THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

CPI(M) Parliamentary Office

ON August 14, MPs of the Left parties staged a dharna in front of Parliament House on the demands of a universal public distribution system, supply of 35 kg of foodgrains to every family at two rupees a kilo per month, implementation of the Swaminathan recommendations on minimum support price and cheap loans for cultivators, stop to futures trading in foodgrains, scrapping of the Planning Commission’s dubious poverty estimates, and the right to food security. Subsequently, in both houses, the Left MPs gave notices for suspension of the Question Hour on these issues.

MAOIST

VIOLENCE

In Lok Sabha, CPI(M) group leader Basudeb Acharia initiated a discussion on the increase in Naxalite and Maoist activities in the country over nine states, saying this threat is the greatest threat to internal security. The situation is very bad in two or three states where the state governments are not in a position to tackle the Maoist threat. More than 3000 people were killed between 2008 and 2011 in Maoist violence. In West Bengal there was no Maoist activity prior to 2005. But from 2006 these started in three districts with organisation of squad. These Maoists were utilised in Nandigram and Singur. In West Bengal, there were 26 deaths in 2008 but they increased to 158 in 2009. Then in 2011, these further increased to 258. Nearly 500 people were killed during 2008-11 in Maoist violence. Some 90 per cent of them were poor people. A so-called People’s Committee against Police Atrocities was formed in 2008 and the then home minister said in this house that this committee was nothing but the frontal organisation of the Maoists. Now Maoist violence is increasing in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Often it is said that Maoists spread their tentacles where there is no development. But this is not based on facts, Acharia said. As for the government’s strategy, this cannot be tackled only by use of police or paramilitary. An Expert Committee constituted by the Planning Commission on why this problem is getting accentuated, said that commitment to land reforms has weakened and it remains an unfinished agenda. Mostly the tribals and dalits have been affected in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia areas of West Bengal and in Jharkhand. Whenever there is a mining project, tribals have been affected and uprooted, with no rehabilitation. They have no right to land. The Forest Rights Act has not been implemented in spirit.

The second important point is that there is a need for a re-look into our policy. We have opened our minerals, mines and natural resources. These natural resources should be re-nationalised. Tribals have become land oustees. Alternative employment is not being given them. So there is a need to change the neo-liberal policy of the government. The constitutional mandate to prevent concentration of wealth in a few hands is being ignored in policy-making. Because of the neo-liberal economic policy being pursued since 1991, the gap between the rich and the poor has sharply widened. Therefore the government would not be able to tackle this problem unless it addresses it sincerely and seriously. There is need for land reforms so that the poor landless labour can get land. Without it, the problem of Maoist violence cannot be tackled.

On August 16, both the houses were adjourned after paying tribute to the union cabinet minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, who passed away on August 14.

ATTACKS ON

NORTH EAST PEOPLE

Next day there was uproar in both houses regarding the attacks on people from north east region in different parts of the country, and CPI(M) MPs demanded suspension of the Question Hour. In Lok Sabha, Basudeb Acharia expressed concern over the insecurity of these people living in different parts of the country. He said it is a fundamental right of the citizens of our country to go to or reside in any part of the country except Jammu and Kashmir. What is happening today is an attack on the rights of the people of our country. It affects the unity and integrity of our country. In the past too, we saw the people of North India being beaten up and assaulted in Maharashtra. This is condemnable.

Acharia warned that this issue must not be communalised, nor should it be allowed to spread to other parts of the country. What happened in Kokrajhar was also the handiwork of the militant elements among the Bodo as well as the minority. In fact, such elements are vitiating the whole atmosphere in our country. Acharia wanted to know why the people from North East feel insecure in Bangalore, Chennai and other parts of the country even after 65 years of idependence.

Referring to the report of the National Minority Commission on the Kokrajhar incident, Acharia pointed out that the report talked of the very deplorable condition of 6,665 people staying in one camp. He demanded that the central government must come forward to help the Assam government in rehabilitating these people. He also urged all sections of the people in our country to foil the attempt to divide them.

In Rajya Sabha, K N Balagopal spoke on the same issue. He said the need of the hour was to tackle this issue very seriously. We are with the people of the North East, wherever they are. This kind of negative campaign is not good for the country.

VIOLATIONS OF

HUMAN RIGHTS

Moving in Lok Sabha a private member’s resolution on effective steps to curb rising incidents of violation of human rights in the country, Basudeb Acharia said there had been no structured debate on this subject. Even after constitution of National Human Rights Commission in 1993, the number of violations of human rights has not come down. The right to life, to a decent living is a human right, a fundamental right. But what is the situation today in our country? If one-forth of the population goes empty stomach daily even after 65 years of independence, is it to be treated as a decent living? Millions of people are living in slums without any amenities, in unhygienic conditions. Is it a decent living? Are human rights not being blatantly violated here? The tribals are uprooted. Is it not a violation of human rights? But the governments are silent spectators to these human right violations in our country. We have to seriously think how human dignity is ensured. Acharia also referred to article 19 of the constitution of India that allows an Indian citizen to work and reside anywhere in the country. But this fundamental right of an Indian citizen is being denied now and the situation is very grave, he added.

About West Bengal, Acharia said since the last assembly elections, 75 of CPI(M) workers, leaders and cadres have been killed there. Is it not a human right violation? What is the responsibility of the state government? For more than one year, 40,142 people have been uprooted there; they cannot stay in their houses. If they go back, they have the fear that they may be killed. Is it not a blatant violation of human rights? Around 15,000 sharecroppers and about 17,000 patta holders have been evicted from land since last year. Is it not a violation of the right to livelihood? Right to expression, a fundamental right, is also being denied. A professor of Jadavpur University was arrested only for circulating a cartoon of the chief minister.

Referring to the incident at Manesar unit of Maruti Suzuki in Haryana, Acharia said it was no sudden outburst. Workers there were denied the right to have a union. Discontent was simmering. Now 500 workers have been retrenched while retrenchment of workers is in itself a violation of human rights. In all cases where human rights, including the right to livelihood, are attacked, the central government has the responsibility to protect the same.

The minister of state for home affairs, Jitendra Singh, claimed that the civil and criminal laws of the country have inbuilt mechanisms for safeguarding the people’s rights and providing special protection to the vulnerable sections of society. But when he, on this basis, asked Acharia to withdraw his resolution, Achaira objected that the minister has not given any concrete assurance about taking effective actions to curb the human rights violations. The resolution was ultimately defeated.