Repeal Hike in Petrol Price and Bring Down Prices of Essential Commodities! Revoke Decontrol of Petrol pricing; Repeal Neo-Liberal Policies! Mobilize the Masses and Make 31st May Bharat Bandh a Great Success!

Dear comrades,

The UPA government’s declaration hiking the petrol price by Rs. 7.50 at one stroke is another arrogant attack on the masses who are already reeling under ever-intensifying and unprecedented rise in prices of all essential commodities and services. After decontrolling the petrol pricing without even getting it passed in parliament, prime minister Manmohan Singh is ridiculing the people by saying that it is done by the companies, and the government has no control over it. Similarly, if is happening because of the fall in Rupee value in relation to dollar, as the government shamelessly justifies, it is due to the neo-liberal policies imposed under imperialist dictation. So will the government  repeal these anti-people policies?  It should not be forgotten that even when the international finance capital crisis was intensifying for last three years or more, this government was repeating that everything is ok and that the resilient Indian economy will not be affected. Now they justify the crisis in the economy and hike in petrol price sighting the Euro zone crisis and what not. All these self-contradictory talks are for       hoodwinking  the people. It is abundantly clear that as Indian economy is getting increasingly integrated with the imperialist finance capital system under globalization, any crisis in the imperialist system will be soon transmitted to the economy of countries like India which are under increasing neo-colonial plunder. The worsening economic plight of the masses including the price hikes are the result of  these policies blatantly imposed by the government, and it alone is responsible for its consequences like price rise.

In this situation, the people have no other way out but to unleash their fury to compel the government to repeal of the petrol price hike and to revoke the decontrol of petrol pricing. This struggle should be expanded to a mighty struggle for revoking the reactionary neo-liberal policies themselves. But as far as the opposition parties are contended they are only interested in cornering the UPA government for their future electoral gains. They have no basic differences with the Congress or UPA government regarding the neo-liberal policies and servitude to imperialism. While campaigning and mobilizing for the bandh, these differences between the approach of the parties from BJP to CPI(M) who implement the very same policies of the UPA government whenever and wherever they come to power, with that of the revolutionary left forces should be highlighted. The CPI (ML) appeals to all genuine left and democratic forces to make the Bharat Bandh a great success and get prepared to use it as a stepping stone to carry forward the struggle to the very revocation of all these anti-people policies.

K.N.Ramachandran,

General Secretary, CPI(ML).

Dated 24^th May, 2012.

Kerala: Criminalization of CPI(M)

The responsibility for the dastardly murder of com. T.P. Chandrasekharan (TP), leader of Revolutionary  Marxist Party (RMP) of Onchiyam in Kozhikpde district on 4^th May night was first denied by the CPI(M) leadership. Still many of its own rank did not believe this denial, as they are well aware of its past record in dealing with the dissidents, especially when they try to persist in a left stand. Unlike numerous others from M.V.Raghavan to recent dissidents like Murali of Shornur, who after leaving CPI(M), went over to Congress led UDF side, in spite of the offer of Vadagara parliament seat by Congress in 2009 elections, com. TP had stood firm exposing the degeneration of CPI(M) and taking leftist positions. The later arrest of a number of its local leaders of CPI(M) for conspiring and murdering him, as a “renegade” according to the statement of its state secretary Vijayan, has convinced that it is the latest in the series of its ‘political’ murders, for which Kerala has already become notorious. With the statement of CPI(M) leader V.S.Achuthanandan, the former chief minister and present opposition leader of LDF, condemning Vijayan’s statement and calling TP a “brave communist” has once again taken the contradiction between these leaders to yet another flash point. Whether VS will stick to his stand and fight against the criminalization of his party as a part of its over all degeneration, or once again surrender to the central party leadership, limiting his fight to yet another opportunist bout against Vijayan, is yet not clear, though this time he has ostensibly moved to a position of no return. Only when the by-election in Neyyattinkara constituency in southern Kerala, where a CPI(M) MLA after resigning from the party is contesting as a UDF candidate, is over in early June, the CC of the CPI(M) will meet and the fate of the internecine conflict will become clear.

TP’s murder exposes the degeneration of the CPI(M) from Marxist positions to social democratic positions, to a bureaucratic establishment bereft of any communist values. The documents adopted by its recently held 20^th Congress in the same district with much fanfare, prove this degeneration from proletarian revolutionary positions. It has led to its criminalization for long, indulging in the murder of its political opponents, whether it is its own dissidents, RSS men or other political opponents, to continue its political sway. From the 1980s when the CPI(M)-RSS clashes started in Kannur district, CPI(ML) has exposed this criminal line pursued by these political forces including CPI(M) for petty political ends, while all of them are basically united in following the neo-liberal policies, turning the UDF and LDF in to two sides of the same coin.

An analysis of the political developments in Kerala from the second half of 1950s show that from the time the Congress had joined hands with the communal, caste-based, criminal forces and forged a front of reactionary parties to violently throw out the CPI ministry in 1959, Kerala had started sliding back from the advances it had made after breaking loose of its past when it was called a ‘mad house’’ by Vivekananda. As the famous ‘Kerala model’ was soon replaced by neo-liberal policies, it started becoming one of the worst show pieces of neo-colonization, a haven for land mafias, sex tourism and what not. Side by side, the criminalization with the spread of ‘quotation’ or mafia gangs, degenerating its socio-cultural-political life, was promoted by all the political formations: Congress- led UDF, CPI(M)- led LDF and BJP. Secular values were eroded, and majority as well as minority religious fundamentalism started dominating the social life. Along with this, the caste system was internalized in vulgar forms and started influencing all fields. Under the sway of post-modernism, all progressive cultural influences started getting weakened. In this degeneration, the right opportunist deviation influencing the CPI and then CPI(M) played a decisive role. As a result, though there are differences in details, the political scene in Kerala, like in any north Indian state, came under the sway of mafias. Commercialization of all walks of life became rampant. The brutality of the murder of TP with his face and head having 51 cuts with swords exposes the extent of this criminalization. The CPI(M), which still calls itself Marxist and holds the red flag, should be uncompromisingly criticized for indulging in this murder and becoming a part of this criminalization.

What is happening in Kerala after the murder of TP reminds one of what happened after the disintegration of Soviet Union on a larger scale after its degeneration to social imperialist path and later disintegration. Concealing that it had abandoned the socialist path long back, all the anti-communist forces led by the imperialists and their lackeys had then joined hands to unleash a furious attack on Marxism, shouting socialism has become obsolete. Similarly, for the sins of CPI(M), which has very little relation with Marxist values today, all the anti-communists, spearheaded by the Congress-led UDF, BJP, religious-caste leaders and reactionary intellectuals, have joined hands to attack Marxism, using TP’s murder as a cover. As those who claim to uphold his legacy, like the Left Coordination Committee (LCC) did not recognize the consequences of these attacks on Marxism by the rightist forces, two mistakes were committed. On the one hand, the platform for condemning the murder of TP was allowed to be utilized by anti-communists, UDF leaders and petty bourgeois opportunists who used the opportunity to attack Marxism in the name of attacking CPI(M). On the other hand, it has reduced the attack on the degeneration of the CPI(M) merely to an attack on Vijayan, as if it will be saved if he is thrown out, as their organ: Janasakthi gave title to its front article. Or, they refuse to go beyond what VS is ready to take up, even after TP’s murder. Both these approaches have weakened the ideological offensive needed to be waged against CPI (M) at this crucial juncture, to win over its cadres to Marxist positions from its criminalized, bureaucratic and social democratic positions, so that a left alternative which is capable of fighting against the neo-liberal onslaught with a people’s democratic outlook can be built up.

It is in this situation, severely condemning the brutal murder of TP and CPI(M)’s role in it, the CPI(ML) has organized a statewide political campaign against the criminalization of politics in the state, reducing the state to one of the worst examples of neo-colonization, with communal, caste, mafia forces dominating the socio-cultural-political scene. It has analyzed the transformation of CPI(M) in to a criminal, bureaucratic organization as a result of its degeneration to social democratic positions. While focusing the attack on CPI(M) for this murder, it has launched a powerful campaign against all anti-communist forces who are using this incident as a cover to attack Marxism. It has called on all genuine communist forces to struggle against the right opportunist positions of the CPI(M) led forces and petty bourgeois sectarian tendencies who easily become prey to the forces of reaction, and to join hands to build a revolutionary left alternative to the forces of reaction and reformism.

Observe May Day with Revolutionary Spirit and Orientation

THE MAY DAY, the international working class day, is observed this year when the all round attacks on them in all fields are intensified by the forces of capital, thereby further sharpening the contradiction between labour and capital to unprecedented levels. Today there is not a single country in the world where this contradiction is not getting manifested in one way or other. In India the mighty general strike of tens of millions of workers on 28th February, irrespective of the reformist character of the leaderships of the trade union centres leading them, had revealed the potential of this vanguard class once they are politicized and mobilized. At many industrial centres across the country including the new centres like Gurgaon and Noida near Delhi repeated militant struggles are taking place for their basic rights.
This is the situation around the world also. Especially in Greece and in other capitalist countries including the US, millions of workers are coming out in struggles paralyzing the economies there. So if the international finance capital is intensifying its most barbarous attacks on the working class, the workers are also strengthening their resistance struggles which are sometimes spilling over to militant offensives against the capitalist imperialist forces and their lackeys.
It is high time the communist forces recognize the potentialities inherent in this newly emerging situation, when the working class is becoming more politicized, mobilized and joining numerous struggles against their class enemy. The revolutionary opportunities created by the increasingly favourable objective situation become brighter if the unity of the working class can be strengthened further and they are increasingly transformed in to a ‘class for itself’ through continuous politicization. May Day is not a day for celebrations today as the working class has very little left to celebrate. It is a day for pledging to carry forward the struggle to overthrow the rule of imperialists and their lackeys. For this the working class should get mobilized and politically educated to shoulder this task. The challenge confronting the communist forces is to help the working class to prepare themselves for the historic struggles of coming days. While observing the May Day let us resolve to vigorously carry forward this task.

Make Anti-Caste Movement a great success.

The Preparatory Committee for the Anti-Caste Movement with Anti-Cast Organization, New Democratic Party of India, AINUS-Mulpravah and CPI(ML) as its constituents and  com.Jayprakash, Adv. Arun Maji  and com. Brijbihari as its co-conveners has intensified the campaign to make the two day seminar at Garhwal Bhavan ( near Jhandewalan metro station) 20-21 April on various aspects of the caste question and the need for building an anti-caste movement with the objective of abolition of the caste system, and the one-day convention of forces dedicated to build a countrywide anti caste movement on 22 April a great success. The Preparatory Committee appeals to all those organizations and individuals who are working with this objective to send their papers and suggestions latest by 10^th April so that it can be circulated to all participants. About 250 delegates from almost 15 or more states are expected to participate in the seminar. On 22^nd April representatives from organizations which are prepared to join hands and form a platform of Anti-Caste Movement shall assemble at the same place to chalk out the organizational and campaign-agitation tasks. All interested forces are requested to contact the Co-Conveners at their following numbers:  com Jayprakash-09811484817; Adv. Arun Maji-09582529401; com. Brijbihari- 09648946426.

Proposal from the Convening Committee adopted by the Asian Agricultural Conference

Proposal from the Convening Committee adopted by the Asian Agricultural Conference

The Asian Agricultural Conference organized by the Convening Committee, composed of the All India Krantikari Kisan Sabha (AIKKS), All Nepal Peasant Association (ANPA) and Bangladesh Krishak Samiti (BKS) on 1^st to 3^rd April at New Delhi has created much revolutionary enthusiasm among the various organizations and delegates who participated in it. The papers presented and the deliberations, debates and discussion which has taken place during the three-day Conference on the theme identified have made it clear that in spite of differences on  ideological persuasions, it is possible for the peasant activists and organizations of Asia to come together and debate on the crisis confronting agrarian sector in this part of the world. It is definitely a significant step forward in the direction of arriving at a concrete understanding of the agrarian situation in Asia, which will enable us to arrive at practical steps in the direction of resolving the problem in the coming days.

In this context, in the concluding session of the Conference, the following proposals put forward by the Convening Committee in order to nurture and carry forward these efforts further were adopted unanimously:

1.The activities of the Convening Committee shall be continued and expanded grasping the experience it has gathered while convening this Conference and during the course of the actual Conference including other like-minded organizations also in the effort from the countries which already participated and from as many countries as possible from the continent..

2. As a follow up action, the Convening Committee shall compile and publish all the papers, presentations, discussions and opinions presented to the Conference as early as possible.

3. The Convening Committee shall take up the task of organizing a larger Conference in the near future ensuring the participation of more organizations from the Asia-Pacific region with the perspective of taking practical initiatives and putting forward an alternative, people oriented path of development against the imperialist path of development which is increasingly pauperizing the peasant masses and devastating, the nature in the direction of resolving the agrarian crisis.

Com.R.Manasayya, Co-Convener, General Secretary, AIKKS (India),

Com. Bharat Bhandari, Co-Convener, President, ANPA (Nepal),

Com. Sajjad Zahir, General Secretary, BKS (Bangladesh).,

Press Statement

Asian Agricultural Conference successfully concluded.

The Asian Agricultural Conference inaugurated by com.K.N.Ramachandran, General Secretary, CPI(ML) on 1^st April, began with the first session at 10 am discussing the perspective of the Conference which include  an attempt to make concrete analysis of the Agrarian Scene in Asia and the orientation to be developed for its people oriented transformation. 120 delegates including representatives of peasant organizations from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Philippines, agronomists, agricultural scientists and Marxist scholars along with two comrades from MLP of Germany participated all through the three day Conference. In the Second Session in the afternoon papers on the agrarian question in these countries were presented leading to an active discussion with a number of delegates participating. The papers presented by Prof.Manbahadur Khatri for All Nepal Peasant Association, Prof. Akah for Bangladesh Krishak Samithi, Prof. P.J.James for AIKKS, com.Rajesh Kumar Raju for AISKS, com.Narendra Khadka for All Nepal Peasant Organization (Revolutionary) and Dr. Ram Kavindra of Navjanavadi Lokmanch, in spite of ideological differences and theoretical positions of CPI (ML), RSP and other organizations from India, CPN (Mashal), UCPN (Maoist) and CPN(Marxist)  from Nepal, NDPF from Sri Lanka, CP of Bangladesh and CP of Philippines to whom the different agricultural organizations are linked, were emphatically pointing out the need to focus on the struggle against the neo-liberal policies and the need for a people’s centric alternative to the imperialist dictated ‘development’ which is pauperizing the masses and devastating the nature.

The third session on 2^nd April morning, dealing with the Asian Agricultural Scene During the Post- Second World War period, in which Prof. K.R.Chowdhry and Sharmistha Chowdhry presented the papers, once again there was active discussion by the delegates on the various aspects of imperialist penetration in the agrarian sector including consequences of state-promoted land reforms and ‘green revolution’. In the afternoon, during the forth session, Impact of the imperialist policies on the agrarian sector was discussed after presentation of papers by com. P.N. Provint for AIKKS and Prf. K.R. Chowdhry for Prof.Prasad Rao, which focused on the neo-liberal agenda in the farm sector and how it has led to large scale peasant suicides.

In the fifth session on 3^rd morning dealt with Impact of ecological changes, technological intervention and WTO policies on the agrarian sector.  Various aspects of this question were presented in the papers presented by Dr. Abdul Khader presented the paper on “Impact of climate change and imperialism: a case study of Kerala”, com. Indra Varma on “Global environmental crisis, neo-liberal trade policies and their impact on Nepal’s agricultural sector”, com. Krishna Prasad on “Agricultural practices-impact on environment and vice versa”, and com. Asit Das on “Sustinable agriculture in the age of changing climates”. The presentation of papers was followed by a lively discussion with the authors of the papers answering to the various questions raised. The unanimous opinion that emerged was that unless the neo-liberal policies under international finance capital” domination is not thrown out the catastrophic consequences of the climate change cannot be resolved.

The discussion in the concluding session was on the Approach to agrarian revolution in the present context.Com. Sankar Das presented the paper “On agrarian revolution in Asian countries”, Dr. Vijayachandran on “Development of India Agriculture: Search for an anti-imperialist and patriotic alternative” and com. Gred Zitzner of MLPD on “On the orientation of the Asian Agricultural Conference”. The papers as well as all the comrades who participated in the discussion that followed agreed that in order to arrive at a revolutionary restructuring of the society in each country the path of agrarian revolution should be pursued based on worker-peasant alliance and according to concrete conditions. All participants agreed that this Conference has created a new platform for the first time to take up this question forcefully and this effort should be continued.

Before the conclusion, com. R.Manasayya presented a proposal for discussion calling for continuing the functioning of the Convening Committee, for publication of all papers and contributions and for convening another Conference to continue the process initiated by this Conference. Representatives of all organizations and the prominent intellectuals who participated unanimously congratulated the Convening Committee for this initiative and accepted the proposal. The Asian Agricultural Conference concluded at 5.30 pm amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere with the determination to continue the process at continental level initiated by it. For the delegates who came from six countries and ten states in India it was a new experience. Thus the Conference was a big success and the Convening Committee congratulated all the participants who made it so.

R.Manasayya, Co-Convener, Convening Committee,

Asian Agricultural Conference.

4^th April, 2012.

Repeal AFSPA, Stop Policing by Army

                                                                              

Press Statement issued at the Press Meet on 26^th March at Press Club, New Delhi.

                                                               

For six decades the people of Northeast and J&K are leading a miserable life under constant terror, persecution and killings under the boots of the army deployed there in the name of protecting the ‘national security’. All agreements signed by the government of India with the former administrations of these areas are flouted. The government refuses to engage in meaningful discussions to find a political solution to the problems concerning these regions. So what is prevailing is a state of continuous military rule in these areas depriving all democratic rights to the people.

From 1958 the government of India has imposed the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which violates the Constitutional provisions and provides the armed forces rights to violate even the existing laws of the land with immunity. As army is now deployed in the name of training commando forces in Chathisgarh, the conditions prevailing in Northeast and J&K are extended to this region also. So, the danger of deploying army and imposing draconian AFSPA anywhere in the name of suppressing insurgency, ‘left-wing extremism’ or terrorism is increasing in order to suppress all people’s movements by dubbing them as extremist acts. 

For the last six decades the people of these regions are struggling continuously against these violations of democratic rights, mass killings, rape and murder in increasing numbers, detention for long periods, and other forms of army brutalities. The indefinite fast by Irom Sharmila in Manipur which has entered the 12^th year is a symbol of the struggle of the people of these regions for the repeal of AFSPA and against policing by the army. The situation is so bad that in J&K though the police charged 42 cases of murder, gang rape and murder, rapes and torture happened in six months against army men and FIRs were presented, the central home ministry refused permission to proceed with them sighting the AFSPA. Whenever the people’s movements against army atrocities intensify, the government at a number of times had assured about repealing AFSPA. But the army chiefs have arrogantly overruled all such possibilities. Moreover it is now spread to more areas.

Whenever the atrocities like the ones perpetuated against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka take place, the government of India becomes incapable of doing anything against them as worse incidents of violations of democratic rights and atrocities by the armed forces are taking place within the country. So, all its talks about democratic rights in other countries become hypocritical. In this situation the CPI (ML) along with the struggling forces in these regions demand the Repeal of AFSPA and Stopping of Policing by Army forthwith. We demand political solution to the problems in these areas. The CPI (ML) appeals to all progressive, democratic and left forces to come forward in support of the struggling peoples of these areas. It appeals to all those who are fighting against the draconian AFSPA and army atrocities and all those who support these struggles to join hands and form a platform for joint struggles so that the movement can be continued more forcefully till the government agrees to these demands.

K.N.Ramachandran, General Secretary, CPI(ML)

CPI (ML) Severely Condemns Abduction of Two Italian Tourists by Maoists

Press Statement

These are days when the UPA government is imposing further price rises and other burdens over the common people under its neo-liberal budget, when even the existing workers’ rights are snatched away,   mounting attacks are unleashed on people’s movements at Kudamkulam, Jaitapur, Kalinga Nagar, POSCO etc, and when the AFSPA-Army policing is making life intolerable for people of J&K and Northeast. This is also a time when the UPA govt is getting more crisis ridden than ever. The BJD govt in Odisha is also faced with mounting people’s wrath against its pro-Corporate-MNCs policies. At such a  time by abducting two Italian tourists the CPI(Maoist) has provided a very good opportunity for the central and state government to divert people’s attention from the crises faced by the ruling system and to mount attack on the people in the name of confronting ‘left wing extremism’. Even it may be used to deploy army to these areas in the state, as already an army training camp is established in Jagdalpur in  neighbouring  Chathisgarh in the name of meeting Maoist threat. Instead of stopping the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ as the Maoists have now demanded, it is only going to be intensified as a result of this anarchist action. Even if they succeed to get some of their cadres released from jail as in the past as a result of the so-called ‘peace talks’, it will only become a further justification for the state forces to kill their cadres in fake encounters. This is an absolutely futile anarchist action which, instead of serving revolution, is serving the counter revolution. It should be severely condemned by all communist and democratic forces.

The CPI (Maoist) leadership has become so blind due to dogmatism that they are not ready to recognize the damage they are doing to the revolutionary movement. By their squad actions they destroyed the powerful mass movement in Lalgarh in West Bengal which had blocked Jindal like corporates from that area, and opened the way for deployment of central forces and for Jindal to start its project. While the CPI (ML) could lead mass movements and stop the SEZ in Ragnandgaon and partially stop the     privatization of Sivnath river in Chathisgarh, in the stronghold of Maoists in Bastar, the Essar has succeeded to construct and operate 204 kms long pipe line to Visakhapatnam to loot the iron ore from Baladilla.  There is no single instant any where in India where the Maoists could stop or block any corporate-MNC project through their anarchist actions. Similarly, in the name of defeating CPI (M), they went to the extent of supporting the TMC in last year’s assembly elections in Bengal as they are repeatedly doing in AP and Jharkhand, ultimately helping the forces of reaction. When all the erstwhile socialist countries have degenerated to capitalist path and the communist movement is facing many theoretical and practical challenges in politicizing, mobilizing and leading the masses to the revolutionary path, such isolated squad actions and anarchist practice of the Maoists are not only against the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism and Mao’s contributions to revolutionary theory, but also ultimately serve the ruling classes and their imperialist masters as we are witnessing in the areas where the Maoist squads are operating.

It is unfortunate that not recognizing this, some intellectuals who are not ready to involve themselves in any revolutionary propaganda or practice among the masses get infatuated with the adventurist ‘actions’ of Maoists and get carried away by the media hype they attract. This section like the Maoist leadership is far away from the Marxist teaching that the masses, masses alone are the creators of history. CPI (ML) appeals to these intellectuals and sections, influenced by the anarchist practice of the Maoists, to rethink and rectify their mistake. At a time when the imperialist system as a whole and the comprador ruling system in India are getting discredited and when objective conditions for revolutionary advances of the masses are becoming increasingly positive, the Maoist anarchist actions will only serve the ruling classes to attack the communist forces and weaken the people’s upsurges as they are using the social democratic CPI (M) led forces for this purpose. CPI (ML) appeals to all democratic forces and  masses of people to oppose and severely condemn the anarchist line of the CPI (Maoist) leadership and rally with the revolutionary left forces for advancing the class struggle for achieving people’s democracy and socialism.

K.N.Ramachandran

General Secretary, CPI (ML).

Dated 20^th March,2012.

Ph.011-25332343, Mob. 09447112136.