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Internet Edition: February 1-15, 2006
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VOICE OF PARTY |
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Online Archives
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56 th Anniversary of the Indian Republic: For India to progress, the Republic needs to be constituted afresh! On 26 th January, 2006, officialdom will celebrate with great pomp and display of military, naval and air power, the 56th anniversary of the constitution of the Indian Republic. As has been the custom for over two decades now, a red alert has been sounded by the government and hysteria is being whipped up about the possibility of terrorist strikes on Republic Day. The workers, peasants, women, youth, tribal peoples, forest communities and oppressed nations and nationalities of our vast country are resisting the program of globalisation of Indian capital through liberalisation and privatisation. To drown the mounting resistance struggles of the people in blood, the rulers are resorting to increasing fascism and justifying this course as necessary for fighting terrorism. The year 2006 opened with the news of police firing and killing of tribal people in Orissa, to secure land for a Tata steel plant. What kind of Republic is this, which sells the people’s land to Indian and foreign multinationals, turns the people into paupers and refugees in their own homeland, and then orders its police to open fire and kill them when they raise their voice in protest? On the other hand, the rulers are desperately trying to prettify the Republic in the eyes of the people of India and the world. A long list of laws has been enacted in Parliament, including the Right to Information act, but without mechanisms for the people to ensure their enforcement. We have witnessed the spectacle of Members of Parliament being expelled for accepting money to raise questions in Parliament, and Jagdish Tytler being made to resign from the Council of Ministers after being named in the Nanavati Commission report on the communal genocide of November 1984. The ruling bourgeoisie is eager to refurbish the image of the Republic of India through cosmetic changes, in order to create illusions amongst the workers and peasants, and more effectively pursue the course of becoming a world class imperialist power.. The foundation of political power in India is old, rotten and colonial by nature. Cleaning up on the surface, as the bourgeoisie is trying to do, cannot hide the fact that the Indian Republic is a legacy of colonialism. It is an instrument of capitalist exploitation, imperialist plunder and empire building. It has never been and is not an instrument for defending the human, democratic and national rights of the peoples of this country. The various measures being implemented to clean up this Republic under the banner of “good governance” cannot and will not convert this state into an instrument in the service of the workers and peasants. They do not address the root cause of the problem, which is that the Indian Republic does not defend the rights of Indians, as a whole or as distinct nations and collectives within society. It is based on the negation of the traditional rights enjoyed by the tillers of the land, by tribal peoples, by forest and village communities, and by the numerous nations and nationalities who together constitute India. This Indian Republic, far from being created on the basis of the development of Indian political thought, is based on the political theory of the colonizers and imperialists and reflects this in every pore of its being. For India to progress, the working class and peasantry need to establish their own rule, the rule of workers and peasants. They need to be armed with an outlook that would help them solve the problems the society is facing. There is pressing need to make a clean break with the existing Republic and the entire colonial legacy. This has become especially urgent as the Indian bourgeoisie is taking steps to further fascise and militarise the Republic to serve its imperialist aims. What we need is a Voluntary Union of Workers’ and Peasants’ Republics. Such an arrangement would recognise that India consists of numerous nations and nationalities, each with its inviolable right to self-determination. It would be based on the principle that the union must benefit every constituent. It would be a voluntary union because its fundamental law would allow any constituent people to separate from the union if they do not find it beneficial. Within each Republic and in the union as a whole, the workers and peasants, who together constitute the majority of the population, must be the key decision makers. They must build the mechanisms through which the people who elect can hold the elected bodies to account. They must make sure that there can be no election without selection of candidates by the people, organised in constituency committees. The people in every locality need to be organised to assert their claims and their rights, including their right to have a say in running the country, in selecting candidates for election, in recalling elected representatives, in establishing and changing laws and policies. To establish such a modern Republic, it is necessary to begin afresh. It is necessary to bring forward from the thought material of our ancestors the concept of a state whose duty is to ensure prosperity and protection for all. It is necessary to realise this concept at the present time on the basis of the summation of the experience of the international working class movement for socialism and communism. The new republic must be based on the modern definition of rights, which is that rights of the people are inviolable, they cannot be given or taken away, and the state has the duty to make sure they are never violated. The present Constitution, based on colonial theories, vests power to determine the economic, political and international course of the country in an executive power, the ruling Cabinet, whose decisions are rubber stamped by a parliament that is not accountable to the people. This political system defends the plunder of the land and labour of our people by Indian and foreign capital, with the force of arms. The Constitution legitimises the imperial and colonial superstructure of rule over our workers and peasants. No reform of this Constitution can remove the basic fact that it is a fundamental law written by the exploiting classes to legalise their exploitative and oppressive rule. The Constitution of the Workers’ and Peasants’ republic must be based on the principle that rights are inviolable. The working class and people must create new mechanisms for affirming and enforcing their rights. They need new arrangements to ensure that political power is exercised by the vast majority of toilers and tillers. Such a power would harmonise the interests of the individual and the collective, with one another and with the general interests of society. It would ensure that what is taken out is put back into the economy. It would suppress those whose personal greed is a roadblock to fulfilling the general interest. Constituting the Republic afresh in this manner is the way forward for the Indian working class and people to fulfil their time honoured aspiration of a society without exploitation of man by man, in which sukh and raksha can be guaranteed for all.
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War criminal Bush must not set foot in India! US imperialist chieftain George Bush has announced his plans to visit India on March 1-2, 2006. How should the Indian people greet this arch war criminal, arrogant representative of the most dangerous superpower in history, butcher of Afghan and Iraqi people, and enemy of all those who value the independence and sovereignty of their countries? Bush is the representative of a power that has arrogated to itself the right to dominate and dictate to the whole world, while talking of “democracy”. It invades and tramples on the sovereign rights of other countries, while talking of “freedom”. In Afghanistan and Iraq, men, women and children are being killed in their thousands by the bombs and missiles of this rampaging power. While talking of “fighting terrorism”, US imperialism unleashes terror on an unprecedented scale, using weapons of mass destruction that no state in history has ever used. It does not recognise any authority other than its own. It follows the jungle rule of “might is right”, and recognises no laws of civilised intercourse among countries. The Indian working class and people have the greatest hatred for this kind of politics that US imperialism and its chief Bush represent. It would be a great dishonour to our people, to the values of peace, equality and friendship and respect for all peoples that we hold dear, if this criminal Bush sets foot on our soil. The Indian people are second to none in welcoming all those from far and near who come to our country in peace and goodwill. But we can never welcome as our guest one whose record is full of such outrageous crimes against humanity. What does Bush hope to achieve by coming to India? It is no secret that US imperialism is seeking to extend its domination over Asia, as part of its drive to dominate the whole world. Cementing its ties with the ruling class of India, a big power in Asia, and ensnaring India in the web of a “strategic alliance”, is part of this strategy. By holding out the carrot of lifting restrictions on the supply of nuclear fuel to India, the US is angling to gain control over India's nuclear facilities. It is trying to lure India away from concluding a deal for an oil pipeline with Iran, its bugbear. While pretending that it is in favour of peace between India and Pakistan, it would do its best to play off one against the other and heighten tension and distrust between the two. The aims of US imperialism with respect to India are completely against the interests of the people of our country, and against the interests of the peace and security of this region. They represent the biggest foreign threat facing our country today. For these reasons too, we must resolutely oppose the visit of Bush to our country. All over the world, the peoples have been coming out on the streets in their thousands and tens of thousands, to show their anger and indignation at the policies of US imperialism and the Bush regime. In various capitals of Europe, lakhs of people have participated in huge demonstrations denouncing the criminal Bush and his warmongering policies. When he tried to visit Latin America, everywhere he was greeted with cries of “Bush, go back!”, and not allowed to finish his agenda. It is only fitting that we Indian people – workers, peasants, intelligentsia, students and youth, women, political personalities and social activists – all take our stand along with the progressive and freedom-loving peoples of the world. Let us organise against the visit of this unwelcome guest. Let us demonstrate that we are second to none in standing up for peace and justice. Down with the war criminal Bush! |
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Condemn the US missile attacks in Bijaur! An attack on any nation and people in South Asia is an attack on all! Statement of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India, 19 th January, 2006 At least 18 people are reported to have been killed when American spy planes launched pre-dawn missile attacks in Bijaur in Pakistan, on January 13, 2006. The missile attacks were launched for a second time in 10 days in an area which is part of the Waziristan Tribal Agency, bordering Afghanistan. All political organizations and masses of people in Pakistan have roundly condemned these attacks. The Communist Ghadar Party of India extends full and unconditional support to the just struggle of the people in Pakistan against the blatant violation of their sovereignty by the United States. The US imperialists are trying to justify this criminal act by claiming that the CIA had information that a dreaded terrorist was hiding in the area. This is not the first time that they are using this convenient excuse to violate the sovereignty of an independent state. US imperialism has a long track record of directing the CIA to covertly organise terrorist groups, and of carrying out open acts of aggression against nations and peoples in the name of curbing terrorism. The slogan of "war against terrorism" was used to justify the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. It is being used as the pretext for threatening the people and leaders of Pakistan. These missile attacks are part of preparing conditions for expanding the US imperialist sphere of influence and military operations in the South Asian region. The reason why US imperialism chooses to launch missiles against any people and country has nothing to do with curbing terrorism. The real reason is economic and geo-political. Facing a decline in its economic weight in the world arena, US imperialism is relying mainly and repeatedly on its military might to establish its domination over Asia, as the stepping stone to world hegemony. It is not accidental tha t this criminal attack on Pakistan has been carried out precisely at a time when the Indo-Pak dialogue is progressing. The US imperialists do not want India and Pakistan to strengthen their mutual ties without US involvement. They want to keep the peoples and countries of South Asia embroiled in conflicts with each other, and forever dependent on the US imperialists. The times are calling for the unity of all the anti-imperialist and peace loving forces in South Asia – against the aggressive drive and criminal activities of US imperialism. All the peoples in South Asia must realize that violation of the sovereignty of any one country in this region by US imperialism increases the threat of similar moves against all the peoples and countries. The Communist Ghadar Party of India calls on all political parties and personalities who care about the sovereignty of nations and states of South Asia to raise their voices in unison, and condemn the US missile attacks in the territory of Pakistan. |
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Confiscate all the black money in the economy! Deploy it to fulfil the basic needs of the toiling people! Every year around budget time, the Finance Ministry starts making noises about the lack of resources to support the growing needs of the population. The officials and their advisors advance various prescriptions to mobilise additional resources – such as increasing taxes, expanding the tax net, levying cess, selling public assets, raising new loans, etc..
The total amount of rupees in circulation amounted to about Rs. 720,000 crore at the end of 2005, including Rs. 380,000 crore in cash and Rs. 340,000 crore of demand deposits. If one quarter of the cash is assumed to be unaccounted, which is a conservative estimate, the quantity of black money or unaccounted cash comes to Rs. 95,000 crore. This is double the size of the allocation in the central budget in 2005-06 for education, health and rural development put together. The most recent attempt by any Indian government to mobilise resources from this source was in 1997-98, in the form a Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS). That scheme raised Rs.10,050 crore in tax from Rs. 33,000 crore of wealth that was declared by 466,031 assessees. In other words, when the Government offered the choice to the owners of unaccounted wealth to convert part of it into accounted wealth and pay a 30% tax on what they declare, the amount declared was only Rs.33,000 crore, which is only about one-third of the component held in cash, which in turn is only a small part of the total unaccounted wealth. All the unaccounted wealth held as cash can be tapped by the Government simply by demonetising the Rupee, that is, by issuing new Rupee notes. The Reserve Bank of India would print new currency and set a deadline for anyone having old currency to exchange them at specified bank counters. In this way, any Government could get hold of all the cash in circulation. The wealth generated in India is the product of the sweat and toil of the workers, peasants and other working people. An increasing share of this wealth is appropriated by those who do not work, through all kinds of methods — legal, illegal and corrupt, while the toilers are deprived of even basic necessities. And a huge share of the wealth held by the exploiters is not accounted for; it remains out of the tax net and out of all records. Who has accumulated such wealth and in what forms it is held is not a secret! And it is also not so difficult to unearth this wealth as the government makes it out to be. A workers’ and peasants’ government will immediately take steps to seize the unaccounted wealth in the general interests of society, starting with the portion held as cash, which is the easiest to seize. The workers, peasants and all the toilers must assert their right over the wealth that they produce through their toil and sweat. We must demand that all unaccounted wealth must be confiscated and deployed towards ensuring that the basic needs of all working people and their families are fulfilled. On an immediate basis, we can start by demanding that at least the black money be tapped through demonetisation of the Rupee. |
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The Editor, This is to bring to your attention the indefinite lock-out that has been in place at the Toyota-Kirloskar factory in the Bidadi Industrial Estate in Bangalore. The lock-out was declared by the management following a strike call by workers in protest against the dismissal of three of their colleagues. The management was of the view that the strike was illegal, quoting a court order, and also claimed that some of the workers resorted to violent means to prevent other workers who had shown up to work despite the call for the strike. The Employees Union, on the other hand, has claimed that the management's dismissal order against their colleagues was illegal and in contravention to clauses of the Industrial Dispute Act. The Union has demanded the prosecution of the management. For its part, the management has taken out major public information notices in at least one of the important newspapers in Bangalore explaining their position and also pointing out that the pay packages the company provides is one of the most lucrative in the region, and also pleading their side of the case. The lockout has been lifted after 14 days, but indications are that the management plans to suspend several more workers to crush the struggle. This dispute comes in the wake of the dispute in Gurgaon where the MNC in question was the Honda company and bestial police repression was unleashed on workers in full view of the whole country. It is obvious that despite all the rosy propaganda about liberalization, there is an intrinsic contradiction between workers and the management which is sharpening. It was evident in the Gurgaon case and in the recent Bangalore case that managements are showing great intransigence in their attitudes. It is only a matter of time before these disputes become more frequent and the heavy handedness of the management becomes more intense. The working class must be prepared to wage its struggles in a highly principled manner and in a manner befitting its historical role. Unions across the country must carry on intense debates on their strategies to counter the offensive of the management, which keeps its own class interests as its central objective. Sincerely, A. Narayan |
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The Editor, PV. Sir, I am writing to congratulate the CGPI on its highly principled statement dated 19-01-2006 published on its website, condemning the blatantly terrorist act of the USA in the bombing of a village in which 18 persons were known to have been killed, mainly women and children. The CIA ordered strike is supposed to have been targeting some members of the Al-Qaeda based on 'intelligence' reports. You have pointed out that these activities are an attack on the sovereignty of an independent country and that USA is behaving like an occupier and not as a friendly ally of Pakistan. The aim is to terrorize the people and Government of Pakistan and to remind the latter that there are no friends in politics, only allies, to paraphrase the ruthless and well-known imperialist Winston Churchill. You have pointed out that this act, along with the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is in consonance with the program of the US imperialists to gain influence in the Asian landmass through outright military means. The media has gone to town about the possibility that some bodies had been removed from the scene of the bombing and there is much speculation of who these victims may have been. Conflicting reports, including some from the Government of Pakistan, say that these may have included bomb makers, and other important functionaries. The US media is pretending that somehow the fact that they may have some how 'got' some of the Al-Qaeda leadership is justification for their illegal and reprehensible bombing. In this manner, the general line of the western media that 'might is right' and that the 'end justifies the means' is also played out. In philosophical terms, the western imperialists have always adopted pragmatism as their guiding principle. It is the task of all progressive forces who are interested in seeing a world with no atrocities to challenge at every stage this kind of vile pragmatism. Sincerely, |
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“Flexibility in labour laws” spells unbridled exploitation Speaking at the annual general body meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on December 24 th, 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised improvements in tax administration and “labour reforms for greater flexibility”. ‘Flexibility’ in labour laws is a demand being repeated by the capitalists and their leading organisations such as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. Studies made at the behest of multinational corporations and international banks have also identified “lack of flexibility” in labour laws to be an obstacle for “realising India’s potential”. One of the important democratic rights won by the international working class in modern history is the eight hour working day – that is, the principle that a human being must not be made to work for more than 8 hours per working day. This was a restriction in the flexibility that the capitalists enjoyed in the past, when they could exploit workers for longer hours each day. Society did not suffer as a result of this restriction. In fact, the 8 hour working day led to a major advance in the conditions of life and cultural level of workers, and consequently in the productivity of social labour. The demand of the capitalist class for ‘flexibility’ today is a demand to take society backwards. The Indian working class has already experienced what this call for ‘flexibility’ means. The workers of Honda Scooters in Gurgaon, who were protesting against maltreatment by the management of the multinational corporation, and for reinstatement of their leaders who were dismissed for articulating their demands, were beaten up most brutally by the police on July 26, 2005. The rape and murder of a young BPO worker in Bangalore in December 2005 is a signal of what ‘flexibility’ has in store. Tens of thousands of workers in Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zones, which have been set up in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu under the ‘flexible’ conditions desired by the bourgeoisie, do not have the protection of labour laws. They are prevented from organising in unions by armed security guards. The length of the working day has no limit; the number of days workers can be compelled to work without a holiday is inordinately high; and restrictions on employing women and girls in dangerous situations and in night shifts do not apply. Indeed, all rights won by the working class through decades and centuries of struggle, rights which are necessary for workers to live in dignity, are sought to be snatched away in the name of ‘flexibility’. “Flexibility in labour laws” spells unbridled exploitation, which the bourgeoisie says is necessary for India to prosper. In reality, it is a path for the capitalists to flourish and become big imperialists, at the expense of the workers and masses of toiling people. The call for flexibility in labour laws is in the service of a minority of exploiters. It is against the interests of the toiling people who constitute the majority of Indians. It is against the long-term interests of society as a whole. It is anti-worker and anti-social. When Manmohan Singh promises “labour reforms for greater flexibility”, he shows clearly that he is acting as the head of a government and state that subordinates the rights of the majority of people to the will of a self-serving minority. He is declaring that the majority has to give up their hard won rights so that the minority of capitalists can reap maximum profits through the highest possible degree of exploitation of labour. He is subordinating the long-term interests of Indian society to the short-term greed of the capitalist class. |
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