People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

Republic Day Greetings

Strengthen Popular Struggles

ON the occasion of the Republic Day, it is only natural that the country articulates the resolve to strengthen the foundational pillars of our Republican Constitution. Secular democracy, economic self-reliance, federalism and social justice constitute these pillars on which our modern republic rests. Notwithstanding the usual peroration accompanying such articulation of the resolve, it is imperative that the Indian people intensify the struggles to safeguard the gains made so far and to enlarge them in the days to come. 

The assault on secular democracy continues to be intensified with the determined efforts by the RSS/BJP to seek their political/electoral rehabilitation through the sharpening of communal polarisation. Following its resolve to contest the forthcoming assembly elections, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, on the plank of prakhar (aggressive) Hindutva, it has utilised its backdoor entry into the state government in Karnataka to systematically sharpen communal polarisation. The recent communal violence in Bangalore, the country’s window to the IT world, has only reconfirmed this trend. Sporadic violent incidents on January 19 during a huge public meeting to condemn Saddam Hussein’s execution in Bangalore was used as the pretext to spread rumours of an attack on a temple in order to spark off communal riots. This, once again, reconfirms the fact that fundamentalism of all hues feed and thrive on each other. On January 21, the RSS organised rallies to mark the birth anniversary of their former Sarsangh chalak, Golwalkar. Communal clashes followed in which a 12-year old was killed and scores of people injured. In the meanwhile, the RSS/BJP began protests against a prayer meeting of the renowned American evangelist, Benny Hinn. BJP legislators led by a former union minister courted arrest as a part of their protest.

Ever since the Janata Dal (Secular) led by H D Deve Gowda in Karnataka formed a coalition government with the BJP with Deve Gowda’s son Kumaraswami as the chief minister, the RSS/BJP has been utilising the situation to foment communal tensions across the state. The centuries-old Sufi shrine of Baba Budanagiri in Chikmangalur has been a continuous target. Tensions continue to rise here.

Needless to add, in the year to come, any resolve to strengthen the foundations of our republic must ensure that such communal machinations will not be permitted to undermine our secular democracy. 

At another level, the strengthening of the republic implies the strengthening of the economic sovereignty of India and importantly the improvement of the livelihood of our people. On this count, the coming year must see the intensification of people’s struggles to ensure that the UPA government honours its commitments made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Much needs to be done in this regard in the sphere of agriculture, education and public health. The promises of significant increases in public investments in these areas must be translated into reality. 

The promises made to strengthen social justice by implementing reservations for the OBCs in educational institutions, which has been legalised in a constitutional amendment, must be converted into a tangible reality. 

While struggles to implement the assurances of the CMP must be intensified, there is an urgent need to protect the Indian people from a further erosion of their economic livelihood through price rise. The rate of inflation is at its highest today since the UPA government came into office. Inflation is the most effective instrument that redistributes wealth in a society in favour of the owners of productive forces and against the vast sections of the working people. While the vast mass of people pay a higher price for the same commodity, the profit margins increase giving the owners a bonanza. Inflation necessarily means the intensification of economic exploitation of the vast masses. 

The CPI(M) had all along suggested that since the present inflation is led by the rising prices of essential commodities, forward/futures trading in essential commodities must be banned forthwith. This must be accompanied by the strengthening of the public distribution system. The prices of petroleum products must be brought down immediately given the significant fall in international prices. A massive campaign against hoarding must be undertaken by the government. Unless all these measures are taken on a war footing, the situation cannot be controlled and the people cannot be protected from further assaults on their economic livelihood. It is with this paramount interest of people’s welfare in mind that the CPI(M) central committee had given a nationwide call for popular mobilisations against price rise in the first week of February, 2007. 

Instead, however, the government has announced an across the board reduction of customs duties under the pretext of seeking to control inflation. By merely making imported items cheaper, the general price rise cannot be contained. We have seen this in the recent past when import of foodgrains have not stemmed price rise in essential commodities. Further, such a liberal reduction in import duties will adversely affect domestic production of the same commodities leading to de-industrialisation and consequent growth of unemployment in India. Growing unemployment means compounding the economic miseries of the people already suffering under this price rise. Such an across the board reduction of duties means reduction of government revenues. The credibility of the UPA government comes under severe question when it argues that it does not have enough resources to implement CMP promises. 

As we go to press, the World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland. The captains of imperialist globalisation would be meeting at this isolated ski resort to discuss global economic policies. One of the important issues is that of trade liberalisation, i.e., removal of tariffs and duties on imports and exports. The decision to drastically reduce customs duties across the board in India comes on the eve of this year’s Davos summit. Is the real intent of this slashing of duties a signal to please the international investors? Is the concern for containing inflation, thus, an eyewash? 

India’s economic strength lies in protecting its sovereignty and pursuing policies that would strengthen its economic fundamentals while improving the welfare of the people. This strength cannot come from succumbing to the pressures of international speculators. The resolve to strengthen our constitutional fundamentals on the occasion of the Republic Day must, therefore, mean the strengthening of our economic self-reliance and sovereignty. 

Following the recent Supreme Court judgement on the Schedule IX of our Constitution, which has serious implications on the sanctity of the separation of powers of the executive, legislature and judiciary, there is an urgent need in the coming period to resolve this issue in the true spirit of our Constitution while maintaining and strengthening the principles of federalism.

Thus, in the coming period, all the four fundamental pillars of our republican Constitution need to be protected and strengthened. Let us resolve to strengthen the struggles to create a better India.