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Organ of the Central Committee of CPI(ML)

Editor-in-Chief

VISWAMEditorial Board

P.Jaswantha Rao

Subodh Mitra

Aloke Mukherjee

Madhu

Founder Editor

KANU SANYAL

Vol. 5, Issue : 2 May-2014

e-mail: clastrugle@yahoo.co.inWeb site: www.classstruggle.in

P. Jaswantha Rao Editor

32-13-26/1, B.M.R.Road

M.R.Puram Vijayawada-520 010

Contribution: Single Copy- Rs. 10/-

Yearly - Rs. 100/-

Comrade Surendra SinghKatiyar, a Communist leader ofpast generation and the CentralCommittee Member of CPI(ML)has departed on April 18, 2014while undergoing treatment forlung cancer at a Lucknow

Hospital, UP. He was 81 yearsold.

In his early age, Com.Surendra Singh was attracted

towards and influenced by patriotism and the revolutionaryideas of Bhagat Singh through Bhagat Singhs colleagueGaya Prasad. He became a Member of the CPI in 1955 andwas active in various struggles and activities organised bythe Party. He attended the 1962 Tenali Congress of the Partyas a delegate from UP. He opposed the politics of revisionism,broke from the CPI and joined the CPI(M). He became a

Member of Kanpur District Committee of the CPI(M).Com. Surendra Singh was very much inspired by theNaxalbari peasant upsurge and the politics it brought to thefore in the country. He moved a resolution in the DC hailingthe Naxalbari struggle and the politics it represented. Therewas a split in the DC and Com. Surendra Singh joined theranks of Communist Revolutionaries. In the period of Co-ordination Committee, he worked as a whole timer in BastiGonda area.

He remained inactive for some time as he felt that theleft sectarian politics advocated by Com. CM were wrongand unacceptable. At the same time, he, together with hislife partner who was also one with him in revolutionary politics,

REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUTES TO

COMRADE SURENDRA SINGH

KATIYAR

Contents:

1. Editorial- The Importance of May day 32. Document

- CPI(ML)Stand on Elections 73. World Affairs

- Ukraine 10- The First World War 14

4. Political & Economical Notes:- Military Affairs 17- Racial Discrimination 20- False Encounters in J&K 21- Pravas Bharatiya Divas 22- Road Safety 23- Fascist Trends 24- G.M. Seeds 26

- Justice to Dalits a Mirage 325. Labour File:- Work Place Accidents 27

6. Reports:- Jharkhand 30

7. Homage:- Com. Surendra Singh Katiyar 1

8. Poem:- Dawn 31

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Class Struggle2

translated Peking Review intoHindi and cirulated themamong the comrades. He tookup the cultivation, toiled hard

on a small piece of land. Theybrought up the children (threeboys) in a disciplined mannerand in a Communistenvironment. He maintainedrelations with the CRs andextended support and help invarious forms to thecomrades who were active inKanpur.

The formation of OCCR

under the leadership of Com.Kanu Sanyal came as asource of inspiration to Com.Surendra Singh. He joined itwhen the UP State Committeeof OCCR was formed. He

became the Editor of Chingari,Partys State Organ in UP. Hebecame a part of COI(ML) led byComrade Kanu Sanyal. When it

faced a split, he remained withthe COI(ML) led by Com. KS andbecame a CCM of it. Heshouldered the responsibility ofPartys Central Organ, ClassStruggle. He performed variousresponsibilities in UP and wasthe CCM in our CPI(ML) till hisdemise. He was also anEditorial Board Member of theVarg Sangharsh ka Pukar, the

Hindi Central Organ of CPI(ML).Com. Surendra Singh was

a dedicated and disciplinedcomrade. He carried out all thereponsibilities with all dedicationdefying the difficulties and

ailments he was sufferingfrom for years. A few daysbefore his hospitalisation, hetravelled a long distance,

attended the CC and carriedout an important political task.We pay our revolutionarytributes to our departedcomrade. His life andcontributions would always bea source of inspiration andemulation for our comrades.

We extend our deepcondolences to his life partnerand other members of the

family. And we are fully withthem in their grief and sorrow.

We will alwaysremember Com. SurendraSingh Katiyar. Red salute toCom. S.S.K.

CANDIDATES of CPI (ML)Contesting to the 16thLok Sabha

Constituency State Name

1. Araku Andhra Praedsh Illa Rami Reddy

2. Mahabubabad Andhra Pradesh Borra Lakshmi Narayana

3. Patna Sahib Bihar Nand kishor Singh

4. Dumaka Jharkand Dhakurania Soren

5. Bhadrak Odisha Sushanta Jena

6. Balurghat West Bengal Siben Sarkar

Candidates of CPI(ML)Contesting AP State Assembly

Constituency District Name

1. Salur Vizianagaram Dt. Vuyaka Mutyalu

2. Kurupam Vizianagaram Dt. Kadraka Venkata Swamy

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3May 2014

The Importance of May Dayfor Workers in the Present Days of

Imperialist Globalisation is More than EverMayday has been inspiring the

workers throughout the world for thepast 127 years, to fight for

betterment of their living and workingconditions, to unite and organizethemselves in to their own class andto play their class role as has been

destined by history in overthrowingthe capitalist system of exploitationand inequality and to establish their

class dictatorship that leads tocommunistic system of class lesssociety and society withoutexploitation and inequalities.

Even in the present day age of

imperialist globalization theimportance of May day is notdiminished for workers. Today, theimportance of May day is much

more for workers throughout theworld since the capitalist mode ofproduction with its focus on profit is

being emphatically accentuated withthe revival of imperialist globalizationin the name of neo liberal economicpolicies.

But the world capitalism afterthe collapse of Soviet Union isbragging that there is no alternativeto capitalism. With such

proclamation, with its policies ofprivatization, liberalization andglobalization of capitalist mode ofproduction and with the methods of

severe exploitation of labour like out-sourcing, contractualisation ,temporary jobs, part-time jobs inplace of permanent jobs, zero hour

recruitments, modern slavery ofmigrant workers etc., has been

playing havoc with the life and limbof workers.

In real experience of workersand people around the world, the tall

claims of world capital, thatcapitalist system is the best

system have been proved to be

false, due to the dismal record of

its neo-economic policies inhumandevelopment and confirm that the

capitalist system has to be erasedfrom the face of the globe once forall.

Relentless Crisis

Poverty and hunger haveincreased throughout the world.Inequalities have risen to substantial

proportions. Unemployment isgrowing and spiraling viciously.People throughout the world arebeing marginalized day by daywithout having any access to

education and health care. Themuch touted advance in technologyparticularly in I.T. sector could in noway bring about any betterment in

the lives of people and workers. Onthe contrary the technologicaladvance has enabled and aided the

big capital and corporations toappropriate the wealth created bythe workers.

According to the International

Labour Organization one millionmore young people are joining theranks of jobless every year. Theunemployment rate in the 15-24

years age group globally is 13.1percent, is more than twice thatamong adult population. The numberof youth who are neither in

employment nor education ortraining is on the rise in many

countries. In the year 2013 itself,more than 5 million people joined

the ranks of the jobless.In the USA, which is supposed

to be an affluent nation,unemployment is rampant and

poverty persists. The Governmenttreats its poor more harshly than

other rich countries with morewelfare cuts; and induces them to

work much longer hours.

According to a recent study 4.8

million people above the age of 60go hungry in the US due to financial

strains. In USA, the minimum wagepaid to the workers is lesser thanpaid in 9 other countries likeLuxemburg, France, Austria,

Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland,NewZealandand Canada accordingto the information provided by

Organization of EconomicCooperation and Development(OCED). In the last 30 yearsinequality has exploded. Almost 40percent of American children live in

poverty or near poverty lacking equalaccess to education and jobs as thechildren of the affluent have. Fulltime jobs and quality jobs are

decreasing substantially. With theintroduction of Obama care, healthinsurance scheme, management

started cutting full-time jobs intopart-time jobs, to avoid the burdenof payment of healthcare premium.Wal-Mart and Kelly Services began

this method of cutting full-time jobsand introducing part-time jobs,which method had spreadthroughout the US. In June 2013

alone 2,40,000 fulltime jobs were cut.The advancement of technologycame handy to the corporations tocut jobs on a massive scale. With

the increase in part time jobs inplace of full time jobs, the number

of long term unemployed isincreased. Thus workers USA are

forced into idleness traps by thecorporations. The middle class in

USA is eroding due to lack of stablejobs . Co mpute rizat ion an d

Globalization have by degreeseliminated the middle rungof skilled

workers. The city of Detroit, oncethe pride of U.S.A., had bankrupted

striking a blow to the pension and

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Class Struggle4

health benefits of 31,000 former cityworkers. Reports indicate that cities

like Chicago, Los Angeles andCincinnatiare also on the brink ofbankruptcy. Even in Steel, Airlines,

Auto, Mining industries of the privatesector, the retirement benefits ofworkers are being cut substantially.With the policy of the USGovernment implementing steep

spending cuts, 2 million people arekept out of work.

It is not only in U.S.A. but inthe rich and developed countries ofEuro zone as well as in Japan toopoverty, inequality, hunger, andunemployment are spreading

rapidly and increasing day by day.The so called policies of austerityadopted by the governments at thebehest of I.M.F., W.B. and EuropeCentral Bank and privatizationpolicies of education and health arespreading more and more miserythroughout Euro zone countries.Workers wages are decreasingleading to hunger of people in thosecountries. Every year 2.5 crore ofpeople are being thrown in to

perpetual poverty in Euro zonecountries due to abnormal cuts insocial welfare health and educationby the governments. In Greece,Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, andBritain, the highest inequalitiesamong the people of the world areprevailing. The living standards ofpeople in Euro zone countries aredecreasing considerably. Around 8.8lakh of people are working asmodern slaves in Euro zone

countries.Divide and Rule

The corporations that havesubstantially increased the numbers

of so-called tech-workers anddecreased the number of blue-collar

skilled industrial workers andcreated a division among theworkers. They are not even fair intreating the tech workers. Just as

the industrial workers are beingexploited of their labour cheaply, the

tech workers (I.T. professionals) are

also being exploited, with a schemeto drive down their wages. That big

I.T. Corporations of U.S.A. Apple,Google, Intel, Adobe, Intuit, Pixar,and Lucasfilm entered an over

reaching conspiracy with mutualnon-compete agreements andagreed not to recruit from eachothers companies, that results inartificially low wages and denies the

opportunity to move to a betterpaying, has been revealed with thecross action suit filed by 64,600ununionized tech workers claiming

$9 million as compensation. This ishow the free market preachers do

in practice with their tech workers,

through wage cartelization, is beingdone with blue-collar workers. Thisexposes the hypocrisy of corporate

culture and free market capitalism.With the policies of dividing

tech workers and industrial skilledworkers, the corporations have

created enmity and hatred betweenblue-collar workers and tech

workers, through abnormal disparityamong wages and amenities and

other benefits paid to tech workers.

The result of this enmity created bycorporations has come in to openin the forum of a protest inSanfrancisco and Oakland ofU.S.A., against tech workers ofGoogle and Apple corporations byblue-collar workers alleging that dueto the high paid tech workers therents in their cities have abnormallyincreased and they are unable to gethouses for rent. They obstructedstaff buses of tech workers carrying

them to their offices. Though thisanger of industrial workers ofSanfrancisco or elsewhere isjust if ied, this should be shownagainst the corporate managementsand the capitalist system thatcreated their division and disparitybut not against the tech workerswho are enjoying abnormal wages,benefits and amenities provided tothem by giant I.T. companies.

Even the unemployment

situation has created enmity and

hatred between native local workersand migrant workers from other

countries often leading to attackson migrant workers and increase offascist trends among certain

sections of workers which is harmfulto the larger interests of the workersand working class.

A recent change of productionpolicy in Toyota, Japans the oldest

car plant, to improve its productionquality, reveals the limitations ofautomation and technologicalimprovements and the supremacy

of the human labour skills. AtToyotas Honsha plant, the

management had decided humans

(workers) to take over from robotsthe work of making crank-shafts frommetal lumps. Workers twist, turn

and hammer metal in to crank-shafts instead of using the typically

automated process. Experienceshave led to innovations in reducing

scrap and shortening 96% lengththree years ago through human

labour. To improve production of axlebeams and also cut the costs, themanagement found humans are

preferable than automation (robots).Up to now in all its plants workersjobs are to feed parts into a machineand call somebody for help when itbreaks down. But if humansreplaced the machines the qualityand efficiency would be increasingaccording to the Toyotasmanagement after experience. Sothe boast of capitalism aboutsuperiority of technology overhuman labour skill proved to be a

shallow claim.Oppression and Suppression

While the produced wealth isgrowing and the profits oftransnational corporations aregrowing in gigantic proportions, theconditions- living and working-ofworkers are degeneratingdrastically. Workers are forced tolive without any rights. Capitalistsystem has conveniently used thecoordination of its economic crises

to its advantage to gain further

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5May 2014

profits by exploiting workers furthermore. Throughout the globe theconditions of workers haveworsened.

We find the criminal negligence

of Big Capital towards the safetyof workers in the form of fireaccidents killing hundreds ofgarment workers in Bangladesh.State violence on workers, andattacks on workers are increasingin Turkey. Strikes have beenprohibited in governmental sector inCostarica by the government. InPanama the strikes of PanamaCanal workers are prohibited. In TheGulf countries, Kazakhstan and

Guatemala, there is no right ofassociation to form unions. InColumbia metal and mining workersare being attacked every day. InChina workers rights are beingblatantly denied. The plight ofgarment workers in Bangladesh, SriLanka, Cambodia, India, Vietnam,China etc is indescribable andinhuman. Using military, police andsecurity forces against workersagitating to realize their justdemands had increased in almostall the countries throughout theworld.

In U.S.A which boasts aboutliberties and freedoms of people andclaims to be the champion offreedoms and democratic rights, themunicipal authorities of New Yorkhas been refusing for the last 2 yearsto give permission to use loudspeakers on the vehicles thatparticipate in the massive May Daycelebrations held every year on April

26, at Brooklyn. At the same timethe authorities gave permission tofood vendors and ice cream vendorsto use loud-speakers on theirvehicles without any restriction. Thehypocrisy of U.S. democracy, aboutits tall claims about freedom, libertyand human rights is clearlyexposed, besides the meanintentions of the capitalist system,to thwart class aspirations ofworkers with such petty acts of

antagonism.

Indias Jobless GrowthThe conditions in our country

are in no way better than theconditions of the workers in othercountries. In fact they are far worse

than the above mentionedconditions.

According a recent report ofWorld Bank (10 April 2014), onethird of worlds extreme poor are in

India. India tops the list of worldspoorest. In the global hunger indexIndia ranks at a lowly 65 out of 79nations, and worse it has remained

so for the last 12 years. And theshame: Even Rwanda fares muchbetter than India. This is during a

period when it is claimed by therulers that the gross national incomeand percapita have doubled.According to the research reportreleased by McKinnsy GlobalInstitute, in February (2014) 680million Indians or 56 percent of thepopulation lacks the means to meettheir essential needs like food,health care, education, sanitation,water, housing, fuel and socialsecurity. According to the report of

International Labour Organization,the unemployment scenario in Indiahas been showing a rising trend; andthat India was experiencing Joblessgrowth.

According to a report of CRISILthat 12 million people may be forcedto look for low quality, lowproductivity rural or agriculture jobsover seven years due to theexpected slowdown of jobgeneration in the coming years.

Indias labour force is working poorpeople, who make enough moneyto live but not to pull out of poverty.According to National Commissionfor Enterprises in the UnorganizedSector (NCEUS) 86% of theworkforce in India is employed in theinformal sectors. Employment informal sector is contracting. Sinceliberalization in 1991, large portionof the net job creation happened inthe informal sector, which means

that vast majority of the work force

have no access to minimum wage,to safe working conditions and tobasic leave and health benefits.According to a recent study by the

Credit Suisse that almost 90% ofwork force in our country wasunorganized and produced half ofIndias GDP.

Attacks on RightsEven the conditions of the

organized sector workers are nobetter. Managements andgovernments have been attacking ontheir rights and benefits. Increaseof work load, increase of workinghours, curtailment of retirementbenefits such as pension and health

care benefits are some othermethods of the attacks. The rightto strike of the workers is not beingrecognized. It is being mooted tochange working day norms ofworkers in all the sectors in thename of standardizing workinghours and amend section 83 ofMines Act which regulates theworking hours. Presently in ONGCthe workers work for 14 days on sitefollowed by 14 rest days. Now this

practice is intended to be changedin all govt. and private oil companiesto post workers, 28 days on sitefollowed by a 28 days off period. Thiswould lead to the workers of thissector to be away from their homesand families for a longer period andin emergencies they cannot reachtheir families. It is also mooted toallow women to work in night shiftin garment factories and flexibilityin labour laws to boost exports from

the country. Even the tech workersof I T companies are not beingspared. The Karnataka stategovernment had exempted 17sectors from the IndustrialEmployment (Standing Orders) Act1946 for 5 years.

This will lead to unfair labourpractices by IT sector employers.In the absence of exemption IT firmswould have had to define wages,number of contract employees,

average work hours and other

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Class Struggle6

conditions. Already the software

companies in Bangalore are oftenpaying low wages of femaleemployees and women who areallowed to work from home are

made to work for longer hours.

Bonded LabourDespite an Act of 1993

prohibiting employment of manual

scavengers and construction of drylatrines, and despite SupremeCourts many warnings againstmanual scavenging, the Indias

shame of manual scavenging iscontinuing that too in thegovernmental sector like Indianrailways. Deaths of workers in

municipal drains in every city andtown in India are a regular feature. It

is estimated that 3.5 lakh dalitpeople are employed in manual

scavenging work with 98 per centbeing women.

The bonded labour system isflourishing throughout India.According to the survey of GandhiPeace Foundation and NationalLabour Institute 2.6 million bondedlabourers are in 10 states, in 1976

itself. Now that number hadincreased considerably, due to thecrisis in agricultural sector, whichused to provide employment to therural poor. Unequal treatment ofwomen workers on par with theirmale counter parts persists withimpunity. Child labour system toocontinues with many more numberof children working in informal sectorof manufacturing activities andunorganized sector works.

Sweat working conditions arebeing imposed in industries andeven the time spent by workers intoilets is being regulated and thisform of production with its focus onprofit has become widely prevalentin our country. Contract workersystem has become the bane ofindustrial workers and a boon toindustrial managements to earnsuper profits.

In the name of lack of demand,

the practice of shutting industrial

plants for some days is prevalent invarious industries particularly in autoand car manufacturing sector- whichpractice is disadvantageous to theinterests of industrial workers.

Stopping of operation of theplants or locking out the plants orshifting out production to otherplants has become a norm in theindustries, to suppress the agitatingworkers and their strikes and thusto diminish the bargaining power ofunions as has been the case withHIL-ACK Birla group firm in Chennai,Bajaj Auto firm in Chakan, MaruthiSuzuki in Maneser and the recentcase of Toyota Kirloskar in

Karnataka.The uncertain future of 8000

Nokia plant workers in Chennai intowhich they are pushed by themanagement by selling thecompany is a glaring example ofhow the FDI invested foreignindustrial managements in ourcountry and the Indian rulers,governments and even the courts ofjustice do not heed, care and areinsensitive to the plight of workers

and their interests when thecompany is sold or transferred toanother company without decidingthe fate of workers job positions andjob security. Such is the gloomysituation and conditions in which theworkers of India are languishing.

Though the traditional tradeunion centers have failed to rescuethe workers of India from theexploitation of workers andonslaught on workers and are failingin protecting the interest of workersleave alone in promoting, certainlocal agitations of workers in theirdefense of their rights like the Autoworkers of Gurgaon-Ravel belt inHaryana against the attacks offoreign companies on the tradeunion rights of workers, nonpaymentof minimum wages, foisting falsepolice cases against agitatingworkers, against contract worker

system etc. The strike of power

loom unit workers in Tamilnadudemanding wages hike and otherbenefits and various spontaneousagitations at the industrial centre of

Sriperumbadur in Tamilnadu, therecent agitation of Toyota kirloskarauto workers in Karnataka andvarious other agitations of the

workers enliven the hope that theworkers in India will not meeklysubmit to the inhuman exploitationand onslaught of big capital but

valiantly resist and fight againstthem.

Ray of HopeNo doubt that today the

subjective conditions are in low ebbto the advantage of workers and

working class interests. But theripened objective conditions of

extreme exploitation remain to bethe decisive factor for the workers

to fight against the despicablecapitalist system of exploitation and

inequality. Here in comes theimportance of May Day for the

workers. The struggle for 8 hourworking day, its declaration of war

against capitalist exploitation untilits extinction and the unselfish

dedicated and sacrificing fightingnature of May day martyrs willinspire not only the workers and theworking class in India but also the

entire working class throughout theworld to play their destined historicalclass role of perpetually ending the

world capitalist system. Till then the

importance of May Day for workerswill not diminish but would be ever

inspiringOn this May Day let the

workers pledge to revive their

strength and fighting spirit of their

natural class to unite and organizethemselves into working class by

raising their class orientation and to

take all initiatives towards this endin order to ultimately play the class

role destined to them by history.

LONG LIVE MAY DAY!

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE! UNITE.!

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7May 2014

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Document

Oncoming 16thLok Sabha Election

CPI(ML) standThe16thLok Sabha election isgoing to takes place in a situationwhen the country is passing throughunprecedented grave crisis, i.e.,unprecedented price rise, massivecorruption and scams ofastronomical proportions, continuedpeasant suicides, workers losingtheir employment in large numbers,mounting unemployment, rate ofgrowth of GDP declining under 5%

this financial year, rising cost ofeducation and health care, leadingto wide spread peoples protest andmass movements. Atrocities,exploitation and rapes of womenand girls has increased many foldin spite of passage of strong lawsin the Parliament for rapes andother acts of womens exploitation.There is also increase in attacks ondalit, minorities and adivasi people.Students and youth are confrontedwith bleak futures and frustrationleading to increasing incidents ofsuicides. To sum it up, the commonpeople of our country i.e., workers,peasants, middle classes, smalltraders, students, youth, etc. arefeeling their lives being totallyinsecure and very difficult. Thedream of a happy, comfortable andprosperous life for all that was thepromise of Manmohan Singh ledUPA Govt. has been totally shatteredand peoples eyes have forced open

to the naked and brutal qualities ofoutcome of policies of globalization,liberalization and privatization. Todaywhen we look at the electionsscenario in the country the fallowingpicture comes before us.

There are three All Indiaalliances/combinations in thecoming 2014 ParliamentaryElection,-BJP led NDA, Congressled UPA, and the emerging ThirdFront. Apart from these Mamata

Banerjee is trying to float a Federal

Front with the blessings from AnnaHazarae and fielding candidates insizeable number of constituenciesoutside West Bengal. Newly formedAam Admi Party (AAP), whichsucceeded in forming Govt. in Delhiwithin six months of its formation,is actively forming its organizationin different states and fielding itscandidates in large number ofstates.

It is an exemplary and uniquesituation that all the three alliances/combinations have embraced thesame neoliberal economic theoryi.e., globalization, privatization andliberalization, albeit with minordifferences of approach, orientationand preferences, here and there.The same applies to TrinumalCongress and Aam Admi Party.

UPA under Congress leadershiphas been ruling our country sincelast 10 years. NDA ruled for 6 yearsbefore it, and UF ruled for brief stintsin the mid nineties. But eversincethe Narsingh Rao led minorityCongress government withManmohan Singh as financeminister in 1991 decided to embracethe globalization philosophy, allgovernments since then till this dayhave followed the same concept andpolicies.

Another notable feature of thepresent situation is that all the three

main players at the national level i.e.Congress led UPA, BJP/RSS ledNDA, and emerging Third front dueto CPM led left Front initiative aresectarian to the core. BJP/RSS areovertly and covertly communal withthe ultimate objective of establishinga Hindu Rashtra destroying thesecular tradition and fabric of oursociety. RSS has directed allorganizations of Sangh Pariwar towork for victory of BJP under the

leadership of Narendra Modi. RSS

is confident that a central govt.under Narendra Modi would provideit the best opportunity and facilityto fulfill its dream of establishing aHindu Rashtra in India. USimperialism and its other allies werepreviously inimical towardsNarendra Modi. But now, facingdifficult economic situation andeconomic crisis in EU, they havechanged their approach and are

cozying up to Narendra Modi in thehope that NDA govt. under him wouldprovide much better facilities forcapital investment and profiteeringin India. Recently US and Britishambassadors met Narendra Modiand had wide ranging talks onnational and international matters oftheir interest. US and its allies arealso inclined and desirous to havean anti-Muslim & jingoistic govt. inNew Delhi so that they may utilizeIndia politically and militantlyagainst Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iranand China etc. But there iscontradiction among the imperialistpowers. Due to this Russia and itsallies and friends are also exertingtheir influence so that their economicand political interest are protectedand promoted. In this way interimperialist rivalry is also exerting itsinfluence on the election scenariomaking it more complex. Manyregional parties have sectarianism

based upon caste and region,practicing casteism or regionalismopenly. Congress utilizes all kindsof sectarian feelings based oncaste, religion, or region as per itsneed to win elections and maintainitself in power. The mess they havecreated in AP on Telangana issuemakes this abundantly clear. Oneshould not forget how they (underRajiv Gandhi as PM) opened thedoors of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Also, we should remember that

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Narsingh Rao allowed the RSS/BJPled Karsewaks to demolish the BabriMasjid. After the Babri mosque wasraised to the ground he dismissedBJPs Kalyan Singh government in

UP and imposed Presidents rule inUP. He could have done it beforeand saved the catastrophe ofdemolition on 6thDecember 1992.The anti-Sikh riots in Delhi after thekilling of Mrs. Indira Gandhi by herSikh guards in 1984 is also a blackexample of how the Congress partyindulges in communal carnage whenit suits its political ends.

CPM and CPI which have beenconsiderably weakened due to

massive defeat in West Bengal andcoming to power of MamataBanerjee led Trinamul Congress(TMC) are trying to strengthenthemselves and getting a strongerfoothold in WB and central politicsby forging the Third Front withdifferent regional parties on theslogan of a non BJP, non-Congressgovt. at centre. However, they havenot accepted their grave mistakesin implementing neo-liberal theoryand globalization policies in WestBengal. They have not made anyself-criticism for even brutalsuppression of workers andpeasants in Singur and Nandigram.They have not realized their antidemocratic repression of the peoplein general, and their politicalopponents in particular during longstint in power in West Bengal fornearly 35 continuous years. That iswhy all their efforts to envigoratetheir organization through national

alliance in the name of Third Frontis not creating any encouragingimpact on their cadres or the peoplein our country.

AAP has created an interestand enthusiasm among the youthand the middle classes in thecountry as it has promised toprovide good governance andhonest administration. It hasemerged out of Anna Movement.People were worried and horrified

with massive corruption and scams.

So, to surprise all, they sent ArvindKejriwal to power in Delhi. In fact,this forced Congress and BJP topass Lokpal Bill in the parliament.This has provided a larger than life

image to Aravind Kejriwal and otherAAP leaders. People, especially,educated professionals, journalists,students-youth, and other middleclass people are joining AAP insizeable numbers in different partsof the country, especially in theurban areas. But large numbers ofNGOs, many foreign funded areproviding backbone to the AAPorganization. This is not in peoplesknowledge. This party has no

declared policy but Mr. Kejriwalclearly out limed his economicphilosophy in a Congress ofconfederation of Indian Industry (CII).There he said that he is farcapitalism, and oppose only cronycapitalism; he is for inviting foreigncapital but will take care that itcreates more employment; and heharp on the Govt. to withdraw fromeconomic and industrial arena andhand over the economy to the privatesector; and finally he appealed thecaptains of Industry to support AAPparty as only good governance canprovide the fertile ground for rapidgrowth of capitalism in India. So,now the cat is out of the bag i.e.,AAP is also for neo-liberal economicpolicy and programme on the lineof imperialist globalization. Manygenuine socialist, Gandhians andhonest people have joined AAP andthey will be highly disappointed withAAP in future. Thus AAP party also

offers no solution to problems facedby Indian people. But it is adiversion to the people from adoptinga revolutionary path.

Two new features of the presentelection should also be taken intoaccount:1. Though we have a parliamentary

system of democracy where theelected members of parliamentchoose/elect the PM, the presentelection is being fought in the

style of Presidential form of

democracy where the President,who happens to be the ChiefExecutive of the government, iselected directly by the people.RSS forced BJP to declare

Narendra Modi as its PMcandidate nearly 10 monthsbefore the polls. The entireelection is being fought in thename of Na Mo (Narendra Modi)and a personality cult is beingbuilt around him throughout thecountry. A different story abouthim is being spread by RSS andBJP leaders and cadres to suitdifferent strata of people. He isbeing lionized as a true RSS

cadre and champion of Hindu/Ram Mandir cause where peopleare Hindu minded; he is being toldthe middle castes (OBCS andMBCS); among the poor ingeneral he is being depicted asa Chay bechne wala (tea vendorboy) to warm them up; and lastbut not the least he is beingprojected as a Vikas Purush(Patron of development) who canlead India on to the path ofdevelopment and prosperityamong the middle class, ingeneral, and educated sectionsof the society in particular.

All the top honchos of theindustry and business in aconference declared thatNarendra Modi would be the bestPM for the country for corporateled growth and development of thecountry. Ambanis, Tatas, Birlasetc. are all gaga with Na Momantra.

Congress party was forces tobring to the fore Rahul Gandhi asan apparent PM candidate oftheirs. But this happened as lateas mid January. The fate ofCongress seems to be bleak andmiserable in coming election.Unprecedented price rise,massive corruption, and scamsof astronomical proportions haverepelled people from Congress.Under Rahul Gandhis persuasion

UPA government recently

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managed to pass Lokpal Bill,Food Security Bill, etc. Bill forpassage of bifurcation of AP andcreation of Telangana witnessedunprecedented emotion,

clashes, nasty and ugly behaviorin the parliament. The parliamentwas blacked out and all TV/media telecaste were stopped inthe final moments of the passageof the bill. Many MPs say thatthe bill has not been passed, butthe government has declared thebill passed.

But the Congress party failedto get six anti-graft bills passedby parliament. By passing

Lokpal and these six billsCongress wanted to project itselfas an anti-corruption crusaderparty. But people are not fooledby those dramatics. They wantthe real thing to come to themand the country.

2. Another feature is the qualitativedifferent role that money isplaying in the election. NarendraModi has already spenthundreds of crores to refurbishhis image in the country andabroad. He has hired India andUS media managementcompanies for this purpose. TVchannels, Radio, Internet,Facebook, Newspapers andmagazines have been put intomassive propaganda of Na Mo.Recently Congress has alsohired a Japanese company atthe expense of Rs.500 crores forimage building of Rahul Gandhi.Regional parties are also

following the same tactics in theirareas of operation. Campaignsare being launched with the helpof paid persons.

In this way electronic and printmedia have become propagandamachines of the powerful politicians.The political parties have amassedbig funds for electoral purposesthrough corrupt means. Corporatehouses, businessmen, contractorsand industrialists are happily

sharing their black money with

these parties/politicians. Regional

parties who dont have much

influence on the big corporate

houses, are milking money from

local businessmen, contractors,corrupt bureaucrats, and other rich

people in the rural areas. This

situation has practically shunted out

all those political parties and

individuals who dont have enough

money for this type of electioneering

before the poll process have even

started.

Such is the sorry state of the

worlds largest democracy today,

where only those backed by money

and media power can hope to winany significant number of seats in

parliament. This situation, in fact,

excludes real representatives of

people to win election and find a

place in parliament. This situation

makes it amply clear that the

peoples problems can be solved

only by adopting a revolutionary

path, not a parliamentary path. In

this situation the lack of unity among

the communist revolutionaries is

very damaging to the cause of

revolution. We cannot attract

patriotic and democratic forces in

the country who are opposed to theloot and plunder of the country by

imperialist powers and comprador

big bourgeoisie big landlord

classes. This demands that the CR

forces close their ranks and lead

peoples democratic movement for

change and overthrow of the present

semi-colonial, semi-feudal system.

We call upon the CR, Patriotic

and democratic forces to join hands

and mobilize the people for arevolutionary movement.

We also call upon the people

not to be divided by the sectarian

politics and call of different ruling

class parties and their

combinations on caste, religion and

region basis and unite for a

democratic & revolutionary struggle

for the change of the present socio-

economic system.

- REJECTANDDEFEATTHENDA ANDTHEUPA- EXPOSETHESHAMNESSOFTHETHIRDFRONT- SUPPORTTHECPI (ML), OTHERCOMMUNISTREVOLUTIONARIESAND

PATRIOTICDEMOCRATICFORCES.- PRESSNOTA BUTTONINCONSTITUENCIESWHERENOSUCHCANDIDATE

ISCONTESTING

2.3.2014Central Committee

CPI (ML)

THE VOICE OF INDIAN REVOLUTION

A CPI(M-L) TRIBUTE TO COMRADE KANU SANYAL

For Copies : Mythry Book House

Jaleel street, Karl Marx Road, VIJAYAWADA - 2

Price :

Rs. 150/-

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Class Struggle10

World Affairs

UKRAINE A VICTIM OF POLITICS OF DOMINATIONThedevelopments in Ukraine

bring out two important facts : 1. Itis too difficult for small nations tosafeguard their independence,sovereignty and territorial integrityand for the people of those nationsto keep the initiative in their ownhands and persist in the struggle forthe resolution of their basicproblems. It is possible for theirstruggle being driven into a messor turn into a so called strugglewhich has nothing to their real

interests or go against their interestswhen they are caught between bigbulls who are locked in a war fordomination. 2. The inter- imperialistcontradictions have reached a newlevel of intensification. The attemptsof US imperialism to dominate theentire world are facing increasingobstacles and challenges.People Need Resolution of TheirProblems

As a nation, the Ukraine hascome into existence in the post-October Revolution period. It joinedthe Soviet Union in 1922. A partunder the occupation of Polandbecame a part of Ukraine in 1939.In 1954, the Crimea was mergedwith Ukraine when Khrushchev washeading the SU. Again, the Ukrainehad separated itself from the SU in1991 when the SU faceddisintegration. Since then, theUkraine continues to be anindependent Country.

Ukraines economic problemsaggravated after its break from theSU. The people gradually lost theprotections and services which theyenjoyed earlier. The unemploymenthas gone up. The people were forcedto massively migrate to Russia orEuropean Union (EU) in search ofJobs and livelihood. The number ofpeople below the poverty line hadgrown enormously. The wages ofworkers and other toiling people had

fallen down too low. The poverty in

the rural areas has assumed aphenomenal dimension. Ukrainesproblems multiplied with the signingof a Free Trade Agreement with theEU. Added to this, the policies ofGlobalisation forced the Ukranianrulers to bow down to a number ofrigorous conditionalities dictated theIMF and World Bank. Theydemanded austerity measures,changes in the economic,agricultural and industrial policies;closure or selling away of the

industries to MNCs. These policiesdestroyed fertile agricultural lands,agricultural production and causedthe dissolution of collective farmsand grabbing or buying ofagricultural lands by the foreign agri-companies. In one word, theUkrainian economy with a debt of73 billion dollars had reached astate of bankruptcy. With theautocratic and corrupt rulers at thehelm seeking to tide over the crisisby sinking Ukraines economy in

more dependence on Russia or theEU or by imposing more burdenson the people the Ukranian peoplewere pushed into more oppressiveconditions of life. Naturally, thepeople were very much agitated bythis situation.Politics of Domination at Play

Separation of Ukraine posedproblems to Russia too. RussiasBlack Sea Fleet along with itsSevastopol and other militaryinstallations were situated in Crimea

of Ukraine. After a hard bargainalone, Russia and Ukraine in 1997agreed on the division of Black seaFleet. Accordingly, 81 per cent ofthe Black Sea Fleet along with theSevastopol and other militaryinstallations had gone to Russia.The Russia was allowed to stationthem in Crimea and , in return forthis, Russia had compensated alarge sum of money, written off alarge amount of Ukraines debts and

also paid an annual fee to Ukraine.

For long, the US was engagedin the attempts to weaken Russiain an attempt to remove a potentialcontender for world hegemony fromits way. It moved fast to gain fromthe Soviet disintegration. It tried todraw the small earst while SovietRepublics one after the other intoits fold. The US together with theEU powers had succeeded in ropingmost of the states into NATO andthe EU. They persisted in theattempts to bring the Ukraine too

into their fold so that theirencirclement of Russia is total. TheUkraine becoming a part of NATOwould have brought NATO closer toMoscow, cut off Russia from theBlack Sea and Mediterranean andsqueeze it out of Caucasus. Itwould have placed Russia in adangerously weak anddisadvantageous position vis--visthe US and other European powers.The US and EU made relentless

attempts to lure the Ukraines rulingclasses to their side with economicbaits, economic and politicalpressures. They groomed the anti-Russian political forces, neo-fascistparties, groups and armed gangs,engineered dissentions, divisionsamong the ruling classes andattempted regime changes and evencoups to realize their aims.

Russia was worried about thesedevelopments. It too has beenpursuing its own strategy to frustrate

the attempts of US and Europeanpowers. It has been doing everythingto retain and enhance its politicalinfluence in Ukraine; and guide thecourse of developments in its ownfavour. It wields a strong influenceon the Russian-speaking people theeastern and southern regions ofUkraine and Crimea (which tillrecently remained as a part ofUkraine) as well as on the rulingclass and bureaucratic forces in

Ukraine. It used this influence to

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mould the public opinion and thepolicies of rulers in its own favour.The economic aid, trade, supply ofoil and natural gas at subsidizedrates, loans, payments for using the

Black sea and land for stationing itsBlack Sea fleet and militaryinstallations in Crimea remainedRussias important economic leversto influence Ukraines economy andpolities. The Russian strategy is alsoaimed at building an EurasianEconomic Union by drawing theUkraine into it. It also dreams aboutbringing back its erst while republicsinto its fold.

Here it is clear that the

contradictions that are manifestingin Ukraine between the US andEuropean powers on the one sideand Russia on the other side andtheir moves and counter moves areinter-imperialist in their nature. Theyare basically a product of clash ofinterests rooted in the urges anddesigns of the concerned powers toimpose ones own domination onUkraine. Here, the clash oragreement between these powerson the question of Ukraine will onlybe guided by the interests ofdominating the Ukraine either singlyor in a shared manner. In any case,the Ukrainian people lose their rightto lead a free and independent life.The Ukrainian people can expect tobe free and protect their own basicinterests only when they wage anunited struggle against theimperialist machinations,conspiracies, interference andpolitics of domination.

The people of Ukraine are worstsufferers of the policies of rulers aswell as the imperialist policies ofdomination. The people want anindependent, sovereign anddemocratic Ukraine. They want theresolution of their basic problems.However, the policies of interferenceand domination pursued by the US,Russia and other imperialist powersin Ukraine have made the peoplesstruggle more difficult. Their struggle

is repeatedly becoming a victim of

diversionist forces and diversionistattempts.Political Crisis Politics ofDomination

In 2004, Victor Yanukovych

was elected as the president ofUkraine. But the US and theEuropean powers could not digestit. They encouraged and extendedall help to the forces in theopposition to unleash a so calledcoloured Revolution to preventYanukovych from taking the power.The Ukraines capital Kiev wasplunged into a state of anarchy.Riding on this, Victor Yushchenko,a pro-US leader staged a coup and

proclaimed himself as the Presidentof Ukraine. He initiated moves tomake Ukraine a NATO Member.However, he failed in his move as80 per cent of people opposed it.

In 2010, the pro-US and pro-EUforces faced a disastrous defeat inthe Presidential elections.Yushchenko, their representative,bagged only 4 per cent of voteswhile victor Yanukovych was electedas the President with anoverwhelming majority. The US andEU were left with no option exceptopenly conceding the elections asfree and fair. Yet, they were notreconciled with the reality. So theyfomented trouble in Ukraine.

Russia advocated anagreement between Russia,Ukraine and EU as a way to buypeace and stability for theYanukovych regime as well to put acheck on the attempts of Europeanpowers to disturb it. The US and

European powers, on their part, werebusy in mounting pressure on theUkranian President to sign anagreement associating Ukraine withthe EU. A draft called, Deep andComprehensive Free TradeAgreement was prepared and it wasto be signed at Lithumanias CapitalVilnius. But the Ukranian Presidentand PM decided to postpone it later.They struck a deal with Russia inDec 2013. By dint of this deal, the

Russia agreed to buy 15 billion

dollars of Ukraines debt andprovide 60 per cent (3.5 billions)discount on natural gas purchasesby Ukraine from Russia. Clearly, itwas an attempt on the part of Russia

to prevent Ukraines integration withthe EU. Naturally, the US and theEuropean powers were infuriated bythese moves. They made up theirmind to see the end of victorYanukovychs regime by everymeans. They aided and abetted theopposition and all types of forcesincluding the far right and neo-fascistforces for this. These forces createdthe conditions of protest and sort ofrebellion against the Yanukovych

regime.Faced with the increasing

pressure from the US and Europeanpowers, the growing acts of violenceand attacks of armed bands on thegovt. offices and deep in economiccrisis, Yanukovych, the UkranianPresident has entered into adialogue with the opposition with anurge to buy the peace. He signedan agreement with the oppositionon Feb 21, 2014 right in thepresence of the Foreign-Ministers ofFrance, Germany and Poland.Under it, Yanukovych agreed tobring Constitutional reforms to pavethe way for a Coalition govt. inUkraine and hold elections in Dec2014. But it did not bring peace.

Within hours, the Oppositionhas thrown the agreement into thedust bin and forced the UkranianPresident Yanukovych out of powerand to flee from the country. The USas well as the European powers

fully backed the opposition. Theyextended all help to its usurpationof power and accorded all thelegitimacy to its authority. A daybefore this agreement, the EUslapped sanctions on Yanukovychgovt. It freeze Ukraines assets andbanned visas to the govt. leaders.The US and the EU had their ownpreferences as to who should headthe new regime. But they wereunited in the aim of pulling down a

legitimate govt. headed by

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Class Struggle12

Yanukovych by any illegal and foulmethods.

Once Yanukovych left theCountry, the Ukraines parliamentSupreme Rada adopted a

resolution impeaching Yanukovychand appointing its SpeakerOleksandr Torchynov as the interimPresident. It set May 25, 2014 anthe date for elections. It releasedYulia Timoshenko who was in prisonsince 2011 on the charges ofcorruption. While a good number ofleaders from the far right and neofascist parties like Parvy(Right)Sector and Svoboda (Freedom)Party were inducted into the Ministry

in important positions, their armedmilitants reigned the streets. Theyengineered clashes, indulged inkillings and occupied the govt.buildings as part of the drive to helpthe new regime to entrench itselffirmly. On its side, the new regimeresorted to several steps to assertits authority. It cancelled the secondofficial status to the Russianlanguage. It initiated moves to tiethe Ukraine with the EU and NATO.

These moves have evoked

anger and protest among theRussian speaking people in theeastern region and Crimea. Theyrose in defiance of new regime. TheDeputies at all levels in the easternregion met in Kharkov anddenounced the new regime asunconstitutional and illegitimate.They refused to recognize it.

Russia has denounced thecoup as the handiwork of US andEuropean powers and as a part ofgreater design to weaken Russiaand turn the region into adisturbingly dangerous zone forRussia. It extended support to theforces who were defying theauthority of new regime. It declaredthat Russia has every right tointervene in the situation to protectits own interests as well as theinterests of Russian speakingpeople in Ukraine. It withdrew thecommitments it made to theYanukovych govt. to provide the bail

out packages to Ukraine.

Integration of Crimea in RussiaThe developments were fast.

The Crimea took steps first toproclaim its independence fromUkraine and then integrate itself with

Russia. It held the referendum onMarch 16, 2014 and adopted aresolution to this effect with morethan 90 per cent people voting forit. The Russian Parliament hasreadily welcomed and approved thisdecision. On March 21, Putinsigned a treaty incorporating Crimeainto the Russian Federation. Russiatook all steps to proclaim itsauthority over Crimea.

The US and European powers

termed Crimeas integration withRussia as nothing but an act ofannexation and occupation of a partof Ukraine by Russia. Theyunleashed a propaganda that it wasa part of Russias larger plan toinvade and occupy Ukraine as awhole and other CIS territories too.Threat of Sanctions- DefiantRussia

The US slammed sanctionsagainst Russia and threatened withmore. The EU declared a travel banon 21 important personalities fromRussia and Ukraine. G-7 groupleaders decided to suspend Russiafrom the G-8 group. G-7 leaderscondemned the Russia for theintegration of Crimea as an act ofannexation and as a violation ofinternational law. They threatenedwith more actions against Russia.

However, Russia dismissedthese threats as well as sanctionsas inconsequential and

counterproductive. It claimed thatRussia neither interfered nor intendsto do so in the affairs of Ukraine. Itasserted that Crimeas decision tointegrate itself with Russia was onlya free and democratic decision ofCrimean people. Putin warned thatthe dollar cannot rule the worldeconomy for ever and an alternatecurrency for exchange can enter theworld scene. The Russian leaderssaid that the G-8 is nothing but a

gentlemens club and it is fast losing

its relevance. Russia has its ownsupporters. The Foreign Ministersof BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India,China and South Africa) groupissued a statement from The Hague

in the last week of March, 2014regretting the sanctions against theRussia. They rejected a call tosuspend Russia from the G-20 andmade it clear that no single memberof the G-20 can unilaterally takesuch a decision. ArgentinePresident Christina Fernandezaccused the US and EU of havingdouble standards.Need and Effectiveness ofSanctions Doubted

The US as well as theEuropean powers are tough in theirrhetoric . But, in reality, they areafraid that their sanctions may hitback their economies too. Russiais EUs third largest trading partner.Russian oil and gas supplies meet80 per cent of Europes energyneeds. The EU is engaged in tentimes as much trade with Russiaas the US does. The Europe exportsmachinery, chemicals, medicinesand agricultural products, etc. toRussia. More than 6000 Germancompanies are registered in Russiaand together they have invested 20billion dollars in Russia in recentyears. Germany is heavilydependent on Russia for oil andnatural gas. So, the US and the EUare seriously divided on the need,effectiveness and consequences ofsanctions against Russia. They arenot united in their action.US Right to Decide Destinies of

World QuestionedThe Russian President Putin

was blunt in his criticism of US andthe European powers. Addressingthe Russian Parliament on April, 18,he said : In the case of Ukraine,our Western partners have crossedthe line with their bullish,irresponsible and unprofessionalbehavior; Russia was pushed toa line beyond which it could notretreat. If you press the spring too

hard, it will recoil. He described

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Crimea as a strategic territory .Ukraines likely joining would haveled to the deployment of NATOwarships in Crimeas Sevastopol -the city of Russian military glory.

It is unthinkable for me that we couldbe guests of NATO marines inSevastopol. They may be great pals,but let them be our guests inSevastopol, rather than the otherway round. Putin dismissed thewestern criticism of Crimeasintegration into Russia ashypocrisy. He criticised that theUS is guided in its policies by theright of the might They have cometo believe in their exceptionalism

and their sense of being the chosenones. That they can decide thedestinies of the world that it is onlythem who can be right always.Abortive Moves to End Crisis

The developments during March21 and April , 18 were marked byfour factors: 1) The new UkranianGovt. went ahead with its drive tocrush the protests in the Russianspeaking regions of Ukraine. 2. Theprotesters went all out in theirdefiance against the Central govt.They resorted to armed actions,occupied the govt. buildings andclashed with the govt.s armedforces. They demanded greaterautonomy, self rule for their regionsand even threatened to proclaimindependence through referendum;3. A move to find a way out for thecrisis through a dialogue betweenRussia, EU, US and Ukraine gainedmomentum; 4. The ForeignMinisters of Russia, EU, US and

Ukraine met in Geneva on April,17and agreed on a plan to resolve thecrisis. They agreed that theUkrainian govt. must initiate theConstitutional reform to decentralizepower and grant greater powers tothe Russian speaking regions; Theycalled for disarming of the irregularforces and vacating the govt.buildings across the Ukraine. TheUkrainian govt. agreed to grantamnesty to all protesters except

those who committed grave crimes

and to launch a broad nationaldialogue involving all political forcesand all regions to undertake aContsitu- tional reform.

But there reflected different

interpretations to the agreement.The protesters in the eastern andsouthern regions of Ukraine insistedthat the Central govt. must stopmilitary operations and disarm theRight Sector and Maidan Self-Defence forces first before theirlaying down the arms. The Ukrainiangovt. persisted in militaryoperations, but it found the job ofbringing the situation under controlby sheer force difficult. The

protesters remained unyielding.Here and there, the govt. alsoencountered defiance even withinthe ranks of armed forces. Theyrefused to open fire at theprotesters. The govt. sought to lullthe protesters with promises like full-fledged Constitutional reforms andspecial status to the Russianlanguage, etc. Yet the crisiscontinues. The clashes between thegovt. forces and the protesterscontinue. While Russia continueto support the demands of theprotesters for a federal structure theensures greater rights for theRussian speaking people in Ukraineas a way out to the crisis, the USand European powers continue toblame Russia for the whole troublein the Ukraine.To conclude :

As we noted at the outset, thereal problems and the struggle ofthe people for their resolution as well

as the struggle to defend Ukrainesindependence, sovereignty andterritorial integrity were pushedaside as the Ukraine was turned intoa playground for Russia, US andother imperialist powers to imposetheir own domination over theUkraine.

This game had touched itspeak with the usurpation of powerby the forces backed by the US andEuropean powers in Ukraine. Russia

saw this development as being

pushed to the line beyond which itcould not retreat. It seemed thatRussia may not hesitate even for adirect armed intervention to save thesituation going from bad to worse.

But, such a need did not arise withCrimeas decision to integrate itselfin Russia. Here, the Russia hasdone everything to induce theCrimean rulers and its people toadopt this decision. In this context,Russia has succeeded in outmanoeuvring the US and Europeanpowers. The game is not over. It iscontinuing for a domination over theremaining part of Ukraine. Thecontinuing talk of direct armed

action by the Russia and Obamascontinued threats of sanctionsagainst Russia are only a pointer tothis.

For some time, Russia is seenmore active and assertive in itsinternational role. We have seen itin Syria some time back. It isintensifying its competition for itsown place and influence in theinternational arena and its share ofrole in dealing with the problems inthe world. It knows that allowing itself

weakened on its borders and gettingenmeshed itself in endless crisis andturmoil will push it into a moredisadvantageous position in theinternational arena and it is,therefore, determined not to allowit. The developments in the worldpoint out that the US drive to imposeits hegemony on the entire world isfacing increasing challenges and asituation of multi -polarity is fastdeveloping in the world.

The proletariat and oppressedpeople of Ukraine have a long andmost difficult battle to wage againstthe politics of interference anddomination pursued by theimperialist powers and the rulingclass, reactionary and neo fascistforces who are dancing to the tuneof imperialist powers in order to beable to take their own destiny intotheir hands and build anindependent, sovereign anddemocratic Ukraine. There is no

other way.

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Class Struggle14

The First World War :An Imperialist War to Re-divide the World

Imperialismis imperialism. Inhistory, the imperialist powersencountered serious economiccrises, massive oppositions,protests and struggles from theworking class, oppressed nationsand people, setbacks and small orbig defeats in their attempts tosubjugate the people of otherCountries, enlarge their spheres ofinfluence and impose theirdominations. But they never shedor can be expected to shed their

basic features as defined by Leninunless and until imperialism is notwiped out from the face of the globe.They persist in the attempts torecover and muster the strength andrealise their lost or unfulfilled dreamsand ambitions to dominate the world. Some time back, the British Govt.headed by David Cameron hasdecided to commemorate theCentenary Anniversary of the WorldWar 1 (1914-18) by organising a

four years long Campaign. It plannedto begin the campaign with a candlelight vigil on August 4, 2014 at Westminister Abbey. The governmentproposes to spend 55,000,000pounds to make the Anniversary atruly national commemoration. Thegovernment also allocated a sum of10 million pounds for the culturalside of the remembrances. It will beled by Jenny Waldman, creativeproducer for the London 2012Olympics. He will be workingtogether with other organisations andpartners across the Country. Thisteam includes Vikki Heywood,Chairman and former ExecutiveDirector of the Royal ShakespeareCompany, and Toney Hall, theDirector General of BBC. TheCelebrations will have tributes inmemory of the Battle of Somme(1916) and Armistice Day (1918).

The publishing houses in Britainare already active to make full use

of the Celebrations to boost up their

business. A good number of bookswritten on the theme of Great Warfrom new angles and with newhistorical material have made theirway into the market. They include:The Sleepwalkers : How the Europewent to War in 1914 by ChristopherClark; From Frontline; TheExtraordinary life by Sir Basil Clarkeand Richard Evans and by the formerBBC War Correspondent KatiesAdies Fighting on the Home Front: The Legacy of Women in World

War 1.The Celebrations provide

lessons on the greatness of Warand educate the present generationon its moral legacy.

The Imperial War Museum isscheduled to be reopened in July2014. The British govt. has allocated35 million pounds for therefurbishment of the World War 1galleries, new digital assets from itscollection and especially curated

World War 1 timelines. The Victoriaand Albert Museum is alreadyorganising the exhibitions. A sectionof it is called, War Stories: Voicesfrom the World War1. They contain12 original letters of diverse voicesof individuals, including soldiers onthe western war front, women on thefrontline, conscientious objectors,families and children at home revealboth familiar and surprising storiesof War. This exhibition will run tillMarch 2015.

One of the letters prominentlyexhibited is from an Indian soldierwritten to his family from theBrightons Royal Pavilion Hospital.He was wounded in the World War1 while serving the BritishColonialism. An excerpt of the letterreads like this : Dont worry aboutme for I am in paradise. The Kingcame down here last week andshook hands with all the Indians,and asked each one about his

wounds and sufferings and gave

consolation to each. Today I sawa museum in which all the livingfishes of the world were kept inboxes of water and a magnificentpalace which costs millions ofpounds, [ here it must be notedthat around 1.2 million soldiers fromIndia (undivided) fought for theBritish Empire during the World War1 and 74000 of them had died. ]

WHAT FOR THE WAR WAS?

A section of the media as well

as the historians and writersrepresenting the view of the Britishruling class are putting the view intowide circulation that the World War1 was a War to end all wars ! TheEducation Secretary MichaelGovernment came out eulogising itas a just war that saved the futureof democracy in the continent byputting paid to the ambitions of anaggressive Germany bent on worlddomination.

In reality, it was an out and out

unjust and predatory war waged bytwo belli- gerent groups ofimperialists one headed by theBritish and French bourgeoisie andanother by the German bourgeoisie.Lenin said in Sept 1914 that thesole actual content, importance andsignificance of this war comprisedin their aims of seizure of territoryand subjugation of other nations, theruining of competing nations andplunder of their wealth, distractingthe attention of the working massesfrom the internal political crises inRussia, Germany, Britain and otherCountries, disuniting and nationaliststultification of the workers, and theextermination of their vanguard soas to weaken the revolutionarymovement of the proletariat. Through the war, the British andFrench bourgeoisie wanted to retainand further enlarge their colonies,seize the German colonies, and ruinit. The German bourgeoisie wanted

to win and subjugate a greater part

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of Europe and Middle East, re-dividethe colonies in its own favour andimpose its own domination on theentire world. Lenin made it clear thatneither group of belligerents is

inferior to the other in spoilation,atrocities and boundless brutality ofwar.

The war began in July 1914 andended at the end of 1918. It startedin a small way, had drawn the entireEurope, parts of Asia, the seacoasts and great oceans and spreadto Africa acquiring the nature anddimension of a World War. It endedwith ignominious defeat or virtual routof German led group in the hands of

the group headed by Britain andFrance.

The opposition and protest tothe proposed celebrations of Warsis strong enough in Britain. 70eminent citizens came to the foredenouncing the celebrations ofWorld War 1. They posted an OpenLetter in the website called No Gloryin War. It said, Far from being awar to end all wars or a victory fordemocracy, this was a militarydisaster and human catastrophe.Among them are actor Jude Law,Simon Callow and VanessaRedgrave, poet and playwright CarolAnn Duffy, musician and composerBrain Eon; politicians Tony Ben,Ken Livingston and Jeremy Corbyn,writer and author of war house,Michael Morpugo; and British filmdirector Ken Loach. The Letterfurther said: We are disturbed,therefore, to hear that DavidCameron plans to spend 55,000,000

pounds on truly nationalcommemorations to mark thisanniversary. Instead we believe itis important to remember that thiswas a war that was driven by bigpowers competition to influencearound the globe, and caused adegree of suffering all too clear inthe statistical record of 16 millionpeople died and 20 Million wounded. The Letter called on every one intimes of international tension to

ensure that this anniversary is used

to promote peace and internationalco operation. Neil Faulkner, anarcheologist, historian, and aResearch Fellow at the Universityof Bristol, told The Hindu that the

mainstream historians look forwhose fault the war was, and whofired the first shot. My view is that itwas an imperialist war, It wascentered primarily in Europe whichwas divided into competing nationstates and spheres of influence,each dependent on overseasmarkets for their expansion.Tensions mount, there is an armsrace amongst the hostile blocks,and it explodes in 1914. A small

ruling class of bankers and generalswho led the war in the competingnations didnot care about the livesof their own citizens, never mindabout their colonial subjects whofought in the war. Neil Faulkner isthe author of a recently publishedbook The Real Story of World War1. He is active in the No Glory inWar Campaign. The people inBritain as well as Europe areshowing a renewed interest in anti-war poetry of soldiers- the poets like

Wilfred Owen and SiegfriedSassoon and are increasingly takingpart in the anti-war protestmovement.

WHY THE GLORIFICATION OFWAR?

In the context of World War 1,the bourgeoisie of each imperialistCountry involved in the War,including Britain, made all outattempts to project their own waragainst the rivals as a war forced

upon them by the rivals bent onaggression and annexation. Theysought to convince the people thatthe war on their own side waspatriotic, sacred and in defence ofFather Land. They sought to drawthe proletarian, democratic andnational forces in their own Countriesinto or in support of their war. Thebourgeoisie of these Countries,including that of Britain hadsucceeded to a large extent in their

attempts as they had their own

collaborators and agents in theworking class movement in the formof reformist and labour aristocraticleaderships who readily embracedthe ruling class slogan of defence

of Father Land.Lenin had mercilessly exposed

the predatory and imperialistcharacter of war. He waged arelentless ideological and politicalstruggle against the reformist andclass collaborationist theories andpractices that came to dominate theprole- tarian and working classmovement in the Countries of Europeat the time. He called upon theproletariat and the people not to fall

prey to the imperialist conspiraciesand slogans such as the defenceof father land and turn theimperialist war into a revolutionarycivil war to overthrow ones ownruling bourgeoisie from power. Leninhad superbly and successfullyapplied and practiced hisrevolutionary call in Russia. As aresult, the world shaking, historicand revolutionary event like thevictorious completion of the great1917 October Socialist Revolutionhad become a reality. This struggletogether with the October Revolutionhad thoroughly and completelypulled and tore off into pieces themask of defence of father landbehind which the imperialist rulerswere hiding their real intentions andcheating their own people. The waythe imperialists fought the war, wenton freely invading and annexing theterritories of other Countries, brutallykilled the people and the way the

so called victors (Britain andFrance) unilaterally and arbitrarilydictated most humiliating andoppressive terms of truce to thevanquished (Germany) power alsohad effectively and conclusivelyproved the correctness of Leninsassessment of war, its aims andoutcome. The entire world at thetime was fully convinced that the war,as a whole, on the part of powerson both sides of the conflict was

totally unjust, predatory and aimed

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Class Struggle16

at redividing the territories andresources among the warringpowers in accordance with eachones might. The war caused untoldmiseries and colossal human loss

and material destruction andseriously disturbed the world peace.

The present British rulers hadinherited the past legacy. They arerefusing to learn from their own past.By their futile attempts to distort thehistory, they are only revealing theirown imperialist nature and theiryearning for shattered dreams. Theyare also living in the illusion that,by this act, they can, once again,cheat the people and divert their

attention from the real problems andthe worst economic and politicalcrisis Britain is now passingthrough. The Britain is also facingthe danger of disintegration. TheBritish imperialists know it well thatthey do not enjoy the same positionand influence today in the world asthey used to before and immediatelyafter the World War 1. They mustalso know that they were pushedbehind and to the position of a juniorpartner to the US imperialism,which is now leading the capitalistworld and striving for worlddomination. They must also beknowing that they continue to

encounter the protests anddenunciations from the British aswell as world people for theirshameless support to the US in

their acts of invasion and occupationagainst Iraq, Afghanistan and otherCountries. So it will be a mere daydream to aspire for past glory.

It will be a big gamble toattempt to divert the peoples

attention from the real problems bydistorting the history and in the

name of so called celebration ofmuch discredited War. The attempt

to glorify Britains role in the World

War 1 and its (together with otherallies) victory in the War may

freshen the wounds in some,

enhance the contradictions andmutual mistrust among the

European powers, especially

between Britain and German. Thepeople in various Countries of the

world who had suffered a lot under

the yoke British colonial rule and inthe imperialist war would never

accept being driven back into a dark

era against which they fought heart

and soul and made countless

sacrifices. The proletariat,

oppressed nations and all the anti-

imperialist, democratic and peace

loving forces in India and the world

would oppose the attempts by theimperialists to distort, re-write andreverse the history in order tocondone themselves from theircolossal crimes and glorify or paint

their crimes in glowing colourswhich they had committed againstthe humanity for the purpose ofimposing their domination over theworld and to realise their ambitions.The fact that the imperialist powersused the people of colonies ascannon fodder in their war to extendtheir colonial domination to otherareas and lakhs of people had diedor were wounded (74000 Indianpeople died in the World War 1 while

serving British colonialism) is reallypainful. It is seriously objectionablethat the British imperialists areexhibiting certain letters of Indiansoldiers as part of their celebrationsas a model for the loyalty of colonialpeople towards the British Empire.All the conscious masses of Indianpeople like their brethren in the worldfought against the colonialoppression then and continue tooppose imperialism now. They areone with the British people who areraising their voice against theattempts of British imperialists toglorify an imperialist and predatorywar waged by them 100 years back.

HISTO RIC A L A N D PO LEM IC A L DO C UM EN TSO F THE C O M M UN IST M O V EM EN T IN IN DIA

TARIMELA NAGIREDDY

MEMORIAL TRUST PUBLICATIONS

For Details:

P.Jaswantha Rao

Secretary,

T.N.Memorial Trust, 32-13-26/1,

M.R.Puram, Vijayawada, pin-520 010.

VOL.I 1943-51- RS. 300/-

VOL.II 1963-72- RS. 500/-

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17May 2014

Political & Economic Notes :

Military Affairs :Foreign Dependence Imperils Countrys Defence

Four decades back, afterexplaining the dependence of defeceproduction in India on foreignmonopoly houses, ComradeTarimela Nagi Reddy observed:

Thus the vital aspects ofproduction for our defence is leftentirely in the hands of internationalmonopoly houses and yet todeceive the people, the governmenthas began to talk in terms of self

sufficiency in defence productionand self reliance of our defenceindustries. When I see, hear andexperience such slavish betrayal ofthe nations interest by so-calledpatriots, think lightly of what iscalled treason against thegovernment. (India Mortgaged,p.355)

Today all the three wings ofIndia defence force are at the mercyof imperialist countries for all mostall of its defence needs. The recent

mishaps in the Navy leading to theresignation of Chief of Naval Staff onmoral ground highlighted thedangers involved in our dependenceon foreign monopolies.

Growing Military Expenditure

According to the budget 2013-14, the allocation for defence isRs.2,53,345.91 crore which is onesixth of the total expenditure of Unionof India. If the allocation to otherarmed wings under the home

ministry and 50 per cent ofexpenditure of atomic energy andspace are added, the total rises toRs.3,13,921.91 crore or more thanone fifth of the total expenditure.

This expenditure on military hastwo components; one, the wage billand two, the capital outlay. In theyear 2012-14, the estimated outgoon pay and allowances of army,navy and air force personnel standsat Rs. 63,037 crore, in addition to

the pensions payable to retired

personnel whom stands atRs.44,500 crore. So the total wagebill comes to Rs.1,07,500 crore,which is about 65 per cent of thedefence outlay.

The allocation for the capitaloutlay stands at Rs.86,740 crore.This fund is to be utilized for all thedefence purchases. According to thebudget papers, while the actualexpenditure on defence purchases

was Rs.67,000 crore in 2012-13,Rs.18,000 crore was paid to foreignsuppliers. This is clearly anunderstatement because thepurchases from defence publicsector units (DPSU), OrdinanceFactory Board (OFB) and privatesector includes foreign supplies,components and royalties.

India is the largest importer ofarms with 12 per cent share of worldarms imports. This 12 per centimpots meets 70 per cent ofweapons India needed. If the importsby DPSUs, whose importdependence is 35 to 45 per cent oftheir budget, are taken into account,Indias dependence on importedarms and components could be ashigh as 80 to 85 per cent.

Flood of Imports

It is reported that India willspend $ 150 billion over the next 10years on arms imports. Some of theimports include: six Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules transportaircraft for $1.2 billion; 126 Rafalemultirole combat aircraft fromDassault of France for $20 billion;310 Russian T-90 tanks for $800million; eight Boeing p81 superHunters for $2.1 billion; 250-300FGFA Sukhoi T-50 PAK fighteraircraft for $30 billion and 10 BoeingC17 Globemaster III aircraft for $ 5.8billion. The refitting ofdecommissioned Russian aircraft

carrier Gorkhov (named as INS

Vikramaditya) will cost $2.33 billion.The shopping list for weaponsinclude 3000 artillery guns for $ 4billion; 75 Pilatus trawler aircraft for$1 billion; attack and heavy lifthelicopters for $ 2 billion; six midairrefuellers for $ 1 billion; and 197helicopters for reconnaissance andsurveillance for $ 650 million.

Apart from this, the Army wantsweapons for close quarter battle,

carbines, light machine guns,specialised sniper rifles and anti-bunker bursting rifles for its 356infantry battalions. An expenditureof Rs. 4850 crore is being made for65,000 rifles to equip 120 battalionsand OFB is to supply 1,13,000 rifles.The army also needs 16000 LMGs,and 8500 sniper rifles. (This is not acomplete list and compiled fromreports appeared in variousnewspapers during the last threeyears)

The Lurking Danger

The above tit bits of informationgives an idea about the extent ofIndias dependence on imperialistcountries for its military needs. Whatdoes this dependence means?Every imported piece of militaryhardware, spare part or componentmeans, pointed out by former NavalChief Arun Prakash, we are at themercy of the seller nation for 30-40years thereafter.(Times of India, 14-3-2013)

This perpetual dependencejeopardizes the security of ourcountry. For instance,16 of the 66Hawks aircraft were groundedbecause the seller company BAESystems failed to deliver sparesand components. (Indian Express,18-12-2012)

Take the upgradation cost of 51Mirage 2000 aircraft. It was officiallysaid to cost Rs 167 crore for each

jet fighter. But defence minister

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Antony told the Parliament that anescalation of 3.5 per cent per annumto the contracted cost of the year2000 works out to be Rs 195 crorein 2011. This does not include theRs 2430 crore being spent on otheritems and it also does not take intoaccount the two separate contractssigned by India with DassaultAviation and Thales for Mirage 2000weapon systems integration at thecost of Rs 6600 crore. Thus thetotal cost of the Upgradation will beRs 344 crore for each aircraft. Thearms industry is extractingexorbitant charges with theirmonopoly over the arms market,

while a delay in supply andexecution of the contract not onlyescalates costs, but also weakensas the costly equipment kept idle.(Gautam Navalkha in EPW, 15-7-2013)

The refitting and modernizationof aircraft INS Vikramaditya was tobe launched in 2010, but now it willbe in 2016. The Standing Committeeof Parliament on Defence noted thatthere had been a four fold increase

in the initial estimated cost due tothis delay.

Even at these exorbitant pricesthe quality of imported hardware isnot assured. It was reported in thepress that the C-130J transportaircraft and p8 Poseidon series ofmaritime surveillance planes fromthe US had counterfeit parts in them.(Indian express, 23-5-2012)

Strangulating Hold

The dependence on imports is

stifling the indigenous efforts indeveloping weapons in India. On 20March 2013, India successfully testfired the 290 KM range BrahMosunderwater missile and thegovernment claimed it was the firstcountry to doso. But the fact is Indiahas no submarines which can befitted with BrahMos. None of theRussian, German and Frenchserpene submarines being build atMazagon docks at the cost of

Rs.23,562 crore, will be capable of

using BrahMos missile (Times ofIndia, 21-3-2013). India has to builtits own submarine if it wants to useBrahMos. There is no possibility ofsuch indigenous efforts in thecoming two decades as the plansto buid them have not even reachedthe drawing boards. So theBrahMos has only one use keepit in a glass show case to be shownto our school going children.

Instead of reducingdependence on imports, thegovernment is taking measures thatstrengthen the tentacles of foreigncapital. The foreign directinvestments were allowed in

defence industry upto 26 per centwhich gives enough power to controlthat industry to the foreign investor.Yet the ministries of Commerce andIndustry are pressing to raise theFDI cap to 49 per cent in defenceindustries. The minister of state fordefence M.M.Pallamraju told theRajya Sabha on 9 May 2012 thatthere is no need for us tomanufacture everything. As it is notcritical technology it is not given

priority. The critical technology likeBrahMos developed by ourscientists will be relegated to showcases, other critical technologieslike aircraft carrier and submarinesgoes to foreign monopolies, whileat the same time non-criticaltechnologies like Tetra Trucks willalso goes to foreign sharks. The realpriority for the government is topromote foreign capital to thecommanding heights not only in

defence production, but also in theentire Indian economy.

Offsetting the Local Manufacture

Recently the governmentrevised the offset policy in defencepurchases. According to this policy,foreign vendors of arms have