• March to Parliament on February 26 calls for stepped up struggle against the policy of globalisation and privatisation

• International Women’s Day demonstration in New Delhi
  Women raise their voice against war and violence, exploitation and injustice

• Union Budget 2003/04
  Serving the big capitalists while swearing in the name of ‘poverty eradication’

• NAM Summit reflects growing opposition to US war against Iraq

• ppose the shameful sellout of SCI

• People unite to oppose US war plans against Iraq

• Disinformation – a favourite weapon of the bourgeoisie and imperialists

• India’s working class is emanding…..

March to Parliament on February 26 calls for stepped up struggle against the policy of globalisation and privatisation

The Mass Rally noted the disastrous consequences of the economic reforms being implemented, on the working class, peasantry and agricultural workers. Demanding total reversal of the anti-people policies, the rally warned the government that if it persists with the anti-people policies, the working class will retaliate with a country wide general strike, before the end of the budget session of parliament.

The National Platform of Mass Organisations, the organiser of the march, announced that a wide consultative meeting of trade unions will be held in New Delhi on March 12, 2003, to decide the future course of action, as well as the date and details of the general strike. It called upon the working class to be in rapt readiness to implement the call for the general strike.

The resolution adopted by the Mass Rally noted that the "economy is reeling under a severe demand recession due to loss of the purchasing power of the people, consequent upon proliferation of job cut, wage cut, decline in job opportunities and pauperisation of the peasantry. While the NDA government has been making a ridiculous claim of creating one crore jobs every year, there has been an alarming decline in employment by 8% in two consecutive years.... Nearly two crore workers have been thrown out on streets in the course of economic reforms. The mad spree of down-sizing is threatening the livelihood of workers in all sectors."

The Mass Rally noted the tremendous shift of workforce from the organised sector to the informal sector wherein even minimum wages are not implemented, let alone other statutory benefits. It noted that women are the worst victims of economic reforms—underpaid, discriminated, harassed and thrown out of jobs at the will of the employers.

The Mass Rally condemned the onslaught on trade unions and the plans of the government to implement the recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour, which include dismantling of all rights of workers, facilitating the hire and fire of workers to maximise profits, outsourcing of jobs for the same purpose, and closure of industrial units with the aim of shifting capital to the most profitable sectors.

The Mass Rally expressed the concern of the working class at the government's plan to introduce the Unorganised Sector Workers Bill, 2003, brushing aside the demand of the trade unions that the bill should address the concerns of 90% of the workforce of India who are in this sector, and not merely the concerns of the capitalists.

The Mass Rally noted with grave concern the ruination of the peasantry and pitiable plight of agricultural workers all over India as a result of the policies of the government.

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International Women’s Day demonstration in New Delhi
Women raise their voice against war and violence, exploitation and injustice

The demonstration was jointly organised by a large number of women’s organisations. Many other mass organisations involved in the struggle for empowerment of the working and oppressed, also actively participated in the demonstration. Among the prominent organisations present were AIDWA, AIPWA, Ankur, Action India, Sabla Sangh, NFIW, JWP, MDS, Saheli, Sama, Stri Adhikar Sangathan, nurses unions of AIIMS and RML, YWCA, CWDS, FORCES, EKATRA, Campaign against Female Foeticide, Lok Raj Sangathan, Purogami Mahila Sangathan and many others. A large number of women and men from the working class, teachers, students, youth and professional women militantly took part in the march.

Holding aloft bright and attractive banners of their respective organisations, militantly raising slogans against war, communal and other forms of violence and in defence of their livelihood and rights, the demonstration wound its way down Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, to ITO and finally culminated in a rally at Mandi House. Hundreds of passers-by stopped to witness the event and to show their solidarity with the demonstrators.

A joint statement issued on this occasion condemned the US-UK warmongering and America’s hegemonic designs in the region, the communal and other forms of violence that our rulers are unleashing against our people and women in particular. It asserted our right to livelihood and called on the government to fulfil its responsibility of providing food, shelter and livelihood to all. "We assert that the sarkari prescriptions of ‘women’s empowerment’ are a mockery as long as women remain prisoners to hunger, starvation and joblessness . . . " the statement boldly declared.

On this occasion, Lok Raj Sangathan and Purogami Mahila Sangathan also jointly issued a statement that called upon the women of our country to fight for an India where the rights of women would be guaranteed and inviolable, to carry forward the fight for a life free from poverty, insecurity, violence and war. Highlighting the grim situation and the challenges facing the women’s movement today, the statement declared that . . . "Women in India have to fight for a society where the rights of women, as women and as human beings, are inviolable; and so are the rights of all human beings. Secure livelihood, quality education and health care, safe drinking water, housing and sanitation, reliable supply of electricity and access to modern communication facilities must be considered among the inviolable rights of every member of society today. It is the solemn duty of the society and state to ensure that these rights are realised. What is needed is a system which recognises that: (i) all members of society have rights by virtue of being human; and (ii) society has an obligation to ensure human conditions of existence for each of its members.

"The existing political process in India has no means for reflecting the voice and aspirations of the broad masses of women in India. It defines being political as becoming the vote bank of this or that parliamentary party of the status quo. Women need to reject this narrow and erroneous definition of what constitutes being political. Women need mechanisms that increase the scope for their political activity and end their political marginalisation. The building and strengthening of sangharsh samitis in the mohallas and bastis, wherever women live or work, will be an important step in the direction of empowerment of women.

"The movement for the empowerment of the Indian people will not succeed until women constitute a vital part of this movement. The struggle of women in India for a life of dignity and equality cannot succeed until and unless it unites firmly with the movement of the workers and peasants against the existing economic and political system."

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Union Budget 2003/04
Serving the big capitalists while swearing in the name of ‘poverty eradication’

As in previous years, the largest share of resources is allocated for paying interest on debt and for the purpose of ‘defence’, which actually means warmongering and winning the arms race with Pakistan. Out of an expenditure budget of Rs. 420,000 crore for 2003-04, interest payments and ‘defence’ spending alone eat up Rs. 190,000 crore, or 45% of the total. These entirely unproductive uses of resources do not contribute even one rupee’s worth to the wealth of India; they merely redistribute the wealth in favour of money lending institutions and capitalists who supply the armed forces.

In his budget speech, the Finance Minister declared that "the disadvantaged must always be the first charge on our exchequer. This is our belief, it is our creed". He announced a scheme called the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, which will expand food distribution to an additional 50 lakh poor families. This was advertised as proof of the government’s "integral humanism". However, the additional budgetary expenditure on this account will be Rs. 507 crore, whereas the additional allocation for interest payments and defence, that is the increase in 2003-04 over 2002-03, is Rs. 17,000 crore. This is 34 times as large as the amount allocated for the new Anna Yojana. This shows what really is the "first charge on our exchequer".

On closer examination of the figures, it becomes clear that even the 500 crore additional allocation for the new Anna Yojana is not really additional at all. What was being spent on food grain distribution under a scheme called Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana, run by the Ministry of Rural Development, is now being recycled in a new name. If the total allocation for ‘food subsidy’ and ‘rural development’ is taken together, then the budget allocation in 2003-04 is Rs. 1000 crore less than in 2002-03.

Next to the unproductive expenditures on interest payments and ‘defence’, the largest increase in budget allocation is for the energy and transport plan. This refers to mega power projects and mega highway projects, which are expected to boost the profits of the big business houses of India as well as various foreign companies.

Referring to agriculture, the Finance Minister in his budget speech said, "India has the largest irrigated, arable landmass in the world; our gross arable land being second only to the United States of America". He called this an "unused asset" and "our great reserve", in spite of the fact that millions of peasants who currently depend on this land are suffering from indebtedness and widespread ruination. Far from addressing the concerns of the majority of toiling peasants, the Finance Minister only addressed himself to a minority of capitalist farmers and agro-business companies. He promised them a new scheme for ‘precision farming technology’ (Rs. 50 crore allocation in 2003-04) and bank loans at interest rates "no more than an extra 2 percentage points than the best bank customers".

In order to finance the increase of about Rs. 35,000 crore in the total expenditure of the Government of India, taxes and fees collected from the people are targeted to rise by Rs. 17,000 crore. Pivatisation proceeds are targeted to increase by almost Rs. 10,000 crore. Net borrowing, from domestic and foreign sources, is budgeted to rise by Rs. 8000 crore.

In short, the broad masses of Indian people will be burdened further with higher taxes on goods and services and on salary incomes, as well as a higher debt on their heads. And all this is for the sake of fulfilling the claims of the money lending institutions, the warmongers and the demands of the big capitalist monopolies for increased government spending and privatisation to boost their sales and profits. This is the real content of the 2003-04 budget unveiled by Jaswant Singh on February 28, 2003.

What is the Budget of the Government of India?

The budget of any entity, whether a family or a company or a government, is a plan and target for annual expenditure and its financing.

The budget of the Government of India (GoI) is an instrument for coordinating and planning the intervention and role of the Indian State in the economy.

The GoI budget is an instrument for redistribution of incomes between different classes in Indian society

The Indian economy is a capitalist economy where incomes generated in the course of social production are distributed unevenly between the propertied class, the property-less masses and the intermediate strata – the Government of India re-distributes the already unevenly distributed income in favour of the rich and powerful in society.

The GoI budget reflects the class policy of the Indian State, which is to tax the broad masses of people and keep on borrowing to spend on whatever will boost the profits of the big capitalists and imperialists.

The budget influences the rate of profit in different sectors of the economy by adjusting the rates of taxes and fees; it influences incomes and well being of different classes by increasing or decreasing public spending for various ends, adjusting interest rates on public savings and setting targets for additional external and domestic borrowing.

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NAM Summit reflects growing opposition to US war against Iraq

The inaugural address by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, who took over the chairmanship from the South African President, set the tone for the Summit. Mahathir declared that America’s "war against terrorism" was increasingly being revealed as a war against Islamic countries and people of the Muslim faith. He called for a halt to the arms race, struggle to outlaw war and total ban on development of nuclear weapons. He called on NAM to struggle "to stop research and development of more and more lethal so-called conventional weapons" as well as control over arms trade. He called for forging of a joint front of peace-loving countries with the peace activists of the West who were opposing their warmongering leaders. "NAM must work for a new world order, where democracy is not confined to the internal governance of states, but also to the governance of the world", the new NAM President declared.

The NAM Summit took place in an international context of growing worldwide opposition to the Anglo-American imperialist war plans against Iraq. It took place in the backdrop of US military intervention in the Philippines as well as in Indonesia, US imperialism’s threats against North Korea, as well as the militarisation of the Malacca straits as a fall out of joint war exercises by the Indian and US naval fleets. The peoples of South East Asia, West Asia, East Asia are extremely concerned about these developments which reveal the US strategy to conquer Asia. In such conditions, the NAM summit represents a positive contribution to the struggle of the world’s peoples to block the war plans of US imperialism.

India’s role in the NAM summit was extremely treacherous. At the NAM summit, most of the other states were concerned about the threat of war. On the other hand, India, as well as Pakistan, used the forum to trade charges against each other, each trying to prove to the Anglo-American imperialists that they were their loyal allies in the war for the conquest of Asia!

The Indian ruling class is hedging its bets. It has dreams of benefiting from the "new world order" under US dictate, that US imperialism is striving to impose on the world. Simultaneously, the Indian ruling class is also striving for a multipolar world where it will have a say. The concerns of the peoples of the world, of peace and security and a world without wars, is not its concern. In the pre-summit discussions for preparing the draft of the joint declaration, the Indian state’s stand with regard to the US threat of war against Iraq was definitely compromising towards the Anglo-American imperialists, while appearing to oppose unilateral action and abide by the UN Security Council decisions. In the Lok Sabha debate on Iraq, Jaswant Singh said that India had "consistently maintained" that the UN weapons inspectors "must have a full and completely unfettered opportunity to complete their onerous task but, equally, that the UN SC cannot be expected to wait indefinitely to secure, . . . immediate, active and unconditional cooperation". This is believed to be the first time that such a position has been taken by any state.

The Indian big bourgeoisie is seeking to coordinate its strategy with that of US imperialism in Asia. This, as well as its belligerent stands towards its neighbouring countries, is bringing it into disrepute amongst other countries of NAM.

What is coming through very clearly is that the Indian ruling class is interested in using its position in NAM to sabotage the possibility of building an anti-imperialist, anti-war grouping of countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. India has done this in the past as well, and it is doing so now. Fired up with ambitions of becoming a major imperialist power in a new post cold war dispensation, it is not a factor for peace or a democratic world order, but a factor for war. The peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as the peoples of the rest of the world must have no illusions about the Indian ruling class.

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American stakes in Iraq

I have been following the articles published in your paper, denouncing the US imperialist aggressive plans against Iraq and the worldwide popular opposition to these plans. In this context, I would like to highlight certain facts regarding the actual aims and interests of the US in Iraq.

Yours truly,

K. Ramaswami, Coimbatore.

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Oppose the shameful sellout of SCI

When the SCI was offered for sale all the foreign shipping multinationals refused to bid for it because the disinvestment ministry had announced that only 25% share will be offered to them. Very concerned with the profits and wellbeing of foreign exploiters, a core group of secretaries on disinvestment met on 8th March 2003 and have recommended that the disinvestment stake be increased to 51% so that foreign shipping companies winning the bid can get complete control over the national shipping company.

Among the foreign bidders who have been short-listed now are those belonging to Malaysia, France and Hong Kong. Among the expected Indian bidders are Essar Shipping, Sterlite Industries and Videocon.

The disinvestment ministry has also cleared the acquisition of two very large carriers at a cost of $65.2 million per vessel by SCI. This appears to be a decision to make the sale more lucrative to the buyers, since the bidder will decide on the final price that they will offer for complete management control of the company, in exchange for only half the value of its book assets.

The SCI disinvestment once more reveals the utterly anti-national, traitorous nature of the Indian ruling class who will not hesitate to sell their country for a few pieces of silver.

Youurs truly,

Mrinalini, New Delhi

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People unite to oppose US war plans against Iraq

On February 27, 2003, a large rally against the possibility of war in Iraq was staged in Bangalore. The march began at the historic Mayo Hall buildings and concluded at Banappa Park. A large gathering of young and old, representing all sections of society, participated actively in the march. An umbrella organisation, "Bangalore Initiative for Peace", which organised the march, called for large numbers of concerned citizens of the country and the world to unite against the war clouds hovering over the sovereign country of Iraq. The "Provisional Organising Committee for Rally against Imperialism and Intervention" has given the call for another rally in Bangalore on March 1. It is important to note that the designs of aggression of the United States of America and the United Kingdom have united the people in an unprecedented manner against imperialism on the world scale. It is heartening to see spontaneous demonstrations in our country also, that have been spurred by the arrogant and unreasonable behaviour of these imperialist nations. The duty of our citizens is to call on our Government to have no part in this aggression against a sovereign nation. In particular, as members of the United Nations Organisation, India, Iraq, USA and UK should all abide by the laws that govern them as members and not unilaterally take up aggressive acts against one another.

Yours truly

B. Narayan, Bangalore

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Disinformation – a favourite weapon of the bourgeoisie and imperialists

However, what did the ‘national press’ have to say about it? Almost nothing! This massive protest of the working people received such scant coverage in the English press that it would have been comic if it were not so tragic. A march in which lakhs of people participated, the route of which in fact took it past the area of the city where most newspapers have their offices, went largely unreported! The Times of India in fact derisively referred to it as a "traders rally" which disrupted orderly traffic! Not one word about the demands which it raised, which have to do with the livelihood of all working people in our country!

Such treatment of news by the bourgeois media is no accident, nor is it unusual or uncommon. It is part of the arsenal of the bourgeoisie and imperialists – the weapon of disinformation. Its purpose is to disorient and divert the people who wish to fight against injustice. One of the most notorious users of disinformation was the Nazi regime. They had the dictum that a lie repeated several times would become a ‘truth’, i.e., people would start believing it eventually. However, disinformation is no Nazi prerogative, it has been used and continues to be used by all oppressive and predatory regimes.

Another recent incident of disinformation took place with respect to Turkey. In early March, 2003, the Turkish parliament rejected the American imperialists offer of massive financial "aid" which was conditional upon Turkey’s permitting them to use their country to open another front on Iraq. This would have meant stationing several thousands of foreign troops on their soil, using their military bases, and a direct threat to the sovereignty of Turkey itself, besides drawing it unwillingly into an unjust war. What is noteworthy is the manner in which the news of rejection of the Anglo–American proposal was reported in the imperialist controlled media. The British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) headlines screamed that ‘stock markets in Turkey have crashed’ following the Turkish parliament’s refusal of American imperialist ‘aid’. They had nothing to say of the massive opposition of the people of Turkey, like the people of most countries, including in fact of the UK and the USA, to the war which the Anglo American imperialists wish to unleash on Iraq. This is what has made the government of Turkey wary of accepting foreign troops on its soil. Further the ‘crash’, which the BBC screamed about was a mere average 10% drop in share prices, which is hardly remarkable by any standards.

As opposition to the war which the Anglo-American imperialists wish to unleash on Iraq mounts, they are becoming more frenzied in their disinformation campaigns to disorient this opposition. According to the media they control, the main problem in the world today is terrorism, and Islamic fundamentalism, which they, the Anglo-American imperialists, are duty bound to eradicate, "for the good of all mankind". In a similar manner, they routinely dismiss the Iranian revolution of 1979, which overthrew the hated US imperialist backed dictator Shah, as one led by "Islamic fundamentalists".

The bourgeois and imperialist media thus abounds with disinformation of various kinds. For example, everyone knows that whenever the political crisis of the bourgeoisie becomes acute and its political system suffers loss of credibility, the ruling class and its state organises communal violence and massacres, to divide the people and spread terror and anarchy. But the bourgeois media always hides the hand of the state. It systematically portrays the people as communal, as if people are always ready to fight amongst themselves and slit each others’ throats, while the state and the security forces are portrayed as "keepers of peace and order". The real organisers and perpetrators of communal violence are shown by the media as the "protectors of peoples’ security"! Similarly, whenever the state tries to divide people on some other issue, the bourgeois media nefariously spreads all kinds of lies and slanders against people of this or that section of society, this or that nationality, region, caste, religion, etc., thereby assisting the rulers in their diabolical aims. While at times it gets thoroughly exposed and thus has its effect blunted, it remains something against which the working people have to guard themselves, it needs to be consciously thwarted.

Those who struggle for justice need to have counter weapons in their own arsenal. The working class, at the head of the oppressed people, needs to have and strengthen its own press and propaganda apparatus. Just as the bourgeoisie and imperialists leave no opportunity to hit out at the struggles of the working people, so also must we use every opportunity to hit out at the bourgeoisie and imperialism. We too can and must use every instance to channelise every drop of discontent into a mighty torrent which will sweep away the unjust capitalist and imperialist system, based on injustice and perfidy!

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India’s working class is emanding…..

We found the workers extremely angry at the capitalist system and the economic reforms program. We found that the majority of workers had no illusion about the parliamentary parties of the bourgeoisie, particularly about the BJP and the Congress. Workers did not believe that a change of government at the centre, especially the replacement of a BJP led coalition with a Congress led coalition, would alleviate the problems. Workers expressed themselves in favour of peace between India and Pakistan, and expressed their complete opposition to US imperialism and its war plans. The majority of workers felt very strongly that restoration of communist unity was a necessary condition for defeating the bourgeoisie and building a new India free from exploitation and oppression, a socialist India. Workers indignantly rejected the notion spread by the bourgeoisie that the working class is unfit to rule and overwhelmingly declared themselves in favour of establishing a worker-peasant rule in India as the only way forward.

The most enduring feeling we got from the discussion with workers belonging to different trade unions and parties, different industries, and different regions of the country was the mood of confidence that the working class of our country, in alliance with the peasantry and other toiling people, is capable of providing an alternative to the present rule.

Below, we reproduce some of the highlights of the discussions with the workers.

Reasons for workers participation in the March to Parliament and their expectations

Palraj, Anandan and Palani are leaders of the construction workers movement who had come in a big delegation from Tamilnadu. They described the terrible and worsening plight of construction workers. These days, even two or three days work per week are not available to such workers. They pointed out that all sections of workers have been attacked by the economic reforms program. Even after 56 years of independence, workers have no security of livelihood. Political parties are supposed to fight for peoples rights, but the parliamentary parties have stabbed the toiling people in the back. The government worked to make the rich richer and nothing was ever done to satisfy the claims of the toiling people. The construction workers are fighting to ensure social security for workers through legislation, a legislation that must be made to work at the central as well as state levels.

Tomorrow’s program is just the beginning… Revolution has to come.

Siva from Kovai, Tamilnadu pointed out that Central government’s policies are against people. They make various promises, like employment for all, but nothing is fulfilled. Many industries are closing. There are around 150 people in the rally from South India Viscose Ltd. They used to produce rayon, Yarn etc. About 4000 workers are employed here and the factory is now shut down. Madras Fertilisers Limited is getting privatised. 50 workers from this plant have come here. In the place I live in, state transport is being privatised. This means that school going children will not be given free pass. Will any private bus carrier provide this service? Is it not the responsibility of the government to take care of this?

Hemlata from Rajasthan had come to Delhi to highlight the demands of construction workers of Rajasthan. She said workers were fighting both against the government and the immediate bosses. Privatisation was affecting health and education and the construction workers are greatly affected. There is no social security for construction workers.

Nag Mishra and his comrades from Champaran in Bihar were extremely angry with the state of the communist and workers movement, especially the role of the leadership. The policies of the government were ruining industry, such as the sugar industry in Champaran and Sugoli. The leather industry in Betia was in deep crisis and workers were running from pillar to post in search of livelihood. The fighting organisations of workers and the capitalists and landlords had nothing in common, but what was happening in their area was the behind closed doors collaboration of leaders of the movement with the exploiters, Mishra said.

Modi, Jaychand, and their comrades from Bhopal were very excited with the rally. They felt strongly that as long as there was exploitation, workers would fight, and when workers fight militantly, they will be able to force the government to back down. Jaychand felt that working class unity was essential for achieving the aims of workers. He felt that this was the first time such a united and powerful rally was going to take place. He felt that working class should have one party, one program and one slogan around which the entire class should unite. In India, it is the rule of the capitalists, and this rule must be ended. Only then will the concerns of the working class be addressed.

Dhamda Bhanu Pratap from Chattisgarh is a contract worker who has come with other contract workers to participate in the March to Parliament. Pratap said we do not know much about liberalisation and privatisation. We have come here to put an end to the contract system of exploitation. We are malis (gardeners) on contract. We want the government to regularise us and end the contract system. Even earlier, we used to get very little pay. Now we are not paid for months on end. We want to be paid statutory wages as government employees are paid. We are only demanding the wages of our sweat and labour.

Gobardhan Lal, wireman, from Kakar district of Rajasthan pointed out that the entire state was hit by drought, but the government was least concerned about the people. We have not been paid wages for many months. The rice we get from the government has so much mud in it. We have come here to protest against privatisation and liberalisation. Labour laws are openly violated by the government and the capitalists. We will certainly march to parliament. As long as our concerns are not addressed, we will keep organising rallies and protests. This is a state of the capitalists, of the wealthy, this state must be destroyed. We will overthrow this government. We have great courage, that is why we have come here.

O.P. Singh from Raipur, Chattisgarh, said that the socialist system needs to be established in India. The main issue is of state power. Till now, it is the capitalist parties that are ruling. The United Front of workers and peasants needs to be forged. We believe in Marxism. The call of the times is for restoration of communist unity.

Baijnath Choudhary and his comrades from Champaran in Bihar said that people in their area were facing ruination. They had joined the rally to protest against anti-national course of the government, against a government and system that supported rape, loot and massive corruption.

A group of workers from Bokaro said that their dues were not being paid by the management. VRS was being thrust down the throat of workers. We have been sitting without work for 4 years. All the factories in our area are shutting down. We are losing our livelihood and our children cannot find work. The economic situation in our area is extremely pitiable. In our factory, we have not received wages for three months. This is a government of the capitalists. We do not have faith in any of these governments. We have come here to raise our voice in protest.

Rasidul Rehman and Parmanand, belonging to the All India Central Warehousing Corporation Union from Assam and Bihar, said that the government was carrying out vigorous privatisation in their sector. Workers were not getting the wages for their labour. 58,000 workers had lost their jobs. There is no system of security for workers. We must take the program of tomorrow even more widely amongst the mass of workers all over the country.

Uchanand Behra and his comrades of Jayshree Chemicals came from Orissa. They accused the government of passing anti-labour laws and demanded that such anti-labour measures be immediately halted. The impact of privatisation has been severe on all people. They are privatising government companies and throwing out workers. The struggle is spreading all over the country. We must further step up the struggle against the government.

What the workers say about the claim of the government that there is no money for investing in people

The correspondents of People’s Voice asked the workers about the claims of the government that there was no money to invest in education, health, and welfare of the workers and peasants. Here is the response of workers to this!

Hemlata from Rajasthan pointed out that there should be two kinds of funds, with both the Central and state governments. There was a lot of money, but in the present system, the government does not want to invest in the people. The government is dancing to the tune of the World Bank and IMF. The government spends more than 12 % on defence, while it spends only 5-7 % on education and only 2% on health. No doubt there is need to spend on defence, but not this much! There must be a cutback on militarisation and military spending.

Palraj from Tamilnadu expressed the view that whenever the capitalists wanted something, there was plenty of money in the hands of the government, but when it came to ensuring security and prosperity of workers and peasants, the government always claimed there was no money. We do not have any belief in the laws passed by different governments allegedly to provide for the toilers, because none of them have ever been implemented.

Uday Ram Saha and his comrades said there was a lot of money. For instance the money due in taxes which capitalists did not pay should be unearthed. The government should seize the wealth of such capitalists and spend it on people.

Govardhan Lal from Rajasthan said that the government always claimed there was no money when the question of investing in the poor came up for discussion. But when the issue was of handouts to the capitalists, there was no shortage of money. It refuses to seize black money.

OP Singh of Raipur said there was a lot of the money with the government. Out of every rupee, the government spent 60 paise on debt repayments, 30 paise on defence, and 10 paise on itself. There was no money spent on investing in people.

The workers from Bokaro felt that the government had a lot of money, but it was misusing it. It is spending too much money on defence.

Rasidul Rehman and Parmanand felt that the government talked of having no money only when it came to investing in workers and working people. There is a lot of money in India, it should be extracted from the capitalists. The government must unearth all the black money.

Uchanand Behra and his comrades from Orissa had this to say: There are a lot of unpaid loans due from the capitalists to the government. The government must recover these dues. There is no subsidy for the poor. Any MP who is found corrupt should be shot. They say workers are responsible for losses and public sector enterprises and justify privatisation on that basis. If there is loss, it is the management that is responsible, not the workers.

What workers feel is the alternative to the present rule

The correspondents of People’s Voice asked the workers about whether they felt there is an alternative and what is the alternative that workers should fight for. The overwhelming majority of workers not only felt that there is an alternative, more specifically they expressed the view that the rule of workers and peasants must be established in place of the rule of the capitalists. The majority of workers had no sympathy for the line of supporting the Congress Party in a so-called secular front to replace the BJP. Here are some of the responses:

Anandan and his comrades from Tamilnadu said: We have done a Padayatra from Kanyakumari to Chennai last March 8, 2002 for around 57 days culminating in a May day Rally in Chennai on May 1, 2002. Our Chief Minister or our MPs did not even call us for a discussion to find out our grievances. This is the status of us workers in this country. They are talking of a secular front. How is this secular front to be formed. If it is to be formed by forging a front of existing parties and groups, it is of no use to the workers. We would like to point out that the division of communist parties and the different signals they are sending to the working class is a big problem. Workers, peasants should get together and elect their own representatives, forge a worker-peasant front that will provide solution to the problems.

Since we are amongst the people and share their fear, sadness, problems and happiness, we as labouring people can rule. The parliamentary parties do not think about us or our well-being and hence they are unfit to rule. We must educate and make people conscious and prepare them for establishing worker-peasant rule.

Siva felt that the time had come for restoration of communist unity. Speaking about Congress and other secular parties and the line of uniting with them, Siva said "Can we give milk to the snake and make it grow? Do we not have experience already of these poisonous snakes". He felt that with restoration of communist unity, workers will not be able to establish their rule. Within the communist movement there is a lot of confusion. Only if we solve these problems and develop work amongst workers and peasants will we be able to develop the answers to the problems of India.

Hemlata felt that both Congress and BJP were anti-worker. Socialism was the alternative. She felt strongly that workers and peasants can definitely rule in India. The workers will elect their delegates who will run the administration of the whole country.

Comrade Nag Mishra felt that restoration of communist unity was necessary condition for the alternative. He felt that workers and peasants were definitely capable of establishing their rule. The issue was to strengthen the organisation.

Comrade Jaychand felt that the rule of the capitalists must be overthrown. We workers must have one communist party, one program and one slogan. The Congress party has ruled in the past. It did nothing to benefit the people. The government is using communalism and secularism to divide the struggles of the toiling masses. Both Congress and BJP are communal. We must block both these parties from coming to power. We need worker-peasant rule. Communists must come to power, but not like in West Bengal and Kerala. We need a party that follows the teachings of Karl Marx.

Uday Ram Saha and his comrades were confident that workers could rule. The owners are so few in number, workers are in crores, so why cannot workers rule.

Dhamda Bhanu Pratap felt all governments of capitalist parties were alike. The poor can also rule. The struggle is raging in Raipur as well. The Communist Party must come to power.

Govardhan Lal felt that the present rule is of the capitalists and this must be uprooted. Congress and BJP represented two sides of same coin. Workers and peasants, who produce everything through their labour, are certainly also capable of ruling the country. The capitalists say we workers cannot rule, but this is not true, we can and will certainly establish our rule.

OP Singh felt that socialism must be established in India. The worker-peasant front must be established. The restoration of communist unity is the demand of the times. The main question is of state power. Till now, it is the rule of capitalist parties. I believe in Marxism.

The comrades from Bokaro felt that all governments were alike and anti-worker. They were governments of capitalists. Workers and peasants can certainly rule. The need is to rouse consciousness on this.

Rasidul Rehman and Parmanand felt that Congress was afraid of workers and BJP was openly carrying on privatisation. Both Congress and BJP are thieves, they represent the capitalist class. The capitalists control the state. Workers are certainly capable of ruling. We need worker-peasant rule. We can certainly rule.

Uchanand Behra and his comrades felt that it was the Congress Party that had launched privatisation. We need to get rid of the NDA government led by the BJP, but we do not need the Congress in its place.

What workers feel about Indo-Pak relations and the war plans of US imperialism

Rasidul Rehman and Parmanand felt that India and Pakistan should solve their problems peacefully, not through war. Indian government must not support US, which represents the biggest capitalist interests.

Bhanu Pratap was opposed to war as it was the ordinary toilers who were the victims of war.

Jaychand felt that we must vigorously oppose the US war plans. The US is interested in oil and it is the people of Iraq who will die for this. Everyone should oppose this war.

Nag Mishra felt that India and Pakistan should pursue a policy of peace. He condemned the warmongering of the rulers. US imperialism’s military intervention in South Asia needs to be vigorously opposed. There must be a cutback in defence expenditure and the money thus saved should be invested in people.

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