People's Democracy

POLIT BUREAU STATEMENTS

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statements

MINISTER RAJA

SHOULD RESIGN

The outcome of the 3G spectrum auction convincingly proves that union communication minister, A Raja, was clearly involved in corrupt practices by selling 2G spectrum to some industrialists by manipulating TRAI recommendations. Whereas 3G spectrum could fetch Rs 70,000 crores, 2G spectrum was sold at a paltry sum of Rs 2000 crores only.  Raja had done so by blatantly violating the law causing a huge loss to the public exchequer.

Despite repeated demands made in parliament and outside, A Raja is nonchalantly continuing to stick to his position. Such a situation cannot be allowed to be continued.

The CPI(M) demands that A Raja should immediately resign from his post pending a high power enquiry into the entire 2G spectrum scam.

If the minister refuses to resign, the prime minister should sack him to maintain the dignity of the high post A Raja is holding in the government.

(May 20)

DISSOLUTION

OF MCI

THE removal of Ketan Desai from the post of director of Medical Council of India (MCI) is a much belated and required step. The prima facie evidence of corruption at the top levels of MCI required firm government intervention. The CPI(M) had urged the government in parliament to take action to remove Desai, and ensure accountability and parliamentary oversight on such bodies like the MCI through required amendments to the MCI Act, while protecting the  autonomy of the MCI. 

However, utilising the need for removal of Desai, the government has brought an ordinance to dissolve the entire council shortly after the parliament session. This shows the absence of minimum democratic norms. The government should have taken the parliament into confidence before dissolving an autonomous body set up by an act of parliament. 

Secondly, since health is a state subject and medical education is on the concurrent list, it was mandatory for the central government to have consulted state governments by calling an emergency meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare. In the dissolved Medical Council, state governments had their representatives. The seven-member Board of Governors, now appointed through the ordinance, consists entirely of centrally nominated persons. This is a violation of federal principles and is an injustice to the states. 

The ordinance reflects a policy of over-centralisation of powers in the hands of the central government which does damage to the federal character of the constitution. The CPI(M) calls upon the central government to immediately call a meeting of the Central Council and ensure that the rights of the states are not bypassed.

(May 19)

MAOIST KILLINGS

IN DANTEWADA

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the ghastly killing of 35 persons, including 24 civilians, in Dantewada in Bastar by Maoists in a landmine blast yesterday.

The attack on the private passenger bus by the Maoists only highlights their bankrupt policies of attacking ordinary citizens in various parts of the country, including tribals who refuse to accept their dictates.

The CPI(M) appeals to the people to raise their voice against the murderous attacks on people and their livelihood and resist their depredations against peaceful citizens.

(May 18)

END COMMUNAL

PROFILING

THE illegal detention and arrest of Maulana Nurul Huda is a reminder of the deep-tooted prejudice that exists in sections of the law enforcement agencies against Muslims. It was bad enough that he was off loaded from the Emirates flight on the basis of a trivial complaint but for the Delhi Police to register a case against him and to have sent him to Tihar Jail is condemnable and unacceptable. Clearly, while caution and alertness is required from all official agencies against any terrorist threats, the kind of community profiling which is reflected in this case puts a question mark on the credibility of law enforcement agencies.

It is necessary for the home ministry to send a stern message against such community profiling.

The case against Nurul Huda must be withdrawn forthwith. The CPI(M) also demands that he be fully compensated for the losses he suffered as a result of wrongful detainment.

(May 15)

MAOIST KILLINGS

CONDEMNED

THE brutal killings of the five CPI(M) members and supporters in West Midinapore and Purulia districts in West Bengal on a single day, May 14, by Maoist gangs is yet another instance of the true nature of the Maoists. It gives the lie to the manufactured campaign that the Maoists are engaged in a struggle to defend the cause of the tribal people and other oppressed sections.

The Maoists killed four CPI(M) supporters --- Nazrul Mir, Sanatan Ahir, Swapan Ahir and Ashok Ahir --- in Chandavilla village in Binpur-2 block of West Midnapore by taking them out of their homes in the middle of the night. Their bodies were found near the Highway, bearing marks of torture.  All the killed were agricultural labourers.

Another CPI(M) activist, Srikanata Mahato, was picked up from his house in Pathardi village in Arsha Police station area in Purulia district and shot death after his family members were beaten up. 

With these murders, the number of CPI(M) members and supporters killed by the Maoists since the Lok Sabha elections in the three districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura is now 121. They all mostly came from tribal and poor backgrounds.

The civil rights groups and intellectuals who support the Maoists by speaking out only against the police and paramilitary operations must answer the question – are they defending the Maoists so that they carry on such killings of political opponents with impunity?

The CPI(M) will continue to fight the Maoists politically and organisationally with all the resources at its command. It will expose the game of the Maoists who are out to help the anti-communist forces like the Trinamul Congress in West Bengal. 

The Polit Bureau expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyred comrades. 

(May 15)