WEST BENGAL: POLITICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CITU UNIONS

WEST BENGAL: POLITICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CITU UNIONS CITU DEMANDS IMMEDIATE STOPPING OF POLITICALLY SPONSORED VIOLENCE AGAINST CITU UNIONS IN WEST BENGAL The CITU Secretariat meeting held on 26-27 May 2011 at New Delhi expressed grave concern over the continuous violence and atrocities engineered by the hoodlums of Trinamool Congress and Congress on the trade unions and other mass organizations in different parts of West Bengal in the aftermath of the Assembly elections-result. Since May 13, already twelve were killed including two with a child burnt alive, which demonstrates extreme barbarism in the process of politically sponsored violence by the ruling regime. Reports of physical assaults on the leaders, activists and even members of trade unions and other organizations, severely injuring many, and forcing the workers to leave CITU and join TMC led trade unions are pouring in every day. The preliminary reports contain information of incidents involving violent capturing of CITU affiliated union offices by armed TMC goons in different parts of the state; tearing off CITU flags, posters, placards, festoons, banners etc; ransacking of CITU offices etc. In many places, the employers also joined the armed TMC goons in intimidating and forcing to leave the CITU union. Apart from incidents at various locations in Kolkata involving CITU trade unions in industries including Taxi and Auto Rickshow operators, Street Vendors, districts like Howrah, both the 24-Parganas, Bardhaman, Birbhum, Coochbehar also witnessed continuous violence, hurling of bombs in the office, extortion of huge money from the common workers and residents at gun-point. The Secretariat of CITU condemns such vindictive and barbarous atrocities and violence on the workers and common people perpetrated by the ruling TMC-Congress led regime keeping the law and order authority a silent onlooker to such grievous and continuing incidents of arsons, physical assaults, loot, extortions and killings. CITU demands upon the State Govt to out a stop to such continuing politically sponsored violence and atrocities on trade unions, workers and common people throughout the state. CITU also appeals to all trade unions irrespective of affiliations to raise their voice against such politically sponsored violence on trade unions and mass organization with is designed to empower the employers and capitalists to benefit from terrorizing and weakening the workers’ organizations. Continuity of such politically sponsored violence is also an assault on democratic set up putting the peoples’ interests into jeopardy. CITU Secretariat calls upon all its affiliated unions, state committees and industrial federations to unleash a countrywide campaign against the politically-sponsored violence on trade unions, workers and common people in West Bengal and observe a “Campaign-cum-Protest Week” on 6th to 11th June 2011 through public-meetings, issuing pamphlets in thousands detailing the barbarous atrocities on the workers and people in West Bengal, rallies, processions etc all over the country.

Courtesy: www.citucentre.org/

DEFEND DEMOCRACY IN WEST BENGAL: SLOGAN AT THE GRASS ROOTS

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THE first phase of elections in West Bengal will be held on April 18, in 54 constituencies of the northern districts. Till date, the main mode of campaign, particularly of the Left Front is intensive door-to-door contact with the people. Group meetings, grass root level meetings are being organised in thousands throughout the state. In most of these meetings, interactions are taking place including questions, suggestions and even open criticisms.

The Left Front, in their campaign, is highlighting the anti-people policies of the UPA government, particularly fuelling price rise and successive attacks on the livelihood of the people, like cutting subsidies for food and fertilisers. One of the important components of this campaign is exposing the difference between the two UPAs - one before 2008 when it was supported by the Left from outside, and the UPA-2 in which Trinamool Congress is a partner. The new wave of pro-corporate reforms like the banking bill, the pension bill etc are a reflection of this difference.

In West Bengal, the TMC and the Congress are not merely ‘opposition’; they have in effect run hundreds of panchayats at village and block level from 2008. The TMC has run South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore district councils also. In these three years, a large part of rural Bengal has seen widespread corruption and inefficiency of the TMC. Both their district councils are worst run among the 18 districts. They are lagging far behind the others in terms of MGNREGA or other rural developmental programmes. This has generated discontent even among the people who have voted in their favour. This has become one of the major aspects of the campaign.

From 2009 onwards, railway minister Mamata Banerjee has used railways for narrow political purposes. While making Indian railways bankrupt, she has announced numerous projects and was busy in the stone-laying spree. Even in their manifesto, the TMC has tried to project railways as a model for development. The dubious nature of this claim is being explained by the Left Front in the campaign. Apart from other aspects, one of the major questions is the total failure of railways to generate employment. Fraudulent campaign by the TMC has been exposed to a great degree after the self-immolation of a TMC activist, Prasun Datta, in front of railway minister’s residence. Datta, it is alleged, was promised a job in railways, which was later bluntly denied.

West Bengal can never relieve her from the dark memories of seventies, when the state witnessed worst kind of political violence and murderous attacks on democracy. The anarchy and violence let loose by the TMC in the recent past has only reinforced that unwanted memory. In this year’s election campaign, the future of peace and democracy in the state has become a major issue. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has expressed hope with confidence that the people of West Bengal would never invite “Change for destruction”. The Left front chairman, Biman Basu, has repeatedly termed this election battle as a battle to defend democracy of the people.

However, the main thrust of the Left Front’s campaign is on the positive achievements of the government all through the 34 years and particularly its successes in the last five years. During this period, significant progress has been registered in agricultural production, industrialisation despite obstacles from the opposition, expansion of health and education facilities, power generation and distribution. But the hallmark of the government was the steadfast defense of the poor and the toiling people. This has been reflected through the provident fund scheme for the workers of the unorganised sector, social security projects for the workers of different sectors, providing rice at Rs 2 per kg for the poor etc. This has also helped to mobilise toiling masses around the Left. The stream of projects for the minorities, including reservation for OBC Muslims has created a renewed trust for the Left Front. Incidentally, on all these questions, the TMC is very shaky and failed to clear their position even in the poll manifesto.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

BUDDHADEB BHATTACHARJEE SAYS: LEFT FRONT CONFIDENT OF COMFORTABLE MAJORITY

THE Left Front in West Bengal is striving to get 50 per cent or more votes in every booth and constituency in the coming assembly elections, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee categorically asserted in a press conference in Kolkata on March 23. “We were ready to face united opposition from the very beginning and nothing has changed because of an alliance between TMC and Congress”, he said. The Left front will attain comfortable majority, he said with confidence. When asked if this is the toughest election, he said: “No. I have seen many elections, especially 2001 and 2006. At that time also, there was media hype that we were facing a tough election. But we have proved everybody wrong.”

Bhattacharjee explained the basic understanding enunciated in Left Front manifesto and answered wide range of questions.

He said the Left Front and its government has stood beside the people, particularly in unorganised sector, who have been marginalised by market economy. Already 25 lakh unorganised workers have been provided with facilities of provident fund. All such sections would be brought under social security. Self help groups have increased in large numbers and they are being provided support from the government.

The chief minister underlined three major areas of success of the seventh Left Front government. First, the state has become self sufficient in rice production and moved forward in massive food grains production. Second, large sections of marginalised people have been provided with social security. Thirdly, the minorities were provided reservation through OBC category along with development in their education and economic activities. In this regard, Bhattacharjee mentioned that though Left Front government was trying its best to alleviate the socio-economic conditions of the minorities, the recommendations of Ranganath Misra Commission opened up the opportunity of providing reservation for them.

Apart from the general development of the state economy, Left Front in its manifesto has focused on some specific infrastructural areas. The chief minister said that the next government would link up all villages with roads connecting with the main road of the area, would connect all villages with electricity and safe drinking water facilities. New towns will be developed around the existing cities.

Bhattacharjee said, an atmosphere of chaos has been created in the state. We want to stop this. Left Front will never allow the disintegration of the hills from the state. Maoists have already affected damages and they have been supported irresponsibly by the opposition forces. Some forces, by their utter intention to grab power immediately have created a condition of intolerance, indiscipline and formed a fear psychosis among people. West Bengal has to come out of this situation.

‘The Left has always progressed through self critical analysis’, said the chief minister. He pointed out that while there was no option but to industrialise the state, there occurred some conflicts regarding land acquisition. Taking lessons from those incidents, the state government has become cautious and underlined consensus in acquiring land. After 2008, we have acquired 8100 acres of land without any problem. The state government has already worked out a land use map and a land bank would be created on that basis.

He also pointed out that rectification in Party work has also progressed. “We have instructed our Party workers clearly that there should not be any needless intervention in natural life stream of civil society”, the chief minister said.

Bhattacharjee said the people of the state would not invite a danger. He asked, “Will West Bengal be run like the railways ministry is being run?” He charged that the railways minister has laid foundation stones without provision of money for the projects. About six other central ministers from TMC, he said, were like ‘non performing assets’, doing nothing in their official jobs while drawing wages from public exchequer.

Bhattacharjee also demanded that the central projects should be handed over to the states and 50 per cent of the direct and indirect taxes should be devolved to the states as they have to meet the basic amenities of the people like education and health. The eighth Left Front government will mobilise all states to strengthen this demand, he said.

(Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata)

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

LEFT FRONT MANIFESTO IN WEST BENGAL PROJECTS PRO- PEOPLE ALTERNATIVE

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THE 34 years experience of Left Front government in West Bengal is a unique experience in moving forward in an untraversed path. The formulation of alternative policies and their implementation within the structural limitations were all accomplished through a daunting task. Left Front, in its manifesto for the ensuing assembly elections, has reiterated its commitment towards emancipation of the toiling people and proceed to achieve new goals.

The manifesto is a working document, written in the backdrop of negative fallouts of neo liberal policies in the country. The unbridled market forces have resulted in marginalisation of millions. Safeguarding the interests of these sections and the poor people will be the focus of the eighth Left Front government in West Bengal, the election manifesto asserted.

The manifesto has mentioned about three most important goals of the eighth Left Front government. First and foremost is to elevate the standard of living of the families below poverty line. Employability of these sections will also be a priority. Secondly, the eighth Left Front government will aim to take West Bengal to a leading position in the country on the basis of three human development indices ie, purchasing power, education and health. Thirdly by extending agriculture, industry and other different services, the eighth Left Front government will work for the employment and income generation of the poorest 40 lakh families of the state. Altogether this will formulate the direction of the comprehensive development of West Bengal.

The manifesto elaborates ten specific programmes to attain these three fundamental goals. It says that people having family income of below Rs 10, 000 will be provided rice at Rs 2 per kilo. Some daily necessities like pulses, sugar, edible oil, cloth and biscuit will successively be put under the purview of the public distribution system. To prevent distress sale by the farmers, the state government will buy rice from within the state by giving them assistance price. To provide cooked food for the helpless poor families, the ‘sahai’ (assistance) programme will be further extended.

Besides carrying on the programme of distributing land, multistoried buildings will be constructed for the displaced and homeless people. In the urban areas, same types of buildings will be constructed in the project of giving land for dwelling.

Security, provident fund scheme, insurance and social protection of all contractual staff, unorganised labour and farm based labour will be further extended and will include all concerned people. Allowances for the poor people will be increased both in amount and number of recipients. The government will also ensure the strict implementation of announced reservation in educational field and work places.

To lower down the school drop out to less than 1 per cent, the government will provide financial assistance. Along with it, all girl students up to class XII including the tribal, schedule caste, other backward communities and minorities will receive special allowances for dress and cycle successively within five years. Students of class XI and XII residing more than five kilometers away from their school will get to travel in government and private buses once a day.

The eighth Left Front government will draw up and implement an Act on public health. The common people will get free treatment through insurances and health protection schemes under this Act. The government will also identify the common and life-taking diseases. All poor families of the state will be brought under health insurance and the government will pay the premium to the insurance companies. Within the next five years every district will have at least one medical college and nursing college.

The eighth Left Front government will constitute a special power mission to supply safe drinking water for each family. All families will also get toilets.

Every big village and urban slum will be connected by concrete road. Other roads of the villages will also be concretised successively. Besides planned urbanisation, a special committee will be constituted for consolidated development of the slum areas.

Every home will get electric connection. Every pump set used for agriculture will get electric connection. If those pump sets are used between the stipulated time announced by the government, the electricity charge will also be subsidised. To meet the demand of electricity in industry and other sectors, the generation of electricity will be increased to further 4000 megawatt.

The eighth Left Front government will work out the procedures for eliminating the existing barriers in the process of offering government services to the common people. To ensure the commitment to the people, necessary administrative reforms will be executed. The annual performance of the cabinet ministers will be evaluated and necessary actions will be taken as per that. All administrative stratums have to be free from corruption. In all the stages, administration and police have to convene all party meetings. They have to listen to the suggestions and advice of the peoples’ representatives.

The manifesto of the Left Front also declares that the eighth Left Front government will double its fund allocation for the development of the tribals, schedule castes, other backward communities, minorities, refugees, women, north Bengal, Sundarbans and Pashchimanchal area. Programmes will also be chalked out for hands on work of the people of these sections.

Other programmes include strengthening agricultural production, towards industrialisation to generate ten lakh jobs, development of the self help groups and development of planned cities.

The Left Front will also continue to project alternative policies against the anti-people measures of the centre. It will struggle for devolution of 50 per cent of central taxes to states and restructuring of centre-state relations. It will also try to mobilise all state governments towards achieving these demands.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/