COVER STORY

APRIL 2021 CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) Rs. 25 COVER STORY

MLAs Brutally Beaten Inside Assembly, Police Raj Act Passed The first use of the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021 was perpetrated inside the Bihar Assembly itself on 23 March. Shattering all rules and traditions of the constitutional and parliamentary system, police and goons entered the Assembly, brutally beat up opposition MLAs and pushed them out, after which BJP-JDU passed the draconian Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021 changing Bihar into a Police Raj. Earlier, when the Assembly session commenced on 23 March the Opposition started protesting against the Police Raj Bill. The session was adjourned a few times due to opposition protests, and proceedings were obstructed throughout the day. At 5 pm before the session was to end, a large number of RAF police personnel were called inside the Assembly on the orders of the Speaker and the government. Marshals were of course already present. The Bihar DGP, SSP and DM jointly oversaw the beating, kicking, fisticuffing of MLAs as they were pushed and dragged out of the Assembly. The SSP and DM were themselves among those who did the brutal beating. The entire Assembly was filled with police personnel and the Police Raj Act was passed in the complete absence of the Opposition. Journalists were also beaten up. Leader of CPIML legislative party Comrade Mahboob Alam's arm was twisted and wrenched. Comrade Sudama Prasad was pushed and shoved and he fell down the stairs, causing a serious finger injury. A CPIM MLA was so badly beaten up that he lost consciousness. A woman MLA's sari was pulled off. Some of those who perpetrated the beating up were in civilian clothes, probably BJP goons. In the past there have been clashes amongst MLAs inside the Assembly, but this is possibly the first instance in Indian parliamentary history when the police have beaten up MLAs inside the Assembly. It is forbidden to bring weapons into the Assembly, but the police entered armed with weapons. Now the only thing that remains is police firing inside the Assembly. 23 March 2021 will be recorded as a Black Day in the parliamentary history of India. Next day on 24 March there were protests inside the Assembly against this Bill by the opposition MLAs. CPIML MLAs attended the session wearing black bands and the day was observed across Bihar as Dhikkar Diwas (Day of Shame). CPIML held protests all over Bihar and burnt effigies of CM . In Patna activists condemned the shameful attack on MLAs and burnt the effigy of Nitish at Chitkohra. Protesters demanded to take back the unconstitutional and draconian Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021 which has been passed using police force beating opposition MLAs inside the Assembly immediately. CPIML Bihar Secretary and Polit Bureau member Kunal condemned the beatings and termed that day a black day in the history of India’s parliamentary democracy. He said this heinous crime explains clearly that the Nitish/BJP regime is taking Bihar towards a fascist state. The CPIML had expressed its apprehension of misusing the power if this Bihar Special Armed Police Bill 2021 was passed, and those apprehensions came true right on the day of its tabling and undemocratic passing inside the Assembly. The women MLAs were not spared and they too suffered same brutality. When MLAs are not safe inside the Assembly and they were not allowed to express their views on the draconian Bill, instead got beaten up and thrown out on the road, this is amply clear that after passing of this Bill what will be the plight of common citizens when police is given full immunity to perpetrate the attacks on citizens’ rights? Kunal asked to identify the attackers who were in civil dress along with the armed forces inside the Bihar Assembly, and also why the district magistrate of Patna himself seen to be pushing and attacking MLAs inside the Assembly?

Opposition MLAs conducted the Assembly session outside the Vidhan Sabha For the first time in the annals of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, in protest of the incidents of 23rd March all Opposition MLAs conducted the Assembly session outside the Vidhan Sabha on 24 March. A Speaker was elected to conduct the proceedings, and opposition was registered to the manner in which MLAs were beaten and pushed out of the Assembly on March 24. Many things are being witnessed for the first time in the Bihar Vidhan Sabha. This is the first time in its 100-year history that police entered the Assembly, and this is the first time that angry Opposition members conducted the session outside the Assembly. Despite blazing heat the session was conducted by the Opposition. Opposition members elected RJD MLA Bhudev Chaudhury as Speaker, and sat on the floor while he occupied the Speaker's chair and issued rules and regulations as the Speaker. Many members participated in the proceedings. CPIML MLA Satyadev Ram said that the beating up of members inside the Assembly was a very serious issue and demanded a discussion on the matter. All this took place while proceedings were on inside the Assembly and Ministers were going on without the presence of any opposition party MLA. The question hour was being conducted only with ruling party members inside the Assembly. And Maheshwar Hazari was being unanimously elected Deputy Speaker inside the Assembly. Outside, Bhudev Chaudhury was in the Speaker's role, he also had filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Speaker did not go inside the Assembly. With this protest Assembly, a new tradition was started in the history of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha by Opposition members conducting the proceedings of the session outside the Assembly. editorial Golden Jubilee of the Independence of

New Series Vol. 26 No. 12 Bangladesh MARCH 2021 CONTENTS

COMMENTARY Modi Regime’s Latest Assault on Federalism and Democracy ...... 5 DEBATE Saving WB from Fascist Takeover... 6 SPECIAL FEATURE Tightening Noose of Fascism...... 10 COMMEMORATION Muktir Gaan (1995) Chauri-Chaura Centenary ...... 23 Champaran Satyagrah, Swami Sahajanand & Farmers' Protest...... 27 of Cover

Editor-in-chief ndia’s eastern neighbour Bangladesh celebrates the golden jubilee Dipankar Bhattacharya of its independence on 26 March, 2021. The golden jubilee also Editor Icoincides with the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Arindam Sen Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh liberation war and founding President Editorial Board of the nation which successfully seceded from Pakistan in 1971. Separated Kavita Krishnan from India as East Pakistan in August 1947, it took less than twenty-five V. Shankar years for the new nation to attain its independence from Pakistan as the Sanjay Sharma bonds of language, culture and geography proved to be much stronger than religion and state-defined nationalism. The battle which began in Editors' e-mail: 1952 over the rights of Bengali language as the mother-tongue of the [email protected] people of East Pakistan grew into a full-scale national liberation war in two decades and led to the emergence of the nation-state of Bangladesh Art: V Arun Kumar defying the imposed integument of the state-nation of Pakistan. The emergence of Bangladesh vindicated the centrality of language in the Manager formation of national identities and remains an inspiring lesson for the Prabhat Kumar current of national liberation struggles. Phone: 7042877713 The international climate has of course undergone a sea change in Website: www.cpiml.net the last five decades. The liberation war of Bangladesh had received E-mail: [email protected] strategic support not just from India but also from the Soviet Union which 36 pages including covers had effectively nullified any threat of American military intervention. That was also the era of the Vietnam war and national liberation struggles Annual Subscription Rates and revolutionary upswings in many parts of the world. One could clearly India Rs. 300 see the ideological imprint of that climate in the direction chosen by the Abroad US$ 60 new country – , nationalism, secularism and democracy. But before the fledgling republic could consolidate the gains of liberation and Send M.O. or Bank Draft overcome the huge economic challenges of rebuilding the economy, a in favour of series of military coups and political convulsions gripped Bangladesh. Liberation Publications Sheikh Mujib and his family were assassinated, several of his cabinet Payable at Delhi to colleagues were arrested and later killed and the secular democratic U-90 Shakarpur, Delhi 110 092 orientation of the new republic suffered an early setback.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 3 editorial

Today much like the Indian Bangladesh – revolves around the time as voting begins in West state’s departure from the bogey of ‘influx of Bangladeshi Bengal and Assam. The attempt constitutional values and goals of infiltrators’ and the shrill cry to to mix up foreign policy matters secularism, democracy, justice, deport them. India’s Home Minister with domestic political calculations liberty, equality and fraternity, Amit Shah uses the word ‘termites’ can only complicate and distort our Bangladesh too is caught in a to describe the alleged ‘infiltrators’, foreign policy framework. serious crisis of democracy. Amidst with the inescapable inference The emergence of Bangladesh growing corruption, nepotism, that the country must be saved by was the most telling refutation chaos and misrule, fundamentalist exterminating these termites. of the two nation theory and forces and autocratic tendencies are on the rise. Elections are no the perilous project of defining longer considered fair and credible; The emergence nation and culture on the basis of dissenting citizens, writers and religion. It was a historic moment of artists are being persecuted and of Bangladesh affirmation of diversity and dignity in even assassinated; and the state democracy. It should be understood is unleashing severe repression was a historic as a permanent warning against the and surveillance to curb democratic absurd and disastrous implications rights. The democratic opinion in moment of of any attempt to reframe India’s India which had warmly supported plural mosaic as a monolithic and welcomed the liberation of entity, redefine multi-religious multi- Bangladesh fifty years ago and affirmation cultural India as a Hindu nation, and which is now having to resist a paint democracy with a majoritarian concerted fascist offensive at home of diversity Hindu-supremacist brush. For the wishes more power to the secular Sangh-BJP establishment, the 1947 and progressive democratic forces and dignity in partition of India is not a tragic past of Bangladesh to steer the country that we must transcend and never ahead towards the promised goal democracy. repeat, but an unfinished project of the liberation war. that needs to be reopened and In the domain of foreign policy, completed. On the golden jubilee the relation between India and of the emergence of our eastern Interestingly, the issue of this Bangladesh has generally been neighbour, we in India must resolve alleged infiltration does not figure friendly and peaceful. As the to have close friendly bilateral ties in the bilateral agenda of the two biggest country in South Asia, and learn from history to attain a countries. The NRC, which seeks India has the greatest responsibility better future. p to strip undocumented citizens of to maintain an environment of their citizenship rights, and the friendship and cooperation in the CAA which discriminates among region, and close Indo-Bangla bilateral ties are central to this undocumented citizens and regional perspective. The arrival of documented refugees on the basis the Modi government has however of religion, both use Bangladesh posed a new challenge to these ties. as a source of alleged illegal While the two countries still await infiltration and religious persecution amicable solutions to outstanding of minorities and fix statistical issues of border security, water targets of deportation of infiltrators, sharing, connectivity and trade, only to create a permanent state the discriminatory amendments of communal polarisation within made by the Modi government India and intimidate India’s own to India’s citizenship act have minorities. Incidentally, the reported created a major trust deficit. The itinerary of Modi’s forthcoming BJP’s entire political discourse in Bangladesh visit includes visit to , Assam and Tripura the shrines of the Matua community – Indian provinces bordering in Bangladesh around the same

4 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMENTARY Modi Regime’s Latest Assault on Federalism and Democracy

n the latest assault on federalism and the Nor is the Delhi Bill the only instance of the Modi Constitution, the Modi Government has introduced regime’s attacks on federalism. Other prominent Ia Bill in the seeking to drastically instances include the GST law; the attempts to misuse restrict the powers of the elected government of the Governor’s post to topple elected Opposition Delhi, and hand over all effective power Governments in states and union territories; the to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Governor in a state like West Bengal acting as a virtual The Government of National Capital Opposition leader, losing no chance to undermine the Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill elected State Government; the CBI raid on the office of 2021 defines “the government” as the Kolkata Police Commissioner; the Centre’s move the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, to suspend good trains to Punjab in response the State and requires the LG’s approval for legislature’s opposition to the three pro-corporate Farm all executive decisions and laws Laws; and the Delhi Police detaining Disha Ravi enacted by the State Legislature. and bringing her from Karnataka to Delhi without This Bill effectively seeks to reduce informing, let alone seeking the consent of the police the elected government of Delhi to a and judicial authority of Karnataka. cipher, and vest all powers in the LG Of course, one of the earliest and most glaring who represents the Central instances of the Modi regime’s assaults Government. The Bill on federalism was the is therefore not just abrogation of Article an assault on the 370 and the move federal structure to strip Jammu mandated by India’s and Kashmir of Constitution, it is an statehood and assault on the basic democratic split it into multiple union principle of elected representation. territories. It may be recalled that for The Bill seems to have been introduced to overrule the abrogation of Article 370, the Constitution of India 2018 and 2019 Supreme Court judgements which had required the consent of the Constituent Assembly of clearly and unambiguously restrained the Lieutenant J&K. It would have been stretching truth even to argue Governor from overstepping his powers beyond the that the elected Assembly of J&K could stand in for a ambit of police, public order, and land. Delhi has been Constituent Assembly. But in 2019 August, the J&K promised full statehood by and BJP alike State Assembly stood dissolved and the state had – though neither has delivered on its promise while no elected government. The Modi regime declared enjoying power at the Centre. Prime Minister likes that the Governor – the representative of the Central to preach “cooperative federalism” – even as he not Government – represented the will of the people of only refuses complete statehood to Delhi, but seeks to J&K and that his consent was enough for the Centre override the will of Delhi’s electorate simply because to abrogate Article 370. it has chosen to defeat BJP in the last two successive Unfortunately, parties like the AAP, TDP, BSP, Assembly Elections. AIADMK, BJD and YSR Congress which passionately It may be recalled that the freedom movement had defend the federal rights of states in which they enjoy successfully resisted attempts by the British colonial or hope to enjoy power, cheered on the Modi regime’s power to impose the Government of India Act 1935 unconstitutional, anti-democratic, and anti-federal because it sought to concentrate power in the hands abrogation of Article 370. The abrogation of Article 370 of the Governor General and the Viceroy. The Modi – cloaked in the legitimacy offered by these prominent regime is once again, acting like the British Raj, with regional parties - emboldened the BJP’s anti-federal the Governor being placed in the position of Viceroy drive and paved the way for the spate of assaults on over elected state legislatures. federalism that we are witnessing today.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 5 DEBATE

The Delhi Bill is not a matter of academic debate about some abstract federal principle. It directly attacks the rights of the voters of Delhi. It confirms that the BJP will not hesitate to use Central Government powers to punish voters who dare to elect non-BJP Governments. Can there be any doubt that the BJP intends to use the NRC-NPR-CAA corpus of laws also to control and penalise voters, by using the Central authority’s powers to disenfranchise and cast “doubt” on voters whom the ruling BJP sees as hostile to its interests? We all see how the BJP under Modi-Shah targets and even imprisons every dissenting or protesting citizen – whether they are a student, a farmer, a writer or a journalist– as “anti-national”. Now the BJP is curtailing the powers of entire elected state governments, by equating BJP’s political interests with those of the nation’s. Ruling class Opposition parties may be inconsistent in defending democracy – speaking up when their government is threatened but remaining silent against draconian and anti-constitutional laws, unlawful arrests, arbitrary abrogation of Articles of the Constitution. But the people of India must defend federal and democratic principles from every assault. The defence of federalism in Delhi can only be effective when it is joined with the defence of the entire spectrum of democratic rights in India. p

The Challenge of Saving West Bengal from Fascist Takeover: Liberation's Reply to PD Commentary

Political Observer

eople’s Democracy, the weekly journal of the CPI(M), Phas carried a political commentary in its 14 March, 2021 issue accusing the CPI(ML) of taking a ‘wrong turn’ in West Bengal. The same issue also contains a ‘PB communique’ issued by the CPI(M) Polit Bureau following its online meeting held on March 11, 2021. Apropos the forthcoming elections to the Assemblies of Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry and the Autonomous District Council of Tripura, the communique says ‘the while extending support to the main opposition alliance main focus of the CPI(M) shall be to defeat the BJP’. against the BJP and its allies. In Assam, CPI(ML) Why and where does the CPI(M) then think the CPI(ML) and CPI(M) are part of the same opposition alliance is going wrong in West Bengal? (of course, with the Congress going back on its seat sharing proposal in Karbi Anglong, CPI(ML) will be Let us first tell our readers the stand the CPI(ML) has independently contesting in the hill district). taken in these elections. CPI(ML) is not contesting in Kerala and Tripura and is extending support to the In West Bengal, the CPI(ML) is contesting twelve LDF in Kerala and LF in Tripura ADC elections. In seats independently. Lest anyone thinks the CPI(ML) Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, CPI(ML) is independently has broken ranks with the CPI(M) in West Bengal, contesting a few seats (12 in TN and 1 in Puducherry) let us make it clear that the CPI(ML) has never been

6 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) DEBATE part of the in the state ask the CPI(M) if it considers the one hand and a spate of populist and has never had any electoral Congress or ISF ‘better’ forces slogans and welfare schemes on understanding with the CPI(M) than the CPI(ML) to fight the BJP? the other. The migration of CPI(M) in the past even as the party has For the overwhelming majority of ranks and even MLAs towards generally supported LF candidates forces concerned about the real the BJP was initially seen as a in many elections especially after threat of the BJP coming to power response to the TMC’s terror as the 2011 when the LF has no longer in West Bengal, electoral strength CPI(M) was not considered to be been in power. Beyond the 12 seats is the crux of the matter. While in a position to offer any effective where the CPI(ML) is contesting, several opposition parties have resistance. But since 2016, the the party has openly declared openly supported the TMC against erosion of the CPI(M) base has support to Left candidates on all the BJP, the ‘No Vote to BJP’ assumed alarming proportions and those seats where they had won campaign in West Bengal and the in 2019, only one CPI(M) candidate in 2016 and where MLAs have not Sanyukt Kisan Morcha campaigning could save his deposit and the vote defected to TMC or BJP (as many against the BJP have left it open share dropped to single digits (7%). as 8 of the 32 victorious MLAs to the wisdom and choice of the Even as the experience of Tripura defected). Surely the CPI(M) can electorate. should have warned the CPI(M) in West Bengal, large sections of have no problem with this position. The CPI(M)’s real problem is the party in West Bengal got lulled Presumably, their problem is with with the fact that the CPI(ML) has into the ‘aage ram, pare bam’ (first the CPI(ML) position for the rest exposed and questioned the glaring Ram and then Left) trap. Even after of West Bengal, where the party shortcomings of the CPI(M)’s the alarming 2019 decline, there is has appealed to the electorate to tactical line and political role in no visible effort by the CPI(M) to defeat the BJP without specifying West Bengal at this very critical combat the suicidal “Ekushey Ram, any party or candidate to vote for. juncture for Indian democracy. It Chhabbishey Bam” (Ram – i.e. BJP Strangely, the PD commentary is not difficult to foresee how the in 2021, Left in 2026) formula. has interpreted this position as an BJP coming to power in West ‘indication’ that in ‘over 200 seats, Bengal would lead to a massive The PD commentary tells us that their [CPI(ML)’s] support is for the escalation of the Sangh-BJP fascist to draw the attention of the people TMC’! Does this mean that, in the assault (by the way, we never put in West Bengal you must first CPI(M)’s own reckoning, in over 200 the word fascist within quotation furnish your anti-TMC credentials. seats the electoral battle is really marks in this context, something Certainly, the CPI(M) is not to be between the TMC and the BJP? The the PD commentary routinely does found wanting in this respect! Yet if PD commentary then goes on to for reasons best known to the CPI(M) voters have been gravitating conclude: ‘It is unfortunate that the writer/editor). As a party which has towards the BJP as the stronger CPI(ML) is perversely considering been in power in West Bengal till and more viable alternative to the the TMC as a better political force only a decade ago and which had TMC, is it not time for the CPI(M) to to fight the BJP than the Left Front historically emerged as the biggest reconsider its approach and correct in West Bengal.’ inheritor of the communist base its course? Rather than anti-TMC and influence in the state built over How on earth does this conclusion credentials, the issue is the anti- decades since pre-Independence follow from the CPI(ML)’s stance? BJP edge of your campaign. The days, the CPI(M) cannot explain Even though CPI(ML) is not part PD commentary tells us that the away this alarming rise of the BJP of the Left Front or the larger CPI(M) is not underestimating the by just blaming the TMC. If TMC electoral bloc comprising the Left BJP or equating the BJP and the being in power is held exclusively Front, Congress and the newly TMC. Yet, every political observer responsible for the rise of the BJP launched Indian Secular Front following the CPI(M) discourse in West Bengal, by the same token (which apparently is fielding in real life can cite any number one could also hold the CPI(M) candidates in the name of some of statements and speeches by responsible for the rise of the BJP other party), CPI(ML) has supported CPI(M) leaders, and slogans raised in Tripura. LF candidates in at least two in CPI(M) rallies that equate the dozen seats while the CPI(M) The TMC reign in West Bengal TMC and the BJP. is not reciprocating this support has of course been marked by Since the TMC had joined the on a single seat. Shall we then terror, violence and corruption on NDA for some time during the

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 7 DEBATE

Vajpayee period, the CPI(M) wants The PD commentary reminds us by unprecedented price-rise, to treat the TMC as a virtual NDA that West Bengal is facing a State unemployment and corporate constituent even now. The fact is Assembly election. Of course, aggression, the rally posed the the TMC-BJP alliance never found it is an Assembly election and dethroning of the TMC as a more much resonance in West Bengal. In the state government must be important goal than saving West fact, the 2004 Lok Sabha elections held accountable. But we must Bengal from falling in the BJP's and the 2006 Assembly elections also remember that this Assembly hands. The pronouncements of marked the lowest point for both election is being held in 2021 the ISF, for which the rally virtually BJP and TMC, and the CPI(M)'s best when the Modi government is became the launching pad, seem Assembly performance happened in rapidly centralising all powers and is to be directed almost exclusively 2006. The PD commentary reminds trampling upon the Constitution and against the state government. us that as late as 2014, Modi the ideas of secularism, democracy The PD commentary has reminded had indicated TMC as a potential and diversity which are central to us that the TMC is no RJD. As ally. True, but real life took a our constitutional values. West a communist party playing an different turn. While Nitish Kumar Bengal is one of the last surviving independent opposition role we in neighbouring Bihar went back opposition-ruled states and the have had to pay heavy prices in to the NDA fold, the West Bengal BJP is desperate to conquer it. almost all our major states, whether government refused to follow that At stake is the inclusive ethos RJD-ruled Bihar, Congress-ruled course. Today when circumstances and progressive legacy of West Assam, BJP-ruled Jharkhand, or have driven even erstwhile NDA Bengal, and the BJP capturing even Left-ruled West Bengal. We allies like the and Akali West Bengal will further shrink have had to suffer any number of Dal away from the BJP, what the opposition space and dent the massacres in Bihar, but the 1993 purpose does it serve to bracket the federal framework in the country. Karanda massacre in Bardhaman TMC with the BJP? This is why the entire country in Left-ruled West Bengal and the is so keenly watching the West It is one thing to expose the TMC 1978 Hurua killings in Tripura were Bengal elections. To underplay the as an inconsistent force in the fight no less barbaric. We have lost extraordinary all-India significance against the BJP and establish the several leaders in political violence of the West Bengal elections at this Left as the consistent vanguard perpetrated by feudal forces and juncture can only be seen as a most in the anti-BJP battle, but it is an our political opponents in Bihar, unfortunate mechanistic response. altogether different proposition and also in Assam, Jharkhand to club the TMC with the BJP Indeed, it is the BJP which and West Bengal. Comrades Mani and even lump them together as desperately wants to keep the Singh, Chandrashekhar and Manju 'BJmool'. Even in the face of the West Bengal elections confined Devi in RJD-ruled Bihar, Comrade BJP's frenzied post-Pulwama 2019 to the state context. It knows that Mahendra Singh in BJP-ruled campaign, the TMC polled more today the clamour for change Jharkhand, Comrades Anil Barua than 43 percent vote share. Who are within West Bengal can primarily and Gangaram Kol in Congress- these voters? Large sections of the favour the BJP. The deepening ruled Assam and Comrade Abdul rural and urban poor population in communal polarisation and the call Halim in Left-ruled West Bengal West Bengal, millions of women and for giving a new party a chance were some of our most prominent arguably the majority of the state's are both working in favour of the and promising leaders who were Muslim voters. Many of them have BJP. The Left election campaign killed by our political opponents. been Left voters and supporters must challenge this BJP-promoted But this has not made us lose sight in the past, and even now they common sense of delinking West of the BJP as the principal threat to refuse to buy into the BJP's theme Bengal from the national context the Left movement and to the very of communal polarisation and and put the Modi government and foundations of democracy in India. corporate control. How does it the BJP squarely in the dock. But The key defining feature of fascist help to treat this base at par with the 28 February Brigade rally of forces worldwide is their politics of the sections of people who have the LF-INC-ISF combine conveyed unleashing hatred, discrimination already been lured and numbed by quite a different message. Even and violence by the state and non- the vicious communal campaign of against the extraordinary backdrop state actors against minorities and the BJP? of the historic farmers' movement, ideological dissenters. It is the BJP and acute economic crisis marked and its efforts to turn India into a

8 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) DEBATE

Hindu-supremacist nation that constitute the crux of the fascist danger to democracy in India. As an independent communist party, we played a consistent oppositional role in Bihar during the fifteen years of RJD rule in Bihar and the 34 years of Left rule in West Bengal. Yet we never helped Nitish Kumar after he joined hands with the BJP. In West Bengal we are the only Left party outside of the Left Front with no record of any cooperation with the TMC. You can recall no example of Mamata Banerjee thanking us when she came to power replacing the CPI(M). Today if she thanks us for our bold anti-BJP stand it only points to the totally changed context. And it is strange that while the PD mentions Mamata Banerjee thanking the CPI(ML), it says nothing about BJP leaders openly thanking the CPI(M) ranks for the help extended in 2019 with appeals for greater help in 2021. Today when West Bengal is in acute danger of an outright fascist takeover, as a communist party our primary concern is to save the state from this imminent threat. We had expected that post-2011, and more particularly post-2014, the political alignment in West Bengal would be conducive for the development and consolidation of a broader Left unity. But the CPI(M)'s focus on staging a comeback by stitching an alliance first with the Congress and now with the newly formed ISF has diluted the thrust on Left revival. The Left can only revive in West Bengal today by playing a powerful anti-BJP role on the ground. Unfortunately when Left and democratic forces across India expected the Left in West Bengal to discharge its historic responsibility as a bulwark against fascism, the CPI(M) is more obsessed with its anti- TMC credentials. We still hope the people of West Bengal will stall the BJP's 'double engine expedition' and rebuff its fascist offensive and the Left in West Bengal will be able to find its bold voice to surge ahead again as a champion of democracy. p

Resisting The BJP Threat In West Bengal: Examining PD’s Arguments Aishik Saha

he debate in Bengal over Ekushey Ram Chabbishey Bam on the national situation in the the identification of the is well known, and has been a 2018 party congress highlights Tprincipal enemy has elicited part of BJP’s strategic attempts this. However, competing with the a response from the CPI(M)’s at weaning away CPI(M) voters, BJP for anti-TMC votes is a losing mouthpiece. Let us examine but such slogans have been strategy altogether for the left. BJP the claims made by People’s overlooked by the CPI(M) itself. has weaponised this competition Democracy. Is this not an indication of the fact against the Left itself given its that CPI(M) is underestimating the superior money-muscle power It has been claimed that “Unlike threat of the BJP in Bengal? and its control over the union what the CPI(ML) alleges, the government and central forces. CPI(M) and the Left Front have PD goes on to further argue Over the past two years, tens if not not equated the BJP and the TMC. “The CPI(ML) is underestimating hundreds of news channels have There is no underestimation of the depth of popular discontent sprung up in West Bengal, funded the threat posed by the BJP in against the TMC regime. This is a by dark money aimed at propping West Bengal”. However its own state assembly election. If the Left up the BJP. The BJP isn’t just campaign does not bear this Front will not firmly, vigorously and another opposition party attempting distinction out. The term ‘Bijemool’ unequivocally fight for the defeat to win over a state. West Bengal has specifically been developed by of the TMC government, a large holds ideological significance for the CPI(M) in order to categorise part of this popular discontent will the BJP as a surviving bastion of this equation, and has been openly be garnered by the BJP”. There anti-fascism. While BJP has rarely used by CPI(M) activists. What is no denying that the BJP has targeted the TMC for its corruption explains this divergence between gained a lot of ground precisely or anti-democratic practices, it PD’s assertion and the reality of due to TMC’s corruption and has principally focused on TMC’s CPI(M)’s campaign? The slogan terror, in fact CPI(ML)’s resolution alleged ‘appeasement’ of Muslims.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 9 COVER FEATURE

Considering this election an Congress in 2016, when BJP’s TMC’ credentials that can only be ‘assembly election’ undermines rise in Bengal was not as apparent questioned by the intellectually the significance of this election. as today, instead of emphasizing dishonest. Especially when BJP is This election is a referendum on on a broader left unity. Then openly embracing corrupt turncoats the BJP’s attempt to enforce the too, the people found the logic from the TMC without having their NRC-CAA-NPR in Bengal as well of the alliance as unpalatable, commitment to fight against TMC as the ‘national’ character of the and resulted in the LF losing the questioned. It must therefore be ongoing Kisan Movement. position of principal opposition to realised that this election is not the Congress. being fought on the questions PD argues that the TMC is unlike posed by TMC but rather the ones RJD or SP, but fails to provide The people in Bengal are posed by BJP. The political party any class analysis to substantiate becoming aware of the BJP’s that will be able to furnish its ‘anti- its assertion. Perhaps it should unholy designs with every passing fascist’ credentials the best will be do well to remember the violence day, and the election is increasingly the one that will become relevant unleashed upon the cadres of becoming a battle against the in Bengal. CPI(ML) in Bihar during the 1980s BJP’s attempt to wrest Bengal. and 1990s. CPI(M)’s own allies The ‘No Vote to BJP’ campaign has Mamata Banerjee’s thanking of in the Congress had unleashed even involved political sections that CPI(ML) for highlighting the threat violent repression of adivasis have traditionally stood against posed by the BJP has led to a lot of during UPA I & II. In fact much any electoral participation. In ruffled feathers in the CPI(M). Yet like TMC’s corruption has opened both urban and rural areas these few questions were raised when up space for the BJP, it was the campaigns have found support Amit Shah thanked CPI(M) activists corruption and crony capitalism from a wide cross-section of after the 2019 results. In reality it of UPA I & II that allowed for the society. The uncertainty created hardly matters who thanked whom. rise of the BJP in our time. Once by the NRC-CAA-NPR process What matters is that PD assumes again this is not to suggest that the has also made people increasingly that a campaign to defeat the BJP CPI(M) should ally with the TMC, aware of the threat posed by the is automatically in support of TMC! but rather to highlight the fact that BJP and it is necessary that BJP Is this an admission that CPI(M) PD’s own logic doesn’t hold in this become unviable as a political will not present a serious fight case. party in West Bengal. against the BJP? p The LF had allied with the The CPI(M) has impeccable ‘anti-

The Tightening Noose of Fascism and the Rising Tide of Protests

Arindam Sen

ast month, Liberation governments in States have been archaic sedition law itself carried a cover feature using the sedition law and sundry and looking into issues Lthat showed how the other tools to book protesters and like growing onslaughts on Modi Regime and the silence critics and activists while freedom of expression and BJP/NDA encouraging communally insidious other fundamental groups like Kapil Mishra's Hindu rights as well as Ecosystem spread Islamophobia on the autonomy of and instigate violence. In this constitutional bodies article we would like to carry the like the EC and CAG discussion forward by questioning and the federal structure the constitutional validity of the of Indian polity.

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Sedition Law should be the charges were baseless and of sedition. It ruled that "the offence Immediately Abolished: made with malicious motives. of sedition cannot be invoked to Retired SC Judge Out on his campaign trail ahead minister to the wounded vanity of the government", adding further that The Indian sedition law (Section of the assembly elections, the the government couldn't put people 124A of the IPC) is a relic of the Prime Minister once again sought "behind bars simply because they colonial era when freedom of to divert attention from burning choose to disagree with the state speech was not considered as problems on ground and popular policies". important as it is today. It penalises protests around the country by a person who "by words, either launching a scathing attack on Around the same time, the spoken or written...excites or “international conspirators” bent on Supreme Court dismissed a PIL attempts to excite disaffection “discrediting India”. Without directly against former J&K Chief Minister towards, the Government"a. But taking the names of Disha Ravi Farooq Abdullah. The PIL alleged it is no longer exactly the same as and Greta Thunberg (but referring that Abdullah was conspiring to what it says in print. Because, as to the ‘toolkit’), Modi warned that “hand over” Kashmir to China as far back as in 1962, the Supreme the country will “respond to these he had "made the live statement Court in the Kedar Nath Singh conspiracies with all its might”. And that for restoring Article 370 he case had read down Section 124A, the ‘response’ came in less than a would take help of China". The saying a speech/piece of writing/ week. On February 13 the Delhi SC ruled that "expression of views call or slogan would be considered Police, which takes directions from which is dissent and different from seditious only if the police could Amit Shah, arrested Disha from the opinion of the government establish that it contained an Bengaluru, brazenly violating the cannot be termed seditious" and incitement to violence and directly due process of law. During her bail imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the led to an actual act of violence. So hearing they repeatedly harped on petitioners — Rajat Sharma and this is the law of the land today, the conspiracy theory floated by the Neha Srivastava, both belonging as reiterated by the apex court top boss while the pliant media , as to an organisation named Vishwa umpteen times. But the problem usual, sought to sensationalize the Guru India Vision of Sardar Patel is, oftener than not police officials ‘toolkit’ -- a term not so familiar with — when they failed to substantiate and magistrates have been ignoring the general public -- with an eye on the allegation that Abdullah was the redefined spirit of the law and influencing the trial. being helped by China and Pakistan acting on the dead letter on the However, the Delhi Sessions against India to speak up against statute books -- either because of the abrogation of Article 370. ignorance or, in most cases, under Court rejected both the charges: of pressure from the political bosses. Disha’s involvement with a ‘larger It was in this backdrop that conspiracy’ for inciting violence and Justice Deepak Gupta, who had The blatant misuse of Section 124A has faced stringent criticism Disha Ravi’s Statement when she in courts of law on two successive was Released on Bail occasions this March. In both cases [a] The US sedition law, rarely invoked, …my actions were pronounced guilty - not in the court of law, but on defines sedition as an act carried out "by flat screens by seekers of TRPs. …The immense outpour of love from force" (not just words spoken or written) against the government. And the UK -- the people gave me strength. I am grateful for everyone who stood by the country of origin of our sedition law, so to say -- abolished its sedition law me. The past few days have been beyond painful, yet I know that I am way back in 2009. The rationale was, as one of the privileged. I was lucky enough to have excellent pro bono the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice put it, legal assistance but what of all those who do not? What of all those “Sedition and seditious and defamatory still in jail whose stories are not marketable? What of the marginalised libel are arcane offences - from a bygone era when freedom of expression wasn’t that are not worthy of your screen time? What of those who face the seen as the right it is today. …Freedom of world’s brazen indifference? Although their physical forms are trapped speech is now seen as the touchstone of democracy, and the ability of individuals to behind bars because of our collective silence, their ideas continue to criticise the state is crucial to maintaining live on as will the united resistance of the people. Ideas do not die. freedom”. Clearly, under Narendra Modi India is going in the opposite direction, as And, truth, no matter how long it takes, always reveals itself. evidenced by the rising graph of sedition cases in recent years.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 11 COVERCOVER FEATURE STORY retired from the Supreme Court Global Watchdogs on pointed out that much of the decline last year, said in a recent interview Political Rights, Civil in democratic freedoms occurred with Karan Thapar from The Wire Liberties and Media after the BJP’s victory in 2014 and that Section 124A of the Indian Freedom in India put India in the same bracket with Penal Code should be “immediately states like Brazil, Turkey and the abolished”. And why? Because In April last year, the US USA, where “an accelerating wave it is used by governments to government’s Religious Freedom of autocratisation” (recall Georgi Monitor noted that religious create fear in the citizenry and Dimitrov’s description, made nearly freedom had improved globally but to prevent or throttle dissent and hundred years ago, about the singled out India for seeing a “sharp cases of its misuse are increasing prolonged process of “fascistization” downward turn”. Then in December, “exponentially”. within an apparently democratic India was ranked 111th out of 162 set-up) is taking place. The process Justice Gupta was asked if it countries in the Washington-based of autocratisation, it says, “typically was seditious or even a crime to Cato Institute’s Human Freedom follows a similar pattern across very talk to someone who champions Index 2020. Between the 2019 different contexts”. It begins with Khalistan or is a member of a and 2020 indices, our country ruling governments attacking the banned organisation and his plummeted 17 spots. media and civil society, followed clear answer was that its neither This year, “Freedom in the by polarisation of the society by i.e., not sedition and not a crime. World” -- the flagship annual “disrespecting opponents and He also said it was not sedition report from Freedom House, a spreading false information” and for journalists to tweet that they United States government-funded culminates in elections being had been told a protester on NGO -- lowered India’s status in undermined. As far as censorship Republic Day had died because the global ranking from “free” in is concerned, the Institute reckons he was shot, something the man’s 2020 to “partly free”. The latest that India is now as autocratic as is grandfather claims to be the case. report says, “Political rights and Pakistan, and worse than both its Even if the content of the tweet civil liberties in the country have neighbours Bangladesh and Nepal.” subsequently proved wrong, he deteriorated since Narendra Modi The international press is replete clarified, it could, arguably, be became prime minister in 2014, with with similar reports from several poor journalism but certainly not increased pressure on human rights other sources based in friendly sedition or a crime. organizations, rising intimidation of countries. Thus the World Press Finally, Justice Gupta was academics and journalists, and a Freedom Index 2020, published by asked, given that in 1995 the spate of bigoted attacks, including the Paris-based reporters without Supreme Court had ruled in the lynchings, aimed at Muslims … borders, ranked India 142nd (sliding Balwant Singh case that it was The decline only accelerated after two places from 140 a year ago, and Modi’s reelection in 2019.” not sedition to shout ‘Khalistan just three places ahead of Pakistan, Zindabad’ – something that Referring to the vilification of which now stands at 145). To put happened the day Indira Gandhi members of the Tablighi Jamaat it in perspective, India's rank was was killed and in a public place last year, the report observed, much better at 106 in the year 2006. – is it sedition for JNU students “The ruling Hindu nationalist In addition to data-based to shout ‘Bharat tere tukde tukde movement also encouraged the analyses and indexes, the rapidly honge inshallah inshallah’? His scapegoating of Muslims, who growing criticism of the Modi answer was that it would only were disproportionately blamed for government’s harsh treatment of be sedition if the police could the spread of the virus and faced dissenters, journalists and activists directly link this call or slogan attacks by vigilante mobs…” also comes in the form of more to an act of violence. He said The V-Dem Institute, an focused and issue-based initiatives. over three years have passed independent research institute The New York-based Clooney and no such evidence or proof based at the University of Foundation for Justice (CFJ), which has come forward. Therefore, Gothenburg, has observed that seeks to promote accountability for he said, he does not believe India is no longer an ‘electoral human rights abuses around the this is likely to be sedition. democracy’, classifying the country world, has announced it will monitor as an ‘electoral autocracy’ instead. It the trial of Kashmiri journalist Aasif

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Sultan, who has been in detention The unions blame “forces of UK and US Legislators for more than two years on terror neoliberalism” in India and the US Question India's charges. He had received the John for the sorry plight of small farmers Democratic Credentials Aubuchon Press Freedom Award in both countries and assert that from the American National Press what Indian farmers are enduring The Indian government came Club in 2019 and was featured in now happened in the US almost under fierce criticism in the House TIME magazine’s 10 ‘Most Urgent’ four decades ago: of Commons in early March for cases of threats to press freedom allegedly violating the freedom of “Reagan era furthered the farm around the world last year. journalists to report on the farmer crisis through deliberate federal protests and the alleged use of More recently, seven UN Special policy changes, with systematic brute force against protesters when Rapporteurs wrote to the Indian erosion of parity prices and British MPs debated a petition government seeking information on other deregulatory efforts. ‘Get on the topic which has garnered the factual basis of investigations big or get out’ has been our over 115,000 signatures. “The involving cases against human government’s mantra. Farmers UK government values its trade rights defenders and journalists in with the means to consolidate relationship with India, but it must be Kashmir including Parvaiz Bukhari, have been rewarded for growing broader and deeper than just trade, Khurram Parvez and Parveena monoculture commodities. Tribal it must also be about joint promotion Ahangar. nations and traditional producers of democracy, human rights and as well as small farmers who upholding international law,” said US Farmers and have always practiced or shifted Stephen Kinnock, Labour’s shadow Farmworkers Criticize to diversified agro-ecological minister for Asia. “Mr Modi does Indian Farm Laws farming have effectively been need to recognise the world is subsidizing the US agriculture watching”, he added. In February this year, as many as sector. It is rare for these food 87 farmers’ unions in the US hailed producers to make a living Even Conservative MP Paul the ongoing protests at Delhi’s without supplemental income. Bristow said the actions of the borders as “one of the world’s most Unsurprisingly, farm suicides in Indian Government in response to vibrant protests in history.” rural America are 45% higher the farmers’ protests had “crossed a line”. “Upholding the law should “Their rallying cry” the letter than the rest of the population…. never be allowed to slide into from the unions reads, “is to repeal While the U.S. agricultural authoritarian oppression,” he said. the three unjust laws that were sector receives inordinately The lone voice defending India passed without their knowledge large support compared to many amongst the 20 odd MPs who or consultation. We extend our countries, access to that support took part in the debate was that of solidarity to countless farmers who remains inequitable. In particular, Conservative MP Theresa Villiers. are peacefully and boldly standing Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian- up for their rights and dignity, with Pacific and other people of color Finally, Nigel Adams, minister for other farmers from across the producers, who lack secure land Asia at the foreign, commonwealth globe.” tenure and are concentrated & development office, responded in vegetable and small-scale to the debate saying “We look to The unions extol the virtues of cattle sectors, have been the Indian government to uphold MSP, noting that it is a key price excluded historically. Support the freedoms guaranteed by its signal to other traders, and ensures flows to larger agribusiness Constitution and international that farmers receive a fair price for farming operations instead of instruments to which India is party. crops. Drawing attention to the role the independent family farmers Whilst this is an exciting time for of the US government in pushing whose voices we amplify.” the farm laws, they say: “The US the UK-India partnership it does has been a key opponent of India’s “We have great respect for not hinder us from raising difficult limited use of MSP at the World the unified struggles the farmers issues.” Trade Organization (WTO). The and farmworkers of Samyukt A new report by the US Congress’s US, with Australia, Canada and Kisan Morcha have built, and non-partisan and autonomous European allies, has claimed that we stand with them,” the unions research service has taken a critical India’s MSP distorts trade.” announced. view of India’s handling of the

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 13 COVER FEATURE farmer protests, warning that New digital media platforms etc. governance. Delhi’s position on the ongoing has drawn flak from all who ● In Jammu and Kashmir the value privacy and freedom of stir could “present a challenge” panel for redrawing the expression. for the Biden administration as parliamentary and assembly it shapes its Indo-Pacific policy ● On March 15, the Centre constituencies has been given with India as a key partner. “By introduced the Government of a one-year extension, which some accounts, the crackdown on National Capital Territory of means assembly polls -- due dissent has been excessive and Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 since the BJP-PDP alliance reflective of a broader trend towards in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks fell apart in June 2018 -- authoritarianism in India,” said the to give overarching powers to would be further deferred as report. the Lieutenant Governor (L- they cannot happen until the G, who is appointed by the exercise is concluded. Clearly, Are these Baseless President on the Centre's the ruling dispensation is Allegations to Discredit our advice). According to the deliberately delaying elections Country? proposed amendments, because they know they will Yes, that is what the rulers would 'government' referred to in any face a humiliating defeat at like us to believe, although the law passed by the legislative the hustings. assembly would mean the L-G. criticisms are emerging from UN ● In an order aimed at checking The elected government will bodies and countries considered police brutality, the Supreme also be barred from making to be very good friends of India, Court had on December any rule that empowers it or its not from China or Pakistan. But 2 last year instructed the committees to take up matters the fact is, our experience over Centre, States and Union of day-to-day administration the past nearly seven years fully Territories to install CCTV or conduct inquiries into corroborate the observations made cameras in every police station administrative decisions. After by the comity of nations. The NIA and in the offices of central being rejected by the people raids and police atrocities, the investigating agencies such of Delhi in both assembly and indiscriminate UAPA and sedition as CBI, ED and NIA. The order municipal elections despite charges, the endless and limitless was not implemented and the the communal riots instigated violations of human rights and civil Court on March 2 pulled up by it, the BJP is thus trying liberties in Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre for “dragging its to grab effective power in the all across the country, fake news feet”. When Solicitor General national capital through a back and hate speech factories running Tushar Mehta argued that door. By handing over almost overtime - - the all too familiar doing so might have serious absolute power to the L-G features of fascist bellicosity are ramifications and sought extra from the elected Government part of our everyday experience. time to implement the court’s and legislature, the bill clearly A new stratagem, which affects order, the Bench headed by goes against the relevant not just media freedom but the Justice RF Nariman said, “We constitutional provisions and freedom of speech and essential are not concerned about the the Supreme Court verdict of communications of ordinary ramifications…This concerns July 2018. That unanimous citizens, is the frequent imposition the rights of citizens…We are judgement from a five-judge of bans on the usage of the internet not accepting the excuses.” bench headed by Chief Justice and social media. And almost Dipak Misra said, inter-alia, ● The findings of both V Dem every morning we wake up to hear that the L-G is bound by and Freedom House have about some new onslaught on the "aid and advice of the been fully endorsed and lives and livelihoods, privacy and Kejriwal government, which further substantiated by the dignity of the people. To take a has the public mandate" and Citizens Commission on quick glance at some grisly recent the elected government need Elections (CCE) which has developments, only to "inform" the L-G of as its members people like ● A new set of stringent rules its decisions and need not former Supreme Court judge for strengthening the Centre’s obtain his "concurrence" in Madan. B. Lokur, former Chief oversight on social media, every issue of day to day Information Commissioner

14 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COVER FEATURE

Wajahat Habibullah, Arun strike, specifically blaming perhaps for the first time in the Kumar and John Dayal while the VC, the Chancellor and history of RBI, a bureaucrat with many others including Harsh the founders of the university hardly any training in economics Mander, Paranjoy Guha for their failure to protect or public finance – one whose only Thakurta and Anjali Bhardwaj the university "from external qualification seems to be absolute contributed to preparing its political pressures". obedience - - was catapulted to various thematic reports. the governor's chair. The grateful ● According to a report The CCE believes that “the gentleman immediately handed published in Sunday Times decline” in India’s status to over nearly Rs two lakh crore from on the 7th of March, the ‘partly free’, “is due to the the nation's contingency fund to Comptroller and Auditor increased pressure on human the government and the lion's General’s reports came down rights organisations, rising share of this huge amount was from 55 in 2015 to just 14 in intimidation of academics doled out to big corporates in the 2020, a fall of nearly 75% and journalists, and a spate shape of various concessions and while defence audit report fell of bigoted attacks, including incentives. from eight in 2017 to zero last lynchings, aimed at Muslims.” year, raising concerns that No less scandalous has been ● The resignation, under the government’s financial the conduct of the Election political pressure, of accountability is not coming Commission -- one of the most Professors P B Mehta and under the CAG’s gaze very crucial constitutional bodies in a Arvind Subramanian is closely. This was revealed in parliamentary democracy like India indicative of a new low in a reply to an RTI application -- in recent years. During the 2019 academic freedom in our filed by the newspaper. parliamentary elections a series country. It reveals that the Former IAS officer Jawahar of “clean chits” were extended Modi Regime, after positioning Sircar quipped, “The last to Modi despite his provocative their henchmen in advanced two-three CAGs have not speeches that brazenly violated institutions that promote been very aggressive like the model code of conduct. For freedom of expression and Vinod Rai. In fact, they were instance, at a rally in Maharashtra, critical thought -- such as unusually lenient and soft.” Modi invoked the armed forces in JNU, Jadavpur University as Sircar added that even serious his speech while making an appeal well as central universities like issues such as the impact of to first-time voters. “Can your first Visva Bharati -- is desperately demonetization was not taken vote be dedicated to those who working for regimentation up by the CAG for audit. carried out the airstrike [and] to and saffronization of the the veer shaheed (brave martyrs) entire academic space. More Now, what Sircar said about the of Pulwama?” he said. The local significantly, it shows that CAGs applies equally to many electoral officers found Modi’s the academic freedom even other institutions and high officials. appeal to be “inconsistent” with the of the PM’s former economic Look at the RBI for example. Even poll watchdog’s instructions, but adviser Arvind Subramanian Urjit Patel, who was handpicked by the EC exonerated him. Earlier, and renowned author and Modi after a Governor of Raghuram it cleared Modi over another former Vice Chancellor of Rajan's stature was shown the speech in Maharashtra in which Ashoka University P B Mehta doors, opposed the government's he invoked religion. Election is far from secure. It is highly macabre endeavour to seize the commissioner Ashok Lavasa had encouraging, of course, that Bank's Contingency Fund. He also to register his protest and recuse distinguished academics and opposed the Centre's Electoral himself from the Commission's intellectuals from India and Bonds scheme through an meetings. abroad have lodged their amendment to the RBI act, on the strong protest against gross grounds that it could be misused Under the stewardship of the CEC, political interference in the through shell companies and the Commission is once again academia. Most important, "can subject the RBI to a serious helping the BJP by scheduling the the students in Ashoka reputational risk of facilitating forthcoming assembly elections in University have shown the money laundering transactions" . West Bengal in eight phases. This courage to launch a two-day So he too had to resign. And then, would allow Modi and other Central

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 15 COVER FEATURE leaders, on whom the party’s criticism not just for many of his Siddique Kappan’s habeas corpus election campaign is critically rulings in politically sensitive cases, plea, ruled that the Kerala Union of dependent due to the absence of but also for his highly authoritarian Working Journalists should have any marketable leader from within and disgraceful handling of an gone to the relevant High Court the state, to tour all districts and allegation of sexual abuse leveled instead of the apex court, adding most constituencies. All these against him by a lady working in that the Supreme Court was “trying have seriously eroded public trust the Court and, immediately after to discourage Article 32 petitions”. in the EC. retirement, for accepting the post To go beyond the CJIs, the Like a free press and credible of a MP. And now abysmal failure - - if not reluctance constitutional bodies, an we have a CJI who is constantly -- of the top court in seriously independent Judiciary is regarded on the limelight for all the wrong adjudicating the electoral bonds as a necessary component of a reasons. He earnestly followed case really poses a serious question free, just, democratic society. his immediate predecessors involving its institutional integrity or However, India's reputation on in condoning the huge human constitutional morality. In whose this score has been considerably rights violations in Kashmir. While dented since the time of CJI granting bail to Arnab Goswami interest is the Court refusing to Dipak Misra, who faced not just an who approached the top court prioritize this case over nearly four impeachment motion in Parliament under Article 32, he upheld the years even after conceding, during but, in a first, indictment by his right of a citizen to approach a short hearing in April 2019, that colleagues in a Press Conference. the apex court as a fundamental the case involved " weighty issues Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who claimed right under Article 32 of the which have a tremendous bearing a high moral ground in that press Constitution but, only weeks later, on the sanctity of the electoral conference, encountered harsh while hearing Kerala journalist process in the country"? p

Growing Repression Begets Stronger Resistance And at the End of the Day, the People Wins

o in our country the battle between electoral simply because they work for the downtrodden and autocracy and people's democracy, between speak truth to power, the few judges and the many Ssubjugation and freedom, between opacity activists, journalists, artists, intellectuals and others and transparency, between institutionalized oppression who go against the tide to reclaim and rebuild the and social justice, between majoritarianism and Republic. When protesting farmers observe Women pluralism, between good and evil is hotting up in Peasants’ Day, International Women’s Day, Human ideological, political and economic domains. On one side we find the extended Sangh Parivar and their cohorts within and beyond India, who not only wreak havoc from the corridors of power but, like termites (to borrow a term from a filthy politician who used it to describe Muslim infiltrators), eat into the very vitals of the secular democratic republic -- howsoever imperfect that may have been -- which we the people of India achieved at the cost of enormous sacrifices during the freedom movement. On the other side there is a much stronger army comprising farmers protesting against the three farm laws, workers and employees agitating against privatisation and the new labour codes, emerging icons of Young India such as climate activist Disha Ravi, dalit labour organiser Nodeep Kaur and her comrade Shiv Kumar, stand up comedian Munawar Faruqui and all those who are under attack

16 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COVER FEATURE

Rights Day, and fan out to different parts of the country on a campaign to defeat the BJP in the impending elections, when the ruling dispensation finds itself in a very tight spot both in economic and political terms and when convergence of various popular movements in different forms is visibly growing, there is every reason to hope that the coming months and years will be marked by bitter battles and hard-won victories. p

“It is time all democratic movements came together to expose this government.” The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), the biggest group among the 32 organisations, marked Human Rights Day by demanding the release of several democratic rights activists and intellectuals who are lodged in prison. The Union, which is camped near Delhi’s Tikri border at Bahadurgarh, hosted a function to show its solidarity with other democratic and human rights movements. In a full-fledged attack on what it called an “authoritarian” Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the farmer leaders asserted that it was time to stand with different democratic movements of the country, as their larger struggle was against “corporatisation” of Indian agriculture, and not merely against the contentious farm laws. “We are confronting a prime minister who is behaving like an exploitative king. All these activists and intellectuals have been arrested on false charges merely because they highlighted the plight of the poor, without bothering about their own safety. It is now our responsibility that we extend our support to them. That is why we are also demanding the release of all these intellectuals and activists, apart from our resistance to the farm laws,” Joginder Ugrahan, president of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), told The Wire.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 17 SPECIAL FEATURE Anti-Privatisation Day Observed All Over India

5 March 2021 was observed would put pressure on the Bihar especially to small and marginal as Anti-Privatization Day government to pass a resolution in farmers in response to the joint the Assembly against privatization. 1 ● Decrease in loans to MSMEs nationwide call given by central What are the consequences of and small businesses labour organizations and Samyukta rampant privatisation in various Kisan Morcha. ● Decrease in student education sectors? loans Bank employees went on two-day Banking Privatisation Bank Strike on 15-16 March against ● Increase in service charges Privatization of banks by the Modi The Modi government is handing ● More contract jobs instead of regime. The joint front of central over banks to the corporates who permanent jobs in the banking trade unions and federations and have already been looting banks sector the Kisan Samyukta Morcha have and are the biggest loan defaulters. ● End to reservation in bank jobs declared full support to the bank By defaulting on loans, corporations strike on 15-16 March, General have already been speculating ● More aggressive and violent Insurance workers' strike on 17 with people’s savings. Now, by tactics by loan recovery sharks privatising banks, the Government March and nationwide LIC strike Other, structural reasons are is allowing them a more direct way on 18 March. outlined below to do the same. CPIML and All India Central Private players in the financial Privatization of banks will result in: Council of Trade Unions joined sector fail and demand bailouts strikers at all major centres in the ● Control of corporate houses from public funds: Can we forget country. On 15 March 2021 the first over people’s life savings the the financial markets collapsed day of the 2-day bank strike called in 2008, caused by private players, ● Closure of rural bank branches jointly by bank officers' and workers' and bailed out by public funds? organizations against privatization, ● More risk in public savings None of the fraudsters responsible all CPIML MLAs in Bihar went and less interest on savings went to jail. Why should Indian to various banks in Patna and accounts banks be handed over to similar extended full support to the strike ● Decrease in farm loans irresponsible private parties? and gave the assurance that they

18 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) SPECIAL FEATURE

Private banks fail all the time: The today is plagued by crowded trains, 2020, of whom 16.84 percent and website of the US Federal Deposit cancelled services, and high fares. 7.81 percent, respectively, were Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — an The coronavirus pandemic further from the Scheduled Castes and independent body created by the exposed the fragile state of the the Scheduled Tribes. In a society US Congress to maintain stability network. Nationally, the use of ridden with caste inequalities, and public confidence in financial railway dropped from 100 percent the public sector, including the system — shows that in the 20 to 4-6 percentbetween April and railways, is seen as an equal years from 2001 to 2020, as many May, making it unprofitable for the opportunity employer. By privatising as 559 private banks with assets private players. The government its operations, its carriages, its of $721 billion failed in the US. had to spend £3.5 billion to keep routes, the Modi government will What happened to the depositors? the trains running for essential push the railways away from this It was the problem of the FDIC to services and workers. Several socioeconomic vision. bail them out. surveys have shown the British Yet, a recent small survey for public favour re-nationalising The principle followed by private this study by the author of train the rail network and pressure is banks is this. When they make passengers from Mysuru and profits, it goes to shareholders. growing on the government to Bengaluru found that while almost When they make losses, it gets do so. On February 7, the Welsh all of them were concerned about socialised and falls in the lap of Government brought back the the rising cost of travel, not many the government to make good the Wales and Borders franchise into were aware about the privatisation deposits either through insurance public ownership. Similar measures process underway. Some 60 percent or taxpayer bailout. are being anticipated elsewhere in of the respondents said they were the UK. Rail Privatisation not aware that private trains will Rail in India Rail privatisation has been a have only AC compartments, and failure in other countries – why is The Indian Railways is the lifeblood they will run only on the profit- India pushing it then, in a country of the country’s economy, moving making routes. where railways is the preferred people and goods at affordable Protest Against Steel Plant means of travel for the vast number prices every day. It has also Privatisation of Indians, who are poor? contributed significantly to the There was a Statewide Bandh in The British Example socioeconomic development of small towns and cities, enabling Andha Pradesh on 5 March against Excerpts from an article for the movement of labour and goods and Vizag Steel Plant privatisation. Centre for Financial Accountability linking manufacturing to markets. In Workers of the Steel Plant have (CFA) by Kavita Kabeer below. 2019-20, the railways ran 13,169 been on a relay hunger strike. In 1994, the British government passenger trains and 8,479 freight The protestors are raising the began a sectional privatisation trains on average daily, carrying slogan ‘Konadaniki Vadevvadu, of the network, leading to the 22.15 million passengers a day, Ammadaniki Vadevvadu Vishaka existing franchise system under before the pandemic. Ukku Andhrula Hakku’ (Who are which 25 companies, including The railways has vast landholdings, they to buy, who are they to sell? British Rail, operate trains across infrastructure and assets. As per its Vizag Steel Plant is Andhra people’s the country. Railway infrastructure 2019-20 yearbook, the railways right). such as tracks, signalling and owns 4.81 lakh hectare of land, stations is maintained by another Trade unions, left parties joined 12,729 locomotives, 2,93,077 company – Railtrack – while freight by members of Telugu Desam freight wagons, and 76,608 is operated by six others. Railtrack Party, the ruling YSRCP party passenger coaches. The railway didn’t always reinvest profits in the and other people’s organisations also runs hospitals, schools, and railway infrastructure, leading to held a massive rally as part of museums as a social obligation. a deterioration of the tracks and, the statewide bandh against the as a consequence, accidents. A The railways isn’t just India’s privatisation of Rashtriya Ispat public outcry compelled the British largest employer, it is a reasonably Nigam Ltd. (RINL), the corporate government to take over Railtrack’s equal employer. It had 12,53,592 entity of the Vishakhapatnam operations. The British rail network regular employees as of March 31, (Vizag) Steel Plant.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 19 SPECIAL FEATURE

AICCTU Team Visits Vizag : Workers From Bhilai & Bokaro Steel Plants Express Solidarity With Protesting Workers Of Vizag Steel Plant

A statement by AICCTU its policy, it is giving away the ● AICCTU stands in solidarity against the move to Iron ore to corporate companies with the struggling employees of privatise the Vizag plant is at throw away prices, granting RINL against the arbitrary decision mining permissions to private below: of central govt. companies, while on the other After taking steps to handover hand it is not allocating its own ● AICCTU demands to majority shares in different public mines as captive mines, to RINL immediately withdraw the decision and govt. sectors, like Defence, which is a Navratna PSE under of Disinvestment in RINL. Insurance, Banking, Petroleum, ministry of Steel. Airways and Railways, to ● AICCTU demands to streamline This move pushes the future of corporates, now it has come up with the mining policy, allocation of another destructive step to sell out lakhs of employees into insecurity govt owned captive mines to RINL, Visakhapatnam steel plant, which in the hands of private owners stop selling mined raw materials is providing employment to more and the decision has come at a than one lakh employees directly time where the future of workers at throw away prices to corporate and indirectly. VSP employs about of all other sectors is also pushed companies and secure the future 15,000 permanent and 20,000 towards despair by amending all of all employees of Vizag Steel. contract workers and provides the labour laws and bringing in ● AICCTU demands passing indirect livelihood to over 65,000 four labour codes. of a resolution in the floors of people. The plant thus supports VSP which became operational in one lakh jobs and about five lakh 1992 after the foundation was laid the assembly condemning Modi people – about a quarter of the in 1977 by the then prime minister govt and also to join the peoples Vizag city population, unions say. Indira Gandhi, after a prolonged movement against wholesale sell To give away the Vizag agitation in the seventies, when out. Steel(RINL - Rashtriya Ispat people rallied with a popular ● AICCTU calls upon the people Nigam Limited) to private players, slogan “Visakha ukku-Andhrula the government is blatantly lying hakku” (Vizag Steel is Andhra's to join workers movement to stall and claiming the plant is incurring right). The agitation has also the privatization of Vizag steel losses. At the same time, as per claimed 30 lives. plant. p

20 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) IN FOCUS India’s Draconian Lockdown: One Year Later

year ago on March 24 The Virus carriers of the virus into small towns 2020, the Modi regime, and villages. And finally, when the A report by the India Forum in the name of curbing lockdown began to weigh down A observes: the Covid-19 pandemic, imposed dangerously on the economy and a sudden and total three-week “When the lockdown was finally wearily on people’s morale, the lockdown with a mere four-hour lifted, infections and deaths Centre simply receded, passing on warning. The lockdown lasted started to rise sharply, with India the responsibility to the states to nine weeks. Millions of migrant in a few months becoming the cope with the aftermath, including in workers, left stranded, walked country with the second largest the poorly provisioned hinterland.” home, suffering starvation, heat number of infections. It also “As of mid-October 2020, India waves, accidents, and many dying turned out that neither the central suffered the highest number along the way. For India’s economy, nor the state governments had of Covid-19 deaths per million already staggering under the Modi used the lockdown to strengthen population in a select group of Asian regime’s 2016 demonetisation public health facilities on an countries (see image.)” blow, the draconian lockdown was emergency footing to cope with a virtual death blow. the spurt in infections that was 32 Million People Pushed to follow, though that was one of A year later, where does India Out of Middle Class, Into the unstated justifications for the stand? Was the lockdown Poverty lockdown. ... essential to control the spread of The US-based Pew Research the Covid-19 virus? How did the “In hindsight, the lockdown only Centre found recently that the lockdown impact India’s poor? created dangerous incubation number of Indians in the middle India’s middle class? India’s spots in the cities, and as workers class, or those earning between $10 richest? Liberation takes a quick scrambled to the safety of their and $20 a day, shrank by about 32 look. homes with the relaxation of million, compared with the number lockdown, they became unwitting that could have been reached in the

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 21 IN FOCUS absence of a pandemic. A year into the pandemic, the numbers of those in the middle class has shrunk to 66 million, down a third from a pre-pandemic estimate of 99 million, it added. The number of poor people, with incomes of $2 or less each day, has gone up by 75 million as the recession brought by the virus clawed back years of progress. Migrant Workers A news report, speaking to migrant workers in Delhi-NCR, found that “A year after the lockdown, jobs are not only harder to find, they pay less.” One worker said he only worked three months in 2020, and now having found a job, is “slowly trying to pay back Rs 35,000 in rent dues for his Rs 4,500-a-month single room in Sagarpur.” He has sent his two daughters home to his (Source: Damini Nath, ‘Migrant to hike income tax rates for super- village in West Bengal, where they workers face debt, job loss and rich and imposing a Covid-relief have dropped out of school. separation from families’, The cess of 4% for those earning above The same worker said that the Hindu, March 20, 2021) Rs 4 lakh. salaries being offered now were Super-Rich Grew Richer, According to Oxfam’s Inequality well below the around Rs 18,000 Poor Grew Poorer Report, India’s top 100 billionaires minimum wage for skilled workers saw their fortunes increase by Rs The wealth of the Modi’s crony set by the Delhi government. From 12.97 trillion — enough money to CEOs grew in the pandemic year: Rs 12,000 a month for 12 hours give every one of the 138 million Gautam Adani’s wealth more than of work, which is what he was poorest Indians a cheque for Rs doubled to $32 billion; Mukesh earning earlier, he says companies 94,045 each. In stark contrast, Ambani’s grew by a quarter to $75 were offering Rs 10,000 for the 170,000 people lost their jobs billion. same, and workers were desperate every hour in the month of April enough to accept even Rs 7000 or India’s top 100 billionaires 2020, the report points out. In fact, Rs 8000. had been able to preserve their the increase in wealth of the top 16-year-old Reena from Jhansi wealth during the year and “fewer 11 billionaires of India during the is now forced to earn through billionaires had seen an erosion pandemic could sustain the NREGS domestic work in Noida. She had to of their wealth than in 2019”. Yet, scheme for 10 years or the health drop out of school when her sister the Modi Government refused to ministry for 10 years. lost her job during the lockdown, hike taxation for the rich – even India Among The Ten Least and the family could not pay her as India’s poor and middle class Happy Nations of the school registration fees. continue to suffer unemployment, World 14-year-old Anjana has also had deprivation, hunger, and crises of to drop out of school and take up education and health. In April 2020, India ranked 139 out of 149 domestic work, because her daily the income tax department rejected countries in the World Happiness wage construction worker mother a report by a team of 50 young Report 2021, released by the UN is unable to find regular work and Indian Revenue Services (IRS) Sustainable Development Solutions cannot pay school fees. officers suggesting the government Network. p

22 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMEMORATION The Past That Shines A Light On Our Present

ndia’s farmers are several important chapter of the freedom Under the excuse of the Chauri months into a historic sit-in at struggle. Chaura rebellion, upper caste the gates of Delhi, and a historic narratives are being established. I March 11 marks the birth countrywide movement demanding Some historians gave also been anniversary of Swami Sahajanand repeal of three laws enacted by the roped in present hearsay as Saraswati – the pioneering leader of Modi regime to serve agri-business evidence to erase the sacrifice the Kisan Sabha, and the peasant corporations at the cost of India’s of the poor at Chauri Chaura, movement in Bihar. farming and food security. In the and instead establish the event midst of this, have fallen certain The Narendra Modi regime, of as the contribution of feudal memorable dates from the history course, tries with all its might to bigoted forces to the freedom of agrarian struggles in India. appropriate these historic legacies, struggle. and link them with various casteist 4 February 2021 marked the These deceptions began or communal narratives. But these centenary of the Chauri Chaura through the memorial and legacies resist such appropriation, struggle – an important chapter of celebrations. The Chauri Chaura because they are not “dead history”, the freedom struggle. memorial foundation stone was they live not just in the pages laid by Indira Gandhi on 6 April 2021 marks 104 years of the of the history books but in the February 1982 and inaugurated Champaran Satyagraha – a historic struggles of fighting farmers and by Narasimha Rao on 19 July peasant movement challenging Indians resisting Company Raj and 1993. Five years later a museum British colonial rule, another defending freedoms today. was established in 1998 but nothing was done to collect Chauri Chaura Centenary: material for the museum. There is another memorial Rescuing History From in Chauri Chaura to honour British soldiers who fired the Saffron Misrepresentation shots, inaugurated by Governor William Morris in 1924. Two Subhash Kushwaha “Chauri Chaura” memorials raise the question – why memorialise [Subhash Kushwaha is the the busts of the martyrs. When a soldiers who killed Indian freedom fighters? It would be author of Chauri-Chaura: Vidroh superficial refurbishing exercise better if the latter is shifted to Aur Swadhinta Andolan (Chauri- is undertaken but the errors the museum with a description of Chaura: Rebellion and the Freedom allowed to remain, then one must the British efforts to memorialise Struggle), Penguin 2014. His book assume these are now errors of those who committed atrocities. had pointed out the glaring errors commission not omission. Do in the memorial erected for the the errors serve a misleading In preparation for the centenary Chauri Chaura martyrs, and has narrative that helps the BJP, and the Memorial has been painted since then repeatedly asked the UP have they thus been allowed to outside but the condition inside Government to correct the errors. remains bad. The library on the remain?) In preparation for the big centenary ground floor is on its death bed. event at the memorial attended by The centenary year of Chauri The statue of a Sanyasi adorns PM Modi, the Yogi Government Chaura began on 4 February the entrance to the staircase but refurbished the memorial on the 2021. The ruling powers' it is unnamed. No one is able to outside, but even so has failed efforts are on to escalate tell who this Sanyasi is and what to correct the factual errors and jingoist nationalism through is his connection with the Chauri incomplete or misleading names on advertisements worth crores. Chaura rebellion.

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 23 COMMEMORATION

Playing Politics With Most of the Chauri Chaura martyrs s/o Hakim Kota. No person of Names of Chauri Chaura were from the oppressed and this name was martyred. British Martyrs backward castes. 16 out of the archives record the name of Lal 19 martyrs were from OBC/SC Mohammed, s/o Shri Hakim Shah 19 martyrs were hanged in the communities. Names of martyrs as one of the chief rebels. In other Chauri Chaura rebellion. There have been tampered with in order words, mischief has been played by should only have been busts of to erase the identity of the martyrs wrongly recording the name of one those 19 martyrs in the Memorial, from these castes. For example, the of the leading martyrs. but instead there are about 40 name on the bust of Bhagwan Ahir The bust of Dwarika Prasad statues. One of the statues is of (Yadav) reads just 'Bhagwan'. The Pandey s/o Shri Nepal Pandey Bandhu Singh who was part of the caste surname has not been added has been put up at the Memorial. 1857 revolt. This raises the question in any of the names of oppressed/ The Sessions Court verdict lists whether this Memorial is dedicated backward caste martyrs. Moreover, 'Dwarika Prasad s/o Shri Nepal' to the martyrs of Chauri Chaura or two busts (with surnames Pandey at Number 48 in the list of 225 to the memory of the entire freedom and Dubey) found a place among the names. He was awarded not death movement. It should be specified martyrs’ busts, when actually there sentence but life imprisonment and here that it was atrocities committed is no record of these two among the he died on 27-2-1981. Fourteen by a family relation of Bandhu Chauri Chaura martyrs. There is a Singh, Zamindar Babu Bandhu method to these “mistakes”. persons were sentenced to life Singh Bishunpura, that led to the imprisonment. When none of the One of the busts at the Memorial Chauri Chaura peasant upsurge. If other 13 have statues put up to is of Rampati s/o Mohar. There was it was necessary to put up statues them, the question is bound to arise no such martyr in the Chauri Chaura of 1857 martyrs at the Memorial, whether, by selectively erecting revolt. A list of 225 persons who they should be put up in a separate busts to one of them, complete participated in the revolt has been room, separate from the Chauri with caste surname, the aim is recorded in the Sessions Court Chaura martyrs. In Chauri Chaura’s to highlight Brahmin identity at verdict. context, Bandhu Singh’s presence the cost of hiding the sacrifices could give the wrong impression. Another bust is of Lal Ahmed of OBCs and dalits. The reality is

Dwarika Prasad received a life sentence - why is he alone Lal Mohammad bust misnamed at Chauri Chaura memorial singled out to join the martyrs' busts

24 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMEMORATION that efforts are being made to belie Factual Errors verdict gives a map of the rally the fact that Chauri Chaura was a route which I have reproduced at The historical write-up on a granite revolt fought under the leadership the beginning of my book. The High stone at the Memorial says that of lower castes. Court made it clear in its detailed Gandhiji came to Gorakhpur in verdict that the centre of the revolt One of the martyrs’ busts at the 1920, whereas a board at the was Dumri Khurd village and that Memorial is of Baldev Prasad cultural department of the Uttar the lower castes led the revolt. Dubey. The date of martyrdom is Pradesh State Archives gives the given as 2 July 1923. This date is date as 8 February 1921. This board Why is it then that instead of shown as the martyrdom date of shows Dumri village as the starting clearly stating 'Dumri Khurd village' the Chauri Chaura rebels. This is point of the rally on 4 February and the Memorial and museum both the only bust which does not carry says that the rally reached Thana mention just 'Dumri'? Here also the the father’s name. This has been gate 1.5 km away on 5 February. attempt is to delude and misinform. done in order to hide the accurate This implies that the rally took a Dumri village signifies Dumri Khas identity of the statue, so that no full day to cover that short distance. or Dumri Kala which was the village one can identify it as the statue of How come 4 February is accepted of Sardar Jagirdar. As Dumri and the Brahmapur zamindar Dubey as the anniversary of the upsurge, Dumri Khurd are 2 different villages who gave full help to the British in yet it is claimed here that the rally at a distance of 7 km from each nabbing the fighters. What message reached the Thana on 5 February! other, both villages should have is trying to be conveyed by putting been specifically and distinctly up the bust of a person whose name On the other hand, the history mentioned. does not figure in the Chauri Chaura inscribed on the granite stone upsurge, and who in fact betrayed makes no mention of Dumri Khurd The Memorial gives the date all the struggle?! Worse still is the fact village. What is recorded is the the martyrs were hanged as 2 that a bust of former MLA Shriniwas name of Brahmapur. The rally is July 1923, which is incorrect. The Mani and one of former PM Indira said to begin from Brahmapur, martyrs were hanged in different Gandhi have been included among which is nothing but a blatant lie. jails on different dates between the martyrs’ statues! Page 15 of the Sessions Court 2 and 11 July 1923. There is

Surname missing from Bhagwan Ahir bust There was no Rampati among the Chauri Chaura martyrs

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 25 COMMEMORATION evidence to prove this. I have protesting farmers. Gandhiji stopped the national Non- supplied evidence for the dates cooperation Movement and went on The Non-cooperation Movement in my book. These errors should a 5-day fast as atonement. Reacting was heralded in Dumri Khurd have been corrected. A program with displeasure, Subhash Chandra village on 13 January 1922. The should have been organized at Bose wrote, “Backing down when struggle for “Swaraj” that Gandhi Dumri Khurd, centre of the revolt, the people’s passion was at a had called for, began here with to mark the centenary year. But on boil is a great disaster for the picketing of feudal bazaars by 4 February the place was not even nation”. Jailed leader Deshbandhu farmers. On 1 February 1922 swept. Two of the leading martyrs, Chittaranjan Das bristled with anger Bhagwan Ahir (Yadav) was beaten Nazar Ali and Bikram Ahir (Yadav), and Nehru wrote from jail, “when up by the Daroga. On 2 February hailed from Dumri Khurd. I met the the agitation was called off after the a letter was sent to summon the descendants of both these martyrs Chauri Chaura incident, all leaders farmers of the Division and at 7 am on 5 February. Both appeared in the Congress except Gandhiji felt on 4 February volunteers gathered hurt at being ignored during the very angry.” in front of Bihari Pasi's home in centenary celebrations. The British Dumri Khurd village. The people In a debate in the House of government had made more than Commons, this upsurge that shook 30 people from this village accused remained fearless in the face the British Empire was likened to persons, and this fact itself should of threats by followers of feudal the French Revolution. have been acknowledged and dominant sections and marched honoured. on towards the Thana. Incited After the Sessions Court sentenced by Awadhu Tiwari, the Daroga 172 accused persons to death, the Instead of throwing away money on ordered bullets to be fired on the sentences were amended by the advertisements for the government, crowd about 3000-4000 strong. High Court (after efforts by Madan it would have been more fitting if Many farmers died. The bullets Mohan Malaviya): death by hanging this village had been honoured as were running short. When the for 19 persons; life sentence for 14; a revolutionary centre. people hit back with stones from 8 years for 19; 5 years for 57 and 3 Chauri Chaura Upsurge: the railway lines, the police were years for 20 persons. Who Were the Real forced to take shelter inside the Leaders of the Chauri Chaura Culprits? Thana. It was then that the Thana upsurge were Nazar Ali from building was set afire. 4 February 1923 (date of Chauri Dumri Khurd, Lal Mohammed from Chaura revolt) records a few A series of acts of repression Chaura, Bhagwan Ahir, Abdulla unforgettable pages in history were unleashed after that. The from Chudihar Tola, and Shyam where poor peasants, defying zamindars helped the police Sundar Mishra from Ramnagar. armed policemen and bullets, in the witch-hunt of farmers. Chauri Chaura In Popular set fire to the Thana. 23 soldiers They saved their own people Memory and constables including the and betrayed those they saw as Daroga were killed in the fire. The enemies. Sardar Harcharan Singh The upsurge has been poignantly colonial and ruling class narration managed the job of turning one of described in folk songs: of history talks of the taint of the the main volunteers, Shikari, into a Those who fired on us, the white 'violent Chauri Chaura crime'. government informer and witness. tyrants are burnt up, Looking back at the incident in Promoted by the zamindars, The raging fire burned 14 the Chauri Chaura centenary the cruel Deputy Inspector Englishmen, year, we see the role of the then Gupteshwar Singh was declared zamindars as the main cause of the The youth of Hind escaped from ‘Hero of Gorakhpur’ by newspapers revolt. This conflagration flared up the Thana like the Herald, eulogising his after the zamindars - Sant Baksh Vaishya gotra and condemning The sinful greedy white people Singh of Munder, his followers the oppressed and backward caste died, Raghubar Dayal and Awadhu men as hateful. Tiwari, Jagatnarayan Pandey and Those who are gone never to Harcharan Singh, manager of Holding Chauri Chaura to return. Sardar Umrao Singh from Dumri be a violation of the principle O mother, your children will go forth Khas – incited the police to fire at of non-violence by the “mob”, to seek justice.

26 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMEMORATION

Caste, Class, and Chauri farmer laws. Awareness about the of the local MP/MLA, Municipal Chaura Russian Bolshevik revolution had Chairman, and even petty political reached villages through soldiers office-bearers were put up. No one The communities that played a returning from WWI. The people remembered Dumri Khurd village main role in the Chauri Chaura were looking to the ongoing Non- in the centenary year of the Chauri revolt hailed from Dumri Khurd and cooperation Movement to give them Chaura revolt. This is the ugly truth Chaura villages. British archives self-rule. They were invested in the of the Chauri Chaura centenary describe them as low castes: “The idea of liberating themselves from programs. persons affected were largely tenants and agricultural, many of feudal and colonial rule, not in any Till today most of the martyrs' them from low castes.” The High abstract principle of “violence” or families have not received any Court in para 4 of its verdict in the “non-violence.” pension. Descendants of martyrs case Abdullah et al vs Sovereign Centenary Event Insulted have no houses to live in. Abdullah's wrote, “Most of them came from the Martyrs grand-daughter Suburtun has lowest strata of society.” The High migrated from the village for lack Court judges called Raghubir Sonar If the ruling powers really wanted to of means of livelihood. Oppressed “a person of good social position” honour the valour of these farmers, caste martyrs' families have because of his higher caste in they would not have displayed been ignored and neglected, comparison with the other accused cutouts of zamindars' progeny in the while imposters have been given persons. Clearly, the “low” caste centenary programs. Cutouts of the pensions. This is an unfortunate of the Chauri Chaura fighters was martyrs were not visible anywhere, and condemnable state of affairs, a major factor accounting for their and the name of Dumri Khurd village especially in the centenary year of vilification as a violent, barbaric found no mention, whereas cutouts the Chauri Chaura upsurge. p mob. The following is a caste/class-wise Champaran Satyagraha: classification of the 225 persons tried by the Sessions Court: Erased Histories 26 Muslims; 21 Chamars; 29 Kewats; 24 Bhars; 21 Pasis; 18 [As in the case of Chauri Chaura, significant memoirs, diaries and Yadavs; 17 Kahars; 16 Kurmis; the “official” centenary celebrations correspondences of the better 6 Kalwars; 4 & 4 Teli/Barai/Bind/ of the Champaran Satyagraha known leaders of the movement Lohar; 2 & 2 Lunia/Mallah/ Dhobi/ erased and manipulated history to have either omitted or downplayed Kundu; 1 & 1 Kamkar/Koiri/Bhuj/ suit ruling class interests. Excerpts some of the significant names Khar/Pathera/Rajbhar and Gusain; from a write-up by historian associated with the Satyagraha. Not and 10 persons from Savarna upper Mohammad Sajjad in the May 2017 only this, such accounts have also castes. issue of Liberation.] tried to conceal certain important facts about the class/profession Thus we see that the Chauri In 2017, the provincial government characters of some of the leaders. Chaura revolt was a result of of Bihar chose to celebrate centenary anger due to atrocities by local of the Champaran Satyagraha. By For example, the Collected Works zamindars. The resonances with funding a lavish academic seminar, of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG), today’s ongoing farmers' movement it also chose to commemorate some vol. 15, deals with Gandhi’s stay can be found in the Chauri Chaura of the leaders of the peasants as in Patna and Muzaffarpur, on his revolt. After World War I, when well as the companions of Gandhi way to Champaran in April 1917; the poor were groaning under the who was persuaded to intervene subsequently, in January-February burden of skyrocketing prices, a into the issue; such sarkari events 1929, once again Gandhi recollects war tax was imposed on the people. also felicitated some of the heirs the details of his initiatives and Farmers were being evicted from of the peasant leaders, who have correspondences about the their lands because they were remained relatively lesser known Satyagraha of 1917, and gives unable to pay taxes or offer 'gifts', in the better known books on the details about all these in CWMG, similar to what can be expected history of Champaran Satyagraha. vol. 44. In both these accounts from today's pro-corporate anti- This is despite the fact that the as well as in his autobiography,

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 27 COMMEMORATION there is no mention of Batakh than writing for the religious identity Champaran Satyagrahaa. Why Miyan Ansari (1867-1957), who he could be identified with, he chose did Gandhi and his companions, had saved the lives of Gandhi, and to fight for his class identity. This in the upper caste urban advocates of Dr Rajendra Prasad, who was itself awaits historical exploration of Patna and Muzaffarpur, as well accompanying Gandhi in 1917 even while some of the towering as the likes of Shukla, leave the to Champaran. This significant nationalists have largely chosen suffering peasantry of Champaran episode finds no space whatsoever to almost erase him out of the in the lurch? Why did Gandhi and in the accounts of Rajendra Prasad, narratives. Acknowledgements of the Congress choose to target not even in the memoir, My Times: the roles played by the peasant the European Indigo planters of An Autobiography, of Acharya J. B. leaders like Shital Rai, Haribansh Champaran, but leave out the more Kripalani (1888-1982) which was Sahay, Sheikh Gulab (1858-1943), exploitative Opium zamindars? written in the 1970s, long after the Sheikh Rajab Ali, and many such Thus, erasure of such poor British had gone, and was published, leaders remain inadequate even subaltern people from ‘official’ in 2002. Pir Mohammad Ansari in the proverbial footnotes and accounts, endures even during ‘Munis’ (1882-1949) has been margins. the official centenary celebrations. acknowledged by Rajendra Prasad, Even the more acknowledged name One may defend it by arguing that very sparingly, and by Gandhi not of Rajkumar Shukla (1875-1929), all these erasures in 1917, and in at all. Munis, (son of a toddy seller, raises some serious questions as 2017, happened unwittingly. But named Fatingan Miyan), managed to why did the accounts of Gandhi, how strong would such a defence to get a smattering of education in Rajendra Prasad, Kripalani, etc., really be? Nagri-Hindi. That was an era when conceal the fact that Shukla was a primary and secondary education in The peasantry, the disadvantaged moneylender who earned around Persian was almost a mainstream. and oppressed classes and the 1600-2000 a month from interest Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) and progressive forces need to recall the out of the money-lending. This is a many more of such figures went histories of Champaran Satyagraha fact stated by Shukla himself while to maktabs and received their and of the Naxalite Movements deposing before the enquiry which education in Persian. Despite this in these ways rather than being was conducted by Gandhi himself. fact, from the late 19th century deceived and cheated by the official Incidentally, even in the sarkari onwards, the Hindi-Urdu dispute celebrations where erasures of the felicitation of 2017, the government acquired overtones of a Hindu- brave histories of the subalterns of Bihar once again forgot to call the Muslim conflict as well. In this and of the exploited sections and heirs of Batakh Miyan. scenario, Munis emerged as a Hindi their leaders are being perpetuated writer and graced the sessions of A few more questions emerge as consciously now, as it was in the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Rather about the historiographies of the colonial era. p Remembering Swami Sahajanand: Excerpts from Flaming Fields of Bihar

[At a time when feudal forces the changing course of the peasant participate in the Non-Cooperation seek to project Sahajanand struggle in Bihar and of the process Movement in large numbers. Saraswati as a “Bhumihar” icon leading to the radicalisation of the By 1925-26 the two wings within the representing feudal values, rather Kisan Sabha. Swami Sahajanand Mahasabha—the ‘moderates’ led by than recognising him as a radical Saraswati, alias Navrang Rai, of Sir Ganesh Dutt, a big landlord and peasant leader who leaned left, Ghazipur district of UP, had initially a British puppet and the ‘extremists’ Liberation reproduces excerpts joined the Bhumihar Mahasabha led by Sahajanand—parted ways. profiling him from The Flaming in an apparent bid to buttress the Soon Sahajanand's ashram at Fields of Bihar (the document Bhumihars’ claim to Brahminical Bihta near Patna became the focal published by IPF in 1986).] status. But he did not stop there and point of the peasant movement in The evolution of the ideas of was soon found encouraging the Bihar, attracting not only Bhumihars Sahajanand provides a glimpse of younger generation of Bhumihars to but tenant farmers of other castes

28 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMEMORATION as well. Sensing the gradual celebrated intellectuals like Rahul tenancy laws to ameliorate the lot of shift in Sahajanand’s direction, Sankrityayana and Nagarjuna the kisans'. …But despite all these the Bhumihar rich landowners on the one hand and Congress attempts on the part of the landlords stopped subscriptions. But this Socialist leaders like Jaya Prakash and the Congress, the Kisan Sabha only confirmed Sahajanand’s Narayan, Rambriksha Benipuri, continued to grow from strength to suspicion that caste associations Ganga Saran Sinha, Awadheswar strength. Estimated at 80,000 in and donations given for caste and Prasad Singh and Ramnandan 1935, the membership of the BPKS religious purposes are essentially Mishra on the other. But the rose to 2,50,000 by 1938. devices by the rich to control organisation remained basically In April 1936 the All-India Kisan organisations and to thereby centred round Sahajanand and his Sabha (AIKS) came into existence protect their landed and trading close associates like Jadunandan and the BPKS became its foremost interests and generally continue Sharma, Jamuna Karjee, Karyanand provincial unit. The initiative was their supremacy rather than for any Sharma and Dhanraj Sharma. taken primarily by the CSP leaders, altruistic purpose. The very foundation of the BPKS in N G Ranga being the prime mover. It is interesting to note that 1929 was marked by the dropping of Sahajanand was named president the original purpose behind the the proposed tenancy amendment. of the first meeting of the AIKS held formation of the Kisan Sabha was This was construed by the peasants at Lucknow, but he had reservations not to promote peasant struggles, as a significant victory and proved regarding its formation as he felt that but to prevent the eruption of to be a tremendous morale-booster in the absence of well-developed tensions in the countryside. As for them. And then came a series provincial units the national Sahajanand himself later admitted: of stirring political and economic organisation could not possibly play My sole object in doing so (setting events—the Civil Disobedience any effective role. Once involved, up the Kisan Sabha) was to get Movement, the Great Depression, Sahajanand. however, extended grievances of the kisans redressed and Provincial Autonomy—and the total support to the AIKS and worked by mere agitation and propaganda Kisan Sabha grew from strength to wholeheartedly for it, but his doubts and thus to eliminate all chances of strength on the crest of these waves. were proved undoubtedly right. clashes between the kisans and the But if these events of national and Afterwards, he also cooperated zamindars which seemed imminent international significance provided with Subhas Chandra Bose in and thus threatened to destroy the right external atmosphere, the organising the Anti-Compromise the all-round national unity so Sabha drew its strength basically Conference against the British and necessary to achieve freedom. Thus from within, from the scores of the Congress, and subsequently I began the organised Kisan Sabha struggles in which it led the peasants during the Second World War he as a staunch class-collaborator. of Bihar. One can rightly say that the worked with the CPI. Though in BPKS was more a movement than the last few years before his death While the Bakasht issue lay an organisation. on 26 June, 1950, Sahajanand unresolved, in 1929 the government dissociated himself from the proposed to introduce a bill to Meanwhile in 1934 Sahajanand Communists, too, he remained a amend the Tenancy Act which, broke away from Gandhi, having resolute representative of the rural if passed, would have adversely followed him for no less than 14 poor, and his faith in ‘class struggle affected the interests of the tenants. years. Following this, the Congress as the only method to liberate the It was at this juncture that the Bihar grew rather hostile to the Sabha and oppressed masses from the many- Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) was sought to obstruct its growth by all folded slavery and subjugation’ formed at the annual gathering of possible means. While the Kisan that was prompted by his early the peasants during the Sonepur Sabha was leading the peasants encounters with the landlords fair in 1929 with Sahajanand as in militant struggles defying several remained unshaken. the president. Among its numerous firings, countless lathi-charges and local activists were Jamuna Karjee, thousands of arrests and trials, Initially the BPKS took little note Jadunandan Sharma, Karyanand the Congress government that of the internal differentiation within Sharma, Dhanraj Sharma, Kishori assumed office in 1937 was busy the peasantry, relying more on rich Prasanna Singh, Indradeep Sinha, negotiating an agreement with and upper-middle peasants in the Bhogendra Jha and Sheel Bhadra the zamindars who offered their name of representing the entire Yajee. They were later joined by ‘help and cooperation in instituting peasantry. By 1941, however, the

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 29 COMMEMORATION shift was slowly becoming evident. distributing them on reasonable movement. Sharma had led the Said Sahajanand: basis among landless labourers or famous Barahiya Bakasht struggle The Kisan Sabha belongs to holders of very small plots’. of 1937-39 and disillusioned with those exploited and suffering From class collaboration to class the Congress, he later joined the masses whose lot is connected struggle, from the limited objective CPI. It was under his leadership with cultivation and (who) live by it. of extracting certain concessions that the CPI waged some important The more they are oppressed and from the zamindars to the demand agrarian struggles in the 50s, the distressed the nearer they are to of abolition of zamindari without most notable among them being the the Kisan Sabha and the nearer it any payment of compensation, Sathi Farms struggle in Champaran. is to them. Sahajanand had really traversed a Attempts were also made to develop separate agricultural labourers' And in the 1944 session of the long way. The one-time champion of the interests of middle peasants struggle on wage demands as well AIKS in Vijaywada he was still more as struggles on the question of the forthright when he said: and well-to-do tenants finally came to pin all his hopes on the rural bataidars’ rights and also on issues They (middle and big cultivators) proletariat: of homestead tenancy, famine relief are using the Kisan Sabha for their measures, taqavi loans, canal rent benefit and gain, while we are The rural proletariat ... is in canal-irrigated areas, sugarcane using or rather trying to use them becoming aware of its rights, prices etc. Till his death in 1960, to strengthen the Sabha, till the duties and responsibilities—When Karyanand was a front ranking CPI lowest strata of the peasantry are it becomes fully aware, there will be leader in Bihar and also the leader awakened to their real economic the final dance of destruction and of the party's legislative wing. and political interests and needs then the present iniquitous agrarian During his last years, he came to and have become class conscious system will start crumbling. lay increasing stress on organising .... It is they, the semi-proletariat or After Sahajanand’s death, the agricultural labourers and poor the agricultural labourers who have his close associate Karyanand peasants, particularly on building very little land or no land at all, and Sharma sought to carry on the the Khet Mazdoor Sabha. p the petty cultivators, who anyhow squeeze a most meagre living out of the land they cultivate and eke How Bihar’s Peasants Chose out their existence, who are the kisans of our thinking .... and who to Honour Sahajanand make and must constitute the Kisan Sabha ultimately. Kisan Mahapanchayat and Kisan against British Company Raj and After independence, the Socialists Marches on Swami Sahajananda the zamindari system, a kisan set up splittist organisations like Saraswati Anniversary in Bihar march was organized in Patna on 11 the Hind Kisan Panchayat and On the birth anniversary of great March under the banners of CPIML many Kisan Sabha activists also farmers’ leader Swami Sahajananda and All India Kisan Mahasabha. joined the Forward Bloc. At this Saraswati who led the movement The march culminated in a meeting juncture Sahajanand set up a separate All-India United Kisan Sabha whose fundamental demand was ‘the nationalisation of land and waterways and all sources of energy and wealth ... such nationalisation must also result in a planned system embracing not only agriculture and the land but also industries and social services’. And as for the immediate demand, the newly formed organisation put it as ‘acquisition of land ... from those who possess vast domains (and)

30 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COMMEMORATION at Swami Sahajananda Park where back to life. Today also we are Bihar were deeply concerned about tributes were paid to him and a committed to carrying forward maize not being procured at MSP pledge was taken to carry forward his great legacy. He cannot be and food grains being used to his legacy. The march reverberated constrained within caste boundaries manufacture ethanol. Farmers in with slogans for repeal of the three and will be remembered as one of Seemanchal-Mithilanchal want a farm laws, legal status for MSP, history's greatest farmer leaders. permanent solution to the recurring reinstatement of APMC Act in Bihar The Modi government forced flood problem. Sugarcane farmers and inclusion of small farmers through farm laws during the in Champaran raised the issue of and sharecroppers in PM Kisan Lockdown, against which the payment of arrears which are due Samman Yojana. ongoing farmers' movement has to them in lakhs of rupees. The demand for restarting sugar mills Addressing the Mahapanchayat, completed 100 days. Modi Ji says was also forcefully voiced. Farmers Dipankar Bhattacharya said that some people are 'Andolanjivis'; yes, expressed grave worrues about the Swami Sahajananda's journey we are proud to be Andolanjivis 3 farm laws and criticized the Modi started with fighting the Brahmin who fight for just rights, unlike the government for its stubborn attitude. community to achieve social status people who were informers during for Bhumihars, but he soon realized the freedom struggle and who kow- Landless farmers and that the range of social oppression tow to Adani-Ambani today. sharecroppers also participated in was much bigger and dalits and He appealed to the Mahapanchayat the kisan yatras and expressed their backward castes were much more to ensure a huge participation of worry that if the government stops oppressed. He saw the misery the poor of Bihar in the nationwide procuring food grains how will the of farmers and recognized that farmers' struggle. PDS system continue to function? the zamindars were not the real How will the poor get rations? At the conclusion of the farmers. He organized the Bihar They understood perfectly well that Mahapanchayat a resolution was Pradesh Kisan Sabha in 1929. The ending the mandi system will affect passed to appeal for the resounding movement he led soon became not just farmers but also the poor. success of the Vidhan Sabha march a national movement and he was on 18 March and Bharat Bandh on Kisan-Mazdoor elected the first National President 26 March. Mahapanchayat in Patna of the All India Kisan Sabha in 1936. 7 Kisan Yatras were flagged off from Thousands of farmers and workers Sahajanand declared the fight for Bihta which travelled to 35 Districts participated in the Kisan-Mazdoor freedom from British rule for India of Bihar between 11 and 15 March. Mahapanchayat organized at Gate and from zamindari for farmers During the yatras they organized Public Library in Patna on 18 would be fought simultaneously. more than 300 big and small street March 2021 under the joint banners His ideology was the Left ideology meetings, public meetings and of CPIML, AIKM and AIARLA to and he said that the red flag was village farmers' meetings, and also demand repeal of the three farm the most reliable flag for achieving invited farmers and workers to laws, resolution against them to freedom. Today also the red flag participate in the Mahapanchayat. be passed in the Bihar Assembly, is at centre stage in the ongoing The yatras covered about 5000 kms legal status for MSP, reinstatement farmers' movement at the Delhi in Bihar and spoke directly about the of APMC Act, inclusion of landless borders. farm laws to about one lakh farmers and sharecropping farmers in PM Sahajananda worked for the Left in 2000 villages. Kisan Samman Yojana and other Coordination Committee but soon demands. Various demands of farmers came after Independence he passed away to light during the yatras in which they Main speaker at the Mahapanchayat in 1950 and left the country bereft want immediate intervention. Some CPIML General Secretary Dipankar of a great leader. of these demands are: repairing Bhattacharya said that the Bihar The farmers' movement in the the Son canal system in Shahbad government has perpetrated the 1970s took its inspiration from and Magadh region; provision for worst betrayal against the farmers Sahajananda. When IPF won in water to reach the lower banks of Bihar by ending the APMC Act many constituencies in the 1989 of canals; completion of the long- in 2006 and pushing farmers into a elections in Bihar, people felt that awaited Indrapuri Reservoir project. vicious cycle of misery. The issue Sahajananda's legacy had come Maize producing farmers in Eastern of MSP is an issue not just for

LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | APRIL 2021 | 31 COMMEMORATION big farmers but for small farmers Delhi borders. schemes. The worst affected will also who are suffering for lack of The Mahapanchayat was also be the poor and the working class. procurement at MSP. The farmers addressed by RJD leader and Thousands of farmers and workers of Bihar get the lowest price for former Bihar Speaker Uday Narayan who have come from all corners of their crops. Chaudhury, renowned litterateur Bihar to attend this Mahapanchayat in Patna demand the repeal of these Comrade Dipankar said that this Prem Kumar Mani, CPM leader anti-farm laws and a resolution to be Mahapanchayat has shown that Ganesh Shankar Singh, Kisan passed against them in the Bihar the farmers of Bihar today stand Sabha-Ajay Bhavan leader Ashok Assembly. firmly with the ongoing farmers' Kumar, former MLA Manju Prakash, movement. The attempts of BJP to CPIML MLAs Satyadev Ram, 2. The ongoing farmers' pit the farmers of Punjab against Virendra Prasad Gupta, Sudama movement has entered its fourth the farmers of Bihar have failed. He Prasad and others. The proceedings month despite cruel attacks and appealed to farmers and workers to were conducted by AIKM General defamatory conspiracies by the make the bandh called on 26 March Secretary Rajaram Singh and a vote Modi government. The government by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha a of thanks was proposed by farmer wants to prevent any unity between historic success. leader KD Yadav. Present on the farmers and non-agricultural dais were senior leader Swadesh citizens. In order to isolate the Comrade Dipankar said that the Bhattacharya, State Secretary farmers' movement the government farmers' issue will be the main Kunal, AIARLA General Secretary is violating constitutional provisions issue in the forthcoming elections Dhirendra Jha, AIPWA General and laws to repress citizens who in various States. He appealed to Secretary Meena Tiwari, Shashi come out in support of farmers. This people to vote against BJP and Yadav, Vishveshwar Prasad Yadav, Mahapanchayat strongly criticizes defeat them. Ramadhar Singh, leader of CPIML this tyrannical behaviour by the Farm leader Gurnam Singh Bhakhi legislative party Mahboob Alam, Modi government and appeals to from Punjab Kisan Union who came MLAs Sandeep Saurabh, Manoj all sections of society to unite and to attend the Mahapanchayat from Manzil and Mahanand Singh. lend active support to the farmers' Tikri Border in Delhi, said that The Mahapanchayat paid tributes movement. We demand the release farmers have been firmly camping to Swami Sahajananda Saraswati, of all persons who are jailed for on the Delhi borders despite all leader of the historic farmers' supporting the farmers' movement obstructions and oppression by the struggles in Bihar and all martyrs and all other movements for justice government. This fight against the of the ongoing farmers' movement. and rights. three laws is a fight for the food Cultural team Hirawal presented a 3. This Mahapanchayat fully security of the entire country. It is a song in honour of the martyrs. supports the Bharat Bandh called matter of life and death for common All parties on 26 March 2021 by the Sanyukt people across the country. of Bihar and many intellectuals Kisan Morcha and calls for making Navkiran Natt the editor of the associated with the farmers' it a historic bandh. The farmers' popular news bulletin being movement were invited to participate movement that started in Shaheed published from the protest sites in this Mahapanchayat. Bhagat Singh's Punjab is finding in Delhi, Trolley Times, and fresh momentum and extension in Thousands of farmers and farm youth leader also addressed the Bihar, the land of kisan leaders like workers attended it with a strong Mahapanchayat where she said Swami Sahajananda Saraswati and resolve to further intensify the that women are participating in the Ramnaresh Ram. movement in Bihar. farmers' movement as farmers in 4. Immediately on coming to power their own right. Women account Resolutions passed at the in 2006 the Nitish government for 50% of farming work but their Farmer-Worker Mahapanchayat ended the APMC Act, snatched ownership of land is only 2%. This 1. The three anti-farmer anti- away government Mandis from fight belongs to each and every national farm laws passed by the farmers and handed them over to citizen, as it is a fight for the right to Modi government will not only the market. If ending government food. She expressed the hope that a enslave our agriculture to corporate Mandis were indeed to be beneficial tranche of farmers from Bihar would companies, but will also end for farmers, the condition of farmers soon join the farmers sitting on the food security, PDS, and nutrition in Bihar should be the best in the

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country. But the reality is exactly the process for sharecroppers. family in Supoul committed suicide opposite. Nowhere in Bihar does 6. Along with Railways, aviation, due to financial straits. Despite the farmer get MSP. Farmers here insurance and agriculture the being 103rd out of 117 countries are forced to sell their paddy at Rs government is now playing with in the Global Hunger Index, the 900-1000 per quintal to middlemen privatization of public banks. Modi government's manufacture of and traders. The dire condition of Privatization is a huge attack on our non-food substances like ethanol agriculture results in continuous job opportunities and social security. from food grains is nothing but migration from the State. Gradually Banks have played an important a conspiracy to kill the people Vyapar Mandal, FCI, SFC and other role in the country's economic who are battling hunger. This institutions have been made weak development and by privatizing Mahapanchayat demands that and inactive. This Mahapanchayat public banks farmers, students, the Bihar government should not demands legal status for MSP, youth and the poor will be deprived implement such anti-poor hunger- renewal of Agriculture Market of loans and they will become enhancing policies in Bihar. Committees and reinstatement of slaves to private owners. This AFMC Act. 9. This Mahapanchayat strongly Mahapanchayat demands ending opposes the Bihar government's 5. With a view to dividing the of this privatization process and conspiracies to curb social media, farmers' movement the Modi strengthening public institutions. issue a diktat denying government government is trying to protect 7. This Mahapanchayat supports jobs and contracts to persons who itself as the well-wisher of landless the demand for jobs with dignity participate in protests, and crush and sharecropping farmers. for youth, end of contract and the basic right to protest across But everyone knows that BJP outsourcing for ASHA-Anganwadi- Bihar including capital Patna. is the biggest enemy of this Rasoiya-teachers and all scheme section of farmers. Landless 10. The real liquor mafia is workers and supports their and sharecropping farmers are sitting right inside the lap of the movement for permanent jobs, excluded from the benefits of PM government, but it is the poor demands repeal of anti-worker Kisan Samman Yojana. The BJP- who are being sentenced to death JDU government in Bihar has amendments to labour laws, and through the draconian prohibition already refused to give minimum appeals to all forces of struggle to law. This Mahapanchayat demands legal rights to sharecroppers. This come together and build a strong the removal of liquor trade tainted Mahapanchayat demands inclusion unity. Minister Ramsurat Rai and of landless and sharecropping 8. The continuing deaths due immediate release of the lakhs of farmers in PM Kisan Samman Yojana to starvation are extremely innocent poor thrown into jail in the and commencement of registration worrisome. 5 persons from one name of the Prohibition Act. p

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Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat in Patna, 18 March INTERNATIONAL

Solidarity with the people of Haiti in their struggle for democracy, justice, and reparations

aiti is once again going through a profound crisis. Central to this is the struggle against Hthe dictatorship imposed by former president Jovenel Moïse. Since last year Mr. Moise, after decreeing the dismissal of Parliament, has been ruling through decrees, permanently violating Haiti's constitution. He has refused to leave power after his mandate ended on February 7, 2021, claiming that it ends on February 7 of next year, without any legal who now raise orphaned children. Nothing has changed basis. This disregard of the constitution is taking place in 13 years, more social inequality, poverty, more despite multiple statements by the country's main difficulties for the people. The absence of democracy judicial bodies, such as the CSPJ (Superior Council of stays the same. Judicial Power) and the Association of Haitian Lawyers. The poor's living conditions have worsened dramatically Numerous religious groups and numerous institutions as a result of more than 30 years of neoliberal policies that are representative of society have also spoken. At imposed by the International Financial Institutions this time, there is a strike by the judiciary, which leaves (IFIs), a severe exchange rate crisis, the freezing of the country without any public body of political power. the minimum wage, and inflation above 20% during the At the same time, this institutional crisis is framed last three years. in the insecurity that affects practically all sectors of It should be emphasized that, despite this dramatic Haitian society. An insecurity expressed through savage situation, the Haitian people remain firm and are repressions of popular mobilizations by the PNH (Haitian constantly mobilizing to prevent the consolidation of a National Police), which at the service of the executive dictatorship by demanding the immediate leave of office power. They have attacked journalists and committed by former President Jovenel Moïse. various massacres in poor neighborhoods. Throughout Taking into account the importance of this struggle the country, there have been assassinations and and that this dictatorial regime still has the support arbitrary arrests of opponents. Most recently, a judge of imperialist governments such as the United States of the High Court was detained under the pretext of of America, Canada, France, and international promoting an alleged plot against the security of the organizations such as the UN, the OAS, and the EU, State and to assassinate the president leading to the the IPA calls its members to contribute their full and illegal and arbitrary revocation of three judges of this active solidarity to the struggle of the Haitian people, Court. This last period has also seen the creation of and to sign this Petition that demands the end of the hundreds of armed groups that spread terror over the dictatorship as well as respect for the sovereignty entire country and that respond to power, transforming and self-determination of the Haitian people, the kidnapping into a fairly prosperous industry for these establishment of a transition government led by Haitians criminals. to launch a process of authentic national reconstruction. The 13 years of military occupation by United Nations In addition to expressing our solidarity with the Haitian troops through MINUSTAH and the operations of people's resistance, we call for our organizations to prolongation of guardianship through MINUJUSTH demonstrate in front of the embassies of the imperialist and BINUH have aggravated the Haitian crisis. They countries and before the United Nations. supported retrograde and undemocratic sectors who, along with gangsters, committed serious crimes against Only the Haitian people can decide their future. Down the Haitian people and their fundamental rights. For this, with Moise and yes to a people's transition government, the people of Haiti deserve a process of justice and until a constituent is democratically elected. reparations. They have paid dearly for the intervention (The above statement was issued by International of MINUSTAH: 30 THOUSAND DEAD from cholera Peoples' Assembly on February 23, 2021 and was transmitted by the soldiers, thousands of women raped, endored by CPIML Liberation) p

34 | APRIL 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) COVER STORY Obituaries Nawal El Saadawi Veteran Egyptian socialist-feminist Nawal El Saadawi passed away at the age of 89 on 21 March, 2021. A prolific writer (author of 56 books) and doctor, Saadawi spiritedly challenged patriarchy, fundamentalism and capitalism, all of which she firmly regarded as part of one system. When she published her pioneering book Women and Sex in 1972, she was dismissed from her post as a doctor and member of the Ministry of Health for the Egyptian Government. At the age of 80 she had participated in the Arab Spring, which brought down the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship. Speaking after the revolution was hijacked by a new, fundamentalist regime, she reiterated her core beliefs: We live in one world––a capitalist, patriarchal one. We don’t have peace because we don’t have justice, equality between countries, sexes, and classes. I have fought for feminist issues, including fighting against female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM increased under President Anwar Sadat [1970-81], as did veiling. Today, 97% of Egyptian women have undergone FGM. I lost my job in the Health Ministry because of what I wrote and said about FGM and President George Bush. My books were banned and my character assassinated as a result the political stances I took. I was called pro-U.S., although all my books link colonialism and feminism. If you work with the working class, you are called a communist by the ruling class. I was arrested for “crimes against the state” and sent to prison in 1980. When I got out, my life was in constant danger from religious fundamentalists. The legal women’s NGOs were those women’s organizations that worked with Mubarak. The Egyptian Women’s Union, by contrast, was banned three times, under Pres. Mubarak and Pres. Sadat before him. Now we have re-established the Egyptian Women’s Union and the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association, which had also been banned.When I’m in the U.S., I’m always asked about religious fundamentalism, but when I connect it to neo-colonialism, then what I say is censored. I am told to leave it out of my talks, and in a recent TV interview by Christiane Amanpour, what I said about neo-colonialism was cut out. But the two things are opposite sides of the same coin. Why is there this revival of fundamentalism in the 21st century? Because religion survives and flourishes under repression. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are similar in treating women as inferior, in fearing outsiders, and in their racism and classism. In spite of religion’s defects, however, I believe in protecting religious freedom. Liberation honours Nawal El Saadawi’s legacy is a precious resource for people’s movements all over the world, and especially inspiring for us in India as we fight against capitalism, patriarchy and Hindu supremacist politics today.

Sagar Sarhadi Veteran writer-director Sagar Sarhadi passed away at his Mumbai residence on March 22. He was 88. Born as Ganga Sagar Talwar, he wrote under the pen name of Sagar Sarhadi. Associated with the IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association), he began his work in theatre, introducing new talents like Farooque Shaikh and Shabana Azmi. He is known for making the iconic and courageous film Bazaar, about the sale of brides to affluent men in the Gulf. He wrote and co-wrote the scripts for many films which were as popular as they were powerful and memorable, including 'Noorie', 'Kabhi Kabhie', 'Silsila', 'Chandni'. Respectful tribute to Sagar Sarhadi’s memory. Posting Date : 27-28 of every month R.N.I. No. 55777/93 Published on 26th of every month P. R. No. DL(E)—11/5156/2021-23 COVER STORY Posting at New Delhi G.P.O.

EDITORIAL OFFICE CHARU BHAWAN, U-90, SHAKARPUR, DELHI - 110 092 PH.: 91-11-22521067 email : [email protected] ; website : www.cpiml.net Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @cpimlliberation Printed and published by Dipankar Bhattacharya for the Central Committee, CPIML from Charu Bhawan, U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi - 110 092 and Printed at Divya Offset, B-1422, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi - 110 096 EDITOR : Arindam Sen