Saturday, April 27, 2013

Left Youth Rally in Kolkata


Youth wings of Left parties led by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) today staged a protest rally here demanding justice for the depositors and investors for Saradha Group. "We along with other Left youth wings today marched to the state secretariat - Writers' Buildings - from College Square. But we were stopped at Rani Rashmoni Road," Abhas Roy Choudhury, state president of DYFI, said.
"We had a charter of nine demands which included justice for the depositors and investors of Saradha Group chit funds and restoration of peace in college campuses," he said. Roy Choudhury alleged that they were not allowed to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "We were told to submit the memorandum to the industries minister," he said.

Questions to the PM Share

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

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

The Draft Report prepared by the Chairman of the JPC, Shri P.C. Chacko states in Section 10.45 the following:
 
In view of the above, the Committee are inclined to conclude that the Prime Minister was misled about the procedure decided to be followed by the Department of Telecommunications in respect of issuance of UAS licences. Further, the assurance given by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology in all his correspondence with the Prime Minister to maintain full transparency in following established rules and procedures of the Department stood belied.

Shri A.Raja in his letter to Shri Chacko has stated that he had kept the Hon'ble PM informed at each step of the process and through personal meetings as well as during cabinet meetings. The Draft Report also shows that indeed he wrote 3 letters to the PM prior to the 10th January, 2008 when the LoI's for the 120 licenses were issued. The Draft Report also states that the PM asked the PMO to prepare a Note on Shri Raja's letter dated 26th November, 2008 wherein he details the various steps he was proposing to take.
Taking the above into account, it is not possible for JPC to come to any conclusion about the veracity of Shri Raja's claim or the statement in the Draft Report that the PM was misled without the PM answering the following:

1. Is it true that Shri Raja had met him personally in the first week of January, 2008 as stated in his letter to brief the Hon'ble PM about the procedure he was going to follow? In his submission, Shri Raja states, “Thereafter I met the Hon’ble PM in the first week of January 2008 and this issue was again discussed and he agreed with the proposed course of action of the DoT.”
 
2. If this meeting did take place, did the Hon'ble PM agree with Shri Raja on the proposed course of action as Shri Raja claims?
 
3. On what specific count can we hold that Shri Raja misled the Hon'ble PM?
 
a) Is it about not auctioning/indexing license fees of 2001 for 2008?
 
b) Is it about the change in First-come-first-served policy regarding grant of license by which the date of fulfilling LoI first was to be used for grant of licenses and not the date of application
 
c) Is it about securing the consent of the Solicitor General to the procedure that was to be followed as stated by Shri Raja in his 26th November, 2008 letter?
 
4. On what count did Shri Raja not maintain transparency regarding procedures which Shri Raja was following in his communications with the Hon'ble PM as stated in the Draft Report
 
5. Even if the above is true – that Shri Raja misled the PM and did not maintain transparency as claimed by the Draft Report, the following issues still remain, which the Hon'ble PM needs to answer:
 
a) Even after LoI's were issued on 10th January, 2008, since the licenses had not been issued, the Government could have cancelled the LoI's and followed a proper procedure. Why did the Hon'ble PM not take action as he had himself asked that the Note prepared by Pulok Chatterjee, Secretary PM, dated 6th January, 2008 be modified to take into account the status after issuing of the LoI's?
 
b) The Hon'ble PM in October 29, 2011 had stated – in his meeting with TV editors – that the Finance Ministry and the DoT had agreed on keeping 2001 prices for entry and spectrum fees for 2008. Was this agreement between Finance Ministry and DOT reached before 10th January, 2008 or afterwards?
 
c) On what basis did the Hon'ble PM drop the suggestion for auctioning of the licenses he himself had made to Shri Raja in his letter dated 2nd November, 2008?
Keeping in mind the high office he occupies, the Hon'ble PM can give answers to the JPC orally or in writing. Without answers from the Hon'ble PM on the above, it is difficult to understand how the JPC can come to any conclusion regarding the Hon'ble PM being misled by Shri Raja.
The Need for Answers from the Hon'ble Finance Minister on Certain Questions before the JPC
The Draft Report prepared by Shri P.C. Chacko has made a number of observations regarding the Finance Ministry, and therefore of the Finance Minister's handling of the 2G license issues. It is not possible for JPC to come to any conclusion about the role of the Hon'ble Finance Minister without answers to the following questions.
Specifically, the Draft Report mentions in Section 10.43 the following:
The Ministry of Finance have informed the Committee that no communication was sent by the Department of Economic Affairs in response to the letter dated 29 November, 2007 from the Department of Telecommunications. From the sequence of events, the Committee gather the impression that the Ministry of Finance was in agreement with the position explained by the Department of Telecommunications in respect of cross-over fee charged for allowing usage of Dual Spectrum Technology by the existing licensees.
Does the Finance Minister agree with the Draft Report that by not responding to the position as explained by DoT regarding license fees, the Ministry of Finance had in effect given its consent? Why did the Finance Ministry not press the issue of entry and spectrum fee being pegged to 2001 prices in 2008, especially as the DoT had referred to the Cabinet note where it was mandatory to have such an agreement between the Finance Ministry and the DoT as per Section 2.1.2 (3)?
As a formal consent is required from the Finance Ministry to fixing of license fees, did the Finance Ministry give such a consent?
Shri A. Raja is his letter to Shri Chacko has also stated that his actions regarding license fees was with the concurrence of the Finance Ministry and the Finance Minister, whom he had met during the first week of January, 2008. Is it true that such a meeting took place and if so, is it correct that the Hon'ble FM had given his consent to license fee being kept at the 2001 level for the 2008 issuing of licenses?
Why did the Hon'ble FM agree – as can be seen from his note to the PM on 15th January, 2008 – to treat the matter of entry and spectrum fees for LoI's issued on 10th January, 2008 as a closed matter?
 
Why did the Hon'ble agree on 30th January, 2008 in his meeting with Shri A. Raja to treat the entry and spectrum fees for LoI's issued on 10th January, 2008 as a closed matter?
As one of the most eminent lawyers of the country, the Hon'ble FM was undoubtedly aware that LoI's could be cancelled before the formal grant of licenses and therefore his consent was essential for the entry and spectrum fees being kept at 2001 levels in 2008?
Why did the Hon'ble FM not push for the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rule-4, which makes such concurrence mandatory regardless of the Cabinet note?
Why did the Hon'ble FM not push for the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rule-7, which specifies in the second schedule that in cases which involves financial implications on which the Finance Minister desires a decision of the Cabinet and if a difference of opinion arises between two or more ministries and a Cabinet decision is desired, the matter shall be brought before the Cabinet?
Keeping in mind the high office he occupies, the Hon'ble FM can give answers to the JPC orally or in writing. Without answers from the Hon'ble FM on the above, it is difficult to understand how the JPC can come to any conclusion regarding the role of the Finance Ministry or the Hon'ble FM.

Chit Fund Scam Exposes Mamata Government

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

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Meeting of Left Parties at New Delhi

Leaders of the Left Parties, the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB and RSP met in New Delhi today. They have issued the following statement:
Land Acquisition Bill
It is wrong on the part of the Government to claim that there is a consensus on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Re-settlement Bill. The Left parties are not in agreement with some basic provisions of the land acquisition Bill. A major flaw in the Bill is that it exempts 13 laws from the purview of the Bill. These include the Indian Railways Act, National Highways Act, Land Acquisition Mines Act, Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act etc, under which the bulk of the land acquisition takes place. The Left parties are opposed to the definition of public purpose which includes also acquisition of land for private companies; there is no need for consent of those affected if land is acquired for Government purposes; all the people affected like tenants, agricultural workers are not entitled to compensation; some of the provisions of the Bill are against the interests of the adivasis.
Since the Bill presented now has been totally changed from that which was considered by the Standing Committee, the Left parties reiterate their demand that it be referred back to the Standing Committee or be taken up by a Joint Select Committee.
Condemn Attacks in West Bengal
After the custodial death of SFI leader Sudipta Gupa in Kolkata, there were widespread protests all over the country. In the course of such a protest in Delhi there was an unfortunate incident outside the Planning Commission’s Office involving the West Bengal Finance Minister. Using this as a pretext systematic and widespread attack have been unleashed by the Trinamul Congress on the offices of the Left parties and their cadres and activists. More than a thousand offices have been damaged or destroyed. A situation is sought to be created where the functioning of the opposition parties is suppressed.
Serious human rights violations are taking place. A 22-year old student was arrested in Siliguri and kept in a hospital chained to his bed. The Presidency University was attacked by TMC goons.
The Left parties demand that the TMC leadership put a stop to all these attacks. The State Government should act to maintain peace. The Left parties appeal to all democratic sections to protest against these attacks and demand that the rule of law be enforced in West Bengal.
Those who attended the meeting are: Prakash Karat, S. Sudhakara Reddy, A. B. Bardhan, Debabrata Biswas, Sitaram Yechury, Abani Roy, D. Raja, S. Ramachandran Pillai and G. Devarajan.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Govt must come out with facts on spurious drug supplies in Jammu Kashmir

Statement issued by the J&K State Committee, CPI (M)
The CPI (M) express serious concern over the day-to-day disclosures of scams and other administrative irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping aside the factional political considerations involved and the blame game between the heads of the departments, the government must order a thorough probe in these shocking leaks for the larger public interest.

The level of corruption and financial mismanagement in the state administration has reached to distressing low. The Committee believes that the people are shocked by the recent reports about spurious drugs carried by the print and electronic media. The cases of corruption surfacing regularly in the media unfortunately reflect a pattern and the height of vested interest.

Be it the corruption and irregularities in PHE and Irrigation Department that grabbed the attention of both the Houses of Legislative Assembly in its recently concluded session, or spurious drugs being supplied to hospitals; it seems, scams are tumbling out every day. By now, the government should have come out with the facts on these issues of utmost importance. To the contrary there is not even a proper statement from the government on this subject. It is also ironic that there are reports that even an official included in the list of suspects is part of the departmental investigation in the spurious drug scam. The scars of infant mortality at valley’s lone children hospital were fresh in the minds of the people and now the spurious drugs supplied to them have further refreshed these scars.

The silence on part of the government on this crucial issue is further adding to the doubts of people that there is a deep rooted nexus. In order to clear these aspersions, the government must come out clear on the subject in the best interest of public. There is also a need for necessary and effective steps to be taken to bring down the level of corruption by strengthening the monitoring and vigilance in the government departments. Rampant corruption in the administration has alienated the people in Jammu and Kashmir to the hilt. If the government is serious in its promises to weed out the corruption in the state; there is an urgent need to strengthen the already existing institutions of probity and accountability in the system.

Almost all programs initiated by central government are not delivering the desired results. Government of India has repeatedly censured the state for its failure to implement MNREGA and other centrally sponsored schemes.

The recent revelations made by the CAG informing that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has failed to submit 2,931 Utilisation Certificates amounting to over Rs 2,118 crore to the Centre is also disappointing. The State Committee of CPI (M) believes that such lacklustre attitude will affect the flow of funds to the State in future. This needs to be looked into for the welfare of people.

Chained with Hospital Bed: Mamata’s Police Treats SFI Activist


Few days back, veteran nonagenarian Left and Forward Block leader Asoke Ghosh lamented Mamata’s police has surpassed the British police of pre-independent India in the context of unleashing attack on democratic movement. Within a few days Mamata’s police leave another example of such attack. Santosh Sahani, a first year BA student and local SFI activist, found chained to the hospital bed at the North Bengal Medical College Hospital on 16th April, 2013. The treatment with detained SFI activist can only be compared with the measure used by the British police against the freedom fighters. Santosh has his University examination on 18th April. Santosh was among the Left activists who were detained in false charge framed by the police under direction of local TMC Minister.

Santosh was feeling well after his arrest. He became unconscious when he was produced in court on 11th April and was admitted to the Siliguri Sadar Hospital. It is also alleged that the local TMC leaders including a minister preserised the hospital authority to release Santosh quickly. He was released from the hospital on 14th April and sent to Siliguri jail. But as his condition deteriorated he was admitted to the jail hospital. On the next day, he was sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and admitted to the male medical ward with handcuffs on his left leg.

Former Minister and Convener of Darjeeling District Left Front Ashok Bhattacharya, Secretary of CPI(M) Darjeeling District Committee Jibesh Sarkar visited the hospital and demanded to unchain Santosh immediately. They said the matter is a blatant violation of human rights. Noted lawyer and former Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation said the matter is inhuman and total violation of Supreme Court guideline. SFI has also demanded a thorough probe into this brutal act.

Biman Basu, the secretary of CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee and Chairman of the West Bengal Left Front has said that the so-called human face of the TMC Government is getting unmasked. He further said that police is filing false cases against so many persons in Siliguri. Such things have become practice in today’s West Bengal. The attack on democratic movements has surpassed the emergency period, he added.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

CPI(M) demands action against tainted Ministers in Andhra Pradesh

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked the Congress high command to clear air on the tainted Ministers in Andhra Pradesh
Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Wednesday, CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu alleged that the Congress leadership remained a mute spectator to corruption and scandals that were rocking the State.

The people would conclude that the AICC colluded with the tainted Ministers if no action was initiated, he said. The SC, ST Sub-plan was an outcome of protracted struggle by the CPI (M).

The YSR government even issued a GO on sub-plan subsequent to CPI (M) protests, but was not implemented. The government has failed to respond properly to the Tenali incident wherein a dalit woman was pushed under the wheels by some drunkards. Referring to ‘Amma Hastham’, the CPI (M) leader said, “It’s a ‘maya hastham’ (illusionary hand) to deceive the people.”

The government has not allocated any budget for the scheme. Numerous figures were in circulation as officials put it as Rs. 680 crore, while Rural Development Minister Dokka Manikyavara Prasad put it as Rs. 5,000 crore.

If the total number of white ration cards were to be considered the budget would not be more than Rs. 2,800 crore, he said. The CPI (M) suspected that the government would divert the SC, ST Sub-plan funds to the scheme. CPI (M) State secretariat member Y. Venkateswara Rao, city secretary Ch. Babu Rao were also present.
(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Students pledge fight against Fascism, for democracy!


The atmosphere at Nazrul Mancha was revolutionary! Young students in thousands, belonging to SFI, AISF, AISB, PSU filled the air with the promise of a new dawn, when exploitation shall be no more, no one in position to snuff out young lives fighting for the democratic rights for all. They reaffirmed their promise of ‘Freedom, Democracy, Socialism’. The soft but grim voices of students reminded the world of the Marxist promise of a better world, their Red Salutes, their slogans, an ode to the immortality of Sudipta would ring in the ears of the thousands, for years to come, assembled to pay homage to the martyrdom of young Sudipta Gupta on the 2nd of April, by a brutal police of a fascist government.

History was invoked, Neruda, Spartacus, Ulysses, Comrade KV Sudesh, who was butchered, cut into 21 pieces by the bourgeoisie government of Kerala, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil, et al, giving voice to man’s eternal rebellion against injustice; a symphony of young, trembling voices taking individual anger & rebellion to its crescendo, ’Revolution’.  Auteurs Mrinal Sen & Tarun Mazumdar registered their anger in their blunt expression of solidarity to their cause.

Speaker after speaker, from all the four left student organisations railed against the insensitivity of the Mamata government, decried its attempt at denying the students their political rights, enshrined in India’s constitution. They took an oath of continuing the fight that Sudipta gave his life for. Ritabrata, National Secretary, SFI was solemn throughout his speech but comprehensively denounced the politics of the campaign against politics. He reminded everybody that modern politics has been born out of the modern desire of people to fight for their rights. The royalty or feudal lords did not need ‘Politics’, it is the exploited multitude who need to fight for their rights. The current government’s action in stopping student union elections is a fundamental step against democracy. When its spokesmen & patronised intellectuals build a case against party politics, it is primarily conspiring to weaken the people’s fight, as the target is always the left. In the absence of the left, the default correlation of political forces swings in favour of the ruling class & specifically, ‘Capital’.

Today’s memorial service will remain a milestone in the Bengal’s people’s fight for democracy & justice. It will prove to be a turning point in the imminent fight against the Mamata government which is fast shedding its fig leaf of being democratic & exposing its fascist underpinnings. This government, apart from encouraging the lumpen in Bengali society has taken concrete steps to destroy the democratic structures built over the last 34 yearsof left rule. College & University management bodies, which were represented by all its stakeholders, students, employees, professors, etc were replaced by handpicked individuals. Elections to co-operative societies were stopped. Associations of the policemen were banned only to be replaced by her minions. Student union elections were stopped, using the incident of a policeman’s death during a college election process, by her own leaders. It was against this that the SFI staged a civil disobedience movement & Sudipta was killed in police custody. This was when she crossed the Rubicon of Fascism, with her police taking over the role played so far by her ‘Brownshirts’. Undeterred, she has gone on to inciting her partymen to destroy thousands of party offices of the left & the murder of over 90 of left workers & leaders. Her government has also actively derailed the 3-tier Panchayat elections which have taken place like clock work since it was first instituted by the first Left Front government in 1978. In a bid to reverse the gains of the land distribution done by the left, it has led a hundred farmers to their death.

The people of Bengal are rising in anger against this tyrannical government. Comrade Sudipta Gupta’s death shall not go waste, as the students resoundingly established today.
Long Live Comrade Sudipta!  Long Live the Revolution!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

19th Congress of the Communist Party of Greece



The 19th Party congress of Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was held from April 11 to 14th. The session of the 19th Congress of the KKE began with a presentation of the report of the Central Committee by the General Secretary of the Central Committee, Aleka Papariga. 
 
The 19th Congress of the Communist Party took place after a 4-month pre-congress process, during which the Theses were discussed in the organizations of the Party and KNE and with thousands of workers. 96.8% of the party members votes in favour of the Theses and draft Programme of the Party, 1.65% against, blank votes 1.55%. 97.3% of the party members votes for the draft Statutes in the PBOs, 1.21% against, blank votes 1.49%. The results of the discussion in KNE are the following. 98.9% votes in favour, 1.1% votes against and blank votes.

The discussions and the votes for the decisions of the 19th Congress of the KKE were held in an atmosphere of ideological-political unity and after substantial deliberations.  77 delegates spoke at the Congress (the time allocated for each speech was 12 minutes). The Congress unanimously approved the new Party Programme, the new Statutes and the Political Resolution of the Congress.

In addition, the report and closing speech of the Central Committee of the KKE was adopted unanimously, while the report and closing speech of the Central Auditing Committee (CAC) was approved with one vote against and one blank vote.

The work of the 19th Congress of the KKE was completed with the election of the new Central Committee, which is comprised of 63 comrades (instead of 77 who had been elected at the 18th Congress) and the new Central AC which is comprised of 7 comrades (instead of 5).

The CC in its first session elected Dimitris Koutsoumpas as the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE. It should be noted that the outgoing GS of the CC of the KKE, Aleka Papariga, was elected as a member of the CC of the KKE.

Biographical details of the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas. 
He was born in Lamia on the 10th of August 1955. He is married and has a daughter. His family were militants in the EAM national resistance, some of them were executed by the Nazi occupation troops and by the extraordinary military courts in the period of the civil war, others were imprisoned and exiled.  His father, Apostolis Koutsoumpas, a member of the KKE, was arrested in 1945 in Larisa, tried, imprisoned and exiled for 8 years.

Dimitris Koutsoumpas graduated from High School in June 1973, took the exams and entered the Law Department of the University of Athens. While he studied, he worked in different jobs in order to meet the costs of his studies. On his arrival in Athens, he came into contact with the illegal organization of KNE, he participated in the events in the Polytechnic in November 1973 and became a member of anti-EFEE and KNE in December 1973, working in illegal conditions until the fall of the dictatorship in the summer of 1974. He became a member of the KKE in December 1974. He was sent to work in the party in the summer of 1975 in the organization of Eastern Central Greece and Euboia as a member of the regional bureau of KNE. He was a delegate at the 1st Congress of KNE.

In the Autumn of 1977 he moved from working in KNE to working exclusively in the party, as a secretary of a sectoral organization and later as the secretary of the Prefectural Organization of Boiotia. In 1979 he became a member of the Regional Bureau of Eastern Central Greece and Euboia, with various responsibilities, for work in the labour and trade union movement, responsible for the political guidance of the Prefectural Organizations of Boiotia, Fthiotida, Fokida, Evrytania. Later on he became secretary of the Regional Committee of Eastern Central Greece and Euboia, apart from a period of 21 months when he carried out his military service in Messolonghi, Komotini, and Limnos.

He was elected to the Central Committee of the KKE at the party’s 12th Congress in May 1987. In the split of 1991, as the secretary of Eastern Central Greece and Euboia and member of the CC, together with other comrades he struggled to defend the party, its principles, its worldview, against the splitting opportunist group that went to Synaspismos.
At the 13th Congress, he was again elected to the CC and its Secretariat responsible for politically guiding party organizations, while after August 1991, immediately after the split, he took on the responsibility for the CC’s Press Office.

In December 1991 at the 14th Congress, he was elected to the PB of the CC, responsible for the Press Office, Culture, and later “902” (TV and radio), until the floods of 1994, when he took on the responsibility for the organizations of Thessalonica, Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

At the 15th Congress (May 1996) he was elected to the PB and became the Director of “Rizospastis”, a responsibility he held for 10 years At the 16th Congress (February 2000) and the 17th Congress (February 2005) he was re-elected to the PB and took on the responsibility for the International Relations of the party. At the 18th Congress (February 2009) he took on the responsibility of the Secretariat of the CC on behalf of the PB. At the 19th Congress (April 2013) he was elected General Secretary of the CC of the KKE.

Narendra Modi Must Quit

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

The information available from the documents available from the Supreme Court ordered investigation into the Gujarat carnage in February 2002, provide clinching evidence of the deliberate refusal of the Modi Government to act to prevent the mass violence against the minority community, in spite of repeated urgent messages and information from police in different areas. 

It is indeed a matter of deep regret that the SIT chose to ignore such a damning indictment of the State Government and gave a clean chit to Narendra Modi raising questions about its own credibility. In the light of these documents which have now come into the public domain thanks to the efforts of Zakia Jafri, there can be no doubt left of the direct culpability of Narendra Modi as the main accused who ignored the warnings of his own police force and presided over the violence. Justice demands that the SIT final report be rejected and a fresh charge sheet filed including Narendra Modi as an accused.
The documents are a shameful and horrific record of the utter contempt of the Modi Government for even the most minimum norms of governance.

The CPI(M) demands that Modi must resign as his continuance in office with access to the State machinery will enable him to subvert the judicial processes which are on in the case in Gujarat.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

General Secretary of CPI(M) Letter to president of India on statement by Governor of West Bengal

Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sent a letter to the President of India regarding the statement issued by the Governor of West Bengal, Shri M. K. Narayanan. The text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Shri Pranab Mukherjee,

I am writing to you regarding the statement issued by the Governor of West Bengal, Shri M. K. Narayanan on April 10, 2013 regarding the incident outside the Planning Commission of India involving the Chief Minister and Finance Minister of West Bengal.

On the occasion of the Chief Minister of West Bengal visiting the Planning Commission on April 9, there was a demonstration organised by a number of organisations, including the CPI(M), to protest against the attitude of the West Bengal Government towards the custodial death of SFI leader Sudipta Gupta in Kolkata. In the course of this peaceful demonstration in the presence of the police, an untoward incident occurred with the Finance Minister Amit Mitra. As soon as this happened, the CPI(M) and the organizers disapproved of this conduct and condemned it. The Polit Bureau of our Party also announced that it will look into how this happened.

But unfortunately, the West Bengal Governor issued a statement which is unwarranted and does not behave the post of the Governor of a State. One can understand the Governor condemning the incident. But Shri Narayanan has gone much beyond that and called it a "shocking pre-meditated assault on the Chief Minister, the Finance Minister and other senior ministers of West Bengal". He has gone further to state that, "This kind of attack is unprecedented in India's modern history" and declared that "Those responsible for the attack and their instigators have forfeited their right to function within a democratic framework". He has also demanded a "public apology by the Politburo of the CPI(Marxist)".

The full text of the statement is attached for your perusal.

How is it that Shri Narayanan sitting in Raj Bhawan in Kolkata has come to the unfounded and totally baseless conclusion that there was a pre-meditated assault on the Chief Minister, the Finance Minister and others? In fact, the entire visual media showed how the Chief Minister entered and left the Yojana Bhawan without any hindrance. It is highly improper for the Governor of a state, who holds a Constitutional post, to declare that a political party or leaders have "forfeited their right to function within a democratic framework".

All over the state of West Bengal, there are widespread attacks going on against the CPI(M) and the Left Parties offices, leaders and cadres. The Governor's statement has only encouraged these elements.

As President of India, it is for you to decide whether such political interventions by the Governor are justified.

I hope you will study the statement and advise the Governor, who is your representative, accordingly.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Violent and reactionary disruptions are condemning democracy in West Bengal

10th April 2013

The Delhi incident of assaulting the state finance minister of West Bengal in the haste of an ongoing protest campaign in front of the Planning Commissions office demanding judicial probe for the custodial death of SFI leader Sudipto Gupta received all out criticism from the party. Yet the reactionary politics of the West Bengal CM has shown its bare face all over this state. It was the CM to address the killing of Sudipto as a ‘petty matter, small matter’; the unfortunate reaction of her resulted in such a mishap that took place in Delhi. By not digging deep in to the argument of CM’s insistence to ignore administrative direction to access a definite entrance and whether  the situation would never had occurred if she would have followed the security proposals Delhi administration.

Reactionary politics of the CM continued after the Delhi incident too, after the unprecedented mishap the CM had threatened and insisted reactionary agenda by saying that she would ‘show the CPI (M)’ of whatever she and her party is capable of. From then on a whole frightened state is witnessing ‘whatever she and her party TMC’ is capable of.

Party Offices under attack:

Capabilities extended from ransacking and vandalizing to set fire at the CPI (M) party offices all over West Bengal. This was one sort of reaction surfaced by the ruling party condemning the Delhi incident.

West Midnapore:  Midnapore Town and Debra Zonal office, Local Committee office of Loada, Party offices of Bharatpur, Daspur 1, Keshpur, Chandrakona, Dantan 2, Belda got attacked and vandalized by TMC goons and hooligans.

East Midnapore: Zonal office of Egra, Local and branch offices of Mahishadal, Batkunda, Gopalchak, Haldia, Gopiballavpur 2, Ghera got severely ransacked. The TMC miscreants and anti-socials set fire to at least 15 houses at Gopiballavpur area.

Bankura: Taldangra Zonal Committee office and local offices of Birrada, Harmasra, Panchmura and Sardakan got vandalized by TMC supporters. There was armed attack at the Taldangra office.

Nadia: Hanskhali and Bijpur Zonal offices got attacked by TMC criminals. Fulia, Kalyani, Goespur, Palbagan, Garulia, Kankinara, Kachrapara local offices and branch offices got totally ransacked by the TMC hooligans. Ganashakti borad of Atpur was broken parts by the ruling party supporters.

Purulia: The district committee office of Namapara was vandalized by the TMC goons in front of the police. A party whole timer, Sekh Raju got brutally attacked in that incident.

Burdwan: City Center and Steel city Zonal offices Durgapur got vandalized. Local and branch offices of Budbud-Galsi, Sagardanga, Dhobighat, Jhanjra Old Coloney, Gogla, Pandabeswar, Kalna, Barabani, Rupnarayanpur and Memari got ransacked by TMC goons. A large number of party supporters and local public got beaten at incidents in Memari and Durgapur.

Birbhum: Suiri Zonal office and Kirnahar Local office got severely ransacked by the TMC miscreants.

North Dinajpur: TMC goons attacked Islampur Sadar local office and vandalized. They set fire at the banners and martyr stand demanding justice for SFI leader Sudipto’s custodial death.

Jalpaiguri: Kumargram party office got attacked.

Coochbihar: Coochbihar South, Tufanganj and Sitalkuchi Zonal offices got attacked. Natabari 1 and 2, Deocharai, Krisnapur, Balrampur, Chilakhana local offices got vandalized by the TMC miscreants in numerous reported incidents of violence. At least 46 party offices have been attacked by the goons in last 24 hours.

Darjeeling: Few TMC supported anti-socials had shown violent agitations in front of the District Committee office at Siliguri last night. 10000 people and CPI (M) supporters joined in a rally to condemn the violence in the Siliguri town. Today the anti-socials accompanied by other TMC supporters unleashed severe violence in the party office and adjoining areas. Police ordered further lathicharge on the party supporters this evening.

South 24 Parganas: Baruipur, Bhnagar and Gangulibagan Party offices got attacked and vandalized by the goons of TMC.  
  
North 24 Parganas: Several acts of violence and office attacks have been reported in the Barrackpore area, party offices at Naihati and Gobardanga got vandalized by criminal attacks. Flex and banners paying homage to Martyr Sudipto Gupta were not even left by those hooligans.


Party Leaders Attacked:

1] The TMC goons attacked the Harirampur, Balurghat party office and vandalized severely. There they attacked Part District Committee Secretary and State Committee member Manabesh Chowdhury. Former Minister of the state Narayan Biswas also got attacked in the same event along with Minati Ghosh, the district secretary of Democratic Women’s Federation. Manabesh Chowdhury was taken to the Harirampur hospital from where he has been transferred to the Balurghat state general hospital for further medical interventions.

2] Another such event was reported from Bhangar where TMC hooligans attacked the car of State committee member Rejjak Mollah.

3] Same sort of situation occurred when the TMC miscreants attacked the car of former minister of the state and State committee member Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury.


Educational Institutions under Attack:

In this ongoing episode of government sponsored terrorism throughout this state the ruling party sponsored hooligans has shown no mercy to the esteemed educational institutions too.

Presidency University: The supporters of student organization of the TMC broke into the Presidency University campus. They forcefully entered and unleashed severe violence in the campus. They vandalized the Bekar lab, a heritage place of birth of new sciences in this state where dignitaries like Acharya Jagadish Bose and Prafulla Roy had worked. The anti-socials used plenty of slangs and wildly gestures to the female students of the university. The students who protested got severely injured by the TMC hooligans. The students have called up on for a day long strike in the campus tomorrow. The professors, the Registrar and the Vice Chancellor of the university condemned the attack aloud.

Netajinagar Women’s College: TMCP supporters forcefully entered and vandalized in the Netajinagar women’s college. Few of the students are reported to be attacked and teased by the miscreants.

These are just the glimpses of the violence and reactionary disruptions prevailing throughout this state. The CM and her party are leaving no resort where regular democratic practices can peacefully be observed. To condemn an unwarranted event she and her party are now condemning democracy.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WB State Govt Should Maintain Peace

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

There was a protest organised against the custodial death of SFI leader Sudipta Gupta, on the occasion of the visit of the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee to the Planning Commission Office on April 9, 2013. In the course of this protest, an incident took place involving the Finance Minister, Amit Mitra. The CPI(M) has disapproved and condemned this incident. The Party will look into how this has happened. 

However, on the pretext of this incident, widespread violence has been unleashed against the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal. The Polit Bureau strongly condemns the attacks on the CPI(M) and Left parties offices all across West Bengal. Many Party offices have been destroyed and scores of Party cadres and leaders have been injured in these attacks by TMC men.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the TMC leadership immediately put a stop to these attacks. The state government should take immediate steps to ensure that peace is maintained. A judicial probe into the death of Sudipta Gupta should be ordered without delay.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Resolutions Passed by the CITU All India Conference




Against Government’s Water Policy
The 14th conference of CITU, being held from 4th to 8th April, 2013 at Kannur, condemns the Water Policy, 2012 of the Government of India directing the state governments to realize water charges on ‘production cost’, privatization through PPP route and to establish independent regulatory authority and, thereby, withdrawing from government’s responsibility of providing water for drinking, household use and agricultural use particularly by the toiling sections.

The UDF government in Kerala decided enactment to corporatize this vital service sector by establishing Kerala Drinking Water Supply Company Ltd with majority private shareholding and bringing entire state under its coverage. Similar steps are being taken in other states also like Delhi Jal Board is being privatized beginning in four areas under slogan of 24/7 supply; Maharashtra government doing the same beginning at Nagpur; Karnataka government in Hubli and Dharwar etc.    

People have their basic right on this natural resource for protection of their lives and livelihood which must not be allowed to be used by corporates for business and profits.

The conference calls upon the working class of the country to rise in defending the people’s right on this vital natural resource water.


Against Attack on Trade Union Movement
This 14th conference of CITU, being held from 4th to 8th April, 2013 at Kannur, notes with grave concern the widely spreading and rapidly increasing attacks on the trade union movement by the corporate-police-administration combine to terrorize and suppress the working class in different parts of the country.

These attacks are manifestation and part of aggressively driven neoliberal policies of the present dispensation abetted by the MNCs and corporate media. Such growing intolerance to opposition and agitation of the working class in pursuance of their trade union and democratic rights is also a danger signal to democratic system and norms of the country.

Consequent to successful 20-21 February, 2013 strike, the police at Noida in Uttar Pradesh launched unprecedented attack by arresting large number of union functionaries of CITU and other central trade union affiliates and sent them to jail who are not yet released despite joint delegation of all central trade unions to Noida administration. This conference demands their immediate release from jail and to stop any further arrest of trade union functionaries.

A trade union leader of road transport workers in Haryana was crushed to death during peaceful picketing on 20th February 2013 on the day of strike.
                                                                                     
Large numbers of workers of Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar in Haryana are in jail combined with mass dismissals of hundreds of permanent workers and 1800 contract workers.

In Tamilnadu simply for forming unions hundreds were victimised by way of dismissals, suspension, keeping idle months together, transfers to far off places etc. Hundreds of criminal cases filed against the leaders and frontline workers. Similar developments are taking place in other states also.

At the instance of employers’ organizations, the general secretary along with the vice president  of Maharashtra state committee of CITU were arrested and sent to jail by the police.

The attack on the trade union and democratic movement in West Bengal, where working class and Left movement is strong, is also to be seen as an integral part of this attack.

The united trade union movement against such aggressive neoliberal policies and attacks is a major development in defence of trade union and democratic rights of the working class and the people.

This conference condemns such attacks by corporate-police-administration combine and calls upon the workers of all trade unions to raise their voice of protest against such attacks anywhere in the country.




On Tasks of CITU among Working Women

The 14th Conference of CITU, being held on 4-8 April 2013 in Kannur reiterates its commitment to carry forward and strengthen the work among working women that CITU has started nearly 35 years ago.

The conference notes that CITU has made considerable advances in organising working women   since 1979 when it organised the first all India convention of working women in Chennai and constituted the All India Coordination Committee of Working Women. The membership of women in CITU which was less than 7% at that time has gone up to 31.96% in 2011. In several states it is more than 50%. Women’s presence in the mobilisation of CITU, in its day to day activities, in the conferences at the state and national level, in the decision making bodies has also increased since then.

While expressing its satisfaction at this progress, this conference also is conscious that many weaknesses that have been repeatedly pointed out by the successive conventions of the All India Coordination Committee of Working Women (CITU) as well as the successive all India conferences of CITU are yet to be overcome.

The general weakness of unions, particularly in industries where both men and women work like plantations, beedi, brick kiln etc, in raising the specific problems of working women like equal wages, maternity benefits and crèches, sexual harassment etc from the union platform and mobilising both men and women on these issues, still continues. In several states, even where women membership is above the national average, resistance to elect women as delegates to conferences and to the decision making bodies continues. This was evident in many of the recently concluded state conferences also.

Our work among working women is not reviewed in the state committees. Proper attention is not paid to identify, train, develop and promote women cadres. No action is taken by the state committees to ensure formation of women’s sub committees in our unions in sectors with considerable women workers and to see that they function effectively. Holding the state conventions and constituting state level coordination committees is observed as a periodic ritual in some states while in some states even this is not done.

This conference reiterates that our work among working women is part of our objective of uniting the entire working class and mobilising it to play its due role in leading the struggle against all exploitation. It firmly believes that overcoming the weaknesses and improving our work among working women will contribute to strengthening the CITU and trade union movement as a whole. The basic weakness lies in the influence of the class divided patriarchal society along with the lack of consciousness on the urgency of organising and activating working women in leading bodies of CITU at all levels. The CITU as a whole has to make conscious and sustained effort to overcome these weaknesses.   The convention of All India Coordination Committee of Working Women, which had to be deferred due to unavoidable reasons and will be held shortly, will also discuss these issues in detail and make the necessary recommendations.
This 14th conference of CITU calls upon all the state committees of CITU, its industrial federations and affiliated units to rededicate to the task of strengthening the work among working women by –

Ø  Discussing our work among working women as a specific agenda in the first state committee meeting immediately after this national conference

Ø  Identifying the affiliated unions in sectors with considerable number of women workers and constitute women’s sub committees, make them functional and take up women’s specific issues from the union platform

Ø  Allot a state office bearer of CITU to monitor the effective implementation of the above at all levels of the organisation

Ø  Organise separate trade union classes for working women activists and develop them to take up more responsibilities in CITU and its affiliated unions

Ø  Pay special attention to recruit women full timers

The Conference resolves to convene a national workshop with the participation of the president/ general secretary of all the state committees of CITU, after the national convention of All India Coordination Committee of Working Women to chalk out further concrete measures to strengthen our work among working women.


Against the Privatisation of ICDS through ICDS Mission

The fourteenth conference of CITU, being held at Kannur, Kerala, condemns the government move to privatise the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and reiterates the demand of institutionalization and universalisation of ICDS.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is the only government scheme which provides supplementary nutrition, health services and pre school education for holistic development to the children of India. At present, the scheme provides nutrition and health care to nearly seven and a half crore children and 1.8 crore pregnant and lactating mothers through nearly 14 lakh anganwadi centres in more than seven thousand blocks all over the country. Nearly 27 lack workers and helpers, are employed in the ICDS without being recognised as workers, without minimum wages and any social security, subsidising the government on its social sector expenditure.

Despite being in existence since the last more than 37 years, the full potential of ICDS could not be realized as the government was never serious in its effective implementation which is demonstrated by its ad hoc approach towards it and inadequate allocation of financial resources. As a result, malnutrition continues to plague our country which today is home to around half of the malnourished children in the world.

Since the advent of the neoliberal policies, the government has been attempting to privatise ICDS and withdraw from its responsibility from it. It has been incorporating the directions of the World Bank in its implementation, the main thrust of which is privatization and targeting. On the pretext of strengthening ICDS and addressing the serious problem of malnutrition, it has decided to implement it in a ‘mission mode’. However, the measures that are included in its plan will in no way strengthen ICDS but to privatization and will ultimately lead to its dismantling.

A ‘Mission’ itself is a short term programme for a limited target which will be wound up after achieving the ‘Mission’ targets. The services provided by the ICDS are not ones which can be stopped once any goal is achieved. However instead of taking measures for institutionalizing ICDS and ensuring its effective functioning by adequate allocation of funds, the government has made it mandatory to hand over a minimum of 10% of the centres to NGOs. It has provided several incentives to them including ‘flexibility’ to spend the money according to their priority and will. Provisions are made to hand over the supply of supplementary nutrition also to the corporate NGOs like ISKCON, Naandi Foundation etc and to the NGOs floated by the corporate houses. The proposed Right to Food Act contains proposals of fortified and ready to eat food, which will help the corporate entry in he sector.In the name of strengthening the pre- school component and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the government is proposing to involve the private nursery schools to be involved in ICDS. It is directed that the financial allocations be made to the existing private nursery schools with of course ‘flexibility’ in norms of spending. This move to privatise the nutrition and pre- school education and siphon off public money to the corporate account must be fought tooth and nail.

The working hours of the anganwadi workers and helpers have already been increased and the retirement is made mandatory, without any increase in the remuneration or provision for pension and social security.

This conference demands that the government should stop any attempts to privatise ICDS and assume full responsibility to ensure for every child in India its right to food, health and education for a holistic development. It demands the government to allot the necessary financial resources for ICDS.

This conference fully supports the struggles of the anganwadi employees for regularization, minimum wages, social security and against privatization. It calls upon all the state committees of CITU to extend full support to the call of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to observe 10th July 2013 as ‘Black Day’ and ensure its total success.

This 14th conference of CITU also calls upon all the beneficiaries of ICDS and the people in general to join the struggle to save ICDS from privatization and being dismantled.

On Com. Samar Mukherjee attaining 101th Year

This 14th conference of the CITU, being held on 4th - 8th April 2013 at Kannur, considers it a proud privilege to felicitate the veteran trade union leader and one of the founders of CITU, Com. Samar Mukherjee on his attaining 101th year of life on 8th November, 2012.   

Born on 7th November 1911 in Howrah district of West Bengal, Com. Samar Mukherjee plunged in national independence movement since his early life as a student and became one of the leading personalities in the Congress Party. Being attracted to Marxism – Leninism, he joined the Communist Party in 1940 and rose to its leadership position.  He joined CPI(M) from the day of its formation and rose to its leading body, the Polit Bureau as its member.   

He was deeply involved in the trade union movement since 1940during British rule.  His entire life was dedicated to the cause of the working class and other toiling masses, for which he had to work underground, face trials and undergo prison life.

Com. Samar Mukherjee led CITU for long years as its all India Treasurer, General Secretary and as one of its Vice Presidents; and guided others in the trade union movement. He developed international relation travelling in different countries on behalf of CITU and CPI(M).

As member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly and of both Houses of the Parliament and also in the capacity of the leader of the Parliamentary group of CPI(M), he brilliantly played his role in defending the interests of the working class and other down-trodden sections. He was widely respected by all, despite political divide.

On this occasion, this Conference warmly greets Com. Samar Mukherjee and recalls his noble contribution to the Communist and Working Class movement; and wish him good health and longer life.