corrupt nexus between big business and public servants. It is necessary for the Lokpal to have investigations in cases which involve business entities to recommend cancellation of licences, contracts, lease or agreements if it was obtained by corrupt means. The Lokpal should also have the power to recommend blacklisting companies from getting government contracts and licences. Similarly, if the beneficiary of an offence is a business entity, the Lokpal should have the power to recommend concrete steps to recover the loss caused to the public exchequer. The government should normally accept these recommendations and act upon it.

Conclusion

The CPI(M) holds that along with a law for setting up an independent Lokpal, simultaneous measures to strengthen the legal and administrative framework against corruption are required. These include:

(1) Setting up of a National Judicial Commission to bring the conduct of judiciary under its purview

(2) Law to protect citizens charter for redressal of public grievances

(3) Amendment of Article 105 of the Constitution to bring MPs under anti-corruption scrutiny

(4) Electoral reforms to check money power in elections

(5) Setting up of Lok Ayuktas in the states to cover all public servants at the state-level

(6) Steps to unearth black money and confiscate the funds illegally stashed away in tax havens.

Valuable books about General Vo Nguyen Giap published

On the occasion of General Vo Nguyen Giap’s 100^th birthday (25/8/1911 – 25/8/2011), many publishers have introduced valuable insights into the General’s life to readers.

The Youth Publishing House has launched a biography titled “Vo Nguyen Giap – the 100-year spirit”, while the Kim Dong Publishing House has launched the pictorial book, “General Vo Nguyen Giap, one century - two long marches”. The Truth-National Political Publishing House, in conjunction with the Society of Sciences Association, has also published "General, Commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap with Vietnamese history”.

By guiding the reader through multiple layers of legal literature, the book ‘Vo Nguyen Giap – the 100–year spirit” by historian and researcher Tran Khai Binh captures the revolutionary life of the hero known as ‘the person who transited the flow of history in the 20th century."

The book “General Vo Nguyen Giap, one century - two long marches”, compiled by Anh Chi, includes nearly 300 pictures. They are sorted by time and concentrate on the historic sites where the General’s talented strategy was evident. The book titled “General, Commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap with Vietnamese history” is a meaningful gift that the Party, State, Army and people cheered, showing their respect to General Vo Nguyen Giap, a talented military officer, and a character who has become legendary, not only for Vietnam, but also for the wider world on the occasion of his 100^th birthday.

The 420-page book is divided into two parts:

Part 1 contains articles about the General, and a collection of several of his articles and memoirs published in the “Ancient and Now” Magazine.

Part 2 contains a collection of articles by domestic and foreign scientists and researchers writing about the General’s life and career, detailing their good memories, admiration and respect for the great man.

Brinda asks State to take steps for implementing Scheduled Tribes Act

The Government of Tamil Nadu should initiate steps forthwith to implement the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, said Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Thursday.

Leading a dharna organised jointly by the CPI (M), All India Kisan Sabha and the Tamil Nadu Tribals Association to draw the attention of the government to the problems confronting the people of Gudalur and Pandhalur in Tamil Nadu, she regretted that a stay on implementation of the Act was obtained from court.

Urging the government to regularise the occupation of lands near forests by the tribals, she said that their right to collect minor forest produce and cultivate crops should be recognised. The district administration should not evict or displace tribals or small farmers.

Pointing out that the DMK lost in the recent elections on account of corruption, she said, “Now the people want to see changes in policies of the government.”

Forest laws should not be used to remove poor people from lands, which they have been occupying for a long time. The provisions of the Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forests (TNPPF) Act should be used only against big farmers.

Lamenting that the authorities are using the Act to threaten small farmers, she declared, “We will not tolerate it.” There was a clause in the law which stated that small farmers can be exempted.

Adverting to the inconveniences caused to the poor farmers and tribals by the elephant corridor project near Gudalur, she said that rules relating to it were being violated only by the real estate mafia in collusion with government officials and resourceful persons.

Action should be taken against the resorts, hotels and big buildings in the corridor instead of targeting the small farmers. Ms. Karat claimed that big corporate houses are eyeing the Nilgiris because it was rich in platinum. She submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the district administration.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Left Parties Dharna In Front Of Parliament House

MORE than one and a half thousand sitting and former representatives of the people staged a dharna in front of the Parliament House on August 25, at the call of the Left Front of West Bengal. The aim was to draw the country’s attention to the violent attacks against the Left Front cadre, offices and houses in the state, taking place with the backing of the TMC-Congress government of West Bengal. Later a 17-member Left Front delegation, accompanied by MPs from the state, met the prime minister and submitted to him a memorandum, apprising him of the threats to the democratic system in the state.

Later, Left front chairman Biman Basu addressed a press conference at AKG Bhawan, explaining that the Left Front has not been demanding any action under article 356 of the constitution, but only that the centre must not remain a mute spectator to the attacks. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury was also present at the press conference.

Earlier, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, RSP leader Abani Roy and Forward Bloc leader Debabrata Biswas addressed the huge dharna.


On this occasion, CPI(M)’s Kerala state secretary, P Vijayan, handed over to Biman Basu a cheque of more than Rs 3.5 crore, as the “first instalment” of Kerala people’s support to the Bengal victims and their families.

Convention against violent attacks on the leaders, workers and supporters of Left Front by Trinamul Congress-Congress goons.

Chandigarh, 25th August’ 2011:CPI(M) demands an immediate end to violence unleashed against the party and Left Front in West Bengal by the Trinamul Congress and Congress combine especially in the aftermath of Assembly elections. A fervent voice was raised at a solidarity convention jointly organized here by the CPI(M) state units of Punjab and Haryana.

Speakers in the convention gave detailed account of the trail of repression perpetrated on leaders, activists and sympathizers of the party especially in the aftermath of Assembly elections. It was told that 31 comrades have been murdered, several injured seriously, hundreds rendered homeless, and women’s modesty outraged. Offices of party and mass fronts are ransacked and elected representatives are not allowed to function by coercion and intimidation. Haryana state Secretary Inderjit Singh described the situation in West Bengal as a threat to democracy which should be unequivocally condemned by all progressive forces as it would not remain confined in West Bengal and repeated elsewhere also.

Punjab CPI(M) state Secretary Charan Singh Virdi reminded that the systematic attack in West Bengal was actually aimed at finishing the Left Front in order to impose imperialist driven neo-liberal economic agenda by the ruling classes. He stated that the forces of right reaction will never succeed in their nefarious game. Raghunath Singh and Surinder Singh both CITU leaders exhorted the participants to mobilize funds for supporting the aggrieved families of the victims besides extending solidarity. Com. Lehmbar Singh Taggar and Com. Vijay Misra both Secretariat members, Punjab State Committee, CPI(M) also addressed the convention.

Later the workers marched to Raj Bhawan where memorandums addressed to the President of India were submitted through the state Governors seeking an end to the political vendetta against the Left Front in West Bengal and restoration of democratic rights THERE.

MADHYAPRADESH
A dharna held in state capital BHOPL. hundreds of left volunteers shouted slogans braving rains. Dharna was addressed by Badal Saroj, CPI(M), Roopsinh Chauhan (CPI) and BL Nalviy (RSP). left parties condemned violence against left in bengal and expressed solidarity with the people of Bengal and he left.

Till writing this dispatch news received at CPI(M) state office about dharna and demonstrations from Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Guna, Indore, Shahdol, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Ratlam and several other places.

The last journey of Comrade M K Pandhe

Thousands of people from all walks of life paid their respects to Com. M. K. Pandhe, veteran Trade Union leader and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member who passed away on 20th August, 2011. The body of the departed leader was kept at the BTR Bhavan, the Central Office of CITU from 9 to 10 A.M on 21st August where the Trade Union leadership and hundreds of workers paid homage to their dear leader. By 10.30 A.M the body was brought to AKG Bhavan the headquarters of the CPI(M).

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat led the Polit Bureau members in paying respects to Com. Pandhe. Com. Pramila Pandhe and family members paid their respects. Members of the Central Committee, Office Bearers of CITU, AIKS, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI, SFI, AILU, Jansanskrti and many other mass organizations as well as unions paid their respects amidst incessant slogan shouting by comrades. A.B.Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI, S.Sudhakar Reddy, Deputy General Secretary, CPI, Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, All India Forward Bloc, Gurudas Dasgupta, General Secretary, AITUC and others paid respects. CPI(ML), INTUC, HMS, NTUI and representatives of banking, insurance, state government employees associations also paid their respects. The CMDs of many PSUs like BHEL, Coal India, Air India, Airport Authority of India joined their workers in paying their respects.
 

The last journey of the departed leader began at 2.00 and thousands marched in procession to the Lodi Road Electric Crematorium where Com.Pandhe was cremated amidst slogans “Red Salute to Com.Pandhe”.

Left - TDP to protest in Andhra for Lokpal Bill on August 23

The Telugu Desam Party and the Left Parties will stage protest demonstrations across the State on August 23 against the “undemocratic” attitude of the Central government in stifling the voices being raised in support of an effective Lokpal Bill.

The decision comes in line with the call given by the central leaderships of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Telugu Desam, Janata Dal (Secular), Biju Janata Dal, AIADMK and Rashtriya Lok Dal for a nationwide protest on August 23. 

Representatives of the TDP, CPI (M), CPI, All India Forward Block and Republican Party of India met here on Saturday to discuss about the course of action to be adopted in the light of the Centre's refusal to concede the demand for an effective Lokpal Bill. TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, party's State secretariat member Y.V. Rao, his CPI counterpart K. Ramakrishna and others attended the meeting. 

Speaking to reporters later, they demanded that the Centre incorporate stringent provisions in the proposed Lokpal Bill to make it more effective. They criticised the Centre for obstructing the protest by social activist Anna Hazare which amounted to denial of civil rights to stage peaceful protests. They asked that the Centre bring in electoral reforms to curtail use of money power and prevent entry of criminals into politics. In addition, steps should be initiated to bring back huge amounts parked in Swiss banks that could be used for public good.

Asked about the ongoing searches on YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's assets, Mr. Raghavulu said the facts pertaining to the charges would come out after the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe was completed. 

(Source : The Hindu) 

SFI sweeps Himachal Pradesh Students union elections

SFI made a clean sweep at Himachal Pradesh University students central association (CSA) elections and has held onto its stronghold at the institution. SFI had won all four seats of SCA last year also and has been the dominant outfit on the campus for many years. In a clean sweep, the SFI has won 42 out of 44 seats of various department representatives and a majority of college elections in the capital town of Shimla and the major colleges of the BJP-dominated Kangra and Hamirpur districts.

At HPU Puneet Dhanta was declared winner as president by defeating Deepak Manta of ABVP by a margin of 536 votes. NSUI had put up Naveen Thakur as their candidate.

For vice president, Lokender Kumar of SFI was declared winner, defeating Kumari Shiva of ABVP by a margin of 673 votes. Hoshiar Singh (SFI) defeated Yadunandan of AVBP by 676 votes for the position of general secretary and Manju Thakur (SFI) piped Maheshwar Singh of ABVP by 585 votes. Panel of NSUI candidates Naveen Thakur, Sachin Verma, Ashwani, Anil Kumar ended third in the triangular contest. 

The SFI panel also made a clean sweep at the Government College Kotshera College, Sanjauli Government College of Excellence and Government college Theog. According to the results declared by colleges  the SFI improved its performance by sweeping all the four seats at the Sarkaghat college and wining the top two seats at the Jogindernagar college. In Ram Singh Pathania College, Dehri, the SFI won all the four seats. SFI  swept all the four seats in the MCM DAV College in Kangra. Abeshek Chandel was elected as president, Amit Manhas vice-president, Monika Dhadda general secretary and Abeshek Mehra joint secretary, respectively. Government College, Chowari - Dalhousie, the Students Federation of India (SFI) captured all the four seats: President Vikas Sharma , vice-president Neel Kumar , general secretary Suresh Kumar  and joint secretary Aarti Devi . In Government College, Dehri, all the four seats were won first time by the SFI. Kumar Anubhav, Ruchi Guleria, Hunny and Rohit Guleria, respectively, won the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary.

Red Salute to Comrade M K Pandhe

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses profound grief at the passing away of Comrade M.K. Pandhe, Member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) and senior most leader of the trade union movement in the country. Pandhe died after suffering a heart attack in a hospital in New Delhi. He was 86 years old.

Comrade Pandhe’s nearly seven decades of public life began as an activist of the student movement and he rose to be one of the outstanding leaders of the working class movement of India. He was the secretary of the Sholapur Students Union in 1943. He joined the Communist Party in 1943. After completing his post-graduation from Pune University he earned his doctorate from the Ghoklae Institute of Politics & Economics.

Pandhe became the Secretary of the Sholapur City Committee of the CPI. He later took an active part in the Goa liberation struggle.

Pandhe made a singular contribution to the trade union movement. As a Secretary of the AITUC working at the Centre in the 1960s, to becoming one of the key leaders of the CITU, Pandhe made his mark as a skilled and dedicated leader of the working class movement. He was the General Secretary of the CITU from 1990 to 1999 and was its president till 2010. He was associated with all the major working class struggles in the country in the last three decades and played an important role in bringing about the unity of the central trade unions.

As a dedicated Marxist-Leninist, Pandhe strove consistently to equip the working class movement with the ideology of socialism and to develop the political consciousness of the workers to enable them to discharge their revolutionary role in social transformation.

Pandhe was a true internationalist and firm in his anti-imperialism who worked constantly for developing the solidarity of the working class movement all over the world. When the Party split in 1964, Pandhe took a firm stand against revisionism and joined the CPI(M). During his revolutionary life he spent four years and six months underground.

He was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M) at the 10^th Congress in 1978 and to the Polit Bureau at the 16^th Congress in 1998. He remained in these positions till his death.

Pandhe worked tirelessly till the end to develop the working class movement in the country. He commanded respect in all trade union circles. He was a leader who was most accessible to any ordinary worker. He lived a life of utmost simplicity.

The CPI(M) has lost an invaluable leader who was steeped in the Marxist-Leninist tradition and the working class movement. His death is an irreparable loss for the Left movement of the country. The Polit Bureau pays its respectful homage to his memory. The entire Party and the working class movement will always cherish his memory and contributions. The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife and comrade Pramila Pandhe, his son, grandchildren and other family members.

Kerala remebers its "Comrade"

Known to the masses simply as Sakhavu (comrade), P. Krishna Pillai was `Kerala's first communist', home-grown, impishly bold and acutely sensitive to injustice, a product of the very movement he had helped fashion during a short, exceptionally dedicated life of 42 years. Since the early 1930s, no other leader in Kerala had been so successful in organising the masses, in spotting talent and in moulding the cadre and their commitment. At the time of his untimely death on August 19, 1948, of snake bite, Krishna Pillai was perhaps the most familiar face in the homes of the labourers and peasants of Kerala, a leader known for his courage and dynamism, humaneness and uncompromising stand against exploitation and oppression. As EMS wrote later, if he acted as the "intellectual centre" of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), Krishna Pillai was the "itinerant centre" entrusted with the job of going to every nook and cranny of the State "to meet comrades individually" and to make the party "a united entity, acting as one".

Memorial day functions were conducted across the state by both the communist parties. CPIM State Secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI State Secretary Com. C K Chandrappan paid floral tributes to Krishna Pillai at the memorials at Valiya Chudukad in Alappuzha and at Kannarkadu in Muhamma.

On August 19, 1948, while Krishna Pillai was staying incognito in a coir worker's hut at Kannarkat (Muhamma) in Alappuzha district, he was bitten by a snake. Despite the best efforts of those who gave him shelter and the party workers who were responsible for his safety, Krishna Pillai died within half an hour of the incident. With the police in constant vigil for his arrest, the best of medical treatment was hard to come by. Stunned followers later travelled with his body for hours, on foot and in a hired `lorry', first to Alappuzha town, then to Kollam, several hours away.

It was when Krishna Pillai was lying on the floor and preparing a speech to be read out at the CPI State committee that the snake bit him. He had started writing on a piece of paper, as if addressing the party: "There is criticism, but no self-criticism... " Then, just before he died, he scribbled on the same sheet of paper: "My eyes are getting dark. I feel weak and tired. I know what will happen. Comrades, Forward! Salutations."

Nine opposition parties to hold protests on Aug 23 on corruption

Leaders of nine political parties, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (S), Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party met in New Delhi on August 19 2011. They have issued the following statement:

Observe All India Protest Day on August 23

The leaders of the nine political parties noted that the UPA government has not taken any serious steps to curb high level corruption. The Lokpal Bill introduced by the government in parliament is weak and inadequate. Such a legislation will not establish a strong Lokpal authority. The nine political parties demanded that an effective Lokpal law be prepared and adopted.

Along with the Lokpal law, there are certain immediate measures to be taken to curb corruption. They include a new Judicial Accountability law which will also constitute a National Judicial Commission; electoral law reforms to curb money power and criminality in politics; firm steps to unearth black money and bring back the illegal money stashed abroad.

The meeting condemned the arrest of Anna Hazare and his colleagues in order to prevent their hunger strike. This is an attack on the democratic rights of citizens to conduct peaceful protests. There are increasing restrictions on the right to assemble and the right to conduct protests in Delhi and all over the country. The nine political parties demanded lifting of curbs on the right to protest and protection of democratic rights.

The meeting decided to call for an all India protest day to be observed on August 23 to demand effective measures against corruption including a strong Lokpal. The countrywide protest will also demand the protection of democratic rights and the right to conduct peaceful protests.

On August 23, all over the country, the nine political parties will organize demonstrations and dharnas in all state capitals and district headquarters.

The meeting was attended by H.D. Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu, Prakash Karat, A B Bardhan, Ajit Singh, Thambidurai, Debabrata Biswas, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Abani Roy, Sitaram Yechury, S. Sudhakar Reddy, D Raja, Nama Nageshwar Rao and others.

Press Meet
“We have decided to conduct demonstrations, dharnas and other forms of protests all over the country against rampant corruption and growing attacks on democratic rights” on August 23, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference after a meeting of the nine parties here.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, “We may even demand its (government Lokpal bill’s) withdrawal if necessary”, while Mr. Karat said the parties would express their opinion in the parliamentary Standing Committee looking into the legislation.

On whether they would organise a ‘Bharat Bandh’, Mr. Karat said this was the beginning of a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. “We will meet again after August 23 to decide on the future course”.

To a question whether they would coordinate with the BJP-led NDA, he said the nine parties were organising their own programmes. “The NDA has also expressed that the government version of the Bill does not serve the purpose”, he said, adding all opposition parties were organising their own agitational programmes.

Referring to the deliberations at the meeting of leaders of the nine parties, Mr. Karat said the “most burning issue” of “rampant corruption” and the anti-corruption agitation by Anna Hazare was discussed threadbare. The leaders were of the “unanimous opinion that the government bill is unacceptable. It is a weak and ineffective bill. We want an effective Lokpal legislation,” he said.

A mechanism to curb corruption in the judiciary was also discussed and the parties felt that the Judicial Accountability law, to be passed by Parliament, should include the creation of a National Judicial Commission to deal with such issues. “The present (judicial accountability) bill is also insufficient,” Mr. Karat said.

While electoral reforms to curb money power and criminality in elections were needed, effective measures are also required to unearth blackmoney stashed away abroad, he said.
Condemning the way Hazare and his supporters were arrested, Mr. Karat said these “assaults on democratic rights are rising. .... In Delhi, if you plan to protest, you have to abide by 21 conditions set by the police. It is the same situation elsewhere. You have to fill up forms and give undertakings and there are various other restrictions”.

Replying to questions on the Lokpal bill, Mr. Karat said, “The government bill is not adequate. The public mood is against it... as it will not serve the purpose.” “If the government is willing, we are prepared to discuss with it. As of now, we have decided to mobilise the people against it,” he said.

The Left and other parties have already held two nationwide strikes this year - on April 27 and July five - to protest against rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

WITHDRAW PROPOSAL TO DECONTROL UREA PRICES - AIKS

AIKS condemns the Congress-led UPA Government’s proposal to decontrol urea prices and increase prices by 10%. The Empowered Group of Ministers on 5th August approved the Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee Recommendations to decontrol urea and allow increase in prices by 10% initially and later bring it under Nutrient Based Subsidy by October. The 10% hike in per tonne over the current Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Rs.5,310/tonne could translate to an additional expenditure of up to Rs.530/- for farmers. From next year Companies will have a free hand and farm gate prices of urea will be fixed by them. The fertiliser companies will also pass on any increases in gas pricing and additional taxes imposed directly on to the farmers.

This decision should be seen in the light of the startling revelations of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s “Performance Audit of Fertiliser Subsidy” tabled in Parliament on 5th August, 2011 which found that 45 percent of the farmers pay more than the MRP and nearly 60 percent face problems in getting their season’s full requirement in time.

It also pointed to the problem of artificial shortages created by dealers during peak seasons to hike prices much above the MRP. Instead of putting an end to black-marketing and corrupt practices, the Government measure is only going to put the farmers at the mercy of Fertiliser cartels. The CAG has also indicted the Government’s fertiliser policy for deliberately pushing costly imports and turning away the focus from indigenous production of urea which is a key farm input. The present move by the Government is despite strong indictment of the New Pricing Scheme for urea by the CAG. Already the Government had on July 8th, 2011 by a notification withdrawn any restraint on increasing prices of non-urea fertilisers by the companies and stated that the market price of non-urea fertilisers “will be open”. It rescinded an earlier notification of 5th May, 2011 that had allowed Companies to increase MRP of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) by Rs.600/tonne in addition to the MRP prevailing then (Rs.10,750/tonne) and also a proportionate increase in MRP of Complex Fertilisers (corresponding to that in DAP).


The MRP of DAP according to the May 5th notification would translate into Rs.11,470/tonne. In the light of the July 8th notification the MRP of DAP inclusive of VAT if calculated based on the imported cost of DAP at $650/tonne will translate into around Rs.14,300/tonne. This would mean an exorbitant increase of Rs.3550/tonne of DAP within the last 2 months. The Government move on urea is coming at a time when already farmers are paying hefty amount for non-urea fertilisers and rising input costs are a disincentive to cultivation.Urea is a key agricultural input. Decontrol of urea prices, like in the case of DAP and other Complex fertilisers will put a big burden on the peasantry and costs of production will increase substantially.


AIKS demands that the proposal be rejected and these measures be withdrawn with immediate effect. The Congress-led Government is clandestinely bringing such anti-peasant measures without proper publicity, fearing its political fallout. AIKS warns the Government against such moves and calls upon all units to launch a widespread campaign and protests against this move

Trinamool atrocities reaching its peak : Government too is revengeful

Addressing a massive rally organized by the Left Front on Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata on August 12, Front leaders condemned the way the ruling Trinamool Congress had thrown West Bengal into complete unrest and anarchy. Personal liberty of people, they alleged, was being violated and democratic rights of political parties and trade unions were being infringed upon.

Braving the rains and drizzles thousands of Left Front supporters coming from all the districts converged on the Esplanade area to voice their protest against the post-poll violence unleashed by the Trinamool activists on the Left supporting people. The rally was addressed among others Left Front chairman Biman Basu, former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, Leader of the Opposition Suryakanta Mishra, CPI leader Manju Kumar Majumdar and RSP leader Manoj Bhattacherjee. Later, an eleven-member delegation headed by the Leader of the Opposition met the West Bengal Governor M k Narayanan to submit a memorandum giving the details of incidents related to atrocities committed the Trinamool Congress following the declaration of the Assembly elections results in West Bengal.Front chairman Biman Basu said the State was in complete unrest. The newly elected Trinamool government was totally indifferent to systematic as well as organized attacks on Left Front supporters who included poor farmers, students and teachers. All democratic institutions right from panchayats, municipalities, cooperatives, different elected bodies of educational institutions had been made defunct either by attacks and intimidations. In many areas teachers, non-teaching staff and students were not being allowed to enter their institutions.Basu, also secretary of the West Bengal CPI(M), alleged that the Jangalmahal was now made sanctuary for the Maoists. There had been mounting tension in the Hills and Terai and Dooars region in North Bengal. Basic democratic rights of all sections of the people of the State were under threat. Even armed conflicts among different factions of Trinamool Congress were taking place. Every day CPI(M) workers and supporters in rural Bengal was being killed by trigger-happy Trinamool gangsters, Basu alleged.Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee alleged after the Trinamool and Congress alliance had come to power, regular instance of political vendetta, murder, loot, rioting and bloodbath were being witnessed everywhere across rural Bengal. Innocent people were being implicated in false cases and arrested.Her termed the arrest of CPI(M) MLA and former Minister Sushanta Ghosh in a murder case as “political revenge” by Trinamool Congress after coming to power in the State. He alleged the government had been digging up 10 to 30 year old cases just to take revenge against the CPI(M). “ When I was the Chief Minister the Trinamool Congress vandalized the Assembly, attacked policestations and slapped police officer on duty, but I did not take any action against those who indulged in such activities,” he said.The memorandum seeking Governor’s intervention has given details of victims of Trinamool atrocities since the installation of the new government headed by Mamata Banerjee. It revealed that 30 Left Front leaders and workers (CPI(M) 28 and RSP) were killed and seven more were abetted to commit suicide ; 684 women were physically assaulted (508 molested and 23 raped) ; 3785 persons had to be hospitalized for treatment after sustaining severe injuries. There had been 2064 instances of arson and looting of houses and 14081 persons were evicted from their places of living. To buy peace and stay in their homes, people had been forced to pay money to the local Trinamool activists and leaders. An estimated amount of money paid to them was more than 277.7 nillion. Around 758 party, trade uion and other mass organization offices were either attacked, ransacked and,burnt. Altogether 77 student union offices had been captured. There had been a widespread attack on the rights of peasantry where by 3418 ryots were denied the right to cultivate their own lands amounting 9222.73 acres. Besides 26838 Patta holders and share-croppers had been forcibly evicted from 9222.02 acres of patta and barga lands. Even the Left Party organs have not seen spared. 241 boards displaying Ganashakti daily in public had been beaten dismantled and thousands of its copies had been burnt and the hawkers beaten up in order to disrupt it’s circulation chain.

CPI(M) demands Kerala CM Oomen Chandy to quit

The Kerala State secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to step down from office if he had the slightest respect for law and justice.

In a statement here on Tuesday, the party's State secretariat said that a just and independent reinvestigation into the palmolein case would not be possible when Mr. Chandy occupied the position of the Chief Minister. His decision to give up the Vigilance portfolio would not solve the problem. In fact, his decision itself was proof of the fact that even the Chief Minister was aware of the seriousness and importance of the court order in the case.

The Vigilance Court had ordered the reinvestigation spelling out instances pointing to the role of Mr. Chandy in the palmolein deal as the then Finance Minister. The Chief Minister's decision to hand over the Vigilance portfolio to his most trusted Cabinet colleague was not sufficient to address the present crisis. The Chief Minister wielded power over all the departments and could intervene in matters that come under any State department, he said.

(Courtesy : The Hindu, Deshabhimani)