Volume 38 No. 20 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA June 1, 2005 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE Price : Rs. 2.00 STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS SUCI condemns horse-trading and dissolution Dangerous move to gag people’s of Assembly in Bihar Comrade , Secretary, SUCI, in a statement issued today, voice in parliamentary forum strongly condemned the open indulgence of the BJP and its allies in horse-trading for anyhow The issue of parliamentary election in our the Prime Minister could not, rather did not grabbing power in Bihar. Comrade Mukherjee country surfaced recently with a few passing answer a few relevant questions, like “Why has also vehemently criticized the narrow sectarian remarks of the Prime Minister. Reportedly at a financing political parties become a major source and naked partisan manner in which the media-meet at Bangalore on February 12 last, he of generation of black income?”, or “Why cannot Congress-led UPA government with the elaborated his call for “collective mobilization of any single party say that it can deal with the support of the CPI(M)-CPI dissolved the Bihar the will of the nation and a broad national problem by itself?”, “Doesn’t the malady then lie Assembly. consensus” to fight corruption under a national in the system itself?”, “How will the Prime This highly undemocratic act, said agenda. To him, state funding of elections should Minister propose to rout it from the system?”. We Comrade Mukherjee, once again brought to the be on that national agenda as one of the vital bring in this note for a brief discussion on these fore the extent to which all these bourgeois issues, with a need for a national consensus to questions that the Prime Minister has left political parties while canting the canons of ensure greater transparency in financing of unanswered. Incidentally the remarks came in the democracy can go to flout and trample even the political parties and spending on elections. He wake of the Chief Election Commissioner T.S. barest precepts of democratic norms and argued, “Financing political parties is a major Krishna Murthy suggesting a comprehensive principles in their bid to satisfy lust for pelf source of generation of black income in our case for electoral reforms, in his July 5, 2004 and power. It is, therefore, high time for the country. No single party can say that it can deal letter to the Prime Minister. Even the issue of people of the country to rise up against the with the problem by itself” and so the need for a state funding was nothing new. anti-people forces and expose their murky national consensus. In June 1998, the BJP-led NDA Government game, exhorted Comrade Mukherjee. Obviously, in the short span of a media-meet, Contd. on page 2 SUCI attends 14th International Communist Seminar in Brussels The 14th International the first day on this theme, Comrade by the US imperialism, were moved in which all the leaders of the Communist Seminar was held Mukherjee dealing with the and adopted in the Seminar. participant parties were invited on recently in Brussels, Belgium from ‘Current experiences of joint work Particularly the general resolution the dais. May 2 to 4, 2005. Communist and among Communist and Workers’ was elaborately discussed, with Below, we reproduce a synopsis Workers’ parties of different parties : their internationalist tasks’ participants suggesting amendments of the speech delivered by Comrade countries, numbering as high as as under the main theme. He and modifications. Manik Mukherjee. fifty, participated in the Seminar, presented a comprehensive paper This assembly of Communist while fourteen others were present highlighting the main points on the and Workers’ parties of different Comrade President and Comrades, as observers. Fiftysix other subject, that our party, the SUCI, countries decided that next year in I, on behalf of my party, organizations who could not make it has been emphasizing upon in the 2006, the Seminar will deliberate Socialist Unity Centre of India, to the Seminar because of visa and light of the invaluable teachings of on the theme of “Influence of wish all success of this Brussels such other problems, had sent Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, the Communist International in International Communist Seminar messages or papers and expressed Founder General Secretary of SUCI different countries”. The present 2005. I also congratulate the their solidarity. Comrade Manik and one of the foremost Marxist Seminar also made an appeal to Workers’ Party of Belgium, PTB Mukherjee, Staff Member and thinkers of the era. The discussion build up a massive anti-imperialist for including the vital topic of Deputy, International Affairs, SUCI, continued on the second day, while movement throughout the world. It experiences and tasks of joint work represented our party, the SUCI at a 50-point general resolution and was further decided to publish of communist and workers’ parties the Seminar. The main theme for others including one resolution on polemical papers on website twice a of different countries, to be discussion in the Seminar was set as Socialist Korea ( North Korea) and year and to undertake research work discussed in the Seminar. “Internationalist Experiences and another on Socialist Cuba, in the for that purpose. By the end of the Second World Tasks of Communists in the last case particularly highlighting Prior to commencement of the War, the imperialists-capitalists Struggle against Imperialism”. the valiant fight Cuba is conducting Seminar, the Communist Party of faced insurmountable recession and Comrade Manik Mukherjee and a against the threat, intimidation and Belgium (PTB) organized a irresolvable contradictions and number of other speakers spoke on intrigue of world imperialism, led programme of May Day celebration, Contd. on page 4 PAGE TWO JUNE 1, 2005 PROLETARIAN ERA No state funding, only mass movement is the brake to black money in election Contd. from page 1 the state funding issue for a brief even during counting, assumed looks paltry in the face of vulgar constituted a multi-party study, though we feel that we may alarming proportions all over the extravagance of candidates of one parliamentary committee under the need to take up discussions on other country, not excluding the states and all the parliamentary parties, chairmanship of Indrajit Gupta of occasions to show how in the name run by the so-called lefts like national or regional. Mind that, CPI to look into the question of of smoothening or developing CPI(M). This way the total spending by the party itself is kept state funding of elections. The other election processes, the other reforms electioneering process is thus beyond the purview of this ceiling, members of the committee were suggested will only pave way for mutilated and distorted, fast and obviously leaving a loophole to from CPI(M), Congress(I), BJP, hindering genuine representative increasingly. And in the manner it circumvent the law, and a scope, as Shiv Sena, AIADMK and Samata force of people, the force that fight degraded, it has also become well, for black money to flood the Party. The committee recommended for them from taking part in gradually virtually impossible for electioneering process. Then again, partial state funding of only the parliamentary forum at all. genuine representative of people to in addition to the usual heads of recognised national or State Here, we should submit first win an election battle and get expenses on campaign, which were political parties and their candidates that the question of reforms has elected to the legislative forum. The already sky-high, there are liberal in elections. It further indicated that come up parallel to gradual capitalist system thus takes to a cash handouts to local musclemen, the ultimate aim should be that all deterioration of the electioneering technique of effectively film or TV stars or ‘celebrities’ from legitimate expenses of political process, virtually since disenfranchising common people, other fields to stage crowd-pulling parties are funded by the state. It independence and establishment of while offering them franchise and show business. virtually amounted to the fact that the capitalist rule in the country. while chanting alluring slogans of The question that comes up the committee members who made The ruling capitalist class has democracy. The 14th Lok Sabha naturally in people’s mind, as it did the recommendations were always tried to use and control this election of the last year was not during this last instance of election themselves the beneficiaries. means to their end. They thus just the latest, it represented the is : wherefrom this huge sum of (Frontline, February 13-26,1999) wanted to ensure that such political worst of its kind hitherto money is coming and why , to be Avowedly the aim of state forces be in power that will serve experienced by the people. spent in such a bane exercise of funding was to discourage political them the best and help maintain the Electioneering has thus been electing this or that political party, parties from seeking any external prevailing capitalist rule. However, simply an interplay of money, mafia all of which have proved their funding from private contributors immediately after the independence, and a major and influential section uselessness in giving people the (except a nominal membership fee) the Congress, the party in power as of the media, sponsored, steered and minimum relief amidst the all-out to run their affairs, carry out the then most trusted representative blessed by the monopolists- crisis of this society. People know it political programmes and conduct of the ruling class, enjoyed some capitalists. It is anything other than from their daily experience, but are election campaigns. As popular support, rather in legacy of a reflection of people’s opinion and not always sure of the answer. They recommended by the committee, the independence struggle, which it participation. No serious political may have missed the irrefutable funding would include allotment of had led. There was also a relatively issues or questions concerning hard- truth that it has become the order of rent-free accommodation for the free and fair character in pressed people’s life, are confronted the day in every capitalist country, headquarters of national parties in democratic, including electioneering and combated by any major party, big or small, the traditional like the New Delhi and the same facility for processes, though in a limited be it Congress(I), BJP, or their like USA or the upstart, emerging every recognised State party in the sense. But with time, and with or even the so-called big lefts through counter revolution as in respective state capitals; provision serving the capitalists-monopolists, headed by CPI(M)-CPI. Rather, Russia. In these days of intense of rent-free telephones with a more- the Congress, or for that matter any there is the rat race for power and general crisis of capitalism, than-normal quota of free calls and and every bourgeois party or the pelf associated with it. It bourgeois parliamentary election other facilities at those premises as combination that rose to power involves any and every combination faces the same degradation well as, and separately for, election later, became discredited and and alliances attempted. Once a foe everywhere in these countries. campaigns; sufficient time-slot free isolated from the people. Their becomes the closest ally. Once Glaring examples are still living in of cost on Doordarshan and All commitment to democracy was also lieutenant, is thrown out as the memory from the last two India Radio; a specified quantity of undermined. Free and fair election deadliest enemy. Once denounced presidential elections in the USA, petrol or diesel to run campaign gradually became a far cry. as fundamentalist, is greeted the presently self-proclaimed vehicles and of paper to prepare Manipulation and fraud with voter’s warmly in so-called secular party. champion of democracy. election literature and voter identity lists, bogus voting, distribution of Diehard criminals are made captain In any case, ever since the early slips and all such other sundries. It privileges, particularly to the poorer of the electioneering brigade. days of the bourgeois parliamentary has further suggested creation of a and illiterate section of the masses Mafia-dons that once acted as system, the election itself has acted separate Election Fund with an or contrarily influencing them under hirelings of bourgeois political as a prop in the hands of the ruling annual contribution of Rs.600 crores threat and intimidation, harping on parties, are found to have been capitalist class to chose parties or (at the rate of Rs.10 a voter, for the casteism-communalism to gain easy promoted to the status of party- forces for governance; legislative total electorate of about 60 crores) support, awarding unwarranted bosses. Media help in creating the forum has always been an by the Centre and a matching favour to party of choice in print hype, even if people remain passive appendage of the class rule. Yet, in amount contributed by all State and other media, all this was onlooker. They dish out make- the days when the parliamentary governments together. gradually reducing elections to a believe opinion polls, keeping in system was an upcoming force it Obviously, such an elaborate farce. With more crisis of capitalism line with the monopoly house or could allow common people and the recommendation of state funding of and concomitant more exploitation combination they work for, though working class a relatively liberal elections, in conjunction or not, of the masses and consequently, in most cases these prove bogus. In democracy, including electioneering with the electoral reforms suggested more and more isolation of summary, the media trumpet for a and could rely upon popular opinion by the Election Commission, raises bourgeois petty-bourgeois parties system that is betraying itself as a to seek support for its class parties. questions as to how far these would from the people, the process went moribund one. But the more the system plunged be able to act as remedy to the on to lower and lower depths. But the most glaring is the flow into crisis, the more the dismal state, the electioneering Rigging using administration and of money, that goes on like parliamentary political parties had process has been brought down to, through capturing of polling booths, anything. The high ceiling of Rs 25 to take to anti-people measures with today. We propose to focus here on manipulation of ballot boxes or lakh for each parliamentary seat Contd. on page 5 PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 1, 2005 PAGE THREE Remembering sixty years of victory over Fascism People must know no fear in this war of liberation Historic call of Comrade Stalin to Soviet people in July 1941 Comrades ! Citizens ! Brothers and sisters! Men of our army and navy ! I that Germany am addressing you, my friends ! proposed to us in The perfidious military attack on our Fatherland, begun on June 22nd 1939. by Hitler’s Germany, is continuing. Could the Soviet In spite of the heroic resistance of the Red Army, and although the Government have enemy’s finest divisions and finest airforce units have already been smashed declined such a and have met their doom on the field of battle, the enemy continues to push proposal? I think that forward, hurling fresh forces into the attack. not a single peace- Hitler’s troops have succeeded in capturing Lithuania, a considerable loving state could part of Latvia, the western part of Byelo-Russia, part of Western Ukraine. decline a peace treaty The fascist airforce is extending the range of operations of its bombers, and with a neighboring is bombing Murmansk, Orsha, Mogilev, Smolensk, Kiev, Odessa and state, even though the Sebastopol. latter was headed by A grave danger hangs over our country. such fiends and How could it have happened were in a state of complete cannibals as Hitler and that our glorious Red Army readiness, only awaiting the signal Ribbentrop. Of course surrendered a number of our cities to move into action, whereas Soviet only on one indis- and districts to fascist armies? Is it troops had still to effect pensable condition, really true that German fascist mobilization and move up to the namely, that this peace troops are invincible, as is frontier. treaty does not ceaselessly trumpeted by the Of no little importance in this infringe either directly boastful fascist propagandists? Of respect is the fact that fascist or indirectly on the course not! Germany suddenly and territorial integrity, History shows that there are no treacherously violated the Non- independence and invincible armies and never have Aggression Pact she concluded in honor of the peace- been. Napoleon’s army was 1939 with the USSR, disregarding loving state. As is well considered invincible but it was the fact that she would be known, the Non-Aggression Pact and attacking the USSR? beaten successively by Russian, regarded as the aggressor by the between Germany and the USSR is She has gained a certain English and German armies. Kaiser whole world. precisely such a pact. advantageous position for her troops Wilhelm’s German Army in the Naturally, our peace-loving What did we gain by concluding for a short period, but she has lost period of the first imperialist war politically by exposing herself in the was also considered invincible, but On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the victory over eyes of the entire world as a blood- it was beaten several times by the fascism, we, along with the people of the world recalled the heroic thirsty aggressor. Russian and Anglo-French forces struggle and sacrifice of the Soviet people under the leadership of the There can be no doubt that this and was finally smashed by the great Proletarian leader Comrade Joseph Stalin. Immediately after short-lived military gain for Anglo-French forces. the ferocious sudden attack on the Soviet land launched by 170 Germany is only an episode, while The same must be said of divisions of the Nazi German Army, on 3rd July 1941, only the tenth the tremendous political gain of the Hitler’s German fascist army today. day of the attack, Comrade Stalin delivered a historic radio address USSR is a serious lasting factor that This army had not yet met with to the Soviet people. The address soon proved to have provided the is bound to form the basis for serious resistance on the continent Soviet people with the ideological-emotional pedestal on which they development of decisive military of Europe. Only on our territory has found firm footing to wage their epoch-making great patriotic war. successes of the Red Army in the it met serious resistance. And if, as The speech has thus made its worthy place in the annals of human war with fascist Germany. a result of this resistance, the finest history as an emblem of unscathed conviction of the leadership about That is why our whole valiant divisions of Hitler’s German fascist the victory over as strong and fierce an enemy as the Hitler’s Nazi Red Army, our whole valiant Navy, army have been defeated by our Red Germany was, of unwavering faith of the leader on the led that all our falcons of the air, all the Army, it means that this army too helped convey the conviction of the leadership onto the people, and peoples of our country, all the finest can be smashed and will be created in turn unflinching confidence of the latter on their great men and women of Europe, smashed as were the armies of leader! As committed by us in the last issue of the Proletarian Era, America and Asia, finally all the Napoleon and Wilhelm. we reproduce the speech here, as transcribed and translated by Soviet finest men and women of As to part of our territory Russia Today, August, 1941. Germany—condemn the having nevertheless been seized by treacherous acts of German fascists Germany fascist troops, this is country, not wishing to take the the Non-Aggression Pact with and sympathize with the Soviet chiefly due to the fact that the war initiative of breaking the pact, could Germany? We secured our country Government, approve the conduct of fascist Germany on the USSR not resort to perfidy. peace for a year and a half, and the of the Soviet Government, and see began under conditions favorable It may be asked how could the opportunity of preparing its forces that ours is a just cause, that the for the German forces and Soviet Government have consented to repulse fascist Germany should enemy will be defeated, that we are unfavorable for Soviet forces. The to conclude a Non-Aggression Pact she risk an attack on our country bound to win. fact of the matter is that the troops with such treacherous fiends as despite the Pact. This was a definite By virtue of this war which has of Germany, as a country at war, Hitler and Ribbentrop? Was this not advantage for us and a disadvantage been forced upon us, our country were already fully mobilized, and an error on the part of the Soviet for fascist Germany. has come to death-grips with its the 170 divisions hurled by Government? Of course not. Non- What has fascist Germany most malicious and most perfidious Germany against the USSR and Aggression Pacts are pacts of peace gained and what has she lost by enemy—German fascism. Our brought up to the Soviet frontiers, between states. It was such a pact treacherously tearing up the pact Contd. on page 6 PAGE FOUR JUNE 1, 2005 PROLETARIAN ERA Fourteenth International Communist Seminar Contd. from page 1 liberalization. It was conflict for market among the same character of themselves. There developed a imperialism that mighty socialist camp, headed by Comrade Lenin had the Soviet Union under the explained in his leadership of the great Proletarian invaluable thesis on leader Comrade Joseph Stalin, imperialism as the along with the People’s Republic of highest stage of China led by Comrade Mao Zedong, capitalism. Imperialists, and a score of East European headed by the US countries as well as a vast array of imperialism also former colonies and semi-colonies thrusted war, entirely emerging as newly independent unilaterally, on this or sovereign countries. The world that weaker developing market was further and unthinkably countries of the world, squeezed to the imperialists. After using the UN as a the demise of Comrade Stalin, as rubber stamp and modern revisionism emerged with ignoring worldwide Khrushchev usurping power in the people’s opinion leadership of Soviet Russia and the against war. The A party-to-party talk was held between our Party, SUCI and the All Union Communist Party CPSU, the situation started communist forces also of Bolsheviks ( AUCPB) in Brussels. Here Comrade Manik Mukherjee (extreme left) is seen changing. As our leader, the founder were pushed to discussing with Comrade Nina Andreyeva, General Secretary, AUCPB (second from right) and Comrade Anatoly Arkadievich Maevski, Secretary, AUCPB, Ukraine ( extreme right) General Secretary of our party, complete disarray and Comrade Shibdas Ghosh confusion. Peace-loving people of also strive for coordination and US imperialist effort of occupying characterized this : “…in the post- the world started to believe that it concurrence among themselves at their land. Also the series of Second World War situation, was the capitalism-imperialism that the international level, based on the unprecedented massive anti-war imperialism was almost cornered was going to decide the destiny of principle of unity-struggle-unity, demonstrations of hundreds of and the superiority and victory of mankind. At that stage, our party, through exchange of their thousands of militant volunteers of the socialist system were being SUCI, realized that it was all the experiences of struggles in their peace on the streets of even the revealed — what a calamity befell it more necessary to develop mighty respective soil. It was the course for mightier imperialist countries, just at such a time!” The imperialist anti-imperialist struggles in the communist and worker’s parties including the USA itself, have camp headed by the US countries all over the globe, forming to create a congenial atmosphere suggested that the ground was ripe. imperialism, stepped up their tirade broad-based anti-imperialist fronts and the ground for ultimately All this revealed that people’s against socialism and communism or forums with communists at the developing a communist power to stand in favour of peace and also their tentacles of neo- core, in each respective soil. Those international. However, painfully and freedom was in the offing. It colonial exploitation. The impact of struggles, made conducive to the enough, it did not materialize into only required our efforts to weave existence of the socialist camp was struggles for emancipation in each concrete efforts. these and other anti-imperialist nevertheless evident. In Vietnam country, would weaken the world We convened the Calcutta movements into a coordinated and under the leadership of Comrade Ho system of capitalism-imperialism. Convention in November 1995, organized mighty global peace Chi Minh, people inflicted upon the Also when elevated to militant with representatives of a number of movement. Had we been able to US imperialists their most peace movements and coordinated fraternal parties, including the PTB, develop such a movement globally, ignominious defeat of the last and integrated into a massive global Communist Party of Cuba, All it would have stood up as a solid century. But soon the attitude of the movement in the long run, they Union Communist Party support to victims of brute Soviet revisionist leadership since could emerge as the only course left (Bolsheviks) from Russia, The New imperialist aggression and killing Khrushchev towards imperialism to the toiling people of the world to Communist Party of the and would have dragged the US and their nuclear war-phobia also put a brake to and thwart imperialist Netherlands, Socialist Party of imperialism and its accomplices into left their mark. Countries like Korea war efforts and onslaughts. We also Bangladesh as also representatives such plight as they faced in was divided; Cuba suffered from made it clear that we were prepared from Germany, Zaire and others. Vietnam. As communists, we feel, imperialist sanction; the Vietnamese to extend our fullest cooperation From there, we set up an All India our proletarian internationalist people had to undergo prolonged and support to any party that were Anti-Imperialist Forum to organize obligation prompts us to release all sufferings. Even the international to take initiative in fulfilling this anti-imperialist movement in our initiative towards building up a communist movement suffered from historic task at a critical moment of India. Since then the Forum has movement of that kind. The serious ideological differences the world revolutionary movement. constantly tried to develop anti- communist and worker’s parties of between the Soviet and the Chinese With this understanding and idea, imperialist struggles in India and each and every country must also Communist leaderships. we approached the PTB, as they maintained constant and close come forward unitedly to the same Rise of reaction reached its were already successfully carrying contact with fraternal anti- end. It is heartening to find that the height with the debacle of socialist out the task of conducting imperialist forces as well as Brussels Seminar has introduced camp. The deterrent effect that the international communist seminar. communist and worker’s parties of this subject for discussion. We socialist camp had on the We had also realized that to bring different countries of the world. welcome it wholeheartedly. We imperialists, was simply lost. The about proper coordination and But never did we take the idea into sincerely believe that through latter started fresh and intense integration of anti-imperialist our head to develop an international threadbare discussions and attack on the world without socialist struggles of different countries into platform at our unilateral effort and exchanges we will be able to evolve camp, the so-called unipolar world a massive global movement, it was leadership. and frame concrete programmes and of theirs. It ventured to rein in the necessary that communist and Events to follow have proved steps to build up massive anti- entire global market from behind workers’ parties and forces of that we were not far from truth. imperialist movements globally. We the smokescreen of the newly hyped different countries must not only Apparently without any communist know there are important political slogans of denationalization of form the core of the movement in leadership, the resolute freedom- differences among the communist economy, slogans of globalization- their respective country, they must loving people of Iraq have foiled the Contd. on page 5 PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 1, 2005 PAGE FIVE

jargon. Yet not only did they extend their support to this move ; they are State funding of election among the enthusiast important Contd. from page 2 This is what the election means has to bear the brunt, the ruling members of the committee which is a view to serving the ruling in essence in one and all capitalist class tries to put up some show given the charge of designing this capitalist class and maintaining its countries today. It no longer reflects with a view to appeasing the move. The ruling class and their class rule. Thereby they only earned people’s opinion by any stretch of questioning minds and covering the branded representative, BJP did not increasingly more and more wrath imagination; it no longer carries the truth, the real cause of the problem fail to recognize their worth and of the vast masses of common least of the ideal ‘of the people, for as well. thus included them as accomplices toiling people and thus was the people, by the people’ for which One more point is relevant here. in planning the whole design. discredited to and isolated from even the bourgeois statesmen once When the committee recommends It is thus clear that the them. In such a situation the ruling fought. Thus questions, that were state funding for recognized parties electioneering process of the class could no longer take the risk already simmering, are about to only , at the same time professing it bourgeois parliamentary system has of any free and fair election lest it come to the surface in mass mind: would bring in ‘an element of rotten to the marrow. All the might bring some such force into questions about the source and equality’ to electoral contests, it pretensions of fairness or of power that would stand by the motive of this vulgar extravagance smacks of sheer hypocrisy. Even in democratic norms are being ripped people for their cause. In result, the in electioneering that has reduced a bourgeois sense, equality is not apart. Hence to eliminate fraud and semblance of parliamentary the vital political process of even perceived thus. It clearly means all farce in election, to preserve and democracy, the electioneering has the bourgeois society to a farce; candidates found eligible must be give effect to even the barest thus become, meant for only the questions if it should continue like treated equally, even if they may minimum of democratic elements in people to consume. The soul this and for how long. After all, represent a minority voice . In electioneering processes, concern of the ruling capitalists people realizes that the reality, the brand of ‘equality’ that democratic–minded people, the boils down only to ensuring some monopolists, the industrial houses the committee professed for, means toiling masses will have to rely on such party or alliance to power, that spend unlimited sums to have debarring so-called unrecognized their own strength, their mighty from among those in the fray, that the parties of their choice in power, parties from contesting. In other mass-movements to these ends, would help maintain the capitalist are never philanthropic. They words it is nothing but an attempt to which can create and exert pressure rule in the best possible way at a invest their money to ensure their maintain and sustain those political on the power that be. They need to particular moment; the colour of the control and clutches over the parties, who have the blessings of realize that no alleviation of their party, the jargon, any shady process and its outcome; they make the ruling class as they serve them suffering and plight is possible antecedents, nothing does matter; sure that only their henchmen are the best and weed out, at the same through election and mere change of loyalty to the class rule, allured and finally returned to serve stroke, the voices, the forces, the governments. At the same time there subservience to the ruling class are them. In return, they fetch what they parties that stand for people’s cause, remains no other way left to the the only passwords. It is also now have spent, in full or even more. and give exposure to the root of people to put an effective brake, if an open secret that the election And here lies the main concern for people’s misery, that refuse to play any, to the unbridled inflow of black contests among parliamentary the people. The whole spending , subservient to the exploiters, the money leading to vulgar parties largely reflect conflicts and the whole extravagance will be met rulers. It thus leaves the ground extravagance in the electioneering contradictions among the interests with by fleecing the people further; more open to those chosen few process. Neither there is any of this or that combination of the monopolists, the industrial political parties with which the alternative to such a movement to industrialists-monopolists who are houses will squeeze back their ruling class wishes to run its system make the voice of people’s genuine locked in severe competition among investment in one form or another. of so-called parliamentary representative heard in the themselves amidst the acute They know it well that they never democracy, a two-party system of parliamentary system, that is recession-ridden crisis of market. lose much with any change; they that, which the Indian capitalists are increasingly turning deaf and dumb They thus look ahead towards keep on earning their whole lot of now bent upon to establish. to the misery and plight of common grabbing power by any means to maximum profit; the government In this malicious move for state people of the land. Our party SUCI meet their ends, at least towards takes care to ensure it. It may be funding of elections, the role of will always pledge to initiate and apportioning the administration and recalled here that in spite of all tall CPI(M)- CPI is singularly striking. keep on with any such effort to governance among themselves to claims, no amount of law has been They go by their leftist placard and stand by people’s cause. secure their respective interests. able to prevent black money, that However, in the final analysis they runs a parallel economy itself. And chose that force or party which will now, in the bid of the ruling class to serve the aggregate interest of the establish and exert its absolute Communist Seminar class in the best possible manner control over the electioneering and to the maximum extent possible process, that black money plays Contd. from page 3 come in the way of such in a given situation. The contestants, havoc there. This is a compulsion forces and parties of different ideological struggle; the criteria the parliamentary parties and their the class faces for its survival ; so countries, on questions of should be how correct its views and local or regional allies, too, no redresses are possible from international communist movement opinions are. For it, publication of scramble for governmental power deceptive legal measures, as as well as stages of revolution and journals may be undertaken. Let the and privilege. They face one hard conceived in the state funding. such others for different national Brussels Seminar initiate and try to task of hoodwinking people to draw Rather, the net effect of the scenes, which find their roots in the develop unity among the communist at least the minimum support. So proposed state funding would then serious ideological differences forces and parties of different they pose as their saviour from the be, the black money will continue to between the Soviet and the Chinese countries on common minimum clutches of poverty, misery or the play its role; only added to it, the Communist parties prevailing in the agreed points with a view to “terror”, the champions of same political parties, that are seventies of the last century. We can strengthening the all important fight democracy or of secularism or themselves involved in the nefarious resolve those and such other against our common enemy, ‘cultural nationalism’ or any game of grabbing power by any and differences through elaborate capitalism-imperialism, and in convenient sort, while at the bottom every means, will be allowed to polemical struggle involving particular against their henchman, of their heart, they remain the carry on with their business, this intensive bilateral discussions the warmonger US imperialism. subservient henchmen of the ruling time squandering with public between different communist We assure our best efforts to extend class, the aspirants to rise as the money. At the same time, in the face parties, conducted with a free mind all possible help and support to such obedient and efficient caretaker of of mounting resentment about this with a view to reaching the truth. initiatives. And with this I conclude the prevailing capitalist system. colossal wastage for which people Strength of any party should not with full optimism and expectation. PAGE SIX JUNE 1, 2005 PROLETARIAN ERA War for freedom of Soviet land merges with struggle of people of Europe and America : Stalin

Contd. from page 3 cowards, for panic-mongers and parachutists, rendering rapid aid in Our war for the freedom of our troops are fighting heroically deserters. Our people must know no all this to our destroyer battalions. country will merge with the struggle against an enemy armed to the teeth fear in fight and must selflessly join We must bear in mind that the of the peoples of Europe and with tanks and aircraft. our patriotic war of liberation, our enemy is crafty, unscrupulous, America for their independence, for Overcoming innumerable war against the fascist enslavers. experienced in deception and the democratic liberties. difficulties, the Red Army and Red Lenin, the great founder of our dissemination of false rumours. We It will be a united front of Navy are self-sacrificingly disputing State, used to say that the chief must reckon with all this and not peoples standing for freedom and every inch of Soviet soil. The main virtue of the Bolshevik must be fall victim to provocation. against enslavement and threats of forces of the Red Army are coming courage, valor, fearlessness in All who by their panic- enslavement by Hitler’s fascist into action armed with thousands of struggle, readiness to fight, together mongering and cowardice hinder the armies. tanks and airplanes. The men of the with the people, against the enemies work of defence, no matter who In this connection the historic Red Army are displaying of our country. they are, must be immediately haled utterance of the British Prime unexampled valor. Our resistance to This splendid virtue of the before the military tribunal. In case Minister Churchill regarding aid to the enemy is growing in strength Bolshevik must become the virtue of forced retreat of Red Army units, the Soviet Union and the declaration and power. of the millions of the Red Army, of all rolling stock must be evacuated, of the United States Government Side by side with the Red Army, the Red Navy, of all peoples of the the enemy must not be left a single signifying its readiness to render aid the entire Soviet people are rising in Soviet Union. engine, a single railway car, not a to our country, which can only defense of our native land. All our work must be single pound of grain or a gallon of evoke a feeling of gratitude in the What is required to put an end immediately reconstructed on a war fuel. hearts of the peoples of the Soviet to the danger hovering over our footing, everything must be The collective farmers must Union, are fully comprehensible and country, and what measures must be subordinated to the interests of the drive off all their cattle, and turn symptomatic. taken to smash the enemy? front and the task of organizing the over their grain to the safe-keeping Comrades, our forces are Above all, it is essential that our demolition of the enemy. of State authorities for numberless. The overweening people, the Soviet people, should The people of the Soviet Union transportation to the rear. All enemy will soon learn this to his understand the full immensity of now see that there is no taming of valuable property, including non- cost. Side by side with the Red the danger that threatens our German fascism in its savage fury ferrous metals, grain and fuel which Army many thousands of workers, country and should abandon all and hatred of our country which has cannot be withdrawn, must without collective farmers, intellectuals are complacency, all heedlessness, all ensured all working people labour fail be destroyed. rising to fight the enemy aggressor. those moods of peaceful in freedom and prosperity. In areas occupied by the The masses of our people will rise constructive work which were so The peoples of the Soviet Union enemy, guerrilla units, mounted and up in their millions. natural before the war, but must rise against the enemy and on foot, must be formed, The working people of Moscow which are fatal today when war defend their rights and their land. diversionist groups must be and Leningrad have already has fundamentally changed The Red Army, Red Navy and all organized to combat the enemy commenced to form vast popular everything. citizens of the Soviet Union must troops, to foment guerrilla warfare levies in support of the Red Army. The enemy is cruel and defend every inch of Soviet soil, everywhere, to blow up bridges and Such popular levies must be raised implacable. He is out to seize our must fight to the last drop of blood roads, damage telephone and in every city which is in danger of lands, watered with our sweat, to for our towns and villages, must telegraph lines, set fire to forests, enemy invasion, all working people seize our grain and oil secured by display the daring initiative and stores, transports. must be roused to defend our our labour. He is out to restore the intelligence that are inherent in our In the occupied regions freedom, our honor, our country—in rule of landlords, to restore Tsarism, people. conditions must be made unbearable our patriotic war against German to destroy national culture and the We must organize all-round for the enemy and all his Fascism. national state existence of the assistance for the Red Army, ensure accomplices. They must be hounded In order to ensure the rapid Russians, Ukrainians, Byelo- powerful reinforcements for its and annihilated at every step, and all mobilization of all forces of the Russians, Lithuanians, Letts, ranks and the supply of everything it their measures frustrated. peoples of the U.S.S.R. and to Esthonians, Uzbeks, Tatars, requires, we must organize the rapid This war with fascist Germany repulse the enemy who Moldavians, Georgians, Armenians, transport of troops and military cannot be considered an ordinary treacherously attacked our country, Azerbaidzhanians and the other free freight and extensive aid to the war. It is not only a war between a State Committee of Defence has people of the Soviet Union, to wounded. two armies, it is also a great war of been formed in whose hands the Germanize them, to convert them We must strengthen the Red the entire Soviet people against the entire power of the State has been into the slaves of German princes Army’s rear, subordinating all our German fascist forces. vested. and barons. work to this cause. All our The aim of this national war in The State Committee of Thus the issue is one of life or industries must be got to work with defense of our country against the Defence has entered upon its death for the Soviet State, for the greater intensity to produce more fascist oppressors is not only functions and calls upon all people peoples of the USSR; the issue is rifles, machine-guns, artillery, elimination of the danger hanging to rally around the Party of Lenin- whether the peoples of the Soviet bullets, shells, airplanes; we must over our country, but also aid Stalin and around the Soviet Union shall remain free or fall into organize the guarding of factories, to all European peoples Government, so as to self-denyingly slavery. power-stations, telephonic and groaning under the yoke of German support the Red Army and Navy, The Soviet people must realize telegraphic communications and fascism. demolish the enemy and secure this and abandon all heedlessness, arrange effective air raid In this war of liberation we victory. they must mobilize themselves and precautions in all localities. shall not be alone. In this great war All our forces for support of our reorganize all their work on new, We must wage a ruthless fight we shall have loyal allies in the heroic Red Army and our glorious wartime bases, when there can be against all disorganizers of the rear, peoples of Europe and America, Red Navy! All forces of the no mercy to the enemy. deserters, panic-mongers, rumor- including the German people who people—for the demolition of the Further, there must be no room mongers; we must exterminate are enslaved by the Hitlerite enemy! in our ranks for whimperers and spies, diversionists and enemy despots. Forward, to our victory! PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 1, 2005 PAGE SEVEN One year of UPA Government Congress fiddles, CPI(M) wriggles, People bleed white It has of late become a fashion in bourgeois parliamentary politics And on a close analysis, it will be renew their pledge to extend their to celebrate anniversary of a government’s stay in power. Big observed that this Congress support to the government for full advertisements are released splurging taxpayers’ money to highlight government has no intention to term and thereby signal a covert go- the “successes” claimed by the ruling dispensation in the years that effectively confront the BJP either ahead to the government in have gone by. Hype is created in the pliant media as if such happens to ideologically or politically though pursuance of its policies. Also the be an occasion to rejoice, make an assessment of the achievements and the latter is flaunting its vile apparent thunder is never backed by communal character with much necessary action to stall any of the chart out future road map. The current Congress-led CPI (M)-backed more ferocity. Instead, as it happens anti-people legislations as was seen UPA government has been no exception to that. While the Congress in bourgeois two-party democracy, recently in the case of safe passage and its allies expressed satisfaction over the performance, the CPI (M) the Congress in the name of seeking to the black Patent (Amendment) and its associates pretended to be cautious critic of the government cooperation is following the policy Bill and tabling of Banking Reforms though renewing their pledge to support the government for full 5-year of non-engagement with the BJP. Bill. That is why the Congress term. This reality, this naked truth are leaders often say that they do not Everyone knows that the relief to the rural population afflicted sought to be suppressed under the have any difficulty in carrying on Congress as the most trusted by appalling poverty and impoveris- pomp and propaganda of with the CPI(M), CPI. In fact, Union representative of the ruling Indian hment. The government has taken anniversary celebration so that the Finance Minister on May 26, bourgeoisie had run the government no effective move to provide job to deprived millions remain in a snare thanked his Left (!) friends by saying for about 45 years since the millions of rural poor who are of delu-sion. And the pliant media that “as far as economic policies are independence. The hallmark of its dying of hunger and malnutrition. has been hyperactive in embellishing concerned, the Left has been helpful rule has been sustained From unbearable poverty thousands this camouflage with bounteous and alert.” pauperization and ruination of the of peasants are committing suicide ; publicity as if such is an occasion And there is nothing surprising poor while fortune and prosperity of parents sell children for a pittance ; worth observing with elation and in it. While the CPI(M) and its a handful of rich has been on a women are forced into flesh trade ; gaiety. associates make big show in Delhi continuous spiral. The malaise while the media publish buyoant In playing trick with the people, over increased FDI dependence, afflicting the common people in accounts of refrigerators, TVs and the Lefts (!) of the CPI(M), CPI, who opening up of key sectors to foreign every sphere of life knew no bounds. washing machines making inroad proclaim themselves as watchdog to capital, privatization spree, It was the same Congress which after into rural households. What a cruel the Congress-led government, are disinvestment of PSUs, forced being out of power for some years, joke with those doomed to a sub- showing much superior skill. Theirs retirement and retrenchment of regained the governmental seat human livelihood ! has been a policy of reaping twin workers and employees, contract capitalizing on the anti-BJP wave While the government felt no advantage. While they enjoy all the labour system, imposition of cess and taking full advantage of the obligation to these downtrodden benefits of being on the side of the and duties on petro-products and so abject betrayal to the people’s cause people, it went on adopting policies government, claim to be providing forth, the CPI (M)-led by the CPI (M), CPI. Saddled in and measures to accentuate the “content and character” to the government is doing all these things power once again, it took off from economic onslaught. The two government policies, they manage to with alacrity in the name of where the BJP, the other trusted budgets presented by the Congress disown any responsibility of the development. So advanced is the agent of the ruling class, left the job, have been blueprints of capitalist misdeeds and wrong doings of the CPI(M) government in this regard and began pursuing the same anti- globalization. Preposterous government. For last one year, this that spokespersons of foreign people pro-capitalist policies that taxation, fiscal savagery, huge 'dog' has only been watching the imperial capital and top brass of have been wreaking havoc in borrowing to finance budget deficits looters running amuck but played no Indian monopolists are people’s life. People’s mandate was and hefty concessions to the role other than that of an indulgent overwhelmed in their praise for the against capitalist globalisation or monopolists and big business have spectator with occasional show of CPI (M) chief minister whom they capitalist economic reforms that the been the key items causing further mock opposition. On the pretext of have ranked the best in the country. BJP had carried out in full swing. rise of price-line and increased keeping the BJP out of power these So the Congress leaders chuckled in The Congress government gave a squeezing of the people. Twice this self-styled Marxists have taken an amusement when the CPI(M) and its new lease of life to the policies of the government within a span of six oath to keep this government alive allies decided to abstain from the BJP by following the same agenda of months of its maiden year, effected no matter what disastrous effect it one-year celebration function saying economic reforms bringing further steep hike in the prices of petro- has on the people. But lest their anti- that they had differences (!) with the disaster to the life of common products outside the budget. Now it Marxist social democratic character government. At the same breath, the people. In the last one year, is contemplating to impose another and capitulation to the ruling class CPI(M) clarified that this thousands of factories have been dose of price hike of petrol-diesel on get exposed, they feign to be a critic absenteeism should not been seen as closed, hundreds of thousands have the pretext of neutralizing the effect of some of the policies of the boycott of the function. In order to been thrown out of job. of the additional cess and import government and pretend as if they reiterate that this exhibited Indiscriminate retrenchment, lay-off, duty levied in the last budget. When have been instrumental in scuttling a opposition for public consumption is compulsory and early retirement, the people bleed white under this few anti-people moves. Whenever not for straining but cementing the premature termination of job have barbaric assault, the profits of they find that their unstinted support mutual relationship, the CPI (M) and been on the rise. The government monopolists and big business soar to the Congress-led government is its associates shoot out letters to the has announced that henceforth the sky- high. Like the BJP, the questioned by the people, they try to government the very next day policy will be to appoint contract and Congress too continued, if not quell the voice of discontent by assuring their full support for the casual work. It has taken no initiative increased, hobnobbing with the US switching over to thunder mode, remaining period of its tenure. to arrest whopping unemployment. imperialists, the worst enemy of criticize the government for its Sensing the public rage and ire Rather it is continuing systematic mankind and zionist Israel as main obsession with FDI-led growth that against the Congress-led reduction of vacancies in plank of its foreign policy. In the is spawning wrong decisions and government for another year of its government departments, semi- same tune with the BJP, it is talking policies and even accuse it of misrule as well resentment within government concerns and PSUs. of labour reforms as mandated by bringing legislations in the “interest their rank, they used this occasion to Similarly no effective step has globalization-liberalization in the of big business and foreign finance don the cloak of a critic and spat at been taken to provide rudimentary interest of exploiting capitalist class. capital”. But simultaneously they Contd. on page 8 Postal Regd. No. SSRM/KOL/RMS/WB/RNP-145/2004-06 Regd. No. 13932/67 AIMSS censures provisions Massive Rally in Delhi The Delhi State Organising Member, Delhi State Organising for night arrest of women Committee of SUCI organised a Committee and addressed by State massive protest demonstration on Secretary Pratap Samal, Comrades H. G. Jayalaxmi, General Secretary, All India Mahila Sanskritik May 18 last against water tariff hike J.N. Mandal and Harish Tyagi, as Sangathan issued the following statement on 18 May 2005 : and water privatisation plans, well as leaders from different Since the passing of an order permitting the police to arrest women privatisation of electricity supply localities, including P.P. Singh, Ram at any time of the day or night even without the presence of a lady and consequent problems faced by Babu, Pushpa Chamoli, P.K. Powar, constable, by a Division Bench of the Supreme Court, AIMSS has been consumers, problems of public Rakesh Kumar, Bhanwarpal, R.K. organising movements against it all over the country and on 1st transport, education, health, eviction Bhat and Bihari Lal Nirmal. A December 2004 (last year) launched a massive protest demonstration of colonies/ settlements, forcible delegation led by Pratap Samal, before the Parliament and submitted a memorandum to the Prime closure of industries, crime against submitted a memorandum to the Minister and another to the Chief Justice of India along with lakhs of signatures demanding total ban on arrest of women at night time on any plea. Recently, both the houses of the Parliament have amended the Section 46 of the Code of the Criminal Procedure 1973 prohibiting arrest of women after sunset and before sunrise save in “exceptional circumstances”. We welcome the main contention of the amendment to the extent it negates the aforesaid dangerous judgement of the Division Bench of the Supreme Court. At the same time we cannot but strongly criticise and condemn the scope left in the amendment for gross misinterpretation and above all the expression ‘save in exceptional circumstances’, though some so-called safeguards are laid down like seeking permission from a superior officer before arrest or reporting immediately after arrest. In case permission can not be obtained beforehand, a provision is left for reporting to the Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the arrest has been made. Considering the present attitude and behaviour of the police administration as such, there is women, price-rise due to VAT and Chief Minister, signed over by every possibility of abusing this provision of the amendment. Patents (Amendment) Act 2005. people of Delhi and urging So, we strongly urge upon the government to immediately remove Hundreds of demonstrators from fulfilment of ther above demands. the above-mentioned part of the Amendment and ensure that no woman various parts of Delhi marched from Memoranda pertaining to specific is arrested on any plea during night time. We are sorry to note that left Ferozeshah Kotla towards Delhi problems of each locality were also parties like CPI(M) and CPI did not raise a single point in the Parliament Secretariat braving the summer submitted. The Additional Secretary against this negative portion of the proposed Amendment Bill . heat. A public meeting was held in the CM’s Office promised action It is also to be noted that when the Division Bench of the Supreme there presided over by R.K. Sharma, on the demands soon. Court passed the dangerous order in 2003 neither these parties nor their women wings protested against it, let alone develop movement. We call upon all right-thinking democratic-minded people, particularly womenfolk, to come forward and continue movements throughout the country till the disputed portion is removed, especially when atrocities on women, particularly by the men, in uniform are alarmingly on the rise in the country.

Baikunth Shukla Day observed at Muzaffarpur

AIDSO and AIDYO observed meeting was addressed by Shri A Secretariat Dharna and Rajbhavan March was held in Trivandrum by SUCI martyrdom day of Shaheed Shasikant Jha, a well-known on 23 May 2005. The march was stopped midway by the police. Comrade Baikunth Shukla at Muzaffarpur on litterateur, freedom fighter Shri C K Lukose, Secretary, Kerala State Committee addresses the huge rally. May 14, 2005. Baikunth Shukla, Shubh Narayan Sharma, Shri B. with assistance of Chandrama Prashant, District Secretary, Save Singh, assassinated Phanindra Nath Education Committee, Comrade One year of UPA Government Ghosh, a Central Committee Arun Kumar Singh, former All India Contd. from page 7 consciousness is dawning upon the member of HSRA , later turned a President of AIDSO and member, the Congress seemingly to confuse toiling millions who are increasingly British spy, (on whose witness Bihar State Committee, SUCI. the people, camouflage their tacit becoming aware of the hoax of Bhagat Singh and Rajguru were Comrade Raj Kumar Chaudhary, understanding with it, and securing bourgeois vote politics and drawn hanged and many others sentenced Secretary, Muzaffarpur district their position in the coming towards the path of democratic mass to life imprisonment) on November committee, AIDSO, and Comrade elections. This is perfidy at its best. movement over burning issues of life 9, 1932. He was hanged on May14, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, President, Perhaps both the Congress and and in the process are learning to 1934 at Gaya Central Jail. AIDSO, Muzaffarpur district its pseudo-Marxist friends are distinguish between mask and face The martyrdom day was committee. The meeting was grossly mistaken in assuming that of the servitors of the exploiting observed with offering of floral presided over by Comrade the people would remain ever bourgeois class. People’s enemies tribute to the portrait of Shaheed Lalbabu Mahato, district in-charge, vulnerable to their hoodwinking acts will never escape the wrath of Baikunth Shukla. A memorial AIDYO. and deceitful manoeuvres. Political history. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : NIHAR MUKHERJEE Edited & Published by Sukomal Dasgupta from 48 Lenin Sarani, 700 013 and printed by him at Printers and Publishers Private Limited, 52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013 Phone : 2244-1828, 2244-2234 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.suci.in