People's
Democracy
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist) No. 03
January 19, 2003
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist) |
Vol.
XXVII No. 03 January 19, 2003 |
SEVERAL
lakh
workers
courted
arrest,
amid
militant
demonstrations,
all
over
the
country
on
January
8
to
cry
halt
to
the
BJP-led
NDA
government’s
anti-national
policies
that
have
put
the
country
to
auction.
The
action
was
undertaken
at
the
call
of
the
National
Assembly
of
Trade
Unions.
The
national
assembly
was
attended
by
all
the
major
central
trade
unions
of
the
country,
viz,
the
CITU,
AITUC,
HMS,
INTUC,
UTUC,
UTUC-LS,
AICCTU,
TUCC,
and
all
major
federations
of
employees
in
banks,
insurance,
state
government,
central
government,
telecom
and
other
sectors.
The
assembly’s
call
was
for
a
countrywide
satyagraha
and
jail
bharo
on
January
8
to
warn
the
NDA
government
against
pursuing
the
most
retrograde
economic
policies
under
the
supervision
of
imperialist
powers.
As
per
reports
received
from
different
parts
of
the
country,
the
satyagraha
on
January
8
turned
out
to
be
a
widely
participated
action
all
over
the
country,
reflecting
an
overwhelming
spontaneity
and
enthusiasm.
The
widespread
response
to
the
satyagraha
call
and
the
defiance
of
prohibitory
orders
reflected
a
firm
resolve
to
confront
the
policies
of
imperialist
globalisation
in
the
streets
through
militant
actions.
In
most
districts
of
the
country,
state
capitals,
industrial
centres,
collieries
and
mines
in
remote
areas,
and
at
factory
gates,
workers
staged
militant
demonstrations,
sat
on
dharnas
and
courted
arrest.
In
many
places
new
sections
of
workers
were
drawn
in
a
big
way.
The
satyagraha
amply
reflected
the
deep
unrest
the
Fund/Bank
dictated
globalisation
policies
have
caused
at
the
grassroots
level.
In
fact,
it
is
this
unrest
that
has
forged
a
wider
unity
in
the
trade
union
movement
for
fighting
against
these
policies.
For,
never
before
did
the
country
witness
such
a
sharp
and
terminal
decline
in
all
sectors
of
the
economy,
directly
affecting
the
mass
of
the
people.
Nor
did
a
ruling
party
ever
demonstrate
so
much
callousness
towards
the
agony
of
starving
people
in
rural
areas
and
workers’
colonies,
and
towards
the
fate
of
those
who
have
lost
jobs
due
to
the
mad
downsizing
spree,
widespread
industrial
closures
and
sickness.
Never
before
were
those
in
power
so
desperate
to
fritter
away
national
wealth
in
favour
of
their
masters
in
the
corporate
lobby,
both
domestic
and
foreign.
And
never
before
had
the
people
seen
such
a
heinous
design
of
the
ruling
clique
to
tide
over
its
increasing
isolation
as
a
consequence
of
its
policies,
through
a
devastating
communal
carnage
inflicting
severe
wounds
on
the
whole
fabric
of
the
society,
which
is
still
bleeding.
The
rallying
of
the
lakhs
of
people
in
several
parts
of
the
country
on
January
8
did
reflect
the
mass
hatred
against
this
RSS-controlled
government
---
the
worst
enemy
of
our
society
and
mankind.
The
decade
long
struggle
by
the
Left
trade
unions
since
the
onset
of
the
liberalisation
regime
also
played
a
vital
role
in
this
regard.
Since
the
beginning
of
the
new
millennium,
the
country
has
witnessed
more
militant
united
actions
in
most
of
the
vital
sectors
of
economy,
forcing
even
the
reformist
trade
union
centres,
so
far
staying
away
from
united
struggle,
to
come
round.
It
was
in
this
background
that,
held
on
July
15,
the
National
Assembly
of
Trade
Unions
called
for
united
countrywide
mobilisation
against
the
anti-national
economic
policies
of
the
NDA
regime.
The
widespread
and
spontaneous
response
to
the
January
8
action
programme
in
all
corners
of
the
country
and
the
extent
of
participation
in
many
states
even
upto
the
subdivision
level
reflects
the
working
people’s
readiness
to
strike
back
and
rebuff
the
onslaught
on
their
life
and
living.
It
was
also
a
response
of
the
working
class
to
the
challenge
the
government
has
thrown
with
its
plans
to
impose
a
virtual
slavery
on
the
class
through
retrograde
changes
in
labour
laws.
It
is
known
that
the
second
National
Commission
on
Labour
has
already
prepared
a
blueprint
of
this
slavery.
The
workers’
anger
against
these
planned
changes
got
reflected
in
the
agility
of
the
demonstrators
all
around.
The
actions
showed
the
class’s
resolve
to
confront
this
design
by
aggressively
asserting
its
right
to
organise,
mobilise
and
struggle.
Now,
as
per
the
decision,
trade
unions
are
engaged
in
preparations
for
a
huge
demonstration
before
parliament
on
February
26,
as
a
launching
pad
for
further
militant
countrywide
actions
in
the
next
phase.
The
march
is
expected
to
surpass
all
previous
records
of
mass
mobilisation
in
the
country.
As
per
reports
received
from
states,
most
major
cities
like
Kolkata,
Mumbai,
Thiruvananthapuram,
Bhubaneswar,
Cuttack,
Chennai,
Bangalore,
Mysore,
Hyderabad,
Kochi,
Kanpur,
Jaipur,
Bhopal,
Guwahati,
Patna,
Hyderabad
and
others
witnessed
massive
demonstrations.
Irrespective
of
affiliations,
workers
came
out
to
say
a
determined
no
to
the
anti-national,
anti-people
policies
of
the
BJP-led
NDA
government.
In
Kolkata,
more
than
30,000
workers
gathered
in
the
central
part
of
the
city
and
several
thousand
courted
arrest.
Huge
demonstrations
and
dharnas
took
place
in
all
districts
and
industrial
centres
of
the
state.
As
per
reports,
over
two
lakhs
workers
were
on
the
streets
throughout
West
Bengal
to
defy
the
prohibitory
orders
and
court
arrest.
Similar
demonstrations
and
court
arrest
programmes
have
been
reported
from
Kerala,
Andhra
Pradesh,
Tamilnadu,
Tripura,
Haryana,
Rajasthan,
Punjab,
Maharashtra
and
Himachal
Pradesh.
In
the
industrial
centres
of
Visakhapatnam,
around
800
were
arrested
after
a
road
blockade
and
demonstration.
Militant
mobilisation,
picketing
and
court
arrest
were
reported
from
more
than
49
centres
throughout
Andhra
Pradesh,
involving
more
than
20,000
workers
including
thousands
of
women
workers.
In
Mysore,
workers
of
Kolar
gold
field
and
others
staged
a
demonstration
before
courting
arrested
en
masse.
Lakhs
of
workers
were
mobilised
and
around
15,000
workers
courted
arrest
in
Mangalore,
Chikmagalur,
Belgaum,
Davangiri,
Sakleshpur
and
other
areas
of
Karnataka.
In
Tamilnadu,
picketing
and
demonstrations
were
organised
in
over
100
centres
in
Chennai,
Coimbatore,
Salem,
Tiruchirapally
and
other
districts.
More
than
22,000
workers,
including
2,259
women
workers,
courted
arrest.
Road
blockade
by
thousands
of
workers
was
reported
from
Sriganganagar,
Hanumangarh,
Sikar,
Ajmer,
Kankrouli,
Khetri,
Chittorgarh
and
other
places
of
Rajasthan.
In
Madhya
Pradesh,
around
1,200
were
arrested
in
Bhopal
following
a
road-blockade;
a
massive
rail
roko
was
organised
in
Gwalior.
In
the
coal
mine
areas
of
Sohagpur
and
Shahdol,
a
few
thousand
coalminers
including
300
women
were
arrested.
Demonstrations,
dharnas,
road
blockades
and
arrests
were
reported
from
Jabalpur,
Nagda,
Indore,
Guna,
Sihore,
Sagar,
Balaghat,
Pathakheda,
Chhindwara,
Neemauch,
Mandidwip,
Johila
and
Damoh.
Chhattisgarh
witnessed
demonstrations
and
dharnas
in
Raipur,
Dhamtari,
Korba,
Rajnandgaon,
BALCO,
Chirimiri,
Charcha
and
Kamker.
In
Haryana,
militant
demonstrations
and
road
blockades
were
reported
from
Hissar,
Rohtak,
Sonepat,
Panipat,
Jind,
Sirsa
and
Faridabad
involving
several
thousands
workers.
In
Hissar,
the
police
lathicharged
on
the
demonstrators
before
arresting
them.
In
Jharkhand,
militant
demonstrations
and
dharnas
by
thousands
of
workers
were
reported
from
Ranchi,
Bokaro
and
Jamshedpur.
In
Orissa,
more
than
20,000
courted
arrest
in
different
parts.
In
the
state
capital
Bhubaneswar,
road
blockade
was
organised
in
three
places.
In
Angul
and
Damanjuri,
workers
and
officers
of
the
NALCO,
along
with
others,
blocked
the
National
Highway,
paralysing
traffic
for
more
than
six
hours.
Reports
of
demonstrations
and
road
blockade
were
also
received
from
the
mine
areas
at
Kalta
and
Purnapani
as
also
from
Rourkela,
Berhampur,
Balasore,
Kansabahal,
Bhadrak
and
Jajpur.
At
Guwahati
in
Assam,
more
than
3,000
were
arrested
following
a
dharna
and
demonstration
by
around
10,000
workers.
Almost
all
districts
witnessed
similar
actions.
In
Tinsukia,
the
police
lathicharged
the
demonstrators
and
also
fired
in
air
to
disperse
the
huge
crowd.
Reports
of
police
lathicharge
were
also
received
from
Chandigarh
where
many
workers
were
injured
and
a
few
thousands
arrested.
Reports
of
rail
roko,
road
blockade
and
mass
arrest
were
received
from
Jalandhar,
Ludhiana,
Amritsar,
Pathankot,
Hoshiarpur
and
a
few
other
places
in
Punjab.
In
Uttar
Pradesh,
thousands
of
workers
gathered
before
the
state
assembly
at
Lucknow,
blocked
the
chowk
and
held
a
demonstration
till
they
were
arrested.
Kanpur
witnessed
a
massive
mobilisation.
A
large
number
of
workers
blocked
roads
in
Jhansi,
Varanasi
and
Bareilly.
In
Maharashtra,
road
blockades,
demonstrations
and
mass
arrest
were
reported
from
Mumbai,
Pune,
Nasik,
Ichhalkaranji,
Jalna,
Nagpur,
Sholapur,
Kolapur,
Aurangabad
and
Thane,
involving
more
than
50,000
workers.
In
Mumbai
alone,
road
blockades
and
demonstrations
were
organised
in
three
places,
in
central,
north
west
and
north
east
part
of
the
city,
followed
by
court
arrest
en
masse.
In
Thane,
the
number
of
those
arrested
exceeded
3,000,
including
a
sizeable
number
of
women
workers.
In
Gujarat
that
is
still
bleeding
from
the
wounds
inflicted
by
the
RSS-led
communal
carnage,
the
working
class
did
not
lag
behind
in
asserting
against
the
NDA
government’s
anti-national
economic
regime.
The
industrial
city
of
Vadodara
witnessed
a
huge
procession
of
workers,
shouting
slogans
against
the
anti-people
policies
of
the
central
as
well
as
state
governments.
Workers
broke
way
through
the
prohibited
area
and
courted
arrest
in
hundreds.
In
the
hill
states
of
Uttaranchal
and
Himachal
Pradesh,
thousands
took
to
picketing,
road
blockade
and
demonstrations,
braving
a
severe
cold
wave.
In
Uttaranchal,
demonstrations
and
road
blockades
was
organised
in
Dehradun,
Haldwani,
Hardwar
and
a
few
other
places.
In
Himachal
Pradesh,
the
state
capital
Shimla
witnessed
a
powerful
demonstration
and
picketing
by
several
thousand
workers
before
courting
arrest.
In
the
hydel
project
areas
of
Largi
and
Jhakri,
thousands
of
workers
squatted
on
the
National
Highway
paralysing
traffic
for
several
hours.
Road
blockades
and
demonstrations
were
also
reported
from
Parwanoo,
Chamba,
Nahan
and
other
places
in
the
state.
The
call
for
satyagraha
against
the
anti-national
policies
of
the
Vajpayee
regime
also
drew
the
mass
of
workers
in
the
remote
Andaman
island
in
a
big
way.
As
per
the
report
received,
thousands
of
workers
squatted
day
long
before
the
Secretariat
till
evening
and
took
out
a
huge
procession
through
the
central
parts
of
Port
Blair.
In
Delhi,
a
demonstration
of
several
thousand
workers
from
all
sectors
was
held
in
the
Connaught
Place-Shivaji
Stadium
area.
The
demonstrators
were
addressed
by
leaders
of
central
trade
unions
like
M
K
Pandhe
(CITU),
Gurudas
Dasgupta
(AITUC),
R
A
Mittal
(HMS),
M
M
Thomas
(AICCTU)
and
A
K
Mazumder
(UTUC-LS),
among
others.
While
addressing
the
demonstrators,
M
K
Pandhe
urged
upon
the
working
class
to
mobilise
in
lakhs
for
a
march
to
parliament
on
February
26
and
prepare
for
a
nationwide
general
strike
soon
thereafter.
BMS
leader
R
K
Bhakt
came
to
the
meeting
to
convey
his
support
to
the
struggle
against
the
government’s
policies
though
his
organisation
was
not
a
party
to
the
action
programme.
After
the
rally,
the
entire
mass
of
workers
and
their
leaders
courted
arrest
and
were
taken
to
the
Mandir
Marg
police
station.
The
countrywide
massive
observance
of
satyagraha
and
jail
bharo
on
January
8
reflected
the
determination
of
the
working
class
to
carry
the
struggle
against
the
government’s
anti-national
policies
to
a
new
height.
It
also
expressed
the
class’s
firm
resolve
to
make
the
next
programme
of
parliament
march
on
February
26
a
resounding
success
through
congregation
of
lakhs
of
workers
in
the
capital.
