Volume 40 No. 9 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF December 15, 2006 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE Price : Rs. 2.00 Protesting against police brutality in Singur observes total strike at the call of SUCI It was spontaneous and December to protest against one of CPI(M)-led West Bengal activists of other political parties overwhelming. The people of West the worst police savageries that government creating a smokescreen including the local Trinamool Bengal true to their glorious raved wild on the poor peasants and of industrialization — a hoax that Congress (TMC) MLA as well as tradition of standing up against any villagers in Singur, a fertile rural we exposed in a couple of articles in aggrieved workers of the ruling assault on humanity, injustice, belt in the agglomerate of Calcutta, the issues of dated parties joined these committees. barbarism, despotism on 2nd of December. 15th September and 1st December, While the fighting villagers refusing wholeheartedly responded when our 2006—decided to acquire 1,000 all carrots of monetary party gave a call of 24-hour Blood-curdled Singur acres of multi-crop agricultural land compensation and braving all threats strike in West Bengal on 5th It may be recalled that the in Singur by evicting the poor and intimidation by police and peasants, sharecroppers and ruling party goons tried all available agricultural labourers making a democratic means to make the living out of it and hand over to the government listen to their genuine Tatas who reportedly preferred this grievance and abandon the perilous particular plot for setting up a move to extinguish such rich fertile modern automobile plant. The land for namesake of affected villagers decided to resist industrialization, CPI(M) this forcible acquisition and our government’s has all through been party activists immediately took an attitude of autocratic arrogance upon themselves the imperative task and utter disdain towards the of organizing the peasant masses in legitimate voice of the toiling various people’s committees and people. So committed and volunteer brigades to unleash an subservient has been the ruling party united protracted struggle to foil the and its government to the class- conspiracy of the government. At interest of the Tatas, that it the initiative of our local party unit, ultimately decided to let its armed many such struggle committees police and hoodlums go berserk and B.B.D. Bag, the main office centre of Calcutta, on 5th during the office hours were formed. Sensing public mood, Contd. on page 2 Dangerous portent of US-connived arms build up of Germany and Japan Fast developing arms build up and arsenals. They cannot forget to seek for external market and in unique and threadbare Marxist and militarization in Germany and that they were the key factors that course of that vie with each other analysis, he had concluded, before Japan, have become a matter of ignited the pyre of humanity in the for domination over the global the world witnessed it in reality, that serious concern to the well-meaning two world wars, though one may market through grabbing of colonies imperialism was not only the people of the world. People’s wonder, what made them take such and semi-colonies. The more this highest stage of capitalism, it was memory is still alive with the moves that could have and actually crisis aggravated, the sharper and the most decadent and crisis-ridden horrors and devastations of the two proved to be self-annihilating. bitter became the competition and too. The acute market crisis, it world wars, more so the second As capitalism developed and conflict among the imperialist bogged into, lead it inevitably to world war, which were perpetrated consolidated in different major countries themselves, ultimately generate war for domination and by none other than these two capitalist countries, giving rise to leading to war for domination and power. Now, it was only a matter of capitalist-imperialist countries, with monopoly and then to imperialism power. It was their compulsion; it time to prove how precisely correct Italy as the third in their there, being based on exploitation of was their inevitable end. Lenin was in his analysis. The combination of the Axis power. labour power of their respective tremendous economic crisis and Thus peace-loving people can toiling masses leading to their more Imperialist war to avert crisis recession forced the imperialist hardly hold them back from and more impoverishment, it also only aggravated it countries to hold each other at their shuddering at the thoughts of these gave birth to increasing acute crisis Here we must recall the throats in the first world war. As two imperialist countries once again of internal market. This compelled invaluable thesis of Lenin, the great Germany was vanquished, the other teething themselves with lethal arms those capitalist- imperialist countries proletarian leader. Based on his Contd. on page 6 PAGE TWO DECEMBER 15, 2006 PROLETARIAN ERA Singur is fighting the battle for the whole country

Contd. from page 1 were arrested and till now under city of Shantiniketan), even an SDO with fences for ‘smooth handing snatch the land shedding blood of custody. It was so horrifying a did not hesitate to take the ‘law’ in over to the Tatas’. The reporters the innocent peasants and poor spectacle and so ghastly an act that his hand and in full media glare who tried to force entry into the villagers. even the bourgeois media mercilessly beat one of our party ‘forbidden area’ were treated A massive contingent of armed particularly the electronic media activists. Yet, the ruling party and its equally brutally by the police. Many police personnel numbering over could not but cover the incident servitors could not scare the striking of them have been hospitalized. 16,000 alongwith several battalions branding it barbarism on the part of people from expressing their Obviously the question is raised that of RAF gathered at the spot on the the custodians of law and order. solidarity with the fighting Singur if everything is so hunky dory for fateful morning of 2nd December to Everyone burst into protest which peasants and hatred towards the the government, what is the protect ‘law and order’ of the Tatas found expression in his or her CPI(M) government by extending necessity of such swallowed that the state government wholehearted support to the strike full support to the strike call. suspense or secrecy? Why the apprehended would be violated by we called on 5th December. While congratulating the people people of the country are denied the ‘outlaws’ comprising rural poor for coming out so spontaneously in their democratic right to freely to go and have-nots under notice to Significant success of the making the strike a grand, Com. to Singur and see for themselves the relinquish their legitimate claim over Strike , State Secretary of actual state of affairs? Even Medha the piece of land they survive on and Despite the fact that the call was the party said: this aptly showed that Patkar, eminent social activist and perish in the abyss of despair and given barely at a day’s notice and the capitalist class and their leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan destitution. Backed by this armed there had been two strikes earlier in representatives – earlier the (Movement for saving Narmada) force, the government officials the immediate past, the strike was a Congress and now the CPI(M) was prevented from entering Singur proceeded to initiate the job of total success braving all threats, governments – have not succeeded after the gory parade on 2nd fencing the earmarked land. When intimidation and terror on the part of in completely destroying the December. She was physically the peasants including women the CPI(M) and its government as struggling heritage of the people of assaulted and taken into custody. protested, the police pounced upon well as incessant anti-bandh Bengal. The peoples’ conscience Smt. Patkar, who earlier visited the them in display of ravenous campaign in the bourgeois media. and humanity are still alive, the spot, took part in the mass audience monstrosity. Apart from severe There was no work in the high spirit of protest has not died down. conducted by the local peasants and lathicharge, the police also court. All district courts remained had a feel of the movement, was indiscriminately fired tear gas shells non-functioning. Offices, markets, Singur is now a forbidden effusive in appreciating the role of and rubber bullets causing grievous weekly wholesale garment market territory our party in organizing the struggle injuries to many including women shops, schools, and colleges were The situation of Singur is now and mentioned that in all her press and children. Uttering filthy closed. The ruling party compelled extremely tense. There is no trace of conferences, public meets and other language, the police torched every some of its followers to come to many who were arrested. The discussions. house in the village, dragged the office and sign the muster. But they relatives of those missing fear that people out and mercilessly beat did not work. There was enthusiastic they are dead. Apprehending torture Country burst in protest them. Women were not spared. They response in the industrial belts as and arrest, male members of many One to all including many were pulled by their hair, thrown on well. Compared to other days, the villagers are absconding. The eminent intellectuals, artists, the floor, kicked, punched and state government plied more number macabre tale of the feral ferocity of litterateurs, educationists, pounded with baton. Their clothes of trams and buses. Its friendly the police operation bristles on the distinguished citizens and honest were torn, modesty outraged. Even government at the centre kept the battered face of the children, broken rank of the Left Front constituents an 80-plus lady was not let off. A 9- rail service operative. But there was limbs of the males, shock and awe vented their ire and indignation year old girl was repeatedly struck hardly any passenger. Thus to break of the molested women, oozing fear against such brazen flouting of on her eyes. Paddy and other the strike, the government wasted in the eyes of the elders. As the dusk democratic rights and naked harvests were destroyed. Crop crores of rupees from public drops its shades of darkness on the indulgence in dastardly acts by the storehouses were set on fire. Live exchequer. After 11 A.M., the villages today, a spectre of horror CPI(M) government. Many of those footage of this diabolic police action government withdrew most of the haunts everyone. Flummoxed and hitherto endorsing the line of the was beamed across the country by transport from Calcutta roads. But dumbfounded, this hapless group of CPI(M) despite all its wrongdoings all TV channels. And the media a sizeable section of the media rural poor wonders what crime they in the past could also not remain covering the ground reality had to joined the chorus in propagating that have committed by not agreeing to silent and wondered how the admit that it was our party which the strike was a ‘partial success’, ‘a hand over their cultivable land to CPI(M) could still call itself ‘left’. has been organizing the resistance flop’, ‘did not receive public the government that they have been In a statement issued by eminent movement of the poor villagers. response’ etc. When the major TV subjected to such inhuman torture as persons like Justice VR Krishna After carrying out the operation channels were busy narrating the if they are criminals or slaves. What Iyer, former Judge, Supreme Court, with ruthless severity, the police flop story, the footage on display had been the propriety of the Prof Rajni Kothari, former Member, handcuffed the victims writhing in showed that all shops had the government calling itself democratic Planning Commission), Aruna Roy, excruciating pain with profuse shutters down, roads were deserted, or civilized to mete out such former Member, National Advisory bleeding and broken limbs and and trams-buses-trains were running gruesome treatment to them? Council, UPA Government, Prof proudly exhibited their ‘prized empty. Similarly, while the Not only blood-curdled, Singur Muchkund Dubey, former Foreign catches’ before the camera to ensure headlines in the print media on the is now virtually under seize. To Secretary and D Bandyopadhyay, that ‘no wrong message was following day talked otherwise, the make things worst, the police have former Commissioner, Land conveyed to the industrial barons truth could not remain obfuscated now cordoned off the whole area. Reforms, West Bengal have, inter and giant corporates’ about the either palpably in the lines or subtly No one is allowed to move inside, alia said that : “It is strange that the sincerity of the CPI(M) government between the lines in the coverage not even the media. Under the West Bengal Government, run by in pursuit of the kind of that followed. The police and the protection of several thousand the Left Front for almost 30 years, is ‘industrialization’ they have CPI(M) storm troopers led armed policemen, the government kowtowing to the Tatas’ obduracy schemed to aggrandize themselves murderous attack on our workers officials alongwith some CPI(M) and using force against the common at the cost of the toiling people. Our when they were peacefully cadres are now busy completing people to propitiate big local leader Comrade Chaitali campaigning in support of the their mission of encircling the business…..It is time the State Bhattacharyya alongwith others Singur movement. In Bolpur (the earmarked fertile multi-crop land Contd. on page 4 PROLETARIAN ERA DECEMBER 15, 2006 PAGE THREE General Strike on December 14 Working people observe it countrywide : feel need to develop sustained movement At the call of the Sponsoring rabid subservience to the capitalists pain to combat effectively this to maintaining their grip on power? Committee of trade unions and has been equally persisting with vicious propaganda from the Not only that, in those states where comprising 7 central trade unions the neo-liberal economic agenda of reaction and establish to the fighting they enjoy the privilege of power, including, among others, UTUC-LS, the erstwhile NDA government. masses the legitimacy and necessity they are bringing down ruthless CITU, AITUC, AICCTU, HMS, On this backdrop, the strike was of movement as the only means for attack on democratic movements of TUCC, UTUC, and supported by observed successfully by the their survival ? They had rightly workers, peasants and other sections the National Platform of Mass working people throughout the decided upon this strike long ahead of the toiling masses, perfectly Organizations of different length and breadth of the country in and thus had enough time for a matching with the rulers in other employees federations of workers face of and circumventing all odds massive campaign to develop at the states of the country. Does not all and employees of the organised and and difficulties. It reflected their grass root level. Did the major this contribute largely to buckling unorganised sectors observed firm resolve to effectively resist the forces of the movement take the moral backbone of movement general strike throughout the attack on their life and livelihood. adequate and proper initiative to and the working people engaged in country on 14th December last on But it was also obvious that a token make people conscious of this truth that, howsoever fiery may be the 16-point charter of demands which strike for a day did not suffice for that the one-day strike is going to jargons used by the leadership to included, inter alia, removal of ban thwarting the attack, as it can be be just the beginning of a long vouch for their authority? on recruitment and stopping judged from the adamant attitude of arduous movement? On the Serious-thinking people also downsizing of workforce, stopping the government persistently refusing contrary, they seemed to be rather could not but fail to note that the contractorisation and outsourcing of to concede to the vital legitimate escapist in their attitude in same CPI(M) and CPI were the jobs, privatisation and disinvestment demands of common people. The confronting this vital issue. The forces that provided crucial support of even profit-making PSUs; situation undeniably demands of the rulers naturally took advantage to to the UPA government for it to implementation of all labour laws, toiling masses of the country to step up their vile efforts. People remain in power. They wondered if statutory minimum wages, equal develop and conduct a countrywide wondered what could be the these parties did take every effort to wages for equal work, maternity sustained well-organized movement factors, the reasons of this exert effective pressure on the benefits to all females workers and imbued with clear perspective and lukewarm approach of the government so as to force them employees, withdrawal of Banking determination. Right-thinking leadership of the movement towards accept the legitimate demands of the Regulation Act, review of National persons with concern for well-being sustained movement. Did it lie in people. Rather their attitude towards Electricity Policy 2005 and of common toiling people cannot the fact that it was because their the government could give a handle Electricity Act 2003, immediate but feel this necessity; at the same parent organizations , the big left to the vested interest to raise measure to ensure right to strike for time they are tormented by a series political parties, CPI(M)- CPI, questions about the sincerity and workers and employees including of vital questions particularly in face which were in the government in ethics of the movement, particularly government employees; annulment of realizing this dire necessity of a states like West Bengal and Tripura, of those at the helm. of drastic cut in interest rate on all protracted movement. were themselves implementing the Notwithstanding all these PFs and small savings; immediate The first thing that plagues them same policies of globalization- shortcomings, the organized introduction of comprehensive is that not only the government liberalization-privatization, to the sustained movement, countrywide legislation for unorganised sector persistently refuses to accept fullest benefit of the Indian and covering every aspect of social workers incorporating suggestions working people’s legitimate capitalists and foreign imperialists life, is the crying need of the hour. of the trade unions and demands; with all venom and as well? Was it for the fact that to It cannot be built up without simultaneously bringing in separate making use of all the means at make this implementation smooth organizing the entire toiling people, legislation for agricultural workers hand, the media, the administration and hassle–free they themselves step-by-step, firmly and resolutely and last but not the least taking firm and the like, it has been unleashing had deserted the path of struggle upon lofty morals and ethics of and swift measures to check price an orchestrated barrage of there and, overt or covert, were busy fighting people, ready to face the rise and strengthening PDS etc. The slanderous campaign against strike in fostering the anti-movement thousand hazards for the cause of demands are nothing new as all the and ‘bandhs’, rather movement in mentality in those states with a view Contd. on page 8 attacks relating to the same on general, branding them as useless toiling people’s life have been and harmful to the workers’ interest. continuously coming down with This is meant not just to develop UTUC-LS congratulates working ever greater ferocity since the anti-movement mentality among the advent of capitalist imperialist fighting people and thus dissuade people for successful General Strike liberalisation-privatisation- them from movement. It is also In a statement on December 14, Comrade Sankar Saha, General globalisation programme introduced directed to set up an anti-movement Secretary, All India Committee, UTUC-LS, congratulated the working by the ruling class and implemented ambience within the society at large. people of India for actively participating in the countrywide General Strike by all the governments at the Centre Undeniably, the slander could called by the Sponsoring Committee of seven Central Trade Unions on a including the last BJP-led NDA and confuse and vitiate the mass mind 16-point Charter of Demands. He further stated that the working people the present Congress-led and and stood as a stumbling block to understood that the present UPA government surviving on the support of CPI(M) backed UPA governments. the preparation of any prolonged the Left were pursuing the anti-labour policies as was pursued by the The UPA government pledged to the movement. This was true also predecessor NDA government and one day General Strike was not electorate and formed the before the present strike on sufficient to reverse their policies. He therefore urged upon the working government thereupon, to December 14 last. However, and the people to forge unity for prolonged and protracted movement to achieve the ameliorate their sufferings and do question lay particularly here, did demands. He also opined that the most important demand of providing justice to them. But assuming the leadership, the Sponsoring constitutional right to employment hitherto dropped by the Sponsoring office for the past two years, it has Committee in which CITU, AITUC Committee must be added to the Agenda alongwith the demand for again and again come out with its were at the drivers’ seat, take any scrapping the new pension scheme for government employees. PAGE FOUR DECEMBER 15, 2006 PROLETARIAN ERA What ‘secret’ CPI(M) keeps up in the sleeves in the Singur deal ? Contd. from page 2 volition. Of course the name topping Thus, when so many state sector for establishing industrial units. Had Government and the Left parties in the list is one of the part’s district units are being closed down for want set up of automobile plant been the power in West Bengal reversed their committee members. Similarly the of money and the popular demand is sole consideration as the CPI(M) policy in this regard and made it CPI(M) leaders are having no establishment of employment- leaders and their sycophants are so clear that industry cannot be qualms in saying that the proposed generating industries in the desperately trying to make us developed in the State by large scale land is not multi-crop bearing while government sector with the public believe, there is no earthly reason displacement of common people, everyone knows that Singur is one money available at the disposal of for the Tatas not settling at especially the poor farmers and of the most fertile soils of the state. the government, the CPI(M) alternative plot. Even there is huge agriculturists.” Murmurs are also It is one of the prime irrigated areas government is heavily subsidizing non-agricultural shallow land noticed among the other partners of having more than one canal and the a giant corporate like the Tatas available in Singur itself. Moreover, the state government whose leaders several deep tube wells. In a from the public exchequer that, it requirement of so vast stretch a land are finding it too tall a task to handle document released by the bloc often laments, is so cash-strapped as for installing a modern plant the questions being raised by their agriculture development officer of to be unable to undertake any public producing one lakh car per annum is ranks. But the CPI(M) leaders who Singur a year back, it is mentioned welfare measure or grant relief to the also under a scanner. It may be are now trying to elude the that 83% of Singur land is well people. recalled way back in the fifties, Congress or the BJP in serving the irrigated. Land of Singur produces We have already said that when Birlas were handed over 750 acres class interest of the bourgeoisie for huge quantity of high quality rice, thousands of industries are downing of land in the Konnagar area of the pelf and power have not even a potato and other vegetables, jute, shutters, millions are thrown out of same Hoogly district for building shade of retribution for mauling the various garden fruits like banana, job; the creation of handful capital- Hind Motor factory. But such a huge poor peasants with such a papaya and mango as well as cash intensive technology-driven plant needed only 350 acres of land. vengeance. Like Narendra Modi of crops. 15 co-operatives, 59 seed sophisticated industries here and Of late, the CPI(M) government has Gujarat, Bhupinder Singh Huda of companies, 139 chemical fertilizer there cannot be called permitted the Birlas to build Haryana or Naveen Pattanaik of vending farms and 90 pesticide industrialization. To think that the residential complexes on the balance Orissa, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, supplying farms cater to the need of proposed Tata plant, if it comes 400 acres and sell on commercial the CPI(M) chief minister defended the Singur farmers. Cropping through, will breed gainful basis. such a demonic act on the part of the intensity of Singur land is as high as engagement to the displaced persons Why then are the Tatas eyeing police and floated the same story of 220%. Surely such a land can not by is nothing but seeking comfort from on this very fertile land in Singur? Is police having retaliated after being any stretch of imagination be called illusion. Experts are saying that in it because it is adjacent to national attacked by the mob first. He has a dominantly mono-crop area. To all the globalized capitalist economy highway and in the vicinity of also ruled out lifting Sec.144 from those who visited the area prior to it driven by ‘technology boom’ and Calcutta and hence most suitable for the area and permitting the external being declared a prohibited zone by fuelled by ‘jobless growth’, an development of real estate which is world to know what is the actual the government, the local investment of around Rs 5 to 6 what they intend under camouflage state of affairs. In display of peasants had taken them round crores generates one job. Going by of so-called industrialization like autocratic arrogance he has said that and shown how rich the soil is and that, even an investment of Rs 1,000 what is happening in the other parts he would not allow anyone to touch how many crops are cultivated in in the Tata automobile venture is not of the country in the name of even a hair of the Tatas. Such phases throughout the year. Even expected to breed more than 200 establishing SEZs (we carried out an ‘impeccable’ has been his loyalty the other front partners of the jobs. A noted economist in one of his analytical article on this issue in the and servility to the monopoly CPI(M) are disputing the version of recent columns has also criticized previous issue of Proletarian Era houses and corporate bigwigs. But their big brother. Yet the CPI(M) the government for arguing that dated 01-12-06)? In most of these what is that the CPI(M) and its leaders for reasons best known to since the number of mandays created SEZs while a small part of the land government want to hide from the them continue to behold only by a factory is more than the number is used for building up a few capital- countrymen? What is there under mono-crop and fallow stretches in created by agriculture, extinguishing intensive sophisticated industries, the wrap that the CPI(M) is so Singur. cultivable land in favour of the huge surplus is utilized for scared to divulge? Some of the When asked to disclose the industrial unit set up is justified. constructing housing blocks, revelations so far from various terms of agreement with the Tatas, According to him, there is a shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, sources have of course been a touch the CPI(M) industries minister, difference between number of labour amusement parks, night clubs, exposing. number two in the cabinet, said that employed and mandays created health hubs and so forth for the rich it was not possible since those were particularly on plot-based and affluent.Will it then be too Truth suppressed by the ‘trade secrets’. But a glimpse of the agriculture. He wondered on what unfounded to conclude that under CPI(M) government secret could be had when it had basis is the CPI(M) government the pretext of setting up automobile The CPI(M) leaders are come to light that while the state giving facts and figures of expected plant, Tatas have seized the claiming that 90% of the peasants government has been paying around employment concomitant to opportunity to acquire such fertile have wittingly surrendered their Rs 140 crores to acquire this land, establishment of the Tata factory in huge land almost free of cost for land to the government. But all Tatas will reimburse only 20 crores Singur by ousting the peasants. lucrative realty business and the other sources are disputing the to the government and that too after (Kalyan Sanyal in Ananda Bazar state government raising a bogey of claim. Though the government and 5 years (discounted net present Patrika dated 14-12-06) industrialization is executing the the CPI(M) leaders are saying that value is calculated around 12 order by forcibly ousting the poor they are in possession of all the crores). Not only this, there will Land is grabbed for Real farmers? documents, such have not been practically be no levy of taxes. Estate development made public. On the contrary, most Electricity and water will be It may be added that United people’s resistance of the peasants are alleging that they supplied at low tariff. According to hereinbefore industrial belts in the movement – need of the hour have been coerced to relinquish a press report, the West Bengal has state like Durgapur-Asansol, It is thus clear that the CPI(M) their ownership of land. In a leaflet agreed to bear all the additional cost Naihati-Barrackpore and the Jute government of West Bengal issued by the CPI(M) to ‘rebut’ Tatas would have otherwise mills on the bank of the Ganges emboldened by the all-out backing opposition claim, it could manage incurred had they located the unit in were all set up on barren land. Even of the ruling class and bourgeois the names of only 42 persons as any other state and the total amount today, huge amount of barren and media is hell-bent to go to any having handed over their land out of is envisaged around Rs 400 crores. fallow land is available in the state Contd. on page 8 PROLETARIAN ERA DECEMBER 15, 2006 PAGE FIVE Comrade Manik Mukherjee attends Second Party Congress of Jordanian Workers’ Communist Party At the invitation of the capture of the shrinking world movement would be a temporary been to launch a massive broad Jordanian Workers’ Communist capitalist market but are nakedly phenomenon. The need of the hour based anti-imperialist movement Party (JWCP), Comrade Manik invading and occupying others’ was to draw appropriate lesson from involving all such people with Mukherjee, Central Staff, SUCI, territory, threatening their the things that happened and release communists forming the core. With attended its second congress held on independence and sovereignty. On the process of building up this objective, our party in 1995, 30th November and 1st December the other hand, the imperialist world revolutionary working class informed Comrade Mukherjee, in Amman. While fraternal delegates has unleashed a vicious propaganda movement afresh with renewed organized an all India anti- from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq that fall of socialism in Russia and vigour and on correct base political imperialist convention in Calcutta in and Morocco also attended, our other erstwhile socialist countries line. And while developing this which many foreign delegates also party was the only invitee from prove that Marxism is outdated and movement, it has become participated. From that convention outside the Arab world. Around 350 the workers have rejected it. Hence imperative that each genuine was formed All India anti- delegates were present in the there is no alternative to capitalism. communist party beside Imperialist Forum (AIAIF) which inaugural session where all the The imperialist shirks are trying to concentrating all attack against the since has been making all efforts to foreign invitees as well as leaders of mislead the working people by ruling class of their respective intensify this movement in the JWCP delivered brief speeches. saying that capitalism which Marx countries also undertake fierce country and establish link with In his address in the said saw is no more there. Concomitant ideological and political struggle similar movements surging forth in session, Comrade Manik to tremendous technological against all shades of revisionism- other parts of the world. Comrade Mukherjee, at the outset, conveyed advancement, there is emergence of reformism and isolate all such forces Mukherjee said that we have been on behalf of the Central Committee a new capitalism, which is from the working class movement. receiving enthusiastic response from and Comrade , our many countries and expected that beloved General Secretary, not only would JWCP and other revolutionary greetings to the JWCP fraternal parties present there would for organizing its second congress lend their all-out help and support in and wished it all success. He also steering this movement but they expressed profuse thanks for would take active initiative in inviting our party to its congress and developing this movement in the hoped that JWCP after deliberating Arab world. Mutual help and co- on the various policy and strategy operation, exchange of experience issues in this all important congress would enrich us all. It is in this way will adopt revolutionary political that we should be able to uphold the line, emerge stronger to lead the noble banner of Marxism-Leninism revolutionary class and mass and proletarian internationalism and struggles in Jordan as well as add frustrate the nefarious design of dimension to their initiative in imperialism-capitalism to enslave organizing worldwide anti- the humanity, dominate the world imperialist movement. Comrade and run its steamroller of oppression Mukherjee emphasized that apart and suppression. from both our party and their party Dias in the inaugural session at Amman : Comrade Manik Mukherjee being immensely benefitted by way ( inset) Comrade Manik Mukherjee addressing alongwith other foreign delegates of exchange of mutual experiences, progressive, development-oriented, It was at that point of time, also attended the first delegate we have lot to learn from their outwardly focused and humane. added Comrade Mukherjee, that our session as observer. On 2nd extremely laudable and courageous This imperialist propaganda and party decided to take initiative to December, Palestine solidarity day struggle in the current critical frustration at dismantling of the build up a broad based anti- was observed under the auspices of situation of the Middle East. mighty socialist camp have been imperialist movement in our country an anti-globalization organization Comrade Mukherjee said that after creating lot of confusions among a and try to integrate all such which JWCP workers are also 20th congress of the CPSU, the large section of the working people. movements round the globe to give actively involved in. In his brief Khruschevite revisionists usurped Many of the communist parties rise to a worldwide massive anti- speech there, Comrade Mukherjee the leadership of the party and set threw away the flag of proletarian imperialist movement that could expressing total solidarity with the out the process of degeneration internationalism, changed the names help ameliorate to a great extent the fighting Palestine people said that finally leading to counter revolution of their parties and plunged into sense of helplessness among the the Zionist regime of Israel, the in Russia and dismantling of the morass of despair and hopelessness. masses and prove to be a formidable most hated enemy of all in this socialist camp. Yet, so long the But at that time, the Central deterrent to the imperialist design to region is fully backed and nurtured socialist camp notwithstanding the Committee of our party under the escalate tension and foist war on the by the US imperialists, the worst weaknesses it was suffering from leadership of Comrade Nihar people. Those who in various enemy of the mankind today. Hence existed; it acted as a deterrent to Mukherjee had, based on the countries were opposing imperialist the fight against Zionist Israeli imperialist intrigues and teachings of Comrade Shibdas aggression and desiring peace were rulers has also become interwoven machination. But after collapse of Ghosh, founder General Secretary called upon to join and strengthen with the anti-imperialist struggle of Soviet Union and the socialist camp of our party and one of the foremost this anti-imperialist movement. It is the world people. in early 90s, the imperialists have Marxist thinkers of the era, to be remembered that as Lenin Comrade Mukherjee also had become unbridlled in pursuance of categorically said that Marxism is a taught us, it is imperialism which party to party discussion with Dr. their hegemonistic design and science and there could be no generates war and hence in today’s Mazen Hanna, General Secretary, agenda of aggression and obsolescence of science. So this world, anyone opposing war and JWCP as well as the leaders of all overlordism. The imperialists are current setback of socialism and wanting peace cannot but be anti- other fraternal parties who were not only vying with each other over international working class imperialist. So our initiative had Contd. on page 7 PAGE SIX DECEMBER 15, 2006 PROLETARIAN ERA History amply vindicated Leninist thesis : Imperialism generates war Contd. from page 1 capitalists-imperialists grabbed the German fascists, the US-UK-France force of the Nazis to win freedom major imperialist powers dreamt of advantage and established the combination ‘began to give thought back, when the vanquished, peace and stability. To their utter counter-revolutionary fascism, as to plans for a second front in Europe shattered and demoralized Nazi dismay, that was not to be. The was to be found for example, in from the end of 1941,’ but did not forces retreated into their last refuge crisis of market, the economic Germany and Italy. Rise of Hitler or take any practical decision until June of Berlin, when it was evident that recession never died out. Rather it Mussolini to power as strong-hand 1944, when they invaded Normandy the fall of Berlin was only a matter aggravated fast to slide into the messiah with their doctrines of across the Channel. In fact, since the of days and hours, when the people Great Depression of 1929, that Nazism or fascism, was nothing but emergence of USSR as the first of entire eastern Europe and almost shattered the economic this frantic effort of the ruling socialist state, the capitalists- Germany itself, were eagerly structure of the world capitalist capitalist class of those countries to imperialists without exception fixed waiting to greet the victorious system and pushed the world to the stave off their intense economic their ultimate goal in the saviours, the Soviet Army, when the brink of war. At the same time, as crisis, roping in the crisis-stricken extermination of socialism and land of Germany, as well other Axis Lenin simultaneously envisaged, people in support of their counter- communism. Thus even when the Powers was in total disarray and this era of imperialism was also the revolution, mesmerizing them with US, UK and other allied forces stood confusion and when the stage was era of proletarian revolution. Crisis the slogans and programmes of helpless before the fearsome all set for the defeat of the Nazis and of capitalism sharpened and national socialism. advance of the Nazi forces towards the other fascist forces, it was at that intensified the inherent class Subsequent history is yet to fade east, they kept playing with the opportune moment that the US and struggle between the capitalist class out from the memories of people of nefarious design of allowing the Britain pushed their own forces into and the working class. It was out of the world. We may refresh it in brief. Nazis to crush the Soviet first , lose Berlin with a view to carving out that contradiction that Soviet The brute Nazi German war their own forces and strength in and establishing their respective Russia emerged as the first socialist machinery, Wehrmacht, that course of that, so as to make it easier spheres of influence, occupying the country through the October devastated the entire eastern Europe for the so-called Allies to combat western part of Germany. The Revolution in 1917, only to stand and the USSR in Blitzkrieg or the weakened Nazi war machinery Berlin (Potsdam) Conference held out as the beacon of emancipation lightening attack, with the ultimate in the later phase of the war. Even as between July 17-August 2, 1945 to the working class of one country goal of exterminating the new-born early as 11 June 1938, a British outlined the conditions, principles and another. Working class socialist state of Soviet Russia and, government spokesman, Sir Arnold and measures of post-war movements rose to their height in with that, communism itself, had to Wilson declared in the House of administration in Germany under the Europe, with revolutionary situation accept its ignominious defeat at the Commons : ‘The real danger before joint control of the USSR, USA and maturing in different countries. hands of none other than the heroic the world today is not the fascist UK ; it also set the principles of National independence struggles Soviet people, fighting virtually Germany or Italy, but the imminent surrender of other forces often with the working class in the single-handed in the world, under Communist Russia.’ But when the of the Axis, namely Italy and Japan. leadership started to grow and the leadership of the great course of event went otherwise, Shocking the world aghast, the USA develop in colonies and semi- proletarian leader, Joseph Stalin. It when the heroic Soviet Army chased dropped atom bomb on the innocent colonies. But in many countries, as must be reiterated that, on the the Nazis and drove them out of people of Japan just within a few the representative communist contrary, in spite of repeated their soil, when it helped the entire days from the conclusion of the parties failed to avail of this demands of the Soviet Union to eastern European countries, Potsdam Conference. opportunity, the ruling class, the open a second front to distract the devastated and enslaved by the brute To be continued MULLAPERIYAR DAM Joint Statement released by the Kerala State and Tamilnadu State Organising Committees of SUCI

Voicing serious concern over the farmers and common people in agonies of the toiling people. the one in December 2000 totally unwanted and harmful several districts of Tamilnadu Now, what must be primarily measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale – controversy being generated over the neighbouring Kerala depend on the considered is that the Mullaperiyar all point to a real seismic threat. Mullaperiyar Dam issue, the Kerala Mullaperiyar water. It is an Dam is a gravity dam built in 1895 Expert opinion is that if an State Committee and the Tamilnadu undisputed fact that acres of with surki (lime mortar), utilizing the earthquake of the magnitude 6 on the State Organising Committee of the cultivable land became unirrigated then available know-how, Richter scale were to hit the area, a SUCI have released the following and hence uncultivable, causing technology and materials. It is an possibility that is not ruled out, the joint statement on November 23, huge losses due to lowering of the accepted fact that the life span of result would be catastrophic. So we 2006. storage level of the Mullaperiyar such dams cannot exceed 50 to 60 earnestly feel that the fears about the Centring round raising of the dam in 1979 on safety years. In 1979, the Central Water safety of the dam are well-founded water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam, considerations. It is also a fact we Commission, considering safety and genuine. If the dam collapses it politicians belonging to the ruling cannot overlook that there are greater factors and the weakness of the dam, will be a disaster for the people of and opposition parties in Kerala as demands for water today due to the directed that the water level be both the states, since on one side well as Tamilnadu are fanning up considerable changes that have taken brought down from 152 feet to 136 immense loss of life and property parochial sentiments and creating place in the population, climatic feet and immediate reinforcement will occur and on the other, even the artificial inter-state rivalry simply for conditions, ecological realities, measures be taken up. Reports have existing availability of water, power narrow political and sectarian gains. agricultural and industrial also come out pointing to increased and livelihood will be lost. We are of the firm opinion that the requirements ever since 1979, not to seismic activities in the area, In this light, the recent Supreme pending problems could be amicably speak of 1895, the year the dam was establishing that the dam is located Court verdict to allow the level of settled with a well conceived actually built. In spite of all these, the in an earthquake prone zone. The water to be raised to 142 feet should scientific approach, keeping the age- various governments, which ruled presence of several other dams in the be critically examined. Though the old fraternal relations, Kerala and Tamilnadu all these vicinity, including the high capacity apex court has made a reference to interdependency and co-operation years, did not fulfill their Idukki Dam, and the occurrence of the recommendations of the expert between the people of Kerala and responsibilities, or show any genuine more than five earthquakes within a committee, it has not made it clear to Tamilnadu foremost in mind. concern, to try and reach a settlement radius of 40 kilometres of the the public whether this committee Thousands and thousands of that would relieve the woes and Mullaperiyar Dam within a decade – Contd. on page 8 PROLETARIAN ERA DECEMBER 15, 2006 PAGE SEVEN 7th All Kerala Students’ Conference held at Alleppey The 7th All Kerala Students’ passing through severe and all-out Conference organized by AIDSO crisis in every walk of life was held in Alleppey town from particularly in the sphere of ethics, 24th to 26th November, 2006. culture and morality emasculating On 24th November, a procession the people particularly the students of hundreds of participant students and youth from within. from various schools and colleges, During freedom struggle, great including professional colleges of the men like Netaji Subhas, Bhagat state marched through the main Singh, Kshudiram and streets of Alleppey town raising Chandrasekhar Azad were torch slogans against GATS, DPEP, SSA, bearers of noble politics. But today Police runs amok at roof top in Singur village on December2 Self-financing system and cultural the political field in tandem with degeneration. Then the students socio-cultural degeneration is also assembled at Bhagat Singh Nagar dominated by rotten elements. (Narasimhapuram auditorium) Recalling the teachings Comrade Comrade Debashis Roy formally Shibdas Ghosh, a foremost Marxist inaugurated the open session. thinker of this era, he emphasized Comrade M.Shajarkhan, State that surging waves of proletarian president, AIDSO presided over. revolutionary movement alone can Comrade Sreejith Sudhakar, State only mount the society on higher secretary welcomed all. The ethics and morality and fight social delegate session was inaugurated by malice and injustice. He urged upon Comrade C. K. Lukose, State the students to build up a Secretary, SUCI. He drew attention Revolutionary students’ movement to the pivotal role AIDSO has been with this aim and objective. playing in developing revolutionary In his speech on the concluding students’ movement in Kerala based session, Comrade Provash Ghosh on Marxism-Leninism-Shibdas also called upon the delegates to SUCI protesting Singur atrocity in front of Banga Bhavan, New Delhi on December Ghosh thought. strengthen AIDSO and take firm 9, the all-IndiaProtest Day called by the Central Committee of the party There after a public meeting resolve to fight against infiltration of was held at Municipal ground which globalization in education sector and was addressed by Comrade Provash for a secular-democratic and Ghosh, Central Committee member, universal education system. A 46 SUCI and the advisor. With grave member new State Council with concern he pointed out that all office bearers was elected capitalist countries including ours are unanimously. Jordanian Congress Contd. from page 5 contact. Comrade Mukherjee was present there. He also handed over also invited to attend a separate the works of Comrade Shibdas meeting of all these parties and Ghosh and other party literature to JWCP for discussing the course of them and hoped that in future there movement to be developed in the SUCI protests at Patna on December 9 would be more exchange of Arab world. At the end of that experiences, enhanced mutual meeting, a joint communiqué was General Strike on 14 December cooperation in developing released. Comrade Mukherjee, on Contd. from page 3 strike has proven that the working worldwide anti-imperialist behalf of our party, was a signatory justice against oppression and people are not averse to stepping movement and a close party to party to the communiqué. exploitation. The December 14 ahead for the struggle. Now it remains the prime task to accomplish the unfulfilled parts of the movement, that is to build up the necessary organization at the grass root level in the form of struggle committees of workers, peasants and other sections of common people, to raise volunteer forces to relay on the torch of struggle and such others. At the same time, people must be vigilant and proactive to create effective pressure on the leadership to meet these ends. With survival at stake, failure to do these is sure to cost the dearest. Massive rally of government employees and Anganwadi workers at Rohtak on 11th November at JPA’s call Regd. No. 13932/67 Postal Regd. No. SSRM/KOL/RMS/WB/RNP-145/2004-06 Singur struggle must SUCI condemns incident of desecration be led to victory of Ambedkar statue Contd. from page 4 and foreign monopoly capital are Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, General Secretary, SUCI, in course of a statement issued on 12 December, 2006 vehemently condemned the extent in quelling the legitimate doing the same thing in the incident of desecration of a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar by miscreants movement of the displaced peasants respective states they are in power by in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh entailing eruption of violence in certain parts of to defend their right to live. It is so undertaking violent raids on the Maharashtra and called upon the people to remain vigilant against any adamant as to take no cognizance of peasants with their armed police attempt on the part of interested quarters to take advantage of this most the wave of protest and dissent forces. The BJP-BJD coalition reprehensible act. When the need of the hour is to develop sustained throughout the country. Hence it has government of Orissa is grabbing organized movement of all sections of the toiling masses irrespective of become imperative to escalate the land in Kalinganagar for the Tatas by caste, creed, religion or region against the backbreaking oppression of movement and rally the support of killing local adivasis through firing. ruling capitalism aggravated manifold after introduction of globalization- the entire countrymen behind it. It is In West Bengal, the CPI(M) govern- liberalization, preservation of people’s unity is of supreme importance, the united resistance of the people ment is seizing land for the same added Comrade Mukherjee. He, therefore, appealed to the countrymen to that the despots of all ages dread Tatas in Singur by spilling blood of remain calm at any such instigation and frustrate the machination of the most. So the need of the hour is to the peasants and agricultural ruling class by intensifying their united struggle against capitalist build up united organized protracted workers. Mulayam is doing the oppression and repression. resistance movement involving all same thing in Dadri, UP for sections of the toiling masses Ambanis. In Andhra Pradesh, against the fascist attitude of the Haryana and Maharashtra, the MULLAPERIYAR DAM CPI(M) government and compel it Congress is implementing the same Contd. from page 3 committee, a solution that will safely to bow down under pressure of agenda. had actually studied and with and sufficiently address the long movement. So the task is to create scientific authenticity concluded term concerns and needs of the and sustain required grit and Movement ought to be under that : people of both states should be determination among all to carry out evolved and implemented without correct leadership 1) sufficient reinforcement and the struggle till the demand is met. undue delay. And to steer the movement along strengthening has been done to It ought to be a do or die battle for We once again express our grave the right track, the question of allow the dam to safely hold 142 all. No individual effort on the part concern over the attempts by certain leadership is of extreme importance. feet of water. of anyone, no sacrifice at individual In the past, many movements with forces to whip up parochial 2) threats to the dam from seismic level will lead the struggle to its heroic sacrifices fizzled out or ended sentiments in order to achieve petty logical culmination. What is activity had been thoroughly in the ballot box because wrong sectarian interests at a time when the required is to form fighting people’s investigated and ruled out. forces were in the leadership – the need of the hour is for the people of committees in every locality as forces whose only aim was to derive Naturally, the fears of the people the country to unitedly fight the instruments of struggle and release a electoral advantage out of the of both the states of a possible relentless attacks on their lives conscious, well-knit well- peoples’ struggle and secure cozy disaster could not be dispelled. brought about by the globalization disciplined protracted movement on Hence, it is our strong opinion space in the rendezvous of power. policies being pursued and the edifice of higher ethics and The immense possibility created by that the Central Government should implemented by both central and morality. Alongside, there should be immediately take steps to bring the heroic struggle of the Singur state governments, irrespective of a wave of democratic mass about an acceptable and scientific political hue. people towards revival of movement round the country in solution to the problem by It is regrettable that the countrywide democratic mass support of this just struggle of the appointing an impartial expert governments of both states are not movement against the sinister Singur peasants. committee, which will apply taking any step to rein in these designs and devices of the ruling We ought to remember that the internationally accepted standards divisive and destructive forces, bourgeois class and its servitors of brave peasants of Singur are not and the latest know-how to assess the which the Central Government, too, different hues would be marred if the fighting a battle of their own but present condition of the dam, the is virtually allowing by looking on aspect of leadership is neglected have initiated a struggle that must dangers posed to it by its age, nature passively. In the midst of this once again. We appeal to the spread throughout the country. of construction and its location in an hysteria being whipped up by a small struggling peasants of Singur and Because, Singur is no isolated an area of proven seismic activity, along section, it is very heartening to see episode. It is merely the beginning. other places as well as the with other relevant factors affecting that the people at large of Kerala The CPI(M) government is gearing conscientious people from all walks its safety. Whether a new dam is to have always been unhesitatingly up to grab thousands and thousands of life signing up to this struggle not be constructed should also come willing to give water to the people of acres of agricultural land in to undermine this question at any under the purview of this committee. Tamilnadu, while the people of Kharagpur, Nandigram, Haripur, point of time and under any The committee must work within a Tamilnadu genuinely feel for the Dankuni, Katwa, Siliguri, Bhangar circumstances and ensure given time frame, and submit its safety concerns of the people of and such other places of the state. establishment of correct leadership report at the earliest. Kerala. Everywhere the aggrieved peasants on the movement. The question of the raising of the We appeal to the people of both drawing inspiration from the Singur The struggle of the Singur storage level can be decided only the states to maintain this movement are organizing peasants is going on. They have after the expert committee has made understanding and fraternity as the themselves to build up fierce taken a resolve to turn rage into this exhaustive study and the people apple of the eye, and not to fall resistance. Similarly, forcible outrage, ire and indignation into of both Kerala and Tamilnadu are victim to the vicious propaganda of nabbing of agricultural land is taking hate a nd rancour, fight unto the convinced of the safety of the dam. the disruptive forces on both sides. place in every part of the country. In last. We are confident that all If it is found, for any reason, that the They must come forward to build up the past, the landed gentry used to sections of the toiling people from long-lasting safety of the dam cannot a united movement to pressurize the seize land from their subjects with within and outside the state will be guaranteed, or the present dam respective governments to find a the help of their armed watchmen close their rank and resolutely stand cannot meet the future needs of the scientific and amicable solution that and musketeers. Today the Congress, by this just movement. SUCI is people of both states, then a new dam will safeguard the present and future BJP or the CPI(M) as dependable committed to take the struggle is a must. In the wake of the interests and needs of the people of ‘political managers’ of the domestic ahead. recommendations of the expert both the states without fail. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : NIHAR MUKHERJEE Edited & Published by Sukomal Dasgupta from 48 Lenin Sarani, 700 013 and printed by him at Ganadabi Printers and Publishers Private Limited, 52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013 Phone : 2244-1828, 2244-2234 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.suci.in