Palash Biswas
(contact : c/o Mrs Arti Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur,
Kolkata-700110, India. Phone:033-25659551 R)
No doubt, the land in singur will be handed over the
Tatas for Tata Motors. The ruling left front rode over
the ideological hitch within the party and the
government. The government and party machinery is well
geared to crush any opposition at any level. Ms Mamta
Bannerjee could not stop Salem Group to enter Bengal
with her all dramatic ploys. She failed to stall land
transfer in Bhangar, rajarhat and elsewhere. Media
supports the capitalist progress propoganda of the
communist Chief minister and ideology is well set
aside.Mamata is never as per good to create public
opinion at any stage of her political life. Whatever
sypathy she captured is out of order with constant
repeatation of her old ploys and gimmicks. she has
lost the faith of people and her political
credibility, too.It has been well portrayed in last
loksabha and Assembelly elections.Now having sieged
singur unsuccessfully to stopcheque distribution,
beaten and packed to kolkata mercilessly by police she
has landed in a private Nursing Home, BeleView,
complaing breathing trouble after two days of dharna,
rail roko and procession all failed to create any
mentionable public response. Congress supported her
agitation and already retreated bowing to the
compulsion of running a coaliation government at the
centre supported by always threatening and dictating
Left.
It is also evident that the Singur movement, woven
around the proposed Tata Motors project, has started
to lose its emotive appeal after the Opposition
leaders were forced to have the protest venue shifted
from Singur to Calcutta. But as the deal is finalised,
the intention to launch such an unfruitful movement is
surrounded by doubt. The opposition is eager to defend
the peasntry, it is not proved at all. Rather every
opposition icon including Mamta seems to ensure
maximum media fottage. The peasants are asking while
everything is finalised, why the opposition is trying
to stall their payment.
Left has painted well mamta as anti development icon,
thanks to widespread media coverage. Tatas has
threatened to leave bengal and go to Uttaranchal with
thier Motors Project. It has triggered the panic
button and Mamata is isolated once again. The Cpim
state secretary, however, said the front would stand
united against the Opposition-sponsored bandh on
October 9.
It made no significant difference at all as after five
years, senior Congress leaders shared the dais with
Mamata today and announced a series of protests
against the police action in Singur to dislodge
Trinamul Congress supporters who had laid siege to the
block office against land acquisition. "Let's make it
clear, we have nothing against Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee's industrialisation programme, or the
Tatas' small-car project," Union information and
broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said.
"Ratan Tata is an ideal industrialist. We would like
to have him here," he added. Though Congress leaders
such as Somen Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee and Sudip
Bandopadhyay urged the government to structure an
all-party initiative and "take us (the Opposition)
into confidence".
Monday's siege of the Singur BDO's office by the
Trinamul is the second major fiasco the government has
had to contend with in the march towards
industrialisation. It comes four months after the Tata
Motors delegation ~ invited to the area in the heady
aftermath of the electoral victory ~ was turned away
by the peasantry.A sobbing Mamata Banerjee called off
her sit-in and hunger strike, which shifted venue from
Singur to the city past midnight 25 th Sept.,
following cellphone conversations with Congress
leaders in Delhi and an emotional tête-à-tête with
former party colleague Priya Ranjan Das Munshi."I
withdrew today's dharna after Union home minister
Shivraj Patil's assurance that he would have the
matter looked into," Mamata said before leaving the
Gandhi statue on Mayo Road under which she had been
squatting since being bodily lifted out of Singur by
police.
The ideolgy and the issues hang in air without any
answer.
As the Buddha proclaimed like Jesus — "Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do", or a
variation of it — not everyone seemed to be in a
merciful mood. Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant
said from Pune that if Bengal could not provide the
land by the end of this year, the company could look
at locations elsewhere.On paper, the administration
handed over the land, about 1,000 acres, to the West
Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), the
agency that, in turn, will transfer it to the Tatas.
But the process can only be said to have been
completed when possession is taken.Kant said the
company was under tremendous pressure to meet the
deadline to bring the Rs 1-lakh car to the market by
2008.He said land should have been handed over by now
whereas the Bengal government expects to wrap up the
acquisition after the Pujas. That is quick by any
standards because the process started only about two
months ago.
The threat would have struck Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
like a sharp nail at other times but, with Mamata
Banerjee hitting the warpath over land acquisition in
Singur where the Tata factory is to come up, it will
be more like a hammer blow. When asked in Writers'
Buildings if the Mamata-led agitation suggested that
the Opposition did not wish Bengal to develop, the
chief minister forgave them using Jesus's
words.Addressing the concerns about farmers losing
their occupation in the context of this agitation,
Tata Motors promised to "do more in Bengal than
anywhere else" by way of corporate social
responsibility. Sonia Gandhi's Congress today sought
to project itself as a responsible Opposition party in
Bengal as it rolled out the welcome mat for Ratan Tata
and his proposed car project in Singur.While rallying
behind Mamata Banerjee in her bid to get
Under the schemes, a two-week programme will be
started for early dropouts to train them in
non-skilled jobs like gardening. Tata Motors will also
help set up a cooperative for women for tailoring.
It is only the Left front in West Bengal which has
made serious efforts to implement a land reform
programme. This has also resulted in a big boost to
farm production contrary to the neo-liberalisers who
say that only big farms can insure higher
productivity. West Bengal is the highest producer of
rice and vegetables, the second highest in potato
production and the highest in the production of fish.
The central feature of land reform under the Left
Front regime has been the acquisition of surplus or
benami land and distributing it amongst the landless.
The total land vested in West Bengal in the last 25
years is 13.37 lakh acres, out of which 10.63 lakh
acres have been distributed. A large majority of the
beneficiaries belong to scheduled castes, scheduled
tribes, other oppressed castes and the landless
sections among the minorities. West Bengal also holds
the record in distribution of joint pattas of land in
the name of both the woman and the man, with
approximately 4 lakh joint pattas and another 80,000
pattas to single women.
Since the Land Reforms Act is strictly implemented by
the West Bengal Government, the position of land
concentration in West Bengal today is that 90 per cent
of the land owners are small and marginal farmers and
75per cent of the land is with them. In other states,
65 per cent of cultivators are small and marginal
farmers but they have only around 15 per cent of the
land.
When the Left Government was voted to power in 1977 in
West Bengal, the number of share croppers recorded
was less than 5 lakhs. But, now the share-croppers
recorded in West Bengal is 14 lakh 50 thousand. Almost
all the sharecroppers have been registered.in West
Bengal.
The experience of land reforms in West Bengal, Tripura
and Kerala is the effect that it has in raising the
status of the poor in other spheres. For example the
panchayat system in West Bengal where over two-thirds
of the seats are won by scheduled castes, tribes,
oppressed sections including women is an example of
how land reform by breaking land monopolies and
distributing land to the landless, strengthens the
democratic functioning of the panchayats and ensures
the advancement of the sociakl status of the rural
poor and the democratic rights of the masses.
If that embarrassing disaster underscored the extent
to which the government was unprepared with the
fundamental issue of compensation, the chaos over the
distribution of compensation cheques makes it plain
that the equally critical issue of mutation may have
been ignored in numerous cases. Indeed, the Hooghly
DM's unsuccessful attempt to mollify agitators with
the assurance that the problem would be sorted out
suggests that the matter may not have been taken up at
all. It thus comes about that those who had sold their
land were issued cheques as the new owners had not
completed the mutation for the land that was bought.
This is a mandatory issue that governs the buying and
selling of land.
All this is not to suggest that the political parties,
especially those in the opposition, have no role in
the implementation of the new development projects.
Most of the projects would involve the use of
agricultural land for new industries or even
commercial enterprises. More importantly, these would
lead to the displacement of large numbers of people
from their land and livelihoods. Obviously, no economy
can survive, let alone prosper, simply on agriculture.
At the same time, economic growth makes little sense
to the common people if it does not touch and change
their lives.
The Central Committee of Communist Party of India
(Marxist) met in New Delhi from September 24 to 26,
2006. It has issued the following statement:
Special Economic Zones
The Central Committee discussed the Special Economic
Zones which are now being set up in large numbers
around the country. The Act and the Rules for the
Special Economic Zones provides large tracts of land
to be acquired and handed over to promoter companies.
This is going to lead to large-scale displacement of
farmers, meagre compensation and no alternative means
of livelihood. On the other hand, promoters are
getting land cheaply and they are going to make their
fortunes out of real estate development and
speculation. Indiscriminate approvals for SEZs have
serious implications for agriculture, food security,
the interests of farmers and economic sovereignty.
Urgent changes are required in the SEZ Act and Rules.
There has to be a cap on the amount of land to be
allotted. Secondly, the stipulation of land to be
used in a SEZ for industry must be increased to at
least 50 per cent and 25 per cent for related
infrastructure. Thirdly, tax exemption proposals must
be reviewed and exemption from taxes must be
drastically pruned. Adequate steps to compensate and
rehabilitate the displaced people must be taken. The
Land Acquisition Act has to be amended suitably for
this. Apart from farmers, agricultural workers should
also be covered. SEZs should be set up only with the
approval of the state governments.
The Central Committee authorised the Polit Bureau to
prepare a comprehensive stand on the issue and
mobilise support from other political parties for
amendments and changes in the Acts and Rules.
Conversion Laws in BJP States
The Central Committee expressed its serious concern at
the amendments made by the states of Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh in the laws
concerning religious conversion. The amendments
made to the Freedom of Religion law goes against the
constitutional right which grants citizens the right
to propagate and practice any religion of their
choice. In Gujarat, the amendments clubs Buddhism and
Jainism as branches of the Hindu faith leading to
strong protests from representatives of these
communities. Conversion within these "branches" will
not invite government action. But if any Hindu wants
to convert to Islam or Christianity, they will first
have to take permission from the District Magistrate.
Various objectionable clauses are there in the
legislations adopted in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Chattisgarh.
These legislations will provide a legal licence to
harass and intimidate minorities which have become
the hallmark of the BJP rule in these states. The
CPI(M) demands that these amendments should be
withdrawn and the legislation should not get assent
for being enforced as laws.
Bababudangiri Shrine
The Central Committee demanded that Karnataka
government maintain the status quo position at the
Bababudangiri shrine in Chikmagalur district. As in
the previous year, no "shobha yatra" by the RSS
outfits should be permitted which will disturb
communal amity and peace.
Price Rise
The Central Committee reiterated its demand that
futures trading in foodgrains and other essential
commodities be stopped as they are helping
speculative trading and cornering of stocks. The
Central Committee demanded the immediate strengthening
of the public distribution system. The BPL criteria
has become an instrument for the exclusion of large
number of poor people from the PDS. The Central
government should adopt a proper criteria for
identifying people below the poverty line and issuance
of cards to all of them.
Wheat Imports
The Central Committee noted that the government has
decided to import 35 lakh tonnes of wheat on its own
account. This was subsequently increased to 55 lakh
tonnes. The private sector was allowed to import 30
lakh tonnes. India's entry into the wheat market has
led to international prices shooting up. The latest
round of wheat imports have been at the rate of 1300
per quintal. The overall policies in agriculture and
food will endanger the food security, bring about
dependence on food imports and increase prices of
foodgrains for the people.
The Central Committee demanded immediate steps to
boost up wheat production and for providing farmers
with remunerative prices, so that full procurement
takes place.
Jharkhand
The Central Committee welcomed the fall of the BJP-led
government in Jharkhand which was formed, at the
outset, through encouraging defections. The new
government can only be an interim phase. It is
necessary that elections be held soon so that a fresh
mandate can be sought from the people.
Assembly Elections
The Central Committee discussed the forthcoming
Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,
Uttaranchal and Manipur.
As far as Uttar Pradesh elections are concerned, the
UP state committee of the Party will meet in October
to discuss the political situation and the line to be
pursued. After that the Polit Bureau will take a
final decision.
In Punjab, Akali Dal-BJP alliance, given its past
record and its rank communal basis, has to be opposed.
The CPI(M) will call for the defeat of the Akali
Dal-BJP alliance. The record of the Congress
government has been marked by policies of
privatisation of public education and health sectors,
handing over large tracts of land to big business to
promote corporate agriculture and marred by
large-scale corruption. The Party will expose the
harmful policies of the Congress government and
popularise the alternative pro-people policies. In
the elections, the CPI(M) and the CPI will fight the
elections jointly and rally some of the other secular
forces around an alternative platform.
In Uttaranchal, the CPI(M) will arrive at an
understanding with the CPI. As against the BJP and
the Congress, the Left parties should work for an
understanding with other democratic parties.
In Manipur, the CPI(M) will contest a limited number
of seats and utilise the election campaign to take the
message of the Party on how the worsening situation in
Manipur can be tackled.
Legislation
The Central Committee demanded that the bill for
one-third reservation for women in parliament and
state legislatures be introduced in the forthcoming
winter session of parliament, in keeping with the
Prime Minister's assurance on the matter.
The Central Committee reiterated that the Forest
Tribal Bill be taken up in parliament incorporating
the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary
Committee.
Organisational Review
The Central Committee conducted a mid-term review on
the implementation of the tasks set forth by the 18th
Congress of the Party held in April 2005. The report
on organisation notes the growing importance and role
of the Party in the national political situation. The
support to the UPA government and the intervention in
all major political issues had drawn the support from
different sections of the people. The present
political situation offers a big opportunity for the
expansion of the Party. The Party organisation must
be geared up to go amongst these sections of the
people and draw them to the Party.
The review report on organisation evaluated the work
done and noted that the Party had made progress in
implementing the main tasks set out by the Congress –
the Party Centre's interventions in political and
policy matters has been enhanced, there has been a
growth in Party membership of 9 per cent since 2004
with the membership now being 9,45,486; there has been
an increase in the membership of all mass
organisations; more attention has been paid to the
priority states and districts; more attention has been
paid to Party education and Central schools have been
held regularly; the circulation of People's Democracy
has increased to the highest ever level with new
editions in Chennai, Agartala and Kochi; more
publications of the Party have been brought out; more
attention has been paid to work on the tribal front.
The report pointed out some of the weaknesses in the
organisational front and stressed the importance of
taking up the tasks which had not been implemented
yet. The report emphasised the importance of ensuring
proper recruitment of members through auxiliary
groups, recruitment of more wholetime cadres and
provision of a minimum wage for them, strengthening of
branch functioning, ensuring Party education for all
members and taking up sustained struggles on local
issues for advancement of the Party's base. The
thrust should be to expand the Party's base in states
where we are weak.
The Central Committee decided that more efforts should
be made to concentrate work in priority districts and
areas. As per the Party Congress direction, a draft
document on ideological issues must be prepared for
discussion within six months time. The Central
Committee also decided to prepare an updated
rectification document for providing a fresh thrust to
the rectification campaign.
Future Programme
The Central Committee reviewed the August national
political campaign conducted by the Party. It was a
successful campaign which was able to take the Party's
message to wide sections of the people. On the basis
of this response, the Central Committee decided that
state units should take up issues such as the Public
Distribution System, BPL cards, provision of house
sites, implementation of REGA, displacement of
farmers, issues of social oppression and problems of
tribal people for initiating local struggles.
The Central Committee decided to support the calls of
countrywide jathas being organised separately by
kisan, student and women organisations. The Central
Committee decided to extend support to the call given
by trade unions for all India general strike on
December 14.
The Central Committee called upon its Party units to
observe the birth centenary of Shahid Bhagat Singh
which begins on September 28, in an appropriate
manner.
.
palashcbiswas,
gostokanan, sodepur, kolkata-700110 phone:033-25659551
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