CPI (M), WEST BENGAL STATE COMMITTEE, CALLS UPON TO WIN OVER POOR PEOPLE IN FAVOUR OF LEFT FRONT

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CPI (M) ON HINDUTVA TERRORISM

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from November 19-21, 2010. It has issued the following statement:

The recent arrest of the absconding Aseemanand who is the main accused in the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blast is further confirmation of the fact that some extremist Hindutva elements are responsible for terrorist activities. The protests of the RSS that Hindu religious figures and its activities are being framed for political reasons is disproved by the hard facts and evidence that has emerged.

Source: www.cpim.org

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT - Subhas Ray

AFTER a month long break since March 16, the second phase of the budget session began on April 15 to pass the demands for grants for railways, external affairs, rural development, tribal affairs, water resources and road transport and highways. Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on finance bill on April 28 and pass it on April 29. Rajya Sabha will discuss the working of ministry of power; home affairs; youth affairs and sports; consumer affairs, food and public distribution; and housing and urban poverty alleviation. Apart from passing the railway appropriation bill, it may also take up the anti-farmers seeds bill for consideration.

Source: People’s Democracy dated 02-05-2010 (www.pd.cpim.org)

CPI (M) ON INDIANS ABROAD

During the Lok Sabha discussion on the demands for grants for the ministry of external affairs, A Sampath, CPI (M), said there is a need to ascertain the exact number of Indians living and working abroad, and it is the government’s duty to protect their interests. We need post in Indian embassies such officers as are well versed in regional languages, improve the functioning of and provide better infrastructure facilities to passport offices, arrange more aircraft and more services for the passengers going abroad or coming back, and give the Indians living and working abroad the voting right. Funds must be provided for the welfare schemes for non-resident Indians. There must be coordination between the ministries of external affairs, overseas Indian affairs, home, finance, commerce etc. We must open more passport offices and provide sufficient staff in our passport offices and Indian missions.

In the course of his intervention, the member also warned against playing second fiddle to the US interests, adding that will not be tolerated by the people of India. We have to strengthen our relations with the third world countries.

Source: People’s Democracy dated 02-05-2010 (www.pd.cpim.org)

CPI (M) ON GREEN TRIBUNAL

Lok Sabha has passed the National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009. Participating in the debate, CPI (M)’s M B Rajesh objected to the content of the bill. He said India was going to be the first country to set up a separate tribunal for the adjudication of environmental matters but the government cannot do justice to the issue because of its obsession with neo-liberalism. In the era of liberalisation, there is a contradiction between development and the environmental and social concerns throughout the world including our country. The growing greed for grabbing natural resources for profit has led to exploitation of nature and environment, but this legislation cannot be an effective instrument to protect our people’s interest in environmental battles. On the contrary, it may become a sharp-edged weapon in corporate hands. The bill would also restrict access to justice with centralisation of powers with the union government. Clause 3 of the bill gives too much power to the executive. In keeping with the Law Commission’s recommendations, Rajesh suggested the each state must have a bench. Clause 22(2) has a provision to declare a claim “untenable” and another provision to impose penalty on a claimant. This is a deliberate attempt to prevent people from bringing issues before the tribunal. There is a five-year stipulation for filing application for compensation though damage may occur over a long period. Therefore, this fixed period of five years should be removed. Civil courts are barred from adjudicating matters that lie within the tribunal’s jurisdiction. This is completely contradictory to the Law Commission’s recommendations. So the jurisdiction of other courts must not be barred and there is no provision for appeal in this bill.

As most projects are located in tribal and rural India, the local community’s livelihood and rights are always in jeopardy. So we must have the criteria that enable the appointment of social scientists and non-bureaucrats. But there is no space for social scientists and there is no mention of the socio-economic impact of environmental issues. The bill narrows the culpability and responsibility for environmental accidents. The definition of polluting activities should be more comprehensive and inclusive.

The most unacceptable aspect of the bill is its pro-corporate orientation, with many provisions favouring the private sector. There is a reference to workmen but it is not comprehensive enough to include contract labourers, casual or daily wage workers. Earlier, private companies could not appeal in a court against the government’s refusal to grant environmental clearance but now the bill provides its possibility. Expressing his serious concern, Rajesh said the bill would encourage exploitation of Palakkad type in Kerala which is experiencing large-scale loot and exploitation of groundwater by Coca Cola. He demanded increase in the provision of imprisonment from 3 to 14 years. The bill, in its sum and substance, is undemocratic and does not protect the interest of the people, he concluded.

Source: People’s Democracy dated 02-05-2010 (www.pd.cpim.org)