People's Democracy

MEETING recently with its state secretariat member Maruthi Manpade in chair, the Karnataka state committee of the CPI(M) has expressed deep concern over the resolution of the Belgaum city corporation and the developments thereafter.

According to the CPI(M), the Maharastra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) has raked up the border issue in order to gain political mileage by exploiting linguistic chauvinism, in view of the fact that it has steadily been losing its ground. In fact, the corporation’s resolution (passed by a majority vote) demanding inclusion in Maharashtra of the Marathi speaking areas on the Karnataka-Maharashtra borders has been motivated by this very concern. On the other hand, instead of democratically protesting against this demand, activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike blackened the face of Belgaum mayor Vijay More when he was in Bangalore. This act only helped the Marathi linguistic chauvinists to further rouse passions. It is thus that the Marathi and the Kannada linguistic chauvinists have been helping one another.

The CPI(M) has condemned such activities of the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi as well as Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

At the same time, after taking correct steps initially, the Karnataka state government and the Congress party succumbed to the pressure of the Kannada chauvinists and superseded the Belgaum city corporation, which the CPI(M) condemned. To the latter, this step, which is against the national character of the Congress party, would further help the chauvinists of both hues. Earlier, whenever the Belgaum city corporation adopted such provocative resolutions, the state government made them ineffective, thus hindering the growth of linguistic chauvinism.

The CPI(M) state committee was of the opinion that border issues are still pending in several states of the country. Raising such issues at the present juncture would only help the chauvinist forces of various hues. Therefore, to the CPI(M), the status quo must be maintained in the present situation and the democratic rights of linguistic minorities in a state must be protected.

The state government has denied that the Begaum corporation was superseded because of the said resolution. It reflects the weakness of the state government that quoted some other reasons for its step. But the corporation’s dissolution is an attack on a democratic institution. The CPI(M) has urged the people of Karnataka to condemn this act of the state government. The party also appealed to the people not to fall prey to provocation but maintain peace and harmony.

Regarding the impending elections to local bodies, the CPI(M) state committee decided to strive for increasing the party’s strength in the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat polls. To the CPI(M), defeating the BJP and its allies would be its first priority. But the party would also ask the people to teach the Congress a lesson for its anti-people economic policies.

The CPI(M) state committee also reiterated its opposition to the proposal of airport privatisation. The earlier BJP led central government initiated the moves to privatise the Delhi and Mumbai airports on the basis of a long term "lease" and amendments were made to the Airport Authority of India Act for this purpose. But the present UPA government is continuing the same policy. The new international airports to be built in Bangalore and Hyderabad have been kept out of the purview of the AAI.

The central government claims that it needs Rs 10,000 to 20,000 crore for improving the facilities at the Mumbai and Delhi airports and that it needs to invite private capital as it has no funds. But the technical advisor (Airplan, Australia), appointed by the government itself, has suggested that Rs 6300 crore over 14 years and Rs 6500 crore over 19 years would be needed for modernising the Mumbai and Delhi airports respectively. Thus the centre’s claim is exaggerated.

The total profit from Mumbai airport last year was Rs 345.28 crore, from Delhi airport Rs 272.03 crore, and from Bangalore airport Rs 36.40 crore. Normally the profits from the Mumbai and Delhi airports are utilised for the development of airports in north eastern states and low traffic areas like Mangalore, Mysore, Belgaum etc. It is evident that the central government intends to privatise these very profit making airports in order to help private companies.

Regarding the issue of Devanahalli airport, the CPI(M) state committee pointed out that, as per the agreement dated May 3, 1999, its construction cost was Rs 1411 crore. In this joint venture, the contribution from AAI was to be Rs 85 crore while the state government gave 4300 acres of land valued at Rs 175 crore. Besides, the state government was also to give an amount of Rs 350 crore. That means the central and state governments were to contribute Rs 610 crore together.

In this joint venture, on the other hand, three companies together were to invest Rs 240 crore with 74 per cent share holding (Siemens 40, Unik Jurich 17 and L&T 17 per cent). Thus, surprisingly, the share of central and state governments would be only 26 per cent even though they contribute Rs 610 crore.

Not only this, both the governments have entered into an agreement with private capitalists on July 5, 2004. As per this, Siemens of Germany would get contracts worth Rs 159 crore whereas Siemens India and L&T would get contracts worth Rs 175 and 550 crore respectively. Although 7 companies participated in the international bidding, others were not given any chance, and only the said three companies in the joint venture were given contracts worth Rs 884 crore. That means the whole episode lacks transparency. Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy, who was the chairman of Bangalore International Airport Ltd during this period, has thus been party to immoral and unethical measures. However, this extremely real issue was concealed in the controversy that centred around his resignation.

The CPI(M) has therefore demanded an inquiry into this episode, by an independent authority.