[Reader-list] Statement of CPI(M) PB

[Partha Dasgupta]

Dear Prakash,

Putting aside phrases like 'red terror' or any other such generic
description, any thinking individual can clearly see from the abundant
information available online as well as in print that the government in West
Bengal has played almost the same card that was played in Pakistan to impose
emergency.

There are reports in dailies of armed CPI(M) cadres roaming around and
targetting offices and homes, while the party talks of Police not being
deployed and even the CRPF sent not being deployed to the affected villages.

Bodies being found (or hidden) without any details of the numbers. As a
'party of the masses' there is not even a pretension of caring for the
masses who have died. Instead every casualty is supposed to be that of an
aggressor.

As for moving away from the 'Moscow' hangover, even now the blind stand
against 'US Imperialism' seems just the same as it was in the hey days. In
short, they are the enemy so everything they say / do is wrong.

Putting aside what the 'Polit Bureau' states - do you really think that the
state-sponsored terror and not allowing the police / CRPF to ensure safety
on the inhabitants of Nandigram is right?

I certainly hope you don't.

Rgds, Partha
......................................

On Nov 14, 2007 1:07 AM, prakash ray <pkray11 at gmail.com> wrote:

> *Dear all, This is the statement issued by CPI(M) on 12 Nov,2007.
>
> Regards,
> Prakash
>
> * *The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New
> Delhi on November 11 & 12, 2007. It has issued the following
> statement:* *Nandigram
> Situation*
>
> *The Polit Bureau heard a report on the developments in Nandigram in the
> recent period. Since January 2007, an abnormal situation had developed
> with
> an alliance of forces led by the Trinamul Congress driving out workers and
> supporters of the Left Front including elected panchayat members. Since
> then
> the police and the administration have not been allowed to function in the
> area.*
>
> *Even after the state government announced that there is no question of
> land
> acquisition for a chemical hub, for the past nine months the people
> evicted
> from the area were not able to go back to their homes or cultivate their
> fields.*
>
> *The Polit Bureau firmly rebuffs all the mischievous attempts to portray
> the
> developments in Nandigram as an outcome of "red terror". There has been no
> issue of land acquisition whatsoever in Nandigram since February 2007, yet
> the whole area was under siege on the spurious pretext of protection of
> land. The reality in Nandigram was a violent and undemocratic offensive to
> displace those who were the legitimate representatives of the people.*
>
> *The gang up of political forces against the CPI(M) and the Left operating
> in the guise of a Bhumi Ucchhed Pratirodh Samity virtually set up a
> parallel
> raj in the area. A dangerous phenomenon was their utilising the assistance
> of Maoist armed squads who came into the area from outside. The situation
> of
> utter lawlessness prevailed and bunkers were built and landmines laid. In
> this entire period 27 CPI(M) workers and supporters were killed. Such a
> situation cannot be tolerated by any state government or administration.
> After the March 14 police firing, repeated efforts were made for political
> negotiations and peace talks for the restoration of normalcy and the
> return
> of all the affected people.*
>
> *After a prolonged struggle, the determined efforts made by the people to
> return to their homes have succeeded and this should pave the way for
> normalcy to return. The CPI(M) and the Left Front have declared that they
> want peace to be restored and all sections of the people irrespective of
> political affiliations to be allowed to return to their family life in
> pursuit of their livelihood.*
>
> *With the deployment of central para military forces, the Left Front
> government should make all efforts for rehabilitation and resumption of
> development work in the area.*
> *Indo-US Nuclear Deal*
>
> *The Polit Bureau discussed the developments regarding the Indo-US nuclear
> deal since the last Central Committee meeting of the Party. It reiterated
> the stand of the Left parties that the government should not proceed
> further
> to operationalise the deal. There has to be a discussion on the deal in
> the
> coming session of parliament.*
> *Support Price for Paddy*
>
> *The Polit Bureau demanded that the minimum support price for paddy be
> increased to Rs. 1,000 per quintal. This is necessary keeping in mind the
> cost of production that the farmers are incurring in paddy cultivation.*
> *Price Rise* *The Polit Bureau expressed concern at the continuing price
> rise of essential commodities. The urgent need is to expand the PDS to
> reach
> a large section of people and also to include more essential commodities
> at
> controlled prices. * *Oil Price Rise* *The Polit Bureau urged the UPA
> government to undertake a review of the ad valorem tax structure and the
> scale of central excise duties on petroleum products in order to tackle
> the
> situation arising from the rise in oil prices at the international level.
> *
> *Notify Tribal Forest Act*
>
> *The Polit Bureau expressed its deep concern at the continuing delay in
> the
> notification of the Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.
> (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006. There is no reason whatsoever to
> delay the notification after the rules have been framed. The
> implementation
> of the Critical Wildlife Habitat provision can be done only after the Act
> as
> a whole is notified and rights vested. Reports from various places show
> that
> the tribal people are being evicted from their lands in the forest to
> preempt the Act coming into force.*
> *Women's Reservation*
>
> *The Polit Bureau urged the UPA government to introduce the women's
> reservation bill in the forthcoming session of parliament. This is a
> commitment made in the Common Minimum Programme. The failure to move to
> fulfill this commitment is glaring and cannot be justified.*
> *Emergency in Pakistan*
>
> *The Polit Bureau demanded an end to the state of emergency in Pakistan
> and
> the release of all those arrested for protesting against this
> authoritarian
> step. The Polit Bureau reaffirmed its solidarity and support to the people
> of Pakistan who are struggling for the restoration of democracy.*
> *Party Congress*
>
> *The Polit Bureau decided to hold the 19th Congress of the Party in
> Coimbatore from March 29 to April 2, 2008. The PB discussed the
> preparations
> for the Party Congress. An outline of the Draft Political Resolution was
> discussed on which basis the draft will be prepared to be placed in the
> next
> meeting of the Central Committee to be held in December.*
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>




-- 
Partha Dasgupta
+919811047132