THE REPUBLIC ON SALE

Mukul Sinha



As 26th January approaches each year, we find little children in tattered clothes scurrying across the traffic signals to sell their tricolor merchandise to the occupants of the whizzing cars that stop at the red signals. The approaching “Republic Day” gives them some hope to sell their stock of plastic flags for perhaps a better meal!

While the poor to survive have to sell the symbol of our republic, the rich are selling the republic itself. The choice of who would be the Chief Guest of the Republic day celebration is also decided not on the stature of our guest but on financial consideration. This year, the President of South Korea Mr. Lee Myung Bak was invited to preside over the Republic day parade, guess for what reasons? Because the South Koreans are investing the highest amount to establish the gigantic POSCO!

POSCO, is the world's fourth largest steel producer and one of the most competitive steel companies in the world. POSCO-India's proposed investment is the highest ever Foreign Direct Investment in India. The company has ambitious expansion plans in India, hoping to invest some $19 billion in the country. Five years ago Posco unveiled plans to build India's largest steel mill in the State of Orissa on the Bay of Bengal.

Because of local opposition, though, the project has suffered extensive delays and Posco hasn't even secured a 4,000-acre property promised for the steel plant. For more than four years the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samity (PPSS) has been bravely resisting attempts to displace over 30,000 people in Jagatsinghpur District of Orissa by POSCO, which wants to set up a steel company and a port on their lands. The Korean steelmaker is hoping the visit to New Delhi by South Korean President Lee Myung Bak will clear the way for its $19 billion in proposed investments in India.

The republic which was meant to be of the people by the people and for the people to empower the common man has now become the podium for auction to the highest bidder. May be in the next republic day we find the displaced children of Jagatsinghpur of Orissa selling their tricolor flags in your city with the small prints behind the flags “made in South Korea”!

NSM remembers Gandhi on 30th January his death anniversary

When Godse pumped bullets in the frail body of Gandhiji on 30th Jan 1948, he really killed the greatest leader that the indigenous capitalism had ever produced. The prominence of his image as a man of peace and non-violence has really covered up his real historical role as the mass organiser. On this day we try to recall some of his strategies of mass movement that shook the British Empire.

The picture of Gandhiji which is perhaps well-known is one where he is spinning yarn with traditional 'charkha.' That charkha was the symbol that countered the great spinning mills of Britain that heralded the industrial revolution of Europe. The traditional charkha thus became the focus of unity of nascent Indian bourgeois. Having created the most powerful symbol of struggle, Gandhiji's call for boycotting foreign clothes and goods was a natural consequence of resistance of nascent national capitalism to imperialistic market domination. The masses of people coming out in the streets to burn foreign clothes became the powerful tool of resistance to imperialism. It would be incomplete if we do not remember the famous Dandi-March in this connection. He had defied the authority of British Empire on one hand and highlighted the indigenous production on other hand.

In the era of globalization the present Indian big bourgeois would however like us to remember Gandhiji not as the agitational leader that took on the British imperialism but as a harmless icon of peace and non-violence.

EDITORIAL: Post-Copenhagen Conference, The Farce Continues on Climate Change

Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is now deeply red-faced by the exposures of its lies about its profound claims on the 'disappearance' of Himalayan Glaciers and occurrence of extreme weather conditions related to global warming. IPCC has now admitted that these are not based on any scientific evidence. The Copenhagen meet, as expected, achieved nothing to protect our planet instead caused huge spending of natural resources.

The IPCC has never addressed the real issue of the lavish life-styles of the rich people and the rich nations as reflected by their per-capita CO2 emissions. The IPCC, dictated by USA, refuses to accept per-capita CO2 emission as the yardstick and continues to use per-country CO2 emission instead, which shifts the blame to China and India, who emit substantial amount of CO2 simply because of their large populations. Thus India and China are squarely blamed for their large populations. This however is not true.

NSM has computed the climate-normalized per-capita CO2 emission ratios of various countries vis-à-vis India (using average annual mean temperature). The figures are quite revealing: Australia is the worst offender (the ratio is 11.1) followed by Saudi Arabia (7.8), USA (6.7), Canada (3.8), and Japan (3.5). European Union has modest ratio of 2.6 followed by Russia (2.5), Brazil (1.2), China (1.2) and India (1.0).

Per-capita release of CO2 of USA is 6.7/2.6 = 2.6 times that of European Union (by our method)! Question is why should the IPCC not take cognizance of this fact and demand that USA's per-capita CO2 emission be reduced to match that of EU at least? (This means reduction in emission of 3.7 Billion tons of CO2 per year alone from USA). Much of the problem will be taken care of even at the current rate of emission of CO2. But since the expense of IPCC and other UN bodies is mainly borne by the USA how can they take such a correct stand? As the saying goes do not bite the hand that feeds.

The greatest pity is that the Minister for environment, Jairam Ramesh himself rejects the per-capita yardstick and supports the per-country cap that will only help the rich nations. We want to ask Mr. Jairam Ramesh, the IPCC and others, two questions: (1) is the food intake for proper diet is based on per-capita or per-country basis? If it is by per country, then average Indian will eat only once per day compared to three times of EU and 6 times that of USA. (2) Is the CO2 emitted by breathing human beings based on per-capita or per-country basis? If it is by per-country basis, then every two Indians out of three have to be choked to death to fulfill the wishes of the IPCC, USA and other rich nations.

NSM states that climate-normalized per-capita CO2 emission can be the only basis for computation of emission norms. This value for the European Union should be taken as standard (with a prescribed capping factor); this will cap that of USA and other wasteful countries while allowing India, China etc to improve the living standard of their citizens. Of course, new technologies must be developed and used to improve the efficiency of use of energy and material in all aspects of our life, which will reduce the emission.

LEFT ALIGNMENT

Pravin Mishra

Hero of “dev” becomes brand ambassador

Nirjhari Sinha



It is a common belief in India that the tourism in Gujarat has not taken off primarily because of the prohibition policy of the Gujarat. Amitabh Bachchan on Monday accepted the Gujarat government's offer to be the new “brand ambassador” for the State to promote “tourism”; Does he have plans to bring in his famed “Madhushalas” in Gujarat?? Ironically, the greatest ambassador of Gujarat, Mahatma Gandhi would have swooned at the idea of “madhushala” being promoted to develop Gujarat!

In his letter of acceptance to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Bachchan said: “You have very graciously considered my appointment as brand ambassador for Gujarat. I accept the offer with great humility. I hope we will be able to work together for the betterment of Gujarat.” While it is always welcome for any person to come and work for the benefit of the State, in the instant case, it started with the tax exemption for his film “Paa”. It is also heard that Amitabh Bachchan has plans to establish a major Film establishment for which he is looking for land in Gujarat. The development is thus not one sided but involves a quid pro quo.

From being a close friend of Rajiv Gandhi, being bailed out by Amar Singh during the ABCL debt-crisis to being a ambassador of Narendra Modi's Government are really very contradictory relations. One may say totally different roles. But then isn't he the greatest actor of all? In Govind Nihalani's film “Dev” he with great élan had played the role of the Police Officer who gave up his life to give justice to a Muslim boy as a sequel to the 2002 Gujarat riots. We may also recall his famous dialogue from that movie when the Chief Minister tells him that the ratio of the deaths of Hindus and Muslims in police firing was not fair. Would Shri Bachchan remember that memorable role of his and also remember that there cannot be any genuine development without peace and justice?

'ALVIDA' TO JYOTIBABU

Mukul Sinha



Jyotibabu is a perfect study of contradictions; a leader who rose during the Great Debate that shunned the “bourgeois parliamentary road to socialism” but will be forever remembered as the longest surviving communist Chief Minister of the bourgeoisie assembly! His elite upbringing in an affluent Bengali family, legal education in London and Marxist indoctrination during the pre-second world period, made him into the Jyotibabu as we knew him, a communist aristocrat. A distant taciturn leader who managed his party, Government and the people like a patriarch. But his ascent to the leadership was rather radical.

The primary differences between the Communist Party of Soviet Union (CPSU) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the early 1960s were (1) whether socialism could be built in one country, (2) whether the socialist system and capitalist system could coexist and (3) whether the communist parties could use the bourgeois parliamentary system to achieve socialism. All these three issues arose from the CPSU thesis that the “class struggle” had largely come to an end after the establishment of the Soviet Union!

The debate over these issues that came to be known as the “Great debate”, had split the communist parties world over. The undivided Communist party of India (CPI) had also split in 1964 into the CPI and CPI (M). CPI (M) led by Namboodripad and Jyotibabu opposed the CPSU line of parliamentary road to socialism.

At a CPI National Council meeting held on April 11, 1964, Jyotibabu sided with the radical Council members who walked out in protest, accusing Dange and his followers of "anti-unity and anti-Communist policies". They later on organised a convention in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh July 7 to 11. A large portrait of the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong at the Tenali convention indicated the tilt of the radical faction.

In 1967 a peasant uprising broke out in Naxalbari, in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardliner district-level CPI (M) leaders Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The hardliners within CPI (M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. “Spring Thunder over India” was published as an editorial in People's Daily, organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on 5 July 1967, hailing the Naxalbari movement. The Naxalbari movement was however violently repressed by the West Bengal government of which CPI(M) was a major partner, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations. Jyotibabu was the home minister of that Government!

Thus ended the radicalism of Jyotibabu and for the next one decade {1967 to 1977}, he retraced his steps back to the CPI position of parliamentary road. In 1977 he became the Chief Minister of West Bengal as the leader of CPI (M), a position he held till his retirement in 2000. From the era of “Great debate” to being the longest surviving communist Chief Minister of a bourgeois assembly, is indeed a long march. We cannot give you a parting red salute Jyotibabu but we do say alvida!

Struggle of brick-kiln workers under the banner of Int-Bhatta Union affiliated to GFTU

Ramesh Srivastava



Those sitting in high-rise buildings of Gujarat can't even imagine about the plight of workers who have made the bricks for those buildings. Most of the workers working in Int-bhattha (brick-kilns) come from other states like Rajasthan, UP, Chhattisghath etc. They are covered by inter state migrant workers act but the irony is that not a single owner of the brick-kilns comply with the provisions of the act. As a result all the workers are deprived of all the benefits entitled under the said act. Government is not bothered about these workers and has never taken any action against the brick-kiln owners for contravening the law.

In support of their seventeen demands thousands of workers went on strike from 14 to 25 January 2010. The strike was total. On 15th January a mass meeting was held at Adalaj. Owners of Bhattha tried to stop the meeting with the help of local police but workers showed their strength and solidarity and turned up in meeting in big number. Workers held another major rally cum Dharna at income-tax circle on 19th January and submitted their demands to labour authority.

On 25 January after twelve days strike when management did not respond workers held a meeting at Prabha Hanuman Mandir, Adalaj decided to go back to their native place as they had no means of survival.

However brick manufactures did not allow them to return home as they were demanding advance money they had given to workers at the time of joining.
Brick-kiln workers Union moved to Gujarat High court through its advocate Mukul Sinha. It was argued that since they have no money to return to owners they are being subjected to bonded labour. Workers had also appraised Gandhinagar SP and other official about their condition but no action had been taken.

Taking a strong note of the plight of the brick kiln workers Justice Akil Kureshi Of Gujarat High court has directed SP and collector to visit brick-Kiln units in Gandhinagar district and submit a report about labourers' condition.

The court also asked officials to take steps if necessary for release of brick kiln workers who are subjected to working conditions similar to bonded labourers by brick-manufacturers .The matter has been posted for further hearing on February sixteen
But this wont be the end of struggle. The workers and their organizations are determined to carry through the struggle to achieve their goal of higher wages and better facilities.

HIGH COURT QUESTIONS SO CALLED 'DEPORTATION' OF ALLEGED 'BANGLADESHIS'

S.H. Iyer

A division bench of the Gujarat High Court comprising Chief Justice Mr. S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Mr. Justice Anant S. Dave, after preliminary hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Shri Rajesh P. Mankad of Jan Sangharsh Manch challenging illegal arrest, detention and deportation of the hutment dwellers near Chandola lake of Ahmedabad city by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Crime Branch on the ground of their being `Bangladeshi' nationals, directed the Government to file detailed affidavit on or before 8-2-2010. Division bench also framed the following the questions (1) When and why did the police arrest and detain the persons in question (2) Whether the Sessions Court or any other competent authority has passed any order of remand against the persons in question? (3) Whether the persons deported have been declared as Foreign Nationals by the competent tribunal under the Foreigners Act?

The petitioner Jan Sangharsh Manch had stated in their petition that on 23-4-2009 the SOG had arrested and detained several persons including men, women and children who were residing in hutments near Chandola lake of Ahmedabad city on the ground that they were citizens of Bangladesh . Out of 75 persons arrested, 27 were `deported' to Bangladesh on 25-11-2009 and 20 were `deported' on 10-1-2010. It was contended by the petitioner that all the persons arrested, detained and deported to Bangladesh are the citizens of India and that the police have handed over Indian citizens to a foreign country without any authority and sanction of law and without following the procedure prescribed by the Foreigners Act and therefore, the action on the part of the police was violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Further hearing of the case is fixed on 8-2-2010.