Volume 43 No. 20 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF (COMMUNIST) June 15, 2010 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE SHIBDAS GHOSH Price : Rs. 2.00 INDIAN PREMIERE LEAGUE SCAM SUCI(C) strongly denounced Bhopal gas tragedy verdict, demanded stringent Exposes murky face of punishment of the culprits and called for observing All rotten corrupt capitalism India Protest Day on 9th June Sport, as we all know, is a great character Cricket — latest prey of moribund Reacting to the verdict of the Bhopal building tool. It is a device to sustain physical and capitalism District Court on the Bhopal gas tragedy that mental nourishment—a means to create a healthy But sport today is being packaged, advertised occurred in the Union Carbide plant in 1984, mind in a healthy body and foster the spirit of and sold no different from a bunch of toiletries or Comrade Provash Ghosh, General Secretary, cordiality and friendship. Sport is a source of a pack of junk food. Sport is now a product, to SUCI(C) in course of a statement issued on 8 refreshing entertainment right from the children to be marketed and sold in whichever way as to June said that while the countrymen expected the aged. Sportsmanship is an attitude that strives fetch maximum profit for the operators. that a crime of such magnitude which caused for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and Beautiful, uplifting sport is being methodically, death to nearly 25,000 people and maimed, opponents, ethical behaviour and integrity, and mercilessly squeezed, its essence adulterated and injured, slow poisoned and seriously affected in grace in victory or defeat. Fair play refers to all sold in the market to the highest bidder. After some way or other over 5.5 lakh more would be participants having an equitable chance to pursue being immersed in an insoluble market crisis thoroughly investigated with due promptitude victory and acting toward others in an honest, endemic of the system, moribund decadent and the culprits hauled up, tried and swiftly straightforward, and a firm and dignified manner capitalism in order to satiate its greed for profit meted out stringent punishment, the judiciary- even when others do not play fairly. It includes maximization is on a prowl—predating on newer administration combine showed unusual respect for others including team members, areas of investment to drag its gasping existence, lethargy in carrying out the proceedings, diluted opponents, and officials. Character refers to and the accompanying rot is spreading thick and the importance of the case by shifting it from dispositions, values and habits that determine the fast. Its latest target has been the arena of sports the charge of ‘culpable homicide’ to ‘causing way that person normally responds to desires, particularly those games which are more popular death by negligence’ and then allowed legal fears, challenges, opportunities, failures and and hence promise “better” business prospect. As process to meander on its tortuous path for 26 successes and is typically seen in polite behaviour testament to modern sport’s impending long years to ultimately end in a travesty of toward others such as helping an opponent up or submersion into the quagmire of corrupt justice. Stunned people of the country find that shaking hands after a match. Aim of education, capitalism, no finer instances can be had than the the eight accused found responsible for the we know, is to develop a person as a socially recently broken mega-scale scam of Indian biggest industrial disaster in the history were responsible human being with consummate Premiere League (IPL). Noticing the increased only asked to pay Rs 1 lakh as fine and undergo knowledge about life and how to approach it from obssession of a sizeable part of sports-loving imprisonment for just two years. And the height a social perspective. Sport too is a time-tested populace in the world, it was Australian media of mockery was that all the accused were device for bringing about social integration and baron Kerry Packer who first toyed with the idea granted bail against personal bond of just Rs sense of fraternity. That is why sport has always of converting cricket from a sporting event in to 25,000 immediately after the verdict was read been regarded as complementary to education. We dazzling display of an item number of modern out. It may be recalled, observed Comrade have seen in history how imbibing true spirit of show business that seeks to define entertainment Ghosh, that Chairman and CEO of Union sports spurred one in discharging his social in terms of artificially stimulated excitement, Carbide, giant US multinational now owned by obligation. During the days of our freedom incitement of perverse proclivities and a kind of Dow Chemicals, another notorious US MNC, movement, the urge for liberating the motherland riotous amusement of imposed glamour and who was arrested after the deadly leak of from the tentacles of foreign imperial rule was gaiety. It was he who first floated a parallel poisonous gas was immediately released on bail often expressed in the arena of sports when teams cricket extravaganza luring top notch cricketers and then allowed a safe passage to US to charged with nationalist fervour scored with huge monetary offer so much so as to be quietly avoid all legal actions as his extradition, impressive if not iconoclastic victory over much able to whisk away many of them from the the government knew, would be denied by the powerful rivals sponsored by the exploitative officially recognized arena of international US government citing provisions of bilateral rulers. Such a victory in a sport event symbolized cricket. ‘Pajama cricket’ or ‘Kerry Packer’s treaty between the two countries. Also in order victory against oppression and suppression, circus’, as it was being called those days soon to suppress the entire crime, the central victory of the just and justice against tyranny and became the major trend and International Cricket government in 1989 dropped all criminal terror. Sport also inculcates a spirit of mutual Council (ICC) struck a compromise with Packer, charges filed against the Union Carbide cooperation and coordination in both national and granted approval to the format of a 50-over one authorities and instead entered into an out of international spheres. This is how sport plays a day match as against five day long Test cricket court settlement in which the accused US role in stimulating human spirit and propelling and endorsed large-scale commercialization of multinational got away by paying on average society and human civilization forward. Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 6 PAGE TWO JUNE 15, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA Cricket stripped of essence of sports and made pompous commercial extravaganza Contd. from page 1 and , a person of dubious the game of cricket which once 2008 and pay 10 per cent of the the game. Since then, cricket no past floated the idea of IPL. Several epitomized these virtues. Cricketers amount each year to the IPL before more remained a sport but assumed big monopolists as well as big film are “purchased” for each year’s the tournament begins. IPL also gets the character of a commercial personalities either with their own tournament by the franchises for 20 per cent share of what Sony Set venture where pomp and grandeur resource or financed by big their respective teams through Max earns from telecast rights. The and not essence of sport dominates corporates and ‘secret’ investors auction at fabulous prices, as if they IPL also gets a similar share from with notorious audacity. Soon, it have floated cricket clubs on are cattle or horses. Their cricketing central sponsors like DLF or was felt by the quarters of vested ownership basis and hired cricketers talent and skill have become Vodafone. Add to this the new rights interest that in keeping with the round the world through open purchasable commodities in the sold this year for telecasting the present day capitalist practice of not market purchase based on highest capitalist sports market. MUMBAI matches live on YouTube and for producing goods of long standing bid. To make the sector yet more Indians spent a staggering $750,000 multiplex rights. The IPL has also use but the preferred ‘use and attractive, monopolists romped in to acquire Kieron Pollard, the all- levied a licensing fee from Viacom throw’ stuff so as to mint super- glamorous film stars to add rounder from Trinidad and Tobago, network, which has the right to profit through augmented repeat ‘elegance to the show’. Also, it is for IPL Season 3 in a tightly show the after-match parties. These purchase, one-dayers should give common knowledge that in order to contested bid. The huge sums paid add upto a few more billions. The way to a still more truncated format sell their products, capitalists use to the players, coaches and even IPL website has a market worth of of T-20. In sync with the vulgar attractive wraps and unique support staff like the about Rs.800 crores ($175 million). consumerism world imperialism- advertising and promotional tactics physiotherapists and ‘vocal tonic’ Whereas in 2008, India’s top capitalism fostered to suit its sinister even crossing limits of decency and providers for a tournament of such business house Mukesh Ambani’s class motive, a new adage, “Eat, sobriety. As is the common practice small duration cannot but turn them Reliance Industries made the highest Sleep and Drink cricket” was coined to display women scantily dressed into conceited self-seekers and bid of $99 billion to bag the to make people crazy about the or provocatively posed even for corrupt them. Their participation in franchise for the Mumbai team, this modern version of the game so that marketing a shaving blade or post-match parties is mandatory and year, the Sahara Group and a it could easily be “sold”. The craze antiseptic cream, cheergirls and such late-night drunken revelries consortium including Rendezvous is sought to be raised to such a fashion models were introduced cannot but debauch them as some Sports World bid $370 million and $ height that the people in following both on field and in the latest incidents of cricketers getting 333 million to bag the two new the cricketers cross the thin line that commentator box. The purpose was involved in brawls in the pubs and franchises for the Pune team and the exists between a fan and a fanatic. two-fold. One was to buttress their tryst with call girls vindicate. Kochi team respectively that have commercial agenda and the other to Also they become pliable and fall been awarded. Besides corporate IPL—metamorphosis of degenerate the morality and culture easy prey to lucrative offers for world, the Mumbai film world, as cricket of the people so that anything and match-fixing from the betting rings stated above, is also deeply involved India has been a cricket playing everything no matter how depraved organized by speculative capital in this 3-hour commercial package country for long and so there is a and debased could be passed as which rules the roost in present-day of a costly IPL tamasha! The fondness of the game here. It could entertainment or art. capitalist economic activities. glamour of the film world attracts. be seen within no time that one-day Of all the IPL’s innovations – Television commercials and So the cine superstars are made the cricket with coloured dress, white cheergirls, city-based teams studded shows, movie industry, fashion faces of some of the franchises. ball, black screen, choice of power with international stars, player industry and many more have begun Presence of many of these screen play overs and day-and-night play auction – the most significant, and to eye the cricketers as the money heroes and heroines during the timing became popular among the until recently the least commented making pie. Not even a single matches is working as a crowd larger section of the masses not for on, was the introduction of private industry is left untouched. Special puller. The nexus between the film love for the game per se but because ownership of teams. For the first telecasts on news channels are industry and black money and the of the craftily woven ‘entertainment time, representative cricket entities covered and pre-match and post- criminal world is well-known. And package’ it offered thanks to the had become private assets. match preparations are done not as a corollary, IPL’s connection courtesy of the sports merchants in Modernization was equated with only by cricket teams but also by with the underworld and black the country and outside. Revenue privileging of the private sector, news channels to increase their money operation is only but natural. earned from cricket matches held in with maximizing of profit that could Television Rating Point (TRP). And It is clear that the IPL is a cartel India was found to be highest in the be extracted from the game. The the huge cash generated in the – a group of supposedly world. Obviously, it occurred to a franchise concept of the IPL had process inflate the bursting coffers independent private interests section of the ruling capitalists and given an uncalled for twist to the of the BCCI officials, IPL bigwigs colluding to control and carve up their agents that why not capitalize gentleman’s game, pegged as it was and their associates, corrupt the market. At the same time, it was on the opportunities unfolding on profits for the private owners of bourgeois politicians and domestic being murmured for quite some time before them by introducing a still the teams. Earlier, sordid monetary and foreign monopolists financing that there were serious conflicts of more palatable 20-over version so affairs were disguised behind the the mega project. interests within the IPL, and vested that, cricket, by metamorphosis, cult of amateurism. The difference interests lobbying for, and acting, could become a billion-dollar fiesta with IPL has been that money is in IPL—a money spiller clandestinely on behalf of, big in keeping with the laws of the the forefront of the game, its power The IPL was thus projected as business and powerful politicians. capitalist market economy and shameless and explicit. an ingeniously conceived and coffers of “those who matter” could Whatever the virtues of the spectacularly executed show, with a Scam breaks out swell overnight. cricket played in the IPL, the culture lot of frills and thrills. The financial Proving that the murmurs were So the Board of Cricket Control of the IPL – the packaging of the scale of operations of the IPL, the not baseless, startling disclosures of India (BCCI) which comprised cricket – was soulless and contrived. amount of money invested, is truly began on April 11, 2010 when Lalit and still comprises people having The common cricket fan by no mind-boggling. It is reported to be a Modi, IPL commissioner and BCCI least concern for the game but more means remained a stakeholder in $4.1 billion cricketing extravaganza. vice-president tweeted on his concentration on personal gains this venture. Sportsmanship and The eight franchises together bid website details of the stake holding immediately nodded affirmatively fairplay have been banished from Rs.28.53 billion ($640.9 million) in Contd. on page 3 PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 15, 2010 PAGE THREE Franchise concept of the IPL pegs cricket on profits for private team owners Contd. from page 2 Lalit Modi. Besides, Burman’s more broadly the commercial in to show Pawar and his family’s in the new Kochi IPL team that was brother Mohit is a co-owner of deregulation of the game which involvement in the bidding and sold for Rs.1530 crore ($370 Kings XI Punjab — one of the apparently created the morass, it is franchise ownership. He and his million) on 21 March this year. eight original franchises awarded now exposed that behind lies a family own 3.6 lakh shares (out of Modi said that Rendezvous Sports under the stewardship of Lalit Modi tangle of conflicts of interest, with 2.07 crore shares) in City World had been given 25 per cent of as the IPL Commissioner. Further, IPL and BCCI officials and their Corporation, a Pune-based the franchise ownership free of cost, Modi’s brother-in-law Suresh relatives financially involved in the construction company which bid Rs out of which Rendezvous “gifted” Chelaram, a Nigeria-based private franchises and the 1,176 crore for a franchise in March. (technically termed “sweat businessman, owns a sizable stake broadcasting rights-holders. There These shares are held through two equity”)18 per cent to one Sunanda in Rajasthan Royals, another of the have been manipulations of every companies, Lap Finance and Pushkar, a Dubai-based beautician eight original franchises. It was also sort on a stupendous scale for Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. and Namratta who was close to Sashi Tharoor, alleged that Modi was deeply funding the bidders and to influence Film Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., which Minister of State for External embroiled in generation of black the bid results for securing the are 100% owned by the Union Affairs in the UPA government, and money, money laundering, and franchises. It is a web that allegedly agriculture minister, his wife and who was expected to marry him betting in cricket (match fixing of involves ministers, the CEOs of daughter Supriya Sule, also an MP. soon. Lalit further tweeted that certain IPL matches). Allegations some of India’s biggest To shield Pawar, the Managing during the bidding evaluation stage against Modi included bribery, corporations, media powers and Director of City Corporation prior to award of the franchise, kickbacks, insider trading, tax Bollywood stars. As we have said claimed that though the bid Tharoor had advised Lalit not to evasion, offshore tax scams and earlier, it is the big corporate houses, document was bought and submitted check up and investigate the violations of foreign exchange business tycoons and speculators in the name of City Corp., it was in background of “controversial” regulations, rigging bids in aborted who own the IPL teams. Almost all his “personal capacity”. Incredible buyers like Rendezvous. This was a round of auction, encouraging and the BCCI board members or office indeed! A tender was bought in the serious allegation that Tharoor, attempting collusive bidding, bearers have direct or indirect stake name of a company. Subsequently, using his position as an Union breaching confidentiality clause, in the cricket franchisees. BCCI the board did not agree to the bid, minister, had influenced the bidding arm-twisting successful bidder, non- Secretary N Srinivasan owns the but permitted the MD to use the and award procedure so that the disclosure of interest or stake in the Chennai team. After Modi, BCCI company’s name for bidding franchise right could the granted to franchises, misappropriation of has appointed Chirayu Amin, purposes out of his personal the bidding consortium in which funds, irregularities in awarding another BCCI top official, as chief finance—an act precluded in the Rendezvous was a major partner broadcast and internet rights, of IPL. But Amin is no cricketing relevant corporate law. without checking its background ignoring irregularities in one of the personality. He is also a big and ownership details. Why? franchises in which his kin holds industrialist, chairman of the How do the shady operations Because, 18 per cent free ownership stake, unexplained $80 million pharmaceutical giant Alembic and take place? of Sunanda virtually meant 18 per facilitation fee about which BCCI former president of the Federation Let us have some idea as to how cent free ownership of Sashi was kept in the dark. Modi was of Indian Chambers of Commerce the ring of dubious operations and Tharoor himself by proxy. Stung, suspended from the post of IPL and Industry. Can it be said that he money making operates. First one is Sashi Tharoor hit back and the chairman by the BCCI but that does unlike his other colleagues does not of chain contracts that are awarded Kochi franchise too joined in the not mean the buck stops at that. have any interest in any of the through intermediacy of multiple fray. Tharoor also alleged that Modi teams? companies including fictitious and others had tried to pressurize the IPL —a hotbed of financial And now it has come to light entities which are owned by the winning consortiums to abandon irregularities that Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief echelons in the hierarchy of the their bid in favour of another city, By its very constitution, the IPL and union minister of agriculture operations and their financiers. For Ahmedabad. Through the could not but be a hotbed of who had been the BCCI chief earlier example, World Sports Group- allegations and counter-allegations financial irregularities, and is now frantically trying to Mauritius (WSG) and IMG, two between them and Lalit Modi, manipulations and corruption of occupy the chair of ICC president companies that received BCCI Pandora’s box was opened revealing every sort on a massive scale. The has interest in one of the franchisees contracts, are both old business widespread corruption prevalent in basic feature which distinguishes albeit through proxy. Praful Patel, partners in Modi’s own businesses. the IPL affairs. But Tharoor had IPL from earlier cricket another NCP stalwart and union Modi Entertainment Networks runs hardly any escape route from the tournaments, as we said earlier, has civil aviation minister is also under Fashion TV in India. IMG did pressure mounted on the been the introduction of private scanner. The BCCI has all along business with Fashion TV for years government by the opposition ownership of the teams. This is been at great pains to ensure that before it won the contract for seeking his removal. The Congress- privatization of sports in the worst Sharad Pawar’s involvement in the managing IPL. IMG, a powerful led UPA also found that continuing form. By selling the franchises, the scam does not become public. At the global firm with interests in sports, with Tharoor would entail more BCCI has been permitting the initial stage, Pawar tried to protect media and entertainment, was to get infamy for it. So he was made to groups of successful bidders to Lalit Modi. But IT and Enforcement 10% of IPL’s revenues as resign from the ministry. But the exploit the huge market of the game Directorate investigations, prima management fee. The two parties scandal did not die down. for commercial gain. With the facie, substantiated allegations of later renegotiated and IMG was Meanwhile, disclosures about staggeringly high prices of the financial irregularities, nepotism and back in the game with a Lalit Modi’s misdeeds had been franchises going around with the abuse of political authority by substantially reduced fee. piling up. It transpired that the rights prospect of matching high super Pawar and Praful Patel. Perturbed at Meanwhile, Multi-Screen Media for developing and maintaining the profits, IPL has become the play the revelations, Congress leaders (MSM), formerly Sony IPL website had been bagged by a ground of monopoly capital, joint Pranab Mukherjee and Entertainment Television, had company called Global Cricket corporate houses with immense Chidambaram are stated to have bagged the broadcast rights for 10 Ventures – a Mauritius-based money power and close connections bluntly asked Pawar to give up years, starting 2008, with a bid of company that is co-owned by at highest levels. protecting Lalit Modi. But of late, $918 million and a commitment to Gaurav Burman, step-son-in-law of Though private franchising, and documentary evidences are pouring Contd. on page 4 PAGE FOUR JUNE 15, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA An unholy nexus of corrupt sports officials-politicians- corporate barons-speculators-smugglers forms IPL cartel Contd. from page 3 entity. Even Indian operators use states that the company shall not parking, speculative finance— all spend another $108 million on this channel to deploy their black issue sweat equity shares for more are used without any accountability promoting the event. However, the money back in India by way of than 15% of its total paid-up capital of disclosure. What could be more deal was scrapped a few months ‘Hawala’ transaction. A customer in a year or shares whose value was attractive than a project of this kind before IPL 2009 was to begin, approaches a Hawala broker in one not more than Rs 5 crore, that too for multiplying illegally acquired leading to a legal battle between Indian city and gives a sum of only after the government’s wealth? MSM and IPL. MSM lost the case money to be transferred to a approval. But Sunanda was given Moreover, under private in court as rights were already recipient in a foreign destination. Rs 80 crores worth of sweat equity. ownership, management is less created in favour of WSG. BCCI The Hawala broker calls another The fourth aspect is ‘flight’ of hedged in by non-commercial sold the telecast rights for the Hawala broker in the recipient’s important documents to undisclosed concerns, like ensuring wider access second season of the IPL to WSG- destination, gives disposition destinations stated to be beyond the to facilities; they have neither a Mauritius in March 2010 for over instructions of the funds (usually reach of the investigating mandate for nor an interest in Rs 335 crore, 50% higher than its minus a small commission), and authorities. Are we to believe that promoting the welfare of the game deal with Sony Max, a channel promises to settle the debt at a later our intelligence wings are so as a whole. Inevitably, franchise owned by MSM. The contract was date. The “unique’ feature of the inefficient as not to be able to trace holdings become part of larger for a nine-year period as opposed to system is that no promissory such ‘missing’ documents? Among investment portfolios and are treated last year’s 10-year contract. WSG instruments are exchanged between the scores of papers that have accordingly. In English Premier India, last year, paid about USD 900 the hawala brokers; the transaction allegedly gone missing from the League (EPL) football, the putative million and WSG Mauritius, it is takes place entirely on the honour BCCI headquarters here, are the model for the IPL, owners have learnt, had paid the BCCI USD 1.8 system. Hawala works by papers relating to the highly proved extraordinarily reckless in billion this year for the contract. It is transferring money without actually controversial $1.64 billion TV rights exploiting their assets. The alleged that by awarding WSG moving it. What a novel conduit to contract between BCCI, Multi- American owners of Manchester rights at favourable terms, Modi was make unaccounted money multiply Screen Media (MSM) and World United and Liverpool have both settling the old dues from his private through dubious transaction! Apart Sports Group (WSG) involving a used their clubs as financial business. But then MSM opened from this, large amounts of suspect “facilitation” fee of $80 leverage for other sections of their fresh negotiations with BCCI to IPL money are alleged to be coming million. They are not with BCCI, corporate empires. The IPL has, regain the broadcast rights within from “dubious sources”, including nor apparently with suspended IPL however, left everybody behind in days. A new agreement was created Mauritius and Dubai, and even chief Lalit Modi. In absence of this regard. In it, each franchise has and MSM allegedly paid a black money in Swiss banks is evidence, all the cases will as usual been given an exclusive right to “facilitation fee” (read kickback) of being laundered into white money either be buried or delayed err long exploit a designated market, which $80 million to WSG to re-acquire through this “caricature” of allowing the culprits to move does not happen in the EPL. The IPL TV rights. The payment is “commercialized cricket”. around freely without a shade of franchises are city or region specific reported to have been by MSM Violation of law is also rampant. anxiety. and named accordingly like Singapore to WSG Mauritius. Section 79A(c) of the Companies Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super According to the report, WSG, Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) clearly states Nature of money operation King or . which owns IPL’s overseas rights, that a company may issue sweat The nature of money operation With its team salary cap, local was owed $2.5 million by Modi equity shares only after completing is worth noting. Idle capital in the quotas and annual player auction, Entertainment Network from an a year since its incorporation. hands of monopolists, surplus funds the IPL provides a heavily protected earlier transaction. One can well see Rendezvous Cricket Management of the large corporate houses, environment for the franchises. how cluttered and convoluted is the Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August unaccounted accretions in the wallet These are but some examples of whole operation and how money 23, 2009. It was renamed as of the blackmarketers, smugglers, how laws are either flouted or changes hands or how money Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd underworld kingpins and market circumvented by the shady accumulating from different sources on March 3, 2010. Even if one speculators are pooled together to operators to mint money and how is ultimately funneled to the considers the earlier avatar, one year create financial muscle of the political bigwigs misuse their concerned beneficiary or of its incorporation would have been franchises. Since there are many position to secure undue favours to beneficiaries working underhand. completed only on August 22 this stakeholders in most of the the self and associates even at the Why the payment made to WSG year and hence not entitled to allot franchises, the ownership of these is cost of public exchequer. Mauritius? There is a big reason for the sweat equity to anyone. Sweat in the form of consortium. The bid that. India has a double taxation equity could be offered only after a is given by A, the document signed IPL-a huge drain on public treaty with Mauritius which special resolution was passed by the by B, who has nothing to do with exchequer stipulates that no capital gains tax company, and it could be issued the bid and then, separate companies It may be added that though (tax to be paid on financial gains only to the directors of the company floated in tax havens come in to BCCI operates as a business and not arising by sale of immovable or its employees. “There were two receive payment. Immediately after a public service, it enjoys the status properties or shares) to be imposed Form 32s submitted by Rendezvous, winning bids, shares of some of the of a charitable organization and in Mauritius. Long term capital the second one merely 15 days companies constituting the hence out of the tax net. It is also gains from shares are exempted before the date of auction. Name of consortium are sold to other revealed that the BCCI allocates from tax in India. So any Mauritius- , Tharoor’s girl individuals or companies changing only 8 per cent of its engorged based company can earn completely friend, does not figure in any. Under the ownership pattern overnight. revenues to the actual development tax free capital gains income from what provision was the sweat equity Many of these transferee companies of cricket confirming that cricket is sale of shares of Indian company. allocated? Moreover, unlisted are fictitious. So tracing the real only incidental to its scheme of That is why many big corporates companies could issue sweat equity beneficiaries becomes near things and the actual objective is and monopolists get a company only in accordance with the impossible. No law mandates to conducting a roaring trade in the registered in Mauritius and route provisions of the Unlisted disclose the source of funds of the name of cricket. A pure commercial their investment in shares in Indian Companies (Issue of Sweat Equity bidders. So the hawala route, Dubai project like IPL also besides market through that Mauritius Shares) Rules, 2003. Rule 6 clearly or Mauritius channel, black money Contd. on page 5 PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 15, 2010 PAGE FIVE Laws are either flouted or circumvented by shady operators to mint money Contd. from page 4 and minted fortunes through match that if we assume that gambling in whenever a scam surfaces, the enjoying plethora of tax and tariff fixing. The skippers of India and India would be of a proportionate parliamentary opposition parties, concessions draws heavily on public South Africa were fixed under that scale if it were legalized (that is, 1% themselves corrupt to the bones, cry resources as well. Huge police charge and banned. The South of GDP), that would imply revenues foul and raise a clamour as if they contingents are posted at the venues, African skipper who divulged many of the order of Rs 62,000 crore. This are apostles of honesty and the hotels, airports and other places to of the secrets including existence of once again exposes the murky face government is forced to make a provide security to the stars which an Indian betting syndicate later of corrupt capitalism. On the one show of taking some steps to keep include besides the cricketers the died in an accident under mysterious hand, the economy is being up the pretence of its “clean” film personalities, industrialists and circumstances raising many gradually made a punter’s den while governance. key figures of murky bourgeois questions that still remain on the other hand, a public opinion It is idle to presume that Lalit politics. There is a drain on public unanswered. And now the same is sought to be mobilized by Modi has been engaged in corrupt exchequer for the purpose. IPL thing is resurfacing again. In this advancing such a gangster’s logic of activities of such magnitude without matches in Mumbai and Nagpur year’s IPL, for instance, an according legal sanction to all such the knowledge, connivance or even were granted duty waiver by Sunil estimated Rs 5,000 crore has already murky acts. One wonders where the participation of at least those high- Dattatraya Tatkare of Sharad been bet in India and another £2 country would be led to if such ups in the government with whom Pawar’s NCP, who holds the finance million (about Rs 13.5 crore) “prudent” advices of the pliant he had to work in close association. ministry in the Congress-NCP through bookmakers in the UK. media are accepted. In fact, all these orders of coalition government of Many of the matches are stated to Even after all these, we are sure investigation, suspension of Modi, Maharashtra. Before the IPL have been fixed. we have seen only the tip of the changing executives of BCCI or controversy broke out, a finance And curiously enough, a section iceberg. More are in the offing. This apparent belligerence of Sashank department official disclosed that of the bourgeois media instead of IPL scam, observed one media Manohar, the BCCI president, are the state would lose around Rs 60- rallying behind the just demand of commentator, is like an onion: you mere eyewash. Everyone is in the 70 crore. When questioned about imposing blanket ban on such can peel layer after layer and be know of all things. Everyone is in payment of facilitation fee to WSG, gambling and for prosecution of the stunned by the masala. connivance or collusion with each Mauritius, the MSM defended itself involved criminals is shamelessly other. As the saying goes, one raven by saying that the payments have pleading in favour of legalizing the Government of India’s frail will not pluck another’s eye. At been made in accordance with betting. It is argued that with such defence present, the lid of the murky applicable laws and as per serious sums of black money It is not that the Indian container has slightly come out established international cross- sloshing around and criminal government has just come to know because the mutual bickering of the border banking norms and elements involved, there is a serious about the misdeeds of Lalit Modi kingpins of this punter’s den has procedures. Facilitation fee of $80 risk of some or large parts of it through the recent disclosures overshot the limit a bit. But, it will translates into Rs 425 crores and the finding its way to terrorists, drug thrown up by the bickering between soon be put in place. Show of an decision to park rights with a mafia and the like. Legalizing Sashi Tharoor and Modi over investigation or probe will continue company in a tax haven like betting and other forms of gambling monetary gains through corrupt only till such time as the issue is Mauritius is obviously to evade tax would not only bring all of this means. As reported in the press, a fresh in public memory, only to be in India and that too in a manner activity out into the open and hence detailed report about Lalit Modi overtaken by newer developments where tracing the end beneficiaries minimize, if not eliminate, the prepared by the Income Tax and issues, and to be pushed into would be near impossible. How underworld’s role, it would also department has been in possession oblivion. All the warring factions in liberal the government is! When mean the government would be able of the government for over 6 order to save their respective skins under the pretext of financial to tax it and raise substantial months. It states that Modi who had as well as such secure a paying constraints and relieving cash- revenues from it. To drive home the a record of failed business ventures proposition like IPL will bury the strapped government of shouldering point, the media commentators are and defaults till 4 years back has at hatchet in no time. The bourgeois subsidy burden in fuel, fertilizer, citing examples of the big imperialist present a life style that includes a government will play the mediator’s electricity and other areas, countries where gambling is a private jet, a luxury yacht and fleet role. Pliant media will be pressed allocations to public welfare are recognized industry. The gross of Mercedes 5 class and BMW cars into action to create public opinion curtailed in the budget, additional revenues of the sector in the US, all acquired in the last 3 years, that in favour of a truce and earliest burden of taxes are imposed on the where different states have different is, since the inception of the IPL renewal of the show business. Like common people and retail prices of laws, were $93 billion in 2007, tournament. The report gives a all other major scams that had petroleum products are sought to be according to the American Gaming picture of the corrupt and illegal surfaced earlier, IPL too will not be substantially hiked in repeated Association. The tax revenues activities of Modi ranging from his probed to the logical end, the bouts, a roaring business venture of, accruing to governments were $5.7 manipulation of land deals in culprits identified and punished moreover, dubious nature like IPL is billion (about Rs 25,000 crore). Rajasthan and the existence of a because this capitalist system with granted tax exemption. In the UK, official data puts tax maze of shell companies and personal aggrandizement as its revenues from the gambling sector offshore entities used to route motto, breeds corruption, thrives on The saga of betting at £1.5 billion last year (about Rs payments and equity stakes worth it and protects it. History will only Beyond the controversies 10,000 crore). A European hundreds of crores of rupees. For at remain a record keeper of the mucky surrounding the finances and Commission study in 2006 least over 6 months, the government episode. ownership of IPL teams now raging, estimated the size of the sector in 25 had definite and official knowledge there are long-standing murmurs of EU member states at •51.5 billion, about Lalit Modi’s misdeeds. Yet it People must rise up betting and match-fixing that projected to rise to •64 billion (Rs kept mum and took no action It is clear that what is being seen periodically surface as rumours. 380,000 crore) by 2010. The same against him. Because so long as today is a farce in the name of One would recall that about a study also found that the size of this corruption does not appear in public sports. Not only the sport has been decade back, it was exposed that sector was roughly equivalent to 1% view and surfaces as a scam, the defiled and degraded, even the many of the world’s top cricketers of GDP in most member countries. government, irrespective of which audience is coerced to accept the were embroiled in the betting net Going by that, it could be presumed party leads it, shuts its eyes to it. But Contd. on page 6 PAGE SIX JUNE 15, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA Excuse dished out by the Finance Minister SUCI(C) called for All India protest day has only given rise to more questions Contd. from page 1 just Rs 12, 410 to each victim. Whenever the hapless victims, their family — Comrade Provash Ghosh members and common people came out in protest against such inhuman Reacting to the statement of the Union Finance Minister Pranab and barbaric act of the government, they received bullets and bayonets of Mukherjee on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Comrade Provash Ghosh, General the insolent rulers. None of the governments whether headed by the Secretary, SUCI (Communist) in course of a statement issued on 15 June, Congress, BJP or the CPI(M)-backed United Front was ever interested in 2010 said that after maintaining a conspicuous silence for a few days, the securing justice for the victims. On the contrary, they were all keen to way the Congress as an afterthought has presented through Finance ensure that the culprit corporate house and the concerned industrial barons Minister Pranab Mukherjee an excuse to cover up their culpable offence in and their pliant executives escape unscathed after committing such a the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, has stoked up more questions and has increased savage crime on humanity. It is pertinent to mention here that even after the magnitude of their sin manifold. such a lethal incident, the Congress-led UPA government in its proposed The questions are: Could Arjun Singh as the state chief minister take ‘Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010’, proposes to limit the such an important decision of its kind on his own without the directive, maximum amount of liability in case of a nuclear accident in any of the approval or even knowledge of the central leadership of the party and the nuclear plants at Rs 500 crore and absolve the suppliers and operators of Prime Minister? Could he allow the main accused of such a horrendous such plants of all other responsibilities let alone criminal charge in case crime to escape even after arrest to USA with honour under official of a nuclear accident. The entire episode glaringly exposes how the arrangement? Is it to be believed that the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi governments, irrespective of hue, the administration and judiciary in did not know anything of the matter even though he was very much present capitalist India are nakedly serving the class interest of the domestic and in company with Arjun Singh at Bhopal on the very same day when foreign monopoly capital and are decidedly anti-people in every bit of Anderson was granted bail and sent to , asked Comrade Ghosh. their action. After thrusting the responsibility on to Arjun Singh in order to save the Comrade Provash Ghosh, therefore, called upon the countrymen not skin of Rajiv Gandhi, the Finance Minister has tried to plead innocence of to allow such brazenly criminal acts by lying low but build up Arjun Singh with the plea that with massive people’s protest bursting forth countrywide powerful movement to wrest justice. Comrade Ghosh also after the disaster, Anderson’s presence in Bhopal would have entailed law demanded stringent punishment of all the culprits of the Bhopal tragedy, and order problems. This logic, too, does not stand scrutiny. Because, the adequate compensation for the victims and their families and immediate then Congress government showed enough ‘competence’ in preserving law effective step to free the site of the accident from dangerous pollution. He and order by brutally baton-charging on the agitating relatives of the dead also announced that SUCI(C) will observe All India Protest Day on 9th and injured. What additional problem would have been created had June against this farcical verdict and organize demonstrations on that day Anderson been present in the city, questioned Comrade Ghosh. in each of the state capitals. And, even if it is assumed for argument’s sake that there was such a necessity, what prompted the ruling party and its government to suddenly grant bail to an under-trial accused of such a heinous crime and allow him All Orissa State Conference of Peasants a safe passage to his own country instead of shifting him to Delhi or and Agricultural Labourers elsewhere in India? Why was he not brought back during all these years? Is it not because of appeasing the foreign multinational and maintaining a On 30 and 31May, 2010, an All movement. Comrade Dhurjati Das, friendly relation with US imperialism which is a class necessity of ruling Orissa conference of Peasants and Secretary SUCI(Communist) Orissa Indian capitalism and its subservient state, observed Comrade Ghosh. and agricultural workers organized State Committee in his speech that Moreover, there is no propriety of the parties like the BJP and the by All India KKMS was held at the way the multinationals and CPI(M) to complain on this issue. After Rajiv Gandhi’s rule at the Centre, Jamunaposi, Patana in the district of corporate houses are conspiring to VP Singh-led government supported by the BJP and the CPI(M), United Keonjhar. The open session on 30 grab the cultivable land in the name Front government supported by the Congress and the CPI (M), BJP-led May at Jamunaposi Milana ground of industrialization must be exposed NDA government, and the last UPA government enjoying support and was attended by thousands of and a strong movement to be cooperation from the CPI(M) were progressively saddled in power. All these peasants and khetmazdoors launched to resist it. Comrade governments and their constituent as well as supporting political parties did including a large number of women Panchanan Pradhan, Secretary not take any step towards bringing Anderson back to this country, carrying from all over the state. Comrade AIKKMS of West Bengal State out proper investigation of the Bhopal Tragedy and providing just Shambhunath Naik, vice president, Council also addressed. compensation to the families and relatives of the dead and injured. They AIKKMS and ex-MLA of SUCI(C) A presidium consisting of did not even utter a single word in this regard. So, would it be wrong to presided over. Comrade Raghunath Comrades Shambhunath Naik, conclude that both the BJP and the CPI (M) are also constrained by the same Das, Secretary, AIKKMS, Orissa Uddhab Jena and Sadashib Das compulsion as that of the Congress, asked Comrade Provash Ghosh. State Council in his brief speech conducted the delegate session on emphasized the need to develop 31May, 2010. In his address to the powerful movement in order to delegates, Comrade Asit achieve the legitimate demands of Bhattacharyya dwelt on the historic IPL SCAM the oppressed peasant community. struggle conducted by Comrade Contd. from page 5 consequence will be disastrous. In his address as the main speaker, Ghosh to build up SUCI(C) as the mutilated formats like IPL as Already sports as a whole has Comrade Asit Bhattachayya, genuine communist party and modernized version of the sporting almost been stripped of its essence. Member, Polit Bureau, SUCI(C) showed how in course of that, he events. An unholy nexus of Now, moves are afoot to put the last said that crisis ridden capitalist formed AIKKMS as the true fighting industrial house-speculative capital- nail in its coffin. It has to be system is the root cause of all organization of the ruthlessly government and corrupt sports thwarted under pressure of problems tormenting the life of the exploited peasants and agricultural officials is controlling the field of organized public opposition. There peasants. After independence, the workers. An AIKKMS State sports and running nightclub like has to be a countrywide powerful Indian capitalist class captured the Council comprising 53 members entertainment show as the IPL. That movement against commercializa- state power and with every passing and a 24 member executive is why, the country of over 1100 tion of sport, to foil the bourgeois day, consolidating its exploitative body was elected unanimously by million people and abounding in conspiracy of turning it into a rule that is wreaking havoc in the the delegates. Comrades Uddhab sporting talent is lagging far behind device of dubious money operation peasants’ life. All the legitimate Jena and Raghunath Das were others in most of the sports. If this of the hounds, sharks and vultures peasants’ struggles must grow elected President and Secretary is allowed to continue unabated, the of the utterly corrupt capitalist order. conducive to anti-capitalist repectively. PROLETARIAN ERA JUNE 15, 2010 PAGE SEVEN In response to the call given by the Central Committee of the SUCI (C), All-India Protest Day against the farcical court verdict on Bhopal Gas Tragedy was observed throughout the country on 9 June 2010. Appended is a photo coverage of some of them.

From top : , , Muzaffarpur and Angul From top : Gujarat, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai RNI No. 13932/67 Postal Regd. No. KOL / RMS / /145 / 2010-12 Bhopal Gas Tragedy Protest Day

Ranchi SUCI(C) severely condemns Zionist Israeli attack on Palestine aid flotilla and calls upon world people to rise up in protest Comrade Provash Ghosh, General Secretary, SUCI (Communist) in course of a statement issued on 3 June, 2010 said that the imperialist superpower-backed Zionist Israeli regime which just a year back carried out a murderous assault on the Palestine freedom fighters of Gaza strip struggling for realizing their just demand for a sovereign Palestine state with its capital in Jerusalem, virtually slaughtered them with beastly savagery has once again, violating all international laws, committed a most criminal act by attacking in international waters a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid to the beleaguered people of Gaza suffering from acute shortage of food, water, fuel, medicine and other essential items owing to the illegal blockade imposed by the Israeli rulers since 2007. Comrade Provash Ghosh severely condemned this ghastly act in which at least nine of the unarmed peace activists have been killed and several others have received grievous injuries due to merciless beating and application of electric shocks. The extremely mild manner in which the US imperialists have reacted to such a savage act in flagrant violation of all international rules and norms only vindicates the feeling of the right thinking people round the world that but for direct backing of the Pentagon regime, the Zionist Israeli rulers could have never dared to launch such brutal offensives one after another. The President of the European Parliament has also ended his responsibility by issuing a meek protest reaffirming connivance and indulgence of the imperialist superpowers in the barbaric acts of Israeli rulers. Instead of coming out with strong condemnation of this Israeli atrocity let alone taking any punitive measure against the perpetrators of such a heinous crime, the casual manner in which the UN Security Council has ordered for a simple investigation of the incident has been shocking. It only lends credence to the apprehension of the right thinking people that UNO has virtually become a rubber stamp of the US imperialists and their allies, observed Comrade Provash Ghosh. Comrade Provash Ghosh has called upon all the peace loving democratic minded people of the world to rise in protest and build up powerful anti-imperialist movement throughout the world against such sinister gunboat diplomacy of the imperialist superpowers and their pliant regimes and in support of the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people. From top : Bangalore, Mysore, Bhopal and Rohtak

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : PROVASH GHOSH Edited & Published by Asit Bhattacharyya from 48 Lenin Sarani, Kolkata 700 013 and printed by him at Ganadabi Printers and Publishers Private Limited, 52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013. Phone : 2249-1828, 2265-3234 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected], Website : www.suci.in