Volume 52 No. 13 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA (COMMUNIST) 10 Pages February 15, 2019 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE SHIBDAS GHOSH Price : Rs. 2.00 Red Salute Comrade C K Lukose PAGE TWO FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PROLETARIAN ERA RED SALUTE COMRADE C K LUKOSE Comrade C K Lukose, Kerala when he was an developing collec-tivism in the in the history of people’s movement Member of the Polit Bureau and engineering student at Kollam in the Party, transforming it into a well- in Kerala. Eminent personalities like former Kerala State secretary of late 1960’s. Since then he was in built organization. By conducting Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer came SUCI (Communist) breathed his last the forefront of the struggle to countless discussions on forward to lead ‘Janakeeya on 13 February 2019 at the Medical organize our Party in Kerala, fundamentals of - Prathirodha Samithi’ which organized College Hospital, Thiruvanantha- happily taking up the arduous Leninism-Comrade Shibdas Ghosh many victorious movements. This puram following a sudden cardiac struggle. He played a crucial role in Thought, he developed ideological movement contributed significantly to arrest. He was 71. He was under the struggle to face the difficult standard of the comrades by the growth of the Party. prolonged treatment for Parkinson’s situation created due to the providing them a strong Comrade Lukose inspired disease. untimely death of Comrade V. philosophical foundation. Carefully children to take up struggle to Comrade Lukose came Natarajan who was a prominent guiding the struggle of hundreds of acquire higher values and culture in forward to build SUCI (C) in organizer of the Party in its Party comrades in their personal life. With this aim, he initiated and formative years in life in the light of Marxism- nurtured state level children’s Kerala. Comrade Leninism Comrade Shibdas Ghosh camps. Today, after 25 years of Lukose was the Thought, he helped them to develop starting this movement, we witness Secretary of the as able organizers of the Party. He many of the members of the Kollam District travelled tirelessly throughout the children’s camps becoming full time Organizing Co- state to build the Party and its class organizers of the Party. mmittee of the and mass organizations. Under his He was also looking after the Party for a long dynamic leadership Party Tamil Nadu State Organization of time. Later in organization developed all over the our Party. Under his guidance Tamil 1988 he became state of Kerala. Nadu State Organization of the the Secretary of Comrade Lukose played a Party could achieve significant the Kerala State significant role in organizing progress. Committee of the AIUTUC, the revolutionary trade Even when his mobility was Party, elected in union of the working people. He was seriously affected due to prolonged the first state the Vice-President of the All India illness, he guided the Party on all Comrade C K Lukose with Comrade Provashda Ghosh, conference. His Committee and President of the important organizational matters and General Secretary, SUCI (C), last year. Standing on the Kerala State Committee of activities with his clear thoughts on back (right) is Comrade K Radhakrishna, Polit Bureau leadership was member. instrumental in AIUTUC. Under his able leadership, the basis of Marxism–Leninism people’s movement in Kerala thereby remaining as a source of attained a different character. He put inspiration to all comrades. At his Central Committee Mourns forward the idea of developing a new sad demise, we have lost a people’s struggle committee called prominent revolutionary leader of Sudden Demise of Comrade C K Lukose ‘Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi’ to working class in India. Deeply condoling the sudden demise of Comrade C K Lukose, fight against the ruinous policy of RED SALUTE distinguished member of the Polit Bureau, Comrade Provash Ghosh, globalization. It was a decisive step COMRADE C K LUKOSE General Secretary of the SUCI (Communist) issued the following statement on 13 February 2019: With deep sorrow and grave shock the Central Committee of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) , mourns the sudden demise of Comrade C K Lukose, member of the Polit Bureau of the SUCI (Communist), today morning at Trivandrum, due to cardiac arrest. Comrade Lukose who came in touch with the party and thoughts of the Great Marxist thinker Comrade Shibdas Ghosh during the 1960s completely dedicated his life for building up the party in Kerala. In course of his struggle in building the party he not only dedicated himself to the cause of revolution but also undertook the struggle for identifying himself with the cause of class, revolution and party. He built up and guided innumerable struggles of the downtrodden people and working class of the entire state of Kerala and thus became most beloved to them. He was elected as the state secretary of the Kerala party during the first state conference held in 1988 and as a member of the Central Committee at the second Party Paying Last Tribute to the Departed Leader Congress of SUCI (Communist) held in 2009, as well as at the third Party Congress held in 2018. Subsequently he was also elected as a member of the Polit Bureau of the Party. The Central Committee recalls with deep respect the revolutionary character acquired by him and the services rendered by Comrade Lukose to the cause of the people and to the party even when he was afflicted with Parkinsonism which gradually started restricting his mobility as well as his speech, but which could never douse his spirit or thinking in which he upheld higher concepts of revolutionary ideology, communist morality, culture and values till his last breath. His death is not only a loss for exploited masses of the state of Kerala but for the entire country too. Surely his outstanding revolutionary struggle and dedication will remain a source of inspiration to all involved in building of revolutionary movement throughout the country. Red Salute Comrade C. K. Lukose! The Last Journey PROLETARIAN ERA FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PAGE THREE Interim Budget of BJP Government Basketful of sops, freebies and sickening self-eulogy hide large scale economic offensives tearing people into shreds If a budget was supposed to post? According to the fifth annual workers, and then hopping from one the fallacious logic of increase in have a tag line, then the interim employment-unemployment survey place to another as migrant and EPFO membership, the interim FM Union Budget 2019 of the BJP at all-India level, about 77 (i.e. 3 out often slave labour. Ultimately, turned claimed in the interim budget that government presented in the of 4) per cent of the households are into street beggars, they are dying “There is an increase of nearly 2 Parliament by an interim Finance having no regular wage-earning/ on the streets like cats and dogs. crore jobs in two years reflecting Minister (FM) was best suited to this salaried person. But the government This is the reality of capitalist India. formalisation of the economy and job slogan— please vote for the BJP, is unfazed. Since the employment Then whose growth is being creations.” Once again, the interim please! The interim FM said that his scenario is so horrific, the BJP celebrated? The one percent super- FM contradicted the published report government has brought the country government had stopped publishing rich or the vast multitudes of and this time from the PF authorities “solidly back on track and marching job statistics from 2015 onwards. starving, jobless, roofless, semi-clad themselves. Only in last month, the towards growth and prosperity”. But much to its discomfort, Business and abjectly poor Indians? More EPFO revised down the net But if one takes a voyage along the Standard, an economic daily, wealth is amassed by the aforesaid enrolment numbers for September- objective reality, one finds the claim published a report based on a NSSO 1% super-rich, more impoverished, April from earlier estimate of 4.12 to be not just spurious but attracting survey withheld by the government. rickety and destitute are becoming million to 3.73 million. derision on the growing desolation As per that ‘leaked’ report, India’s the 90% countrymen. In such a and destitution of the toiling millions. unemployment rate stood at a situation, providing growth statistics The MUDRA logic As usual, in the finest continuity of whopping 45-year high of 6.1% in with much fanfare is nothing but The BJP government’s the past, not a single burning 2017-18. Centre for Monitoring mocking at the growing destitution of standard response to the jobs problem tearing people apart has Indian Economy (CMIE) had the poor and deprived. But then the question has been that there an been addressed. Instead, all bogus reported loss of 11 million jobs by interim FM had a ‘knock-down improvement is glaring in self- and bluffs have been bluntly one stroke following demonetization. argument’ at his disposal. He said in employment and one of the packaged to once again take people A survey of the Labour Bureau of Hindi that when there is so high an indicators of this is the high number for a ride. But interim FM Sir, central government has also economic growth, there must have of MUDRA (Micro Units “Sweet words butter no parsnips” confirmed drastic fall in jobs in eight been generation of lot of Development and Refinance nor could “a chalk be passed as existing labour-intensive industries. employments. Is it so, Mr. FM? Are Agency) loans disbursed to the cheese.” Your caricaturist pain to It also reported that more than half you sure about what you have needy. Parroting the PM, the interim feather your own nest has been of of India’s working-age population conjectured? Then why has the term budget of the interim FM also stated no avail. Any discerning person of out of labour force and the shortfall “jobless growth” become a byword that the “job seekers have become average intelligence can pull the in job market is around 8 crores. of capitalist economy today? job givers” because of MUDRA, wires with ease. So shall we, in a Periodic Labour Force Survey of Start-up India and Stand-up India precise way, without any pedantic NSSO shows that in 2017-18, jobs Fallacious reference to projects of the BJP government. He discourse or extensive number of persons capable of working have Provident Fund figures for also mentioned that under MUDRA crunching, unveil the harsh reality to decreased by 49.8%. claiming job creation Yojana 15.56 crore loans have been present the interim budget in the But that is not all. Referring to disbursed amounting to Rs 7,23,000 right perspective? Fake growth and false claim of a fallacious report, the BJP PM crore. Again, there is an overdose of job creation once boasted in an interview that his deception. Start-up is nothing new. It Harrowing scenario of Yet, the interim FM in his government had been doing a is just a rephrasing of ‘venture unemployment and job loss interim budget repeated the same splendid job by creating 55 lakh new capital’ scheme. Secondly, average The entire country knows that logic when he said that “High employments in 2018. Was it so? As size of 90% loans under MUDRA is there is appalling dearth of jobs. growth and formalization of the per EPFO, 36.8 lakh new members learnt to be just Rs 23, 000. Is this While there are no new employment economy has led to the expansion of in the age group of 18-25 were amount enough for a new job- opportunities in either public or employment opportunities”. Before registered in 2017. Extrapolating that creating venture and that too in a private industries, existing jobs are dwelling on the sharp anomaly figure, the PM boldly claimed that regime dominated by monopoly and also lost in large number with every between the claim of the PM and 55.2 lakh new jobs were created in big capital? Incidentally, Amit Shah, passing day. The vacancies FM and the published facts, the FY-2018. Incredibly credible claim the BJP President, had once claimed following retirement are concavity of the built-up hype of no doubt! Who does not know that that more than seven crore of extinguished. It is reported that the “economic growth” needs to be EPFO membership reflects MUDRA loans of Rs 10 lakh were BJP government has not even filled unfolded. Whose growth the ruling formalisation of jobs, not the made available. But RBI data more than 400,000 vacancies lying in circle and the ministers are talking creation of new ones? Moreover, showed that credit growth was 20 the central government offices. 23 of? Facts show that 1% super-rich companies with 20 or more percent and 7.7 percent respectively lakh applications were received own 73% of the country’s wealth. employees are now brought under in 2015-16 and 2016-17 (post even from doctorates and post- Mukesh Ambani, the richest Indian, the EPF scheme entailing increased MUDRA) is around the same level graduates for 368 posts of peons in has earned Rs 300 crores per day subscriber base of PF. Ironically, a or less than the pre-Mudra levels. Is Uttar Pradesh. In West Bengal, of last year. On the other hand, India is report of NITTI Aayog in 2017 it not that Shri Shah was just re- the 18 lakh applications received for home to 194.6 million observed: “Additions to EPFO categorising, re-branding an 5,000 Group D posts, there is a good undernourished people and third dataset need not represent new jobs. inventive renaming? Same Amit number of doctorates, post- highest number of people of the It can only be used to measure the Shah himself admitted that many of graduates and engineers. Over 2.8 world living in extreme poverty and extent of formalisation in the their pre-poll promises in 2014 were crore people applied for nearly ranks 100 out of 118 countries in workforce. But even this requires nothing but chunavi jumlas 90,000 jobs offered by the railways. Global Hunger Index. Everyday, adopting a new definition of formal (electoral gimmicks). So, all tall talks 4600 applicants including rank- lock-out notices are displayed at workers.” What does it mean? It about adding new jobs and tackling holder engineers and MBAs have various industries. Retrenched means that the government’s own unemployment problem efficiently by applied for 14 sweepers’ job in Tamil workers are committing suicide with NITTI Aayog disapproves making the BJP government are nothing but Nadu assembly. What do these entire family. Thousands of landless inane and meaningless claims about jumlas of highest order. In July show? Abundance or appalling peasants are migrating to the cities new jobs being created, using the 2018, PM Modi said that the shortage of jobs that compels highly in search of job, joining the army of EPFO and other such administrative problem was not a lack of jobs, but qualified people to seek a class IV urban unemployed and retrenched datasets. In spite of all these, citing Contd. on page 4 PAGE FOUR FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PROLETARIAN ERA Interim Budget 2019 Not a single burning problem of people’s life addressed Contd. from page 3 taxis as employment. But are these goods at retail comes, the indirect unbridled rise in prices is printing of rather, lack of data on jobs. What jobs in formal economy or last ditch tax component is included. Secondly, fresh currency notes only to finance lacks is not data but genuine job. resort to somehow eke out a there is a vast gap between retail budget deficits. This too is a closely livelihood? The interim FM, a few price and wholesale price because guarded secret. This increased What is meant by job or true months ago, shamelessly of rampant manipulation, hoarding supply of currency notes also employment? commented that people do have jobs and even black marketing. So, contribute to spiralling inflation. So It is pertinent to mention here but they want better job (ye dil claiming that inflation has been when the FM or the ruling circle talk that when the ruling quarters talk of mange more). By such comments, under control because of “prudent” of controlling inflation or having job or employment, they do not he and his colleagues only make economic policies is a bunkum. taken “anti-black money measures in mean gainful permanent themselves laughing stocks before Secondly, who does not know the form of Black Money Law, the engagement. When the PM claims the people and show how they that an astronomical sum of black Fugitive Criminal Offenders Act, and that many jobs have been created in derive spiteful pleasure in ridiculing money is in circulation. Anyone Demonetisation”, it is nothing but a non-conventional manner like self- people’s distress. With a view to conversant with the mode of hypocrisy par excellence. employment etc., he conveniently covering up this stark reality, an operation of capitalist economy is suppresses one glaring fact. Any inevitability in dying capitalism, the aware that it breeds black money So- called empathy with the kind of engagement cannot be called ruling BJP and RSS, its mentor, are day in and day out as the top devastated peasants employment. If a post-graduate now pressing the panic button of monopolists, big business, their In every budget, the incumbent accepts the job of an Ola taxi driver, Ayodhya repeatedly to replay the henchmen and the few privileged government customarily sheds he is grossly underemployed. Ram Mandir rhetoric from the merrily shield their real income and crocodile tears for the enormous Similarly, when the authorities random rabble-rousers of the arch recklessly evade tax by giving a slip suffering of the peasants since they equate ragpicking as a job, they only Hindu communal Sangh Parivar or to law with impunity. This huge constitute maximum number of expose their bankruptcy of playing the “reservation” card. black money also chase the goods in voters in the country. And each argument. A casual labourer or a circulation pushing up the price—a time, the government, irrespective of contractual appointment at an Budget suppresses menace of hidden factor that ministers, leaders which party of the ruling class it is awfully low wage is no employment. unbridled price rise and economists or commentators in run by, loudly announces some There are also many distressed Next issue wreaking havoc in the pay roll of the ruling bourgeoisie freebies or sops as if that is what the families where father, mother, son people’s life is unbridled price rise. would never disclose before the destitute peasants are entitled to. and daughter are all found to be Already plagued by progressively people. The ministers and ruling But when the next budget comes, it labouring 16-17 hours a day in plummeting income because of non- party leaders only claim in media is found that most of the announced arduous jobs. Father is working as a availability of any means of earning, glare that they are fighting and sops have remained on paper only. helper in a construction site on daily it has become virtually impossible unearthing black money. But all And because of not addressing the contract, mother and daughter are for the vast multitudes of oppressed these claims are hollow. The interim real issues that could give relief to working as housemaids while the masses to bear with this sustained budget boasts of having brought the peasants, their hardship has risen son is working in a tea stall as astronomical increase in the prices “undisclosed income of about ‘ manifold. This continuing saga has waiter. Yet, they cannot make both of essential items. But the 1,30,000 crore to tax, led to seizure been a cruel derision of the growing ends meet. Would one call this government and its pliant and attachment of assets worth plight and penury of the peasant drudgery as employment or an statisticians refuse to accept this approximately Rs 50,000 crore, and population in a country where 80% utmost toil to just stay alive? So, reality. Instead, they have been compelled holders of large cash of the population depends on when we say, there is no fudging data at will to show that currency to disclose their source of agriculture. The BJP PM declared employment, we mean no proper inflation is plummeting. The interim earnings. But all these are mere with élan that he would double the means for a livelihood. budget claimed that average inflation announcements with no back-up income of the peasants by 2022. The interim FM however feels has been brought down to 4.6% evidence. With almost the entire Even this interim budget 2019 also no obligation to answer these “which is lower than the inflation scrapped currency notes deposited has reiterated that. But how? That is questions. Nor does he feels during the tenure of any other in the banks after the much- the billion dollar question. necessary to clarify what prevents Government”. We do not know trumpeted demonetization drive, the If one looks for the answer the government to take proper what is the calculation sorcery that loud assertion that the measure was from the government or even in the concrete effort to provide people can turn an objective reality into aimed at breaking “the grip of pages of the interim budget, three with genuine employment. It is true unreality. corruption and black money” proved ready-made oft-repeated replies that in this dying phase of capitalism, So far we know, one of the to be outright hollow. A report would be found to feather the nest it is impossible to generate adequate factors taken into account for published in mainstream media of the government. First is number of true employment either in calculating inflation is the movement pointed out that not only did increasing the Minimum Support the cities or villages. Still, if the of Whole Sale Price Index (WPI). demonetization not achieve its Price (MSP), the second, providing government has rudimentary The government in 2017 revised primary objective of purging black a comprehensive crop insurance concern for the people, it can create the WPI by shifting to a new base money, it also did significant damage (Fasal Bima) and the third, ensuring some jobs by opening labour- year of 2011-12 from 2004-05 and to the Indian economy by squeezing availability of more institutional intensive industries in the public added a new WPI food index to incomes. And every informed credit to the peasants. The interim sector. But the bourgeois capture the rate of inflation in food person knows that none of the budget has talked of one more governments including the items. The WPI series had by that bourgeois parliamentarian parties project, “Pradhan Mantri Kisan incumbent BJP government are time undergone six revisions. Apart and their governments can touch Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” traversing just the other way. They from a new base year, the revision even a hair of the black money under which peasant families having are on a privatization spree and also includes change in the basket of holders comprising mostly the big cultivable land upto 2 hectares, encouraging emphasis on setting up commodities and assigning of new business, dishonest traders, would receive direct income support of a few capital-intensive industries weights. The data now has 199 new speculators, real estate giants and so of Rs 6,000 per year which would with minimal manpower items and 146 items have been forth. Why is it so? Because these get credited to their bank accounts. requirement. Moreover, they feel no omitted. In the new WPI series, black money holders are the chief Let us first take up MSP issue. qualm in mocking the distressed prices used for compilation do not patrons of the said parties and they The interim FM had claimed in his unemployed by dishing out rubbish include indirect taxes in order to only pull strings from behind to either interim budget that his “Government, arguments. The PM equated running remove the impact of fiscal policy. anoint them to power or keep them for the first time in history has fixed a street corner shop of cheap But then when the question of end afloat in the corridor of power. the minimum support price (MSP) of snacks (pakora) or Ola and Uber price at which the consumers buy Another factor behind Contd. on page 5 PROLETARIAN ERA FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PAGE FIVE Interim Budget 2019 What is missing is not data on jobs, but jobs Contd. from page 4 produce to the government are not covered under the scheme. soil quality, astronomical rise in input all 22 crops at minimum 50% more apparatus, the cheques received As per media report, while the claim costs including that of diesel used than the cost.” In more than one take months for being encashed. settlement ratio is only 6.61%, a for running shallow pumps, low article in the past—the latest one So, they are forced to approach the sizeable sum of money from the productivity, non-availability of being a month back—we have corrupt nexus and middlemen and public exchequer has been remunerative prices and loan unfolded the deceit. We repeat a release their crops at whatever price transferred to the insurance default. Added to all these are couple of points once more in the they get. The unscrupulous rice mill companies in the form of premium vagaries of the monsoon and natural context. First of all, the 50% more is owners in connivance with corrupt (huge increase in gross premiums, calamities like drought and flood. on the part of the weighted average officials often show purchase of say from Rs.5,490 crore in 2015-16 to Since no sign of any effective steps cost of production and not full. The one quintal (40 kg) on paper but pay Rs.22,550 crore in 2016-17 and on the part of the power that be to part taken into account for the peasants a price for 30 kg. One Rs.24,350 crore in 2017-18). Things give some relief to these immensely calculating MSP covers cost of time purchase of a quintal is rolled have come to such a pass that even distressed rural poor was seeds, fertiliser, hired labour, fuel, over 5 times to inflate purchase a renowned journalist like forthcoming, let alone mitigation of irrigation, insecticides, and above all, figure. These mill owners also Magsaysay award winner, P their hardship, there have been an imputed value of the unpaid confess in private that most of their Sainath, could not but comment on surge of peasants’ movements in labour of the family members that purchases are only in the books 19 November last that “the Pradhan almost all the states. Lest the went into the farming process. But because there is no system of Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will end peasants should turn hostile and what is left out is the balance cost ‘procurement audit’. Similarly, the up being a bigger scam than the move away from voting for the BJP, of imputed value of land rentals, government while creating so-called Rafael deal in terms of free the interim FM tried to calm them interests over working and fixed buffer stock procure rice by handouts to corporations.” through another hoodwinking capital, etc. which constitutes nearly collecting levy on the rice mill measure. He announced one half of the cost of production. owners. This levy becomes no Farce of providing increased “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Secondly, while much noise is made burden on mill workers who crop loan to peasants Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” under which on MSP, not a single word is uttered stockpile crops by defrauding the There is vending of one more farmer families, having cultivable about the most atrocious peasants and manipulating falsified notion. The interim budget land upto 2 hectares, will be procurement mechanism which is procurement books. One source had stated that “the crop loan to provided direct income support at geared up in every respect to not reveals that the peasants suffered a farmers has increased to Rs11.68 the rate of Rs 6,000 per year just deprive but plunder the poor loss of over Rs 2 lakh crores for lakh crore in year 2018-19”. That retrospectively from 1 December peasants. Who does not know that having not received MSP for seven means availability of institutional 2018. If a family has four members, the much-proclaimed government kharif crops like rice, soyabean, credit (means loans from banks, this so called income support would machinery lies virtually defunct and cotton, peanuts, bajra etc. last year. financial institutions etc.) to the translate into Rs 4 per day. What a highly corrupt nexus of Though MSP for peanuts has been peasants has gone up. First of all, would one call it? Gratis or administration- village touts- fixed at Rs 4,450 per quintal, the taking such undue credit is based on palliative? The promise of the BJP Panchayat functionaries-rice mill peasants had to sell their crops at a a big suppression of truth. Farm loan PM and his party colleagues about and cold storage owners-ruling party price around Rs 2,600 per quintal. includes construction of storage doubling peasants’ first by 2020 and leaders manipulates to procure the Sometimes, the cost of production as facilities — warehouses, godowns now by 2022 has proved to be such bulk of the crops at throwaway determined at the state level falls far and silos, market yards, cold storage a cruel joke that BJP could not but prices? Just the other day, it was short of the declared MSP. For units — and for soil conservation resort to introduction of this revealed that refusing to sell onions example, MSP of a particular variety and watershed development, seed ‘unprecedented income subvention’ at 5 paise per kg, the aggrieved of pulse is fixed at Rs 5050. But the production, bio-pesticides and plant in a tearing hurry just before peasants of Nashik in Maharashtra costs of production of that pulse in tissue culture, ancillary agricultural elections. threw their crops on the field and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and activities — such as agri-business the stray cows were merrily feeding Karnataka are Rs 5772, Rs 6841 centres, agri-clinics, food and agro- Overflowing concern for the on that. We saw similar action on and Rs 5800 respectively. So, this processing, to customer service workers the part of the frustrated and MSP is nothing but a hoax in units managed by individuals or If peasants are “taken care aggrieved peasants of Maharashtra, capitalist India where limitless institutions who maintain a fleet of of”, can the workers be “far Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West corruption, deception and deprivation tractors, bulldozers etc. Surely, these behind”? So far, the pro-monopolist Bengal, Tamil Nadu and other states rule the roost in agriculture. loans are not availed by the small BJP government has been earlier. Equally farcical is the much- and marginal peasants but the rich introducing one after another It is also known to all touted Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima peasants, kulaks and monopoly firms draconian anti-worker policies concerned that though the Yojana declared in the budget venturing in agricultural business. during its entire tenure, robbing the government claims to have earlier most of which is provided by Secondly, even Nitti Aayog workers of their hard-earned rights announced MSP for 22 crops, private insurers. Glaringly, because admits that institutional credit largely and virtually endorsing closure of whatever miniscule official of the lack of will on the part of the flows to rich and affluent farmers one after another industries and procurement takes place at MSP is government to help the peasants, and farms while the bulk of the large scale retrenchment. Now, on of rice and wheat only. The peasants flawed features, surfeit of needy poor peasants being unable to the eve of election, it has suddenly who manage to reach the exclusions of crops covered under comply with complex formalities of occurred to them that “something government machinery are often the scheme, hazardous operational loan disbursement knock at the door needs to be done for the given a token with a date (often procedures and rampant corruption of local moneylenders to borrow at unorganized workers”. These after a month) when the crops would of the delivery mechanism, the exorbitant interest. On average, one unorganized workers which be purchased. So the peasants need affected peasants hardly get any third of small and marginal peasants constitute 94% of the total to take back their produce and store benefit in case of crop loss. For (10.6 million out of 32.8 million) has workforce are mostly casual and it at home only to be brought again. example, the central insurance access to institutional credit as per contract labourers made to work Even the purchase does not always scheme does not include post- NSSO report. If that be so, why this under most hazardous unhealthy take place on the date of the token harvest and storage losses. It is not hullabaloo over increased credit conditions for a pittance. The interim but deferred again. Can the poor an income insurance but only a disbursement to agriculture? The FM has now brought a “game peasants afford the cost of two-way coverage of revenue loss. The peasants in India are plagued by a changer” scheme titled ‘Pradhan transport several times and also of scheme only insures against weather host of adversities—fragmented land Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan’ the storage? Moreover, even if they risk and not crop loss risk. Risks holding, lack of irrigation facilities, for the unorganised sector workers bear all hassles and sell their such as destruction by wild animals depleting water levels, deteriorating Contd. on page 8 PAGE SIX FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PROLETARIAN ERA RED ROSA, THE COMMUNIST EAGLE KARL LIEBKNECHT, THE VALIANT REVOLUTIONARY LEADER Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Execution

For the exploited and famous in the history of the downtrodden people of Germany, international working class 15th of January 2019, Sunday movement." Lenin conferred on her morning was a special day. On this the title ‘Red Rosa, the Communist day, a hundred years back in 1919, Eagle’ Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Lenin also credited the Liebknecht, two great uncompromising struggle of Karl revolutionaries who dissociated from Liebknecht. Lenin did not recognize the German Social Democratic the German social democratic party Party after its revisionist deviation headed by Kautsky though it was a and built up Spartacus League to big party enjoying mass support. uphold genuine Marxist line as But he recognized the Spartacus propounded by Lenin, were brutally League led by Liebknecht and Rosa executed by the then reactionary Luxemburg as it represented the German government under Friedrich correct Marxist- Leninist line of Ebert with the help of the remnants struggle though being a smaller of the Imperial German Army and party. Lenin had said: The most militias called the Freikorps. This outstanding representative of the As the revolutionary activities movement, immediately sprang to was one of the most horrific crimes trend of the true internationalists, in gained momentum the Tsarist the defense of Marxism. Brilliantly committed in human history. Germany is the Spartacus group to authorities became more vigilant and with magnificent drive, she To commemorate this tragic which Karl Liebknecht belongs…. arresting anyone whom they attacked the spreading cancer of occasion with deep emotion and Liebknecht alone represents suspected. To escape a possible reformism in her booklet, Social respect and learn from the life socialism, the proletarian cause, the arrest Rosa Luxemburg had to leave Reform or Social Revolution. She struggles of these revolutionaries, proletarian revolution. All the rest of Poland. She went to Switzerland, to fought for women‘s liberation and more than ten thousand people had German Social-Democracy, to quote Zurich, which was the most she emphasized, “The current mass assembled in Berlin amidst several the apt words of Rosa Luxemburg important centre of Polish and struggle for women‘s political rights odds. People flocked to Central (also a member and one of the Russian emigration. There she is only an expression and a part of Cemetery Friedrichsfelde in Berlin leaders of the Spartacus group), is a entered the university, studied the proletariat‘s general struggle for where the two communists were “stinking corpse”. (The Task of natural sciences, mathematics and liberation” buried, and laid wreaths or red the Proletariat in Our Revolution economics and took an active part in Originally being a member of carnations on the tombstones of CW, Vol 24) the local labour movement including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Rosa Luxemburg and Karl the movement of revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg was outraged Liebknecht before walking around Initial days of struggle emigrants. She was drawn when the SDP joined the war the monument sites established by Rosa Luxemburg was born on irresistibly to the centre of the efforts. Great Lenin provided the the former East German 5 March 1871 in a Jewish family in international labour movement, working class approach to imperialist government. The commemorations a small Polish town of Samos which Germany, where she made her way war. He fought against the social of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl was then a part of the Russian in 1898. Clara Zetkin later told about democrats like Kautsky in the Liebknecht are held every year and empire, while Karl Liebknecht came Rosa with reverence “With a will, Second International. The parties of the graveyard has become a symbol from Leipzig, East Germany. Rosa determination, selflessness and the 2nd International initially agreed of revolutionary struggles attracting began her revolutionary political devotion for which words are too to the communist approach to war. people from all over Germany and career at a very young age. At 16 weak, she consecrated her whole But when war broke out, Kautsky Europe. People across the world she joined a revolutionary party life and whole being to socialism.” and others readily joined their had organized memorial meetings, called ‘Proletariat’, which was bourgeois governments in the war protests, rallies to recall their great founded in 1882. While the Russian Relentless struggles against hysteria. Guided by Lenin‘s struggles. revolutionary movement was still compromising forces teachings Rosa had opposed the restricted to acts of individual In Germany, she continued idea of socialists fighting for their Great Lenin spoke highly of terrorism carried out by a few writing assiduously, and after a time own countries and said that this, in Rosa Luxemburg and Karl heroic intellectuals, ‘Proletariat’ was became one of the main contributors effect, would amount to fighting Liebknecht organizing and leading thousands of to the most well-known Marxist against each other. In 1913, she told If one were to write an workers in strike. In 1886, however, theoretical journal of the time for a large meeting: “If they think we unbiased history of modern Proletariat was practically which Karl Kautsky was its editor. are going to lift the weapons of Germany, it is simply unthinkable to decapitated. Four of its leaders She differed with Kautsky and murder against our French and ignore the great contributions of were executed, 23 others suffered fought him on different issues. In other brethren, then we shall shout: Rosa Luxemburg and Karl imprisonment and about 200 more the Social Democratic Party of ‘We will not do it!”. Along with few Liebknecht. Rosa Luxemburg was a faced banishment. Only small circles Germany’s women’s section she other leftists including Clara leading theoretician, outstanding remained, and it was one of these met Clara Zetkin, of whom she Zetkin and Franz Mehring she revolutionary and an extraordinary that Rosa Luxemburg joined. Soon made a lifelong friend. founded Die Internationale group. organizer. The great Lenin had said Rosa Luxemburg was recognized as At that time, the movement in This became the Spartacus “…not only will communists all over the theoretical leader of the Germany was split into two main League in January 1916. the world cherish her memory, but revolutionary movement in Poland. trends, one reformist and the other In November 1918, the her biography and her complete In 1894 the name of the party, revolutionary, with the former Hohenzollern monarchy was works will serve as useful manuals Proletariat, was changed to the growing in strength. The main overthrown and the war ended for training many generations of Social Democratic Party of the spokesman of this trend was Eduard allowing SDP to come to power. communists all over the world. Kingdom of Poland and shortly Bernstein. Between 1896 and 1898 Then a second major uprising broke ‘Since 4 August 1914, German afterwards to Social Democratic he wrote a series of articles openly out in January 5, 1919. Tens of Social-Democracy has been a Party of the Kingdom of Poland and attacking the principles of Marxism. thousands of people stormed into the stinking corpse’—this statement will Lithuania (SDKPL) when Lithuania Rosa Luxemburg, who had just streets of Berlin and began to make Rosa Luxemburg’s name was added it. entered the German labour Contd. on page 8 PROLETARIAN ERA FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PAGE SEVEN THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG Trump adviser Bolton admits US interest in Venezuela’s ‘oil capabilities’ The mainstream bourgeois media of the the usual lines, West have been extensively propagating that claiming the US while democracy in Venezuela is in peril under intervention in Nicolas Maduro, the elected President of the Venezuela’s domestic country, pitchforked opposition politician Juan politics was about Guaido backed by the US imperialists and their ousting an allies are trying to restore democracy. The US ”authoritarian” President Donald Trump even hastily and flouting leader and protecting all international norms recognized Guaido as the democracy and human country’s interim president and declared rights — but the Maduro’s presidency ”illegitimate” and called comments about oil for regime change. betrayed what many But now the cat is out of the bag. Trump’s have suggested is the top adviser, who has been branded the most underlying reason and fervent hawk in the administration, has admitted driving force behind that Washington has heavily invested in political the White House’s outcomes in Caracas particularly because of interference. Venezuela’s vast untapped oil reserves. Speaking Trump himself to Fox Business host Trish Regan, has a history of Bolton said that the US had ”a lot at stake” in arguing for regime Venezuela’s political crisis, specifically citing the changes in oil-rich country’s oil and the economic benefit it could countries around the bring to the US. During a separate appearance world, but only if US on Fox Business, Bolton was less explicit, companies benefit. telling host Stuart Varney that getting rid of “I’m interested in Pro-Maduro rally in Caracas, Venezuela on 2 February2019 Maduro was paramount since he was bringing Libya if we take the ”countries with interests hostile to ours” into oil. If we don’t take the oil, no interest,” he Maduro’s government has all through Venezuela and ousting him would be a ”potential told Fox in 2012 a month after the disastrous US- accused the USA of trying to engineer a ”coup” major step forward” for ”business” led NATO intervention which left Libya a failed and waging an ”economic war” against it. opportunities in the region. Bolton also repeated state. ”We’ll help you, but we want 50 percent [Source: rt.com 28-01-19 and Global Research of your oil,” he said of Libya in another dated 31-01-19] interview. Trump has also advocated a ”take the Below are given photos of anti-US oil” policy for Iraq in the past. Bolton isn’t the imperialist protest by people of India, as also only one to admit oil is a primary factor in US of Bangladesh. actions in Venezuela. Florida’s Republican senator Marco Rubio tweeted last week that refining the much-sought after heavy crude from Venezuela already ”supports great jobs” for Americans in the Gulf Coast.

Muzaffarpur

Jaunpur Dacca, Bangladesh

Chennai Bangalore Jamshedpur

Kolkata Adityapur New Delhi PAGE EIGHT FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PROLETARIAN ERA Interim Budget 2019 While prices are sky-rocketting, the budget claims lowered inflation Contd. from page 5 insecurity. How can it then be is the height of absurd pretence. ‘Ayushman Bharat’ health cover with monthly income upto Rs 15,000. assumed that they would continue to Moreover, the fund allocated for this scheme without spelling out if there This scheme stipulates that if an pay a monthly premium project is Rs 500 crores which is Rs is any rudimentary effort towards unorganized sector worker aged 25 uninterrupted? Secondly, if they 250 crore less than what has been improving the sagging primary and puts a monthly premium of Rs100 default paying premium in between, provided for the ‘ambitious’ secondary healthcare system. The onward, he or she would receive will the amount already paid be Rashtriya Gokul Mission to announcement of another AIIMS monthly pension of Rs 3000 after 35 forfeited? There is no clarification. protect cows. Another project does no good to the poverty-stricken years, i.e. from 2054. Hats off to Three years back, a similar Atal christened as Rashtriya Kamdhenu countrymen. Similarly, mere the fertile brains who have pension scheme was introduced by Aayog has also been announced for expression of pious wish of “building conceptualized such an ‘iconoclastic’ the same government. As per report, the cows. Clearly, the BJP a quality, science oriented social security for one of the most only 2.5 % workers have so far government thinks that cows are educational system with Institutes of downtrodden section of the society! enrolled themselves under that more precious and important than Excellence providing leadership at First of all, are these workers scheme. Thirdly, is there any system the wretched unorganized workers. the top” or increasing amount of engaged on a permanent basis? of tracking these workers? Any education loan is nothing but Answer is, no. Are they laid off or roaster, any enrolment register? Defence and railways parrying the question of deteriorating retrenched after some time? Once again, the answer is a big NO. For brevity’s sake, we have not education in the country. Answer is, yes. Do they stay at one Is there any definite step or method entered into the important areas like But significantly, the interim place? Answer is again, no. They in the offing to prepare such a healthcare and education that have budget speech cunningly mentions move from place to place as migrant register? Again it is a NO. Then been virtually left untouched in the that “Defence Budget will be workers and become incapable of how can such a scheme be interim budget except some crossing Rs 3,00,000 crore for the working even at mid-age because of operative? Only the experts in the cosmetic announcements. While first time and if necessary, inhuman toil, malnutrition and stable of the ruling dispensation can healthcare has been reduced to additional funds would be constant haunting by a fear of say that. To any sensible person, this singing praise in favour of Contd. on page 9 Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Execution Contd. from page 6 the challenge, and out of this battle of the proletarian class war, great German landed proprietors, the occupy the government offices and “defeat” they have forged a link in we stand on the foundation of those German capitalists and their press. Two days later over five the chain of historic defeats, which very defeats … The revolutionary executive committee… let us fight hundred thousand people began a is the pride and strength of struggle is the very antithesis of the these mortal enemies of all freedom. general strike. Rosa considered international socialism. That is why parliamentary struggle.” Let us fight for everything which the Spartacist uprising of January future victories will spring from this means the future triumph of the 1919 a mistake, but still supported it “defeat.” Liebknecht’s call working-classes, the future of when events started to unfold. By “Order prevails in Berlin!” You In course of his anti-war humanity and civilization.” (May this time the SPD leadership ordered foolish lackeys! Your “order” is built campaign during the First World Day Manifesto of 1916) the army and right-wing on sand. Tomorrow the revolution War, Liebknecht wrote: “The cry of paramilitaries, the Freikorps, to crush will “rise up again, clashing its “Down with war” signifies… that it Carry forward the glorious it. Charges of ‘committing high weapons,” and to your horror it will is the duty of every representative legacy of Rosa Luxemburg and treason’ were clamped on proclaim with trumpets blazing: I of proletarian interests to take part in Liebknecht Luxemburg and Liebknecht and was, I am, I shall be. the international class struggle for Under these conditions the later they were imprisoned. On the In that last editorial Order the purpose of ending the war…(we principles that Rosa Luxemburg and night of January 15, both of them Prevails in Berlin written by her need) a harder struggle, the Karl Liebknecht fought and died for were abducted, tortured and then and published on 14 January 1919 international class struggle against assume the greatest significance. In driven separately to the nearby she had added: “What does the the capitalist Governments and the the founding document of the Tiergarten Park and murdered. After entire history of socialism and of all ruling classes of all countries for the Communist Party written shortly execution, Liebknecht, shot in the modern revolutions show us? The abolition of all oppression and before her execution, Rosa head, was delivered to the city first spark of class struggle in exploitation by the institution of a Luxemburg wrote: “The words of morgue while the body of Europe, the revolt of the silk peace conceived in the Socialist are the Luxemburg was dumped into a weavers in Lyon in 1831, ended with spirit. In this class struggle the fiery writing on the wall above the canal. To hide this horrific crime, the a heavy defeat; the Chartist move- Socialist, whose Fatherland is the crumbling bastions of capitalist press subservient to the killer ment in Britain ended in defeat; the International, finds included the society; Socialism or Barbarism.’ German government falsely uprising of the Parisian proletariat in defence of everything that he, as a Today this question is being sharply propagated that Liebknecht was the June days of 1848 ended with a Socialist, is bound to defend.” posed once again”. shot while trying to flee and that crushing defeat; and the Paris (Liebknecht’s Reply to his Judge— Today, the communist Luxemburg was lynched by an commune ended with a terrible 03-05-16) He also said: “Poverty revolutionaries throughout the world outraged mob. defeat. The whole road of socialism and misery, need and starvation, are ought to recall the glorious struggle — so far as revolutionary struggles ruling in Germany, Belgium, Poland of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Rosa Luxemburg’s last known are concerned — is paved with and Serbia, whose blood the vampire Liebknecht, their determined effort words nothing but thunderous defeats. Yet, of imperialism is sucking and which to hold aloft the noble banner of The leadership failed. But a at the same time, history marches resemble vast cemeteries. The Marxism and their exemplary fight new leadership can and must be inexorably, step by step, toward final entire world, the much-praised against revisionism. In our country, created by the masses and from the victory! Where would we be today European civilization, is falling into as elsewhere in the capitalist world, masses. The masses are the crucial without those “defeats,” from which ruins through the anarchy which has this legacy should be embodied in factor. They are the rock on which we draw historical experience, been let loose by the world war… the revolutionary struggle that leads the ultimate victory of the revolution understanding, power and idealism? Our enemy is not the English, to ultimate overthrow of the will be built. The masses were up to Today, as we advance into the final French, nor Russian people, but the exploitative capitalist order. PROLETARIAN ERA FEBRUARY 15, 2019 PAGE NINE Interim Budget 2019 Organized conscious mass movement is the only course people can depend upon to wrest some relief Contd. from page 8 government for borrowing through also the middle class. LPG connections under the Ujjwala provided.” Clearly, the actual off-budget channels for financing Also to be reckoned with is Yojana, he suppresses the fact that amount has not been mentioned capital and revenue spending in the fact that in 2016-17, of that total it has never been free. The explicitly meaning that it can climb 2016-17 and for hiding the true one-rupee revenue, 30 paise was concerned households had to pay to any figure above Rs 3 lakh extent of fiscal and revenue deficits. estimated to come from indirect for the stove and certain other crore. Has anyone ever heard of It also strongly recommended taxes (comprising service and other ancillaries as well as the cylinders. such vagueness in stating budget disclosure of its rationale and taxes, union excise duties and With price of LPG skyrocketing, allocations? But then in a caricature objective to Parliament to increase customs duties). In 2018-19, budget almost all these households are back of democracy that has become the fiscal transparency. But what was estimates showed that the share of to traditional cooking mode. All these hallmark of decadent moribund done in 2016-17 is repeated in this indirect taxes (comprising GST and bear eloquent testimony to the capitalist system, anything and interim budget as well in total other taxes, union excise duties and extent of falsehood, suppressions everything is passed as “duly disregard to CAG’s advice. customs duties) in the total one- and distortions indulged in by the sanctified” by the trusted Secondly, the gross borrowing rupee revenue had gone up to 35 ministers on the floor of parliament. caretakers of the system. Equally programme is stated to be Rs 7.1 paise which confirms shifting of When the Congress was in power, crafty was the decision of the lakh crore as per media report additional burden on the common they also adopted same kind of interim FM to spend just two meaning further augmentation of people who pay the indirect tax as it deceptive policies and measures to minutes on Railways which is a national debt and increased is conveniently loaded on the retail befool the people. Similar is the core national property and is seized expenditure of debt servicing price of goods. That pushes up the case with all other regional with a host of problems like (interest payment etc.) retail price and the people shell out bourgeois parties. Because all these abysmal lack of passenger safety The interim budget had also additional sum to buy goods from the parties, at national or regional levels, and amenity, abject neglect of stated that Gross Tax Revenue market. are subservient to ruling capitalist punctuality, absence of maintenance would be Rs. 25,52,131 crore for class and hence are bound to indulge of both the bogies and the tracks, next year reflecting a growth of 13.5 Undergoing somersault and in the same kind of falsehood, rampant corruption and so forth. % over the previous year mainly on suppressing truth with alacrity deception and hypocrisy. But avoiding all these aspects account of anticipated improvement A couple of observations would which concern the countrymen, the in GST collections. Again this is show how adept the bourgeois People must rise up to resist FM patted on his own back by based on mere assumptions. What politicians are in undergoing While presenting such budgets saying that “Indian Railways has has been the track record? The somersault as per convenience. In packed with deceptive sops, freebies experienced the safest year in its expected collection on account of July 2014, Arun Jaitley while and hollow promises has become a history”—a claim instantaneously central GST that was Rs 6,03,900 presenting the first budget of the practice as a part of sinister disapproved by another big accident crore in the year 2018-19 is falling current BJP government stated bourgeois class design, there is hardly in Bihar just two days after the short by as much as Rs 1,49,000 clearly that the NDA was against any meaningful protest from the so budget which claimed 6 innocent crore of what Arun Jaitley, the FM “mindless populism”. “India,” he said called opposition including the lives. And it is also known that now on record, had predicted. The in a media interaction, “has to make pseudo-Marxists either inside the both passenger fare and freight Controller General of Accounts a choice between mindless populism House or outside. All their customary charges are now increased outside (CGA), way back in October 2018, and fiscal prudence…. the general protests are in issuing some benign the budget, as and when the suggested that the government was elections of 2014 have proved that statements or to the extent necessary government so desires. at a negative position vis-a-vis the you don’t need populism to win for electoral gains. Our appeal to limit within the April-October period, elections.” But the interim FM people is not to be carried away by A few words over how data are with the fiscal deficit at 103.9 per stated in his budget speech that such orchestrated propaganda, sops fudged and presented cent of the budget estimate. Other fiscal deficit targets have been and strewn freebies by the BJP and distortedly credible reports suggest that by sacrificed to make way for the other bourgeois parties. Nor should Not number crunching but November 2018 the deficit was Rs Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman they have any illusion about budget, certain gross anomalies in and 7,16,625 crore or 114.8 per cent of Nidhi without which “fiscal deficits whether it is of central government apprehension about the data the fiscal deficit target. Is then there would have been less than 3.3% of or a state government, which has furnished in the interim budget any basis of over-optimism of GDP this year and 3.1% for next been reduced to a farce now. They speech do merit mention. The enhanced GST collection in the next year”. Then where has the must acquire necessary political interim FM had said that fiscal year? GST collection shortfall will ‘prudence’ gone? Has it succumbed consciousness to understand how the deficit is limited to 3.3% of GDP. definitely translate into a larger to the compulsion of election or, to government bamboozles them with a But which GDP? Is it the current revenue deficit and then the be exact, drooling for pelf and surfeit of counterfeit promises. Let one as per revised methodology that government might have to force power? On the other hand, the so not the vote-merchants and death turned a figure of 4.7 to 6.9 RBI to part with its cash reserve— called march of India to become the merchants take them for a ride. Once overnight three years back by a an issue over which the conflict 5th largest economy and its again they need to realize the truth sleight of hand? Or the old GDP? between the RBI and the remarkable economic growth has a that it is only united conscious Here is the catch. If deficit is government had surfaced of late hidden story. According to a review democratic mass movement on expressed as a percentage to GDP, which even ended up in the by HuffPost India, a web news which they have to depend upon for the exact figure need not be resignation of the former RBI portal, the BJP government first protecting their life and thwarting to mentioned. 3.4% of the new GDP governor. Notably, while the sought to lobby the World Bank into the extent possible the gruesome figure is surely much more than that government has been rolling out a changing its methodology to reflect a economic-political onslaught of old GDP figure. So even if the long list of enhanced expenditure in better rank for India. When that mounted on them by the actual deficit figure is up, it can be future keeping an eye on election, it didn’t achieve any significant inhumanly oppressive capitalism and nicely camouflaged by presenting it is not disclosing the source from success, the government prioritised its agents. So, they need to close as a percentage to GDP. The which those would be funded. minor institutional and procedural their ranks in right earnest and Comptroller and Auditor General Naturally, the methods of deficit tweaks to game the ranking embrace the path of organized (CAG), in a report tabled in financing as referred to above would system. struggle under genuine revolutionary Parliament in January last, be resorted to bringing more Similarly, when the interim FM leadership to wrest their legitimate had admonished the BJP devastation not only to the poor but took pride in providing 6 crore free demands. RNI No. 13932/67 PAGE TEN FEBRUARY 15, 2019 P. R. No. KOL / RMS /145 / 2019-2021 SUCI(C) vehemently condemns the most SUCI(C) denounces the union interim budget as reprehensible act of vandalizing election manifesto of the ruling party packed in memorial tomb of great Marx hollow promises and fabrications Comrade Provash Ghosh, General Secretary, SUCI(C), issued the In a quick reaction to the interim union budget, Comrade Provash following statement on 9 February 2019: Ghosh, General Secretary, SUCI(C), issued the following statement on 1 It is reported in the Western media (, The CNN, The February 2019: Washington Post) that the memorial tomb of , the great leader The interim budget of the BJP government presented by its interim and thinker who laid the roadmap of emancipation of mankind from all Finance Minister should better be called “a document of election oppressions and repressions, at ’s has been campaign” of the ruling party. It is full of sickening self-eulogy, customary vandalized by hitherto unidentified miscreants early this month. We join vending of spurious dreams and fabricated data. Most importantly, it has the revolutionary proletariat of the world and the right-thinking not addressed any of the burning problems of people’s life but only sought progressive-minded people round the globe in vehemently condemning to misrepresent the reality with doctored statistics and unsubstantiated this most reprehensible act. Since no other graves at the cemetery had claims. Just two instances would be enough. While making a passing been damaged, it is evident that it was no random an attack, but remark about unemployment, the Finance Minister repeated the falsehood deliberately targeted against Karl Marx with a view to erasing his name uttered earlier by the Prime Minister that rising number of PF accounts – a foolish thought nurtured by the agents of reaction who are now visibly confirms increased creation of jobs. But it was revealed in the media that frightened at the renewed surge of Marxist movement and cultivation of the so called spurt in PF accounts is due to bringing in companies with 20 Marxism following more and more exposure of the cruel face of or more employees under its fold. Moreover, EPFO itself revised down ruthlessly exploitative capitalism-imperialism. It is pertinent to mention the net enrolment numbers from 4.12 million to 3.73 million. Everyone who goes to the market to buy items of daily needs feel the pinch of that despite political differences, Marx’s monument had so far been duly harrowing price rise. But the budget speech claims that inflation is preserved and maintained by the British authorities reflecting whatever reduced to just 4.4% and has eased living. Similarly, while referring to little remnant of democratic heritage is still prevalent in that country. But the Railways, not a single problem starting from increasing fare to lack this highly odious and cowardly act of desecrating the marble plaque of punctuality and safety has been touched upon. While the peasants are which was taken from Marx’s original 1883 gravestone and incorporated reeling under astronomical rise in the prices of agricultural inputs and non- into the present monument installed in 1954, shows that the last vestige availability of remunerative price, notwithstanding mouthful announcement of philosophical tolerance and democratic comportment has also vanished of increase in Minimum Support Price, the Finance Minister ended his from the British land since vandalism cannot take place without covert responsibility by giving a gimmick of providing cash incentive of Rs 6000 approval of the quarters of vested interest. per annum to the peasants meaning just Rs 16 per day—a total farce. History has shown time and again that such mindless vandalism and Our Party strongly denounces such a mockery in the name of budget criminal acts cannot even cause a scratch on, let alone defacing the presentation, using the platform of parliament for rolling out electoral place of profound reverence the great men of all time have carved out in agenda of usual bluffs and chicanery and calls upon the people to take note the hearts of the common people. So such dastardly acts seemingly out of the fine-tuned bourgeois deceptions purported to hoodwink them. of despondence would only firm up that place of veneration great Marx occupies in the minds of the oppressed millions longing to break the shackles of exploitation of man by man and prominently ring the death- An Open Letter to the United States: Stop knell of capitalism. We call upon all democratic-minded conscientious Interfering in Venezuela’s Internal Politics people to denounce this most atrocious act. In an open letter dated 24 and threatening level, with Trump January 2019, 70 noted scholars on administration officials talking of Latin America, political science, and “military action” and condemning history as well as filmmakers, civil Venezuela, along with Cuba and society leaders, singers and other Nicaragua, as part of a “troika of experts—from the USA, Latin tyranny.” Problems resulting from American countries, even Australia Venezuelan government policy have and Europe, including Noam been worsened by US economic Chomsky [Professor Emeritus, MIT sanctions, illegal under the and Laureate Professor, University Organization of American States and of Arizona], Laura Carlsen [Director, the United Nations as well as US law Americas Program, Center for and other international treaties and International Policy], Miguel Tinker conventions. These sanctions have Salas [Professor of Latin American cut off the means by which the History and Chicanoa Latinoa Venezuelan government could Studies at Pomona College] and escape from its economic recession, Greg Grandin [Professor of History, while causing a dramatic falloff in oil Communist Party of Pakistan New York University] demanded that production and worsening the the United States government must economic crisis, and causing many condemns atrocious state terrorism cease interfering in Venezuela’s people to die because they can’t get The Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) in internal politics, especially for the access to life-saving medicines. course of a statement had strongly denounced the atrocious broad daylight purpose of overthrowing the Meanwhile, the US and other heinous murder of Professor Arman Loni by beating him to death, in the city country’s government. They said that governments continue to blame the of Lorelai, Baluchistan and branded it is an act of audacious wicked state actions by the Trump administration Venezuelan government solely for terrorism. For the last 15 years, the CPP held, Baluchistan, Pakhtunkhwa and its allies in the hemisphere are the economic damage, even that and Sind provinces are controlled by the stiff military hand as on conquered almost certain to make the situation caused by the US sanctions. In such nationalities and brutal murders of innocent people including children by the in Venezuela worse, leading to situations, the only solution is a state security agency, clearly indicates that Pakistan, as a whole, has turned unnecessary human suffering, negotiated settlement, as has into a concentration camp for the have-nots. The so-called democratic violence, and instability. They also happened in the past in Latin setup is covetously used as protection shield by the fascist military observed that under the Trump American countries when politically establishment of Pakistan. The CPP appealed to all the left forces of administration, aggressive rhetoric polarized societies were unable to Pakistan to stop the state barbarism through unity, than waiting for each against the Venezuelan government resolve their differences through one’s turn of being murdered. has ratcheted up to a more extreme elections, they added. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : PROVASH GHOSH Edited & Published by Asit Bhattacharyya from 48 Lenin Sarani, Kolkata 700 013 and printed by him at Ganadabi Printers and Publishers Private Limited, 52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013. Phone : 2249-1828, 2265-3234 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected], Website : www.sucicommunist.org