US imperialism has organised this latest massacre to achieve two aims.

The first of these aims is to exacerbate the great tensions that already exist between India and Pakistan and offer its services as a "peace-maker" between the two warring states. This is in pursuance of the US imperialist strategy to establish complete domination over South Asia through military interference and encirclement, economic infiltration and political blackmail. It is not coincidental that Clinton declared the line of control in the Kashmir valley to be the most dangerous place on earth just before he left the United States.

The second of these aims is to set the people of the Sikh and Muslim faith against each other. There can be no other reason for specifically targeting people of Sikh faith in the Kashmir Valley. US imperialism wants to set Punjabis against Punjabis as a prelude for a wider conflagration between India and Pakistan and it is with this dastardly aim that it has organised the massacre of Sikhs. US imperialism is also striving to rope in the Indian ruling class into a front under its leadership against "Islamic fundamentalism". The massacre of Sikhs in the Kashmir Valley is aimed at creating public opinion in India for such a reactionary front.

The latest massacre in the Kashmir Valley is clear proof of the dangers for the people of India and Pakistan and the people of Kashmir arising from the visit of US imperialist chieftain Clinton to India. The peoples of the two countries must have no illusions about the role of the US in our region. It is a role that has already been seen by the peoples of Yugoslavia as well as other peoples of the world.

The communists and patriotic people of India refuse to be silent spectators to the diabolical games of US imperialism on our soil. The Communist Ghadar Party of India calls upon the Indian people to demand that the Vajpayee government immediately stop playing games with the US imperialists and selling out the sovereignty of our country thus threatening peace and security in the region. Either the Vajpayee government openly condemns the US imperialists for the massacre of innocent people in the Kashmir Valley and demands that it stops interfering in the affairs of the subcontinent overtly or covertly. Or, it stands condemned for the greatest treachery and betrayal of the Indian people.

All over India, and particularly in Delhi, progressive and patriotic Indians are demanding with utmost anger that Bill Clinton, get out of India. They are demanding that the Indian government immediately stop its anti-national collaboration with the US imperialists. The development of events have proved these voices to be farsighted. The Communist Ghadar Party of India calls upon the working class and all patriotic Indians to vigorously advance the struggle against US imperialist intervention and the collaboration between the rulers of India and the US. For, the fate and future of our country and all the peoples of the subcontinent and the fate and future of peace and security in the region is at stake.

On March 23, 2000, Mumbai resounded to the cry: CHASE AWAY THE IMPERIALIST CLINTON! The Maharashtra state and Mumbai administration was fully occupied with the arrangements to welcome the American imperialist chieftain Clinton who was to arrive in the city the next day. Terror was being spread by deploying armed policemen everywhere. However at the same time, gallant communists, workers and democracy-loving people of Mumbai were organising a program to protest against Clinton and the Central and State governments that had invited him to come. The Communist Ghadar Party of India, the Socialist Unity Centre of India, the Navjawan Bharat Sabha, the Indian Airport Employees Union, the Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Sangh, the Hotel Labour Union, the Sarva Mazdoor Sangh, the AIFTU, the All India Insurance Employees Association, AIPRF, AITUC, Awahan Natya Manch, Biochem Employees Union, CIPLA Employees Union, Elgaar, GIC Employees Union, Kamgar Ekta Chalwal, Lal Nishan Party, Lok Raj Sangathan, Maharashtra Shramik Union, Rashtriya Bahujan Shakti, Rashtriya Janwadi Kamgar Sanghatan, Sarva Shramik Sangh, TUCI and Vidyarthi Pragati Sanghathan had in the weeks before the visit come together in a joint platform to oppose the imperialist Clinton’s visit. Together they carried out a militant protest campaign. As per this program, people started assembling at the CST terminus from 4 p.m. itself. Not only had people come from far-flung areas like Ulhasnagar, Thane and Virar, but dozens of comrades had come from Surat and Baroda. From 4.15 p.m. onward the protest started; the station started resounding to militant anti-imperialist slogans. The entire station came alive with the banners of the participating organisations and anti-imperialist placards. Leaflets were being distributed in thousands. Hundreds of office-goers forgot to return home as they stood transfixed and added their voices to those of the patriots. The police, taken aback at this sudden, militant program, went into a flutter. They started threatening the leaders of the movement saying, "You go to Azad Maidan and have your demonstration. You cannot have your demonstration here." Without giving the police time to muster their forces, hundred of protestors went on the offensive. Going out of the station, they formed a human chain. The police went into a further frenzy, because now leaflets were being distributed amongst thousands of people. The people expressed their appreciation and support for the protestors, who were wearing anti-imperialist and anti-deshi dalal placards around their necks. The human chain started rapidly advancing towards Hutatma Chowk. The police got agitated further, came in a bigger force and stopped the human chain. Immediately the women, youth and men in the morcha started shouting slogans militantly against dictatorship and the police. The leaders of the morcha kept the police involved in discussion for about half an hour. In the meantime, the human chain and the accompanying propaganda were kept up. Then came the announcement that the Morcha will now proceed to Azad Maidan.

"Fine, now these people will keep shouting in the cage of Azad Maidan", thought the police, and heaved a sigh of relief. However the protestors had other plans. The morcha advanced through the Azad Maidan and went towards United States Information Services (USIS) office building. The machine-gun-toting police deployed there were taken aback to see the sudden appearance of this vast gathering of humanity. The USIS is always heavily guarded and in Mumbai it is considered very difficult to have a demonstration there. But the tactics of the campaigners made this possible. A militant demonstration took place in front of the USIS office. "We will violate every ban order and do a militant propaganda campaign" —as per this resolve, the campaigners again changed their direction and advanced towards Hutatma Chowk. Before the police could realise what was happening, a human chain was formed again, this time from Hutatma Chowk towards Churchgate station. The environs of Hutatma Chowk too reverberated to the patriotic and anti-imperialist slogans. After demonstrating there for about half an hour, the morcha made its way to Churchgate station. There too, after a half an hour demonstration, a meeting was held within the station. Along with the campaigners, hundreds of people listened attentively to the speeches. Thousands of leaflets were distributed. The speakers of the Communist Ghadar party of India, the Lok Raj Sangathan, the Socialist Unity Centre of India and the Navjawan Bharat Sabha, with one voice denounced the imperialists and their deshi agents and gave a lal salaam to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Chandrashekar Azad and other martyrs. The faces of the campaigners were glowing with happiness on the completion of such a successful demonstration against Clinton despite all the attempts of the fully armed and organised Mumbai police and administration. The campaigners were giving voice to the heartfelt sentiments of lakhs of ordinary people of Mumbai. It was the voice denouncing the Indian bourgeoisie and imperialists who are responsible for all the poverty, hunger and disease.

When the morcha was stopped at one place, some young passers-by also started fighting with the police, saying that "This is a democratic right."

A youth who had come from Delhi to Mumbai for an interview saw the demonstration and was so overcome that he joined it and marched in the forefront carrying a flag.

An old gentleman who had retired from the multinational Hindustan Lever several years ago joined the demonstration. He hung a placard around his neck and started distributing leaflets. And he started telling everyone, "I myself have worked for a multi-national and know how essential it is to oppose them." His enthusiasm was indeed worth seeing.

After hearing the speeches, an old citizen became very happy and said, "The war for independence will have to be fought again. I am remembering the days of youth when I had fought against the British."

When a Dubai-based Indian national saw the demonstration, he joined in and spoke about how "The American imperialists sometimes put their chamchas on the throne and when the times come, rain bombs on them. But Atal Bihari does not understand this. What America wants is just to sell weapons, that’s all."

The Lok Raj Sangathan, the Communist Ghadar Party of India, the Samajwadi Jan Parishad, the Thane branch of the Communist Party of India and the National Alliance of People’s Movements organised a joint demonstration against imperialism on March 22 outside Thane station. This was endorsed by thousands of residents of Thane. A joint leaflet in Hindi was distributed.

Pune city reverberated with militant patriotic songs and slogans like "Go Back Clinton! Death to US imperialism! Long live the unity of workers peasants, women and youth! Down with the anti - people program of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation! Inquilab Zindabad!" More than five hundred people marched from Alka Square in the heart of Pune city through the busy lanes - Laxmi Road, Baji Rao Road, Shaniwarwada to Pune Municipal Corporation; expressing their anger and disgust against the Indian big bourgeoisie, their political parties (Congress and BJP) and their state for extending red carpet welcome to Bill Clinton, the representative of US imperialism, the most blood thirsty superpower on this planet.

Lok Raj Sangathan organised this protest march and the public meeting jointly with several political and social organisations in Pune. These included Communist Ghadar Party of India, Communist Party of India (M-L), Communist Party of India (CPI), Lal Nishan Party, Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM), Samajwadi Jan Parishad (SJP), Shankar Brahme Samajvigyan Granthalaya, Ammunition Factory Khadki (AFK) Employees Union (TUCC), Dehu Road Ordnance Factory Employees Union (TUCC), Sarva Mazdoor Sangh, Sarva Shramik Sangathana, Pune Mahanagarpalika Kamgar Union, AITUC, HMS, CITU, Sandvik Employees Union, Greaves Cotton and Allied Companies Union, KSB Kamgar Union, Krupps Industries Union, Philips Employees Union, SFI, AISF, AIYF, Bharatiya Mahila Federation, Shramik Mahila Morcha, Janwadi Mahila Sangathan, NAPM, Stree Mukti Sangarsha Samiti, LIC Union and Maharashtra Labour Union.

The protest march culminated into a public meeting at the PMC gate. The meeting was addressed by Pradip (LRS), B J Kerkar (LNP - L), Ajit Abhyankar (CPM), Shanta Ranade (CPI), Pravin (CGPI), Ganesh Mergu (CPI - ML), Bhalerao (AITUC), Shivaji Gokhale (PMC Kamgar Union), Kuchekar (Sarva Mazdoor Sangh), Satish Chavan (CITU), Ajeet Sardar (SJP), Vishal Jadhav (SFI), Kiran Moghe (JMS) and Vinay (NAPM). All the speakers condemned US imperialism for imposing its hegemony all over the world and committing crimes against patriots in all countries in particular Vietnam, Indo-China, Cuba, Korea, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Latin America, etc. They also denounced the anti-people program of liberalisation and globalisation.

Pradip, Convenor, LRS, Pune, hailed the enthusiastic support and solidarity of all fighting forces in opposing US imperialism and the Indian State for inviting Bill Clinton to India. He pointed out that Bill Clinton and Vajpayee thru' their joint vision document have declared war against all freedom loving people of the world. US imperialism will collaborate with Indian big bougeoisie for "ensuring regional and international security" and for "strategic stability in Asia and beyond". This sinister partnership poses a grave threat to all peoples, and the people of South Asia in particular. We should have no illusions about US imperialism, warned Pradip. US State has organised coups, installed dictatorships, ruthlessly massacred patriots and communists in all continents under the slogan of "peace", "human rights", "democracy", "free market economy". For their narrow economic interests and imperialist aims, Indian big bourgeoisie is colluding with US imperialism to crush the just and democratic struggles in this sub-continent. The only way we can stop this treachery, defeat imperialist designs is to build a steel like political unity of all fighting forces against our own big bourgoisie and their state. We should relentlessly and uncompromisingly fight agaisnt all those lines in the movement which create illusions or prettify the intentions and aims of our own bourgeoisie, the nature of the Indian State and the nature of big bourgeois parties like Congress and BJP. Our immediate aim remains—to establish a true democracy in India wherby political power vests in the hands of working people—workers, peasants, women and youth of our country.

Pravin from CGPI held the Indian state and US imperialism responsible for the recent massacre of Sikhs in Kashmir valley. B J Kerkar of LNP-L said that US imperialism should not be allowed to set its foot in India and condemned Indian government for inviting Bill Clinton. Ganesh (CPI-ML) challenged Congress, BJP and other parliamentary parties to oppose Bill Clinton's visit. By not doing so, they are exposing themselves as bootlickers of US imperialism. Ajit Abhyankar of CPM condemned US imperialism for imposing the program of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation which is seriously affecting the lives of thousands of working people in the country. Recalling the days of freedom struggle, veteran freedom fighter Shanta Ranade of CPI gave a call to oppose US imperialism just like our freedom fighters opposed Simon Commision and British imperialism.

The meeting concluded with patriotic songs rendered by our youth and burning of Clinton's effigy. Police later arrested 74 participants.

Under the banner of Chetna Manch, students, academics, trade unions and progressive organisations in Kanpur organised protest programs against Clinton's visit to India. They burnt the effigy of Clinton in Kanpur Central Park on March 18 and held a public meeting. The people of Kanpur were particuarly incensed by the decision of the Director of IIT Kanpur to award a honorary doctorate to Bill Clinton. The Employees Union of IIT Kanpur as well as faculty and students took the lead in organising a joint city wide protest action.

Several organisations joined hands to protest against US imperialism as well as the humiliating treatment being meted out to local residents in the name of providing security to Clinton. They alleged that the police and PAC imposed curfew-like conditions at the behest of the US security officials for days before Clinton’s sight seeing tour of the Taj Mahal. An atmosphere of terror was unleashed in Agra. People residing along the route were told not to go to the terraces of their home. They were told to shut their doors and windows until Clinton had passed, according to a spokesperson of the Azadi Bachao Andolan. The Azadi Bachao Andolan, National Alliance of Peoples Movements, and Lok Tantrik Samajwadi Party organised a series of protests from March 18 to March 22 in Agra, to protest Clinton's visit. The effigy of Clinton was burnt all over Agra on March 19, and black flags and balloons greeted Clinton all over the city. "The atmosphere here is very suffocating and extremely humiliating for the Indians. It is shameful that the adminstration is bending over backwards, even to the extant of harassing its own people to please a westerner", remarked Swami Agnivesh. Swami Agnivesh carried on a fast in Delhi during the entire period of Clinton's visit, and the Bandua Mukti Morcha participated actively in a number of protest actions all over the country including the capital.

Communists and patriotic people staged a protest march in Jaipur and burnt the effigy of Clinton on March 23. Activists of the CPI, CPIM, CPIML, AITUC, CITU, All India Kisan Sabha, Rajasthan Kisan Sabha, Janwadi Mahila Samiti, PUCL, Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangh, Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh, IPTA, and SFI participated in the protests. The protestors gathered near the Shaheed Smarak. They observed a 2 minute silence in memory of the martyrs. The rally then marched through the streets of Jaipur. The protestors deonounced the Rajasthan government for demolishing the homes of slum dwellers in the name of welcoming the imperialist chieftain.

Hundreds of activists fighting in defence of the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy organised a protest rally at Raj Bhawan. They demanded that the Vajpayee Government demand that Clinton send the criminal Anderson, the chief of Union Carbide, to India for trial for the mass murder of the people of Bhopal.

Delhi was the scene of numerous protest actions against the visit of the US President Clinton. Thousands of workers, patriotic intellectuals women and youth participated in these actions.

On March 15, demonstrations were held outside the US Center in the city as well as in the Chanakyapuri area denouncing the Clinton visit. A number of organisations participated in these demonstrations. On March 19, Holi was observed in many parts of the city with the burning of effigies of Clinton.

March 22, the day Clinton addressed parliament, communists and patriotic people of Delhi organised numerous protest actions.

Hundreds of activists of the CPIML(New Democracy), CPIML(Red Flag), AIPRF and CPIML(Janshakti) organised a joint protest in Jantar Mantar to express opposition to imperialism. Activists of the CPIML (Liberation) also organised a militant protest rally on March 22. Clashes with the police were the order of the day.

The Communist Ghadar Party of India organised a militant protest rally on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. Workers of Modern Foods, activists of the Mazdoor Ekta Committee and numerous other progressive people participated in the militant rally which was held in defiance of the ban orders. The rally began in front of Patriot-Link office and marched with red flags and banners through the press area. Vigorous slogan shouting against imperialism and the treachery of the Indian government rent the air, and thousands of leaflets were distributed. The protestors condemned the massacre of Sikhs in the Kashmir Valley and denounced US imperialism for organising terrorism and massacres of the Indian people. A public meeting was held in front of Khuni Darwaza, where the sons of Bahadur Shah Zafar were brutally killed by the British colonialists, and where the great patriot Bhagat Singh and his comrades founded the Hindustani Socialist Republican Army to free India from colonial rule. The rally was addressed by leaders of the CGPI, MEC, and Modern Food Employees Union, who with one voice denounced the imperialist Clinton’s visit and the treachery and servility of the Indian government.

The National Alliance of Peoples Movements and the Azadi Bachao Andolan organised many protest programs and demonstrations right through Clinton’s visit.

Earlier, Clinton’s state visit that began on March 21 was met with powerful protests all over Delhi. Hundreds of activists of the SUCI held a militant demonstration at Jantar Mantar. On the same day, activists of the CPI, CPIM, RSP and Forward Bloc held a militant demonstration in front of the US center in the city.

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There is a tremendous upsurge in the movement against privatisation in recent times. Day after day, week after week, more and more sections of the Indian working class are coming out with raised fists against the continuous onslaught of the big bourgeoisie in the name of privatisation and liberalisation. Each ferocious attack of the bourgeoisie has stoked further hatred in the hearts of the workers. Each arrogant step of the ruling class has further steeled the unity of the working class, cutting across regional and party barriers.

The recent budget of the BJP government has reiterated the nefarious aim of the bourgeoisie to sell off the assets of the people to a handful of capitalists at throwaway prices. The budget statement of the Finance Minister reveals that the bourgeoisie will continue with its two-pronged offensive against the working class.

A host of "loss making" Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), i.e., those PSUs which have no strategic value for the Indian bourgeoisie and foreign imperialists will be summarily closed and the workers will be thrown out on the roads. Many textile and steel units come under this category. Loss making public banks such as the Indian Bank were to be also considered for closure, but the move has been temporarily put off by the powerful resistance of the bank workers. The bank workers pointed out that these banks have been losing mainly because of the huge amounts of non-recoverable loans (called "non-performing assets") given to big capitalists by the management of these banks. The workers have been strongly opposing the shifting of this loss onto their shoulders and demanding that these monies should be recovered from the defaulting capitalists forthwith.

Instead, such PSUs are being "restructured", meaning that their losses are being written off, the work force is being pruned and the PSUs are being partially dismembered. All these are being done to increase the marketable value of PSUs in the finance market.

The fate of the profit-making PSUs or those of the "potentially viable" PSUs will be no better. The government has announced that it will bring down its share in all "non-strategic" PSUs to 26% or lower in the coming years.

A massive sell-off of public assets to the big bourgeoisie is on. And, workers in "loss making", "potentially viable" and "profitable" PSUs, in short, all public sector workers will continue to be the target.

Every move of the bourgeoisie has been met with militant national level strikes. Privatisation in the electricity, textile, steel, plantation and dock sectors have all been severely opposed by workers unions. The privatisation of Modern Foods generated nation-wide united actions of workers.

Paying scant heed to these massive popular protests and strikes, the Finance Minister has again brazenly announced a massive disinvestment plan of Rs. 10,000 crores in the current financial year. The immediate targets are the Salem, Durgapur and Vishakapatnam steel plants. Also, amendments to the Trade Union Act are being contemplated to give a free rein to the capitalists and their government to go full steam ahead with all measures connected with privatisation.

Workers unions across the length and breadth of the country are gearing up for the next round of battle with the bourgeoisie. The employees of the Salem Steel Plant of SAIL will go on strike on March 30 in protest against the MoU between SAIL and the Central government, setting a deadline for privatisation of the plant. The workers organisations have severely condemned the systematic way in which the Salem Steel plant was starved of funds to create a justification for disinvestment.

The struggle against privatisation is developing with broad positive features. Workers organisations cutting across union and party affiliation are increasingly coming together in the common struggle. Workers organisations are also coming together cutting across branches of industry, in the search to develop an effective challenge to the ruling classes. Active workers across the country, across industry divisions are understanding that any advance made by the workers in any one sector in the struggle is an advance for the entire class, and any setback is a setback for the entire class. Increasingly, workers are elaborating on the alternative to liberalisation and privatisation and putting forth an alternative vision. Communists need to contribute to the development of these positive features of the struggle against privatisation and thus contribute to the strengthening of the struggle. They must alert the workers to the ceaseless efforts of the bourgeoisie and its political parties to divide the workers and themselves make the most determined efforts to contribute to the political unity of the class.

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