One lakh victims of pilgrimage tourism

What is happening in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, especially along the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple routes, where most of the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims got trapped are feared killed or injured, points towards the role of pilgrimage tourism promoted by  the tourism and real estate mafia with the active co-operation of the ruling establishment and religious leaders in the destruction of ecology on a vast scale. It led to even natural calamities turning in to human catastrophes causing enormous loss of life and immense destruction of property. As every religion is becoming increasingly fundamentalist and evangelical, as a part of creating religious frenzy among the masses pilgrimage is promoted immensely. It is happening in every country. In India with the growth of Hindutua forces there is a competition among religious and sub-religious groups for promoting centres of pilgrimage. In their frenzy new centres of pilgrimage are created. What has happened to the traditional pilgrimage centres where people used to go on foot without causing any environmental destruction gave way to millions going using most modern vehicles and staying in posh resorts. For this huge infra structural development was taken up by the real estate mafia with corporate and state help. The religious and sub-religious groups encouraged this. VHP like organizations collected millions by recruiting and deploying volunteers for this. The whole pilgrimage is turned in to another industry called pilgrimage tourism. So along with the real estate-contractor mafia and the ruling establishment, the RSS Parivar responsible for turning the pilgrimage centres in Uttarakhand and other Himalayan shrines death traps for millions of innocent people who are turned in to blind devotees.

Mostly Man-made Calamity in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

The political leaderships leading the administration in the country and the bureaucracy which is running it cannot escape by saying that the rainfall was unprecedented and so the terrific damage to people and property is taking place. The central and state governments or the bureaucracy or the vested interests including the RSS outfits like the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) cannot claim that the calamity faced by millions of people in the region and the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the Himalayan temples was not foretold. More than three decades ago during the Chipco Movement the catastrophe going to take place if the frantic forest destruction, quarrying , road constructions to numerous temples coming up along the route to Badrinath and Kedarnath, mad race for real estate expansion and numerous other acts intensifying ecological destruction were not stopped and if a new approach to developmental works in the fragile Himalayan region in particular and to development perspective in general was not taken. Nobody in the administration, leaders of ruling class parties, all those supervising the development paradigm of the ruling system and the Hindutua leaders bothered. They went ahead merrily causing more ecological destruction in spite of the floods and huge destruction during the last five years. The materiological and other departments responsible for fore-warning the heavy rain were found much wanting when their services were required badly. All these factors together led to the unprecedented calamity we are witnessing today in this vast region. The millions of people suffering including the many thousands who have lost their lives and injured are victims of the mostly man made ecological catastrophe. Even the unprecedented and before-time rain fall like other climate changes are mostly linked to global warming like factors created by ecological destruction. Still the government leaders and others responsible for this catastrophe are trying to put the entire blame over the vagaries of nature and wash their hands of this real massacre of human lives and environment. While extending our sorrow and condolences to all those who are suffering under this catastrophe, let us raise our fingers against all those who are responsible for creating this catastrophe not only in this region but also in areas like Delhi where thousands of crores were spent for Yamuna river training and still millions are suffering.

Karnataka: Popular Disgust Against BJP Government Propels Congress to Power.

The 5th May elections to Karnataka assembly has led to Congress winning clear majority with 121 seats and BJP sharing second position with JD(S). Though the BJP dissidents, KJP and BSR, got very few seats their votes led to BJP’ debacle. The results show that Congress which has a record of long years of anti-people rule could return to power due to negative votes against the BJP and division of votes in to five contenders who had fielded candidates in all seats and poured hundreds of crores of rupees in the campaign besides utilizing the caste and communal vote banks more brazenly. In the course of this campaign assisted by the so-called strictness of the Election Commission, which prevented the use of posters, wall writing, street corner meetings etc while it failing to prevent the use of money, liquor power and caste-communal feelings by the ruling class parties, the smaller parties were marginalized. The transformation of media through advertisements, paid news etc led to monopolization of propaganda by these parties using its wide-spread reach . In this situation, even the share of votes to CPI, CPI(M) like parties, who used to get few seats in the past, also shrunk sharply.
When the so-called main stream parties spent crores of rupees in each seat, CPI(ML) could collect and spent only Rs. 50, 000 on an average in the 18 seats it contested. So in spite of a strenuous campaign with all party cadres working hard and in spite of a very good record of numerous struggles including land struggles the Party could get only a little more than  20,000 votes. The election results have once again  proved our assertion that only by further intensifying class struggle in all fields and developing the organization at grass root level a revolutionary party can make impressive intervention in the elections as part of its overall revolutionary offensive.
K.N.Ramachandran,
General Secretary, CPI(ML)
New Delhi, 8th May 2013

Democratic Rights’ Forum (DRF) Formed

The meeting of leading comrades active in the field of democratic rights movement held on 23-24 March at Ambedkar Bhavan, New Delhi, attended by Ad. C.B.Singh (Lucknow) and com. Monasur (Kanpur) from UP, Ad.Sabi Joseph, Kerala, com.Ashok Mathur, Rajasthan, Ad.Vivek Ranjan, Odisha, Ad. Kedar Anand, Chathisgarh and Ad. Arun Maji, general secretary of NDPI, com. Mangat Ram of NDPI and  com. Jaiprakash from the Anti-Caste Organization from Delhi. The meeting discussed the draft approach paper On Formation of Democratic Rights and Civil Liberties’ Movement for building a broad based democratic rights and civil liberties forum at all India level presented by com.K.N.Ramachandran, general secretary of the CPI(ML) in the meeting prsided by Ad.C.B.Singh. The orientation of the Paper was generally accepted by all. It will be developed taking the suggestions put forward and the message from com.C.Bhaskar Rao, geberal secretary of the OPDR (AP) who could not attand the meeting. Similarly com.Ved Bhusan, editor of The Kashmit Times, Ad. Rebati Ballabh Mohanty from Odisha and others from different states who could not attend the meeting had informed their consent to work as part of any all India forum organized in the meeting. It was decided that the Paper shall be developed based on the suggestions which came up in the meeting and shall be published for further discusion on it.

The meeting decided to constitute the Organizing Committee of the Democratic Rights’  Forum (DRF) with Ad. C.B.Singh as convener and Ad. Sabi Joseph, Ad. Vivek Ranjan, Ad. Kedar Anand, com. Monasur, com.Mangat Ram and com.Ashok Mathur as members. The meeting passed following resolutions:

1.     The DRF shall try to establish contacts with all forcesopposed to deployment of army and AFSPA in J&K and Northeastand to develop a countrywide movement in solidarity with the struggles waged by the peoples of these regions including the indefinite hunger strike continued by Irom Sarmila for more than 12 years to repeal AFSPA and to withdraw army policing. The DRF shall intensify the campaign for political solution of J&K and Northeast issues by involving the people.

2.     The DRF shall unite all forces who are against death penalty and develop a countrywide movement for its repeal.

3.     The DRF condemns the ghastly and secret manner in which the hanging of Afsal Guru was carried out. It demands that the UPA government should apologize for it. Even the democratic right to appeal for review and to approach the Supreme Court once again after the rejection of the long pending mercy petition was denied to him and to his family. The DRF demands that the dead body of Afsal Guru should be handed over to his family immediately.

4.     The DRF decided to send a fact finding team in solidarity with the struggle of the orkers of Manesar Maruti Suzuki car factory, where 140 workers are jailed for more than seven months and more than 500 workers are summarily dismissed.

5.     The DRF decided to send a fact finding team to Jagjitsinghpur district of Odisha where thousands of villagers of Paradeep area are struggling for last eight years against their displacement for acquiring land for POSCO, the South Korean based MNC.

The meeting decided to organize state level committees and to take up various issues of democratic rights violations uniting broad sections of democratic forces.

Organizational Principles

(Draft)

1.    Name: Its name shalll be Democratic Rights Forum (DRF).

2.    Aims and Objectives: The DRF shall work for the defence of the democratic rights and civil liberties and for their expansion and advancement.

3.    Structure: The DRF shall be a democratic forum with its functioning based on democratic consultation and consensus. At the same time it shall strive to co-ordinate different organizations, groups and individuals committed to work for the protection, expansion and advancement of the democratic rights and civil liberties at all levels.

4.    Organizational Form: At all India level it shall have an All India General  Council (AIGC) to be elected by All India Conferences of representatives elected by state level conferences and organizations, groups and individuals  affiliated to it which is convened every two years and an Executive Committee elected by the AIGC with their offices at Delhi. For carrying out day to day functioning it shall have a Central Working Group (CWG). The CWG consists of the chairman, a vice chairman and other office bearers such as general secretary, five secretaries to coordinate activities in Southern, Western, Eastern, Northern zones and of the CWG and a tresurer elected by the AIGC. The number of members of the All India state and district councils and respective executive committees shall be decided in the respective conferences.

5.    The state level conferences held every two years shall constitute State Councils (SCs) of the DRF, and an executive committee which shall lead the state level activities, and the district level conferences shall elect the district level councils and district executive committees of the DRF. For carrying out day to day functioning of the SCs it shall also have State Working Groups (SWGs). The SWGs shall consist of the State chairman, secretary and three secretaries, with one of them having responsibility of the treasurer, who shall be elected by the SCs. The same principles are be followed at the district level also.

6.    All these Councils shall work based on consensus.

7.    The Editorial Board for the central DRF publications shall be elected by the AIGC and for the publications at state level by the SCs respectively.

8.    Organizations, groups and individuals who are prepared to accept the Approach Paper and Organizational Principles of the DRF and are ready to function based on these and affiliated to the AIGS, can be enrolled as its constituents and their representative can be taken in the AIGC or SCs, as the case may be.

9.     The AIGC shall elect the Executive Committee and the CWG consisting of  the office bearers and the SCs shall elect the SWGs and the state level office bearers once in two years. The bi-annual conferences shall discuss and finalize the reports, audited accounts and future programs presented by respective councils. In extra ordinary situations All India and state level councils, which are sceduled to meet twice in a year, shall be convened by giving one month notice to its members.

10.                         The accounts of the DRF at different levels shall be audited bi-annually by three auditers elected by respective councils.

11.    Funds: Respective Executive committees can generate necessary funds for the fuctioning of the DRF from public by way of contributios.

12.   The amendments to the Organizational Principles shall be by way of majority decisions of the All India General Council.

Motion of Non-Confidence is moved in the People’s Parliament against the Ruling Governments

The following Motion of Non-Confidence is moved in the People’s Parliament against the Ruling Governments and the Ruling System; the Motion calls for removing the existing reactionary, corrupt system and replacing it with a People’s Alternative Based on People’s Manifesto evolved through discussion among the masses.1. The People’s Parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 15th March, declares non-confidence in the UPA government at centre, in the state governments and the entire ruling system in which both the ruling and opposition parties are colluding with each other for speeding up the imposition of the neo-liberal policies, for saving the scamsters, and for strengthening the communal, caste, fascist forces, cuttinig at the root of even the existing secular, democratic values. 2. Through the latest railways’ and central budgets the UPA government has further sped up imposition of the neo-liberal policies. It is leading to unprecedented price-rise, intensifying corruption in all fields, unemployment, and all-round impoverishment of the masses. The     consecutive governments have opened the economy to the corporate houses, MNCs and FDIs, and privatization is sped up through Private-Public-Partnership (PPP). The prices and service / freight charges are hiked by linking them with the prices of ‘de-controlled’ diesel and services. 3. The defense expenditure is enhanced to more than Rs. 2 trillion, with a large part siphoned to ruling party funds through numerous scams. Virtuaal military rule is continued in J&K and Northeast along with the imposition of AFSPA, which is being extended to Chathisgarh. Secret hanging of Afsal Guru shows the extent of criminalization of the state apparatus, communal fascist attitude of the ruling system and the refusal to resolve the Kashmir question through political means involving the people. In the name of development, dalits, adivasis, minorities and women along with all other oppressed sections and classes are coming under increasing attacks including displacement from their land.4. As a result, in all the states people’s movements against neo-liberal policies are getting strengthened. There was massive mobilization of people against intensifying corruption at Delhi and other urban centres. Again tens of thousands got mobilized when another girl was gang raped in Delhi streets, with students, youth, women and other sections occupying the streets in Delhi, challenging the ruling system. Against displacement of tens of thousands of families for numerous projects like Narmada like large dams, for providing millions of acres of land for MNCs/ Corporate projects, for nuclear plants etc and against the ecological destruction created by these projects millions of people have come out in protest. In spite of all these, the institutionalized parties, both on the ruling as well as opposition side are colluding with each other to intensify attacks on people, even while competing with each other for power. In one form or other, they repeat that there is no alternative to neo-liberal policies. The administration serves patriarchy and neo-liberal lust, consumerism, caste system and communal appeasement, surrendering to communal fascist forces. The caste- based oppression, ghastly attacks on dalits, adivasis and women, suppression of minorities and loot of the toiling masses have intensified.5. When the whole running system is degenerating fast, as a reflection of it, the parliament has become a useless debating, and often shouting club of agents of imperialists, especially US imperialists, and MNCs/ Corporate houses, scamsters, rapists, criminals and mafias, or of reformists who have thrown their past revolutionary spirit to Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea, bereft of any power. Instead of representing people the present parliament members are representing people’s enemies, the handful of native elite classes and foreign capital interests. They represent the Brahmanical system which enslaves the people to loot of the imperialists and their agents6. This situation demands that all those fighting against these anti-people ruling class policies and are against the neo-liberal policies, who demand people oriented development, and all round democratization of the polity should get together for a People’s Alternative based on a People’s Manifesto to put an end to the present   reactionary, corrupt ruling system and its anti-people policies. This People’s Manifesto should be developed through countrywide discussion among the masses using all possible avenues. 7. The People’s Parliament attended by  progressive, secular, democratic and left forces and individuals along with representatives of the ongoing people’s resistance movements in different  parts of the country, organized at Janta Mantar, New Delhi, on 15th March with the slogans: Struggle against Price Rise, Corruption, Evictions, FDI in Retail and Attacks on Democratic Rights! Fight caste-adivasi-gender-minority oppression! Down with neo-liberal policies! Strengthen people’s alternative against all ruling parties and communal fascists!, declares non-confidence in the present central and state governments, and in the reactionary ruling system which have gone against all the promises given during the independence struggle.8. This People’s Parliament calls on the masses of people and all progressive, democratic, secular and left forces to throw out these corrupt anti-people parties and the ruling system fostered by them, from power, and to get mobilized through all forms of people’s movements to replace it with the broadest possible People’s Alternative based on a People’s Manifesto with the following basic orientation:(1)  Smash imperialist globalization and neo-liberal policies; End imperialist domination through IMF, World Bank, WTO and MNCs. (2) Defend existing Constitutional, democratic and secular rights and fight for their expansion; All fields of administration and judiciary should function within the Constitutional framework, not under neo-liberal framework. (3) Prosecute all corrupt through special courts; Bring in to force Lokayukta like agencies with full power for this purpose; Confiscate all black- money deposited in foreign banks and other hide-outs.  (4) Stop all displacements for Neo-liberal Projects; Confiscate all lands from mafias, big landlords etc; Implement land reforms based on land to the tiller and provide all out assistance to the farmers for agricultural development. (5) End price-rise; Implement universal Public Distribution System; Ensure education, healthcare, housing and employment for all. (6) Implement need based wages, job security and democratic rights of working class; Stop contract and casual labour system. (7) Ensure Adivasis’ right over their land and natural resources; Implement autonomous councils based on Sixth Schedule in Adivasi areas; Organise dalits, adivasis and minorities and end caste-based and communal oppression; Realize  caste-less and secular society. (8) End all forms of gender discrimination; Ensure women’s equality in all fields. (9) Scrap AFSPA, UAPA and all other black laws; Withdraw military from Jammu- Kashmir and Northeast; End state terror and achieve all round democratization of the administration and society. (10) Abolish imperialist promoted ‘development’ policies which devastate nature and impoverish masses; Implement people oriented, sustainable and eco-friendly development paradigm.       Moved by the presidium of the People’s Parliament.

February 20-21 All India General Strike: A Great Beginning.

The all India general strike on 20-21 February has started today morning , creating great impact in all fields.  An estimated 120 million employees and workers from banking, insurance, government services to transport, construction and manufacturing sectors participating in it. Practically all trade union centers  big and small, hundreds of independent unions across the country are participating in it.  Militant demonstrations are taking place all over the country with tens of thousands of  workers and employees demanding a reversal of the policies which have led to price rise, corruption and impoverization of the life of the vast majority of the masses of people, participating in them. There are reports that tens of thousands of workers from practically all states are arrested. We congratulate the working class with the hope that taking lessons from this great beginning they shall continue the struggle till their demands are achieved.

At the same time from the response of the central and state governments it is clear that even after their own trade unions participating in this successful all India strike, the ruling class parties are not ready to reverse the anti-working class and anti-people policies. It is reported that the budget for 2013-14 shall continue and intensify the reactionary policies which are making life more difficult for the working class and masses of the people. So in order to force the reversal of the anti-people policies the ruling system itself has to be changed. For this the working class should get prepared to go beyond such token struggles to revolutionary upsurges, so as to make basic changes to society. Let us hope that from their bitter experience the working class shall get prepared for more protracted and system changing struggles in coming days, inspired by the success of this all India strike. Once again we extend revolutionary greetings to the working class for this successful all India strike.

K.N.Ramachandran, 

General Secretary, 

CPI(ML)

20^th February, 2013

Obituary: Comrade Dipankar Chakravarthy

On behalf of Central Committee of the CPI(ML) and on my own behalf I express deep sorrow at the passing away of com. Dipankar Chakravarthy, founder editor of the Bengali monthly, Aneek, on 27^th January. I first met com. Dipankar at his Murshidabad house in 1968 when I joined the Farakka Barrage Project and our friendship continued all these years. I had differences with the position taken by Aneek on some of the issues, but it did not break our relation. What was important was that Aneek and through it com. Dipankar firmly supported the communist revolutionaries and played a positive role in keeping the flame of Naxalbari alive even when many of those who were part of the movement in the early period later left it and took opportunist positions. Organizing regular debates on the ideological-political issues concerning the future of Indian revolution, Aneek has played an important role in the healthy development of theoretical struggle within the Naxalbari movement. Presently when the communist revolutionary movement is trying hard to overcome past mistakes and is showing possibilities of new advances, departure of com. Dipankar, who was an ardent friend of it, is a big loss. I extend heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and hope that the Aneek team will continue to publish it in his memory and in support of the communist revolutionary movement.

KN Ramachandran,

General Secretary, CPI(ML)