CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPIML - JUNE 2021 - Communist Party of India Marxist ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
COVER STORY JUNE 2021 CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) Rs. 25
COVER STORY
Corpse-bearer Is The Ganga
-Parul Khakkar
All the corpses speak in chorus: all is changa-changa
Saheb in your Ramrajya, corpse-bearer is the Ganga.
No room in the charnel houses, no wood for the pyres,
Our shoulders are weary, no tears left in our eyes,
Yama prances door-to-door
Dancing the Dance Macabre,
Saheb in your Ramrajya, corpse-bearer is the Ganga.
Day and night pyres burn
Begging a moment’s rest
Day and night bangles break
The bereft beat their chest
What games you play with the flames! Well done Billa-Ranga!
Saheb in your Ramrajya, corpse-bearer is the Ganga.
Saheb you think your suit can dazzle us, so radiant and bright!
Yet can you hide your feet of clay – when we lose our fright?
“The Saheb has no clothes” – we’ll shout; Truth will out!
Saheb in your Ramrajya, corpse-bearer is the Ganga.
EDITORIAL
India’s Covid-19 Genocide:
Modi Must Go
New Series Vol. 27 No. 02
JUNE 2021
CONTENTS
COMMENTARY
CBI Raid in West Bengal................. 4
Spectre of Hindutva in America........... 6
Dropping Kerala’s Health Minister. . ...7
INTERNATIONAL
Genocide in Palestine................... 10
General Strike in Columbia. . ........... 14
SPECIAL FEATURE
2nd Wave of Pandemic:
Migrant Workers in Bangaluru........ 15
P
M Modi’s televised tears have come far too late to convey
Dignity Disposed......................... 20 empathy for those killed by Covid-19 or regret for his regime’s
TRIPS & Global IP Regime . . ............25 callousness that led to those deaths. It is clear that he does
COVID-19 Vaccine Debacle............ 27 not weep out of sorrow for us and the loved ones we have lost, nor out
Healthcare for All......................... 31 of regret for his own role in those deaths - but because he would like
From Covid-19 Help Desks. . ...........35 us to feel sorry for him and spare him the criticism he has earned. But
ELECTIONS Modi cannot play a victim to the calamity he himself has brought upon
WB: Lessons for the Left.. .............42 the country.
TN: Rejection of the BJP. . .............46
UPDATES Modi, who credited even falling global oil prices on his own “luck”, cannot
Fascist Assault on Lakshadweep....49 now duck his own responsibility for the brutality of the Covid-19 second
Delhi Police Raids Twitter Office.... 51 wave. He repeatedly credited his leadership for the so-called “victory
TRIBUTE ....................................52 over Corona” in the first wave – he cannot now blame the second wave
disaster on the Opposition, “70 years of Congress rule”, or indeed on any
Editor-in-chief other scapegoat. These avoidable deaths lie squarely at PM Modi’s door.
Dipankar Bhattacharya The RSS chief and several charlatan godmen are lecturing Indians on
Editor the need to replace “negativity” (code for criticism of the government,
Arindam Sen
and indeed for any mention of the daily horrors of the pandemic) with an
Editorial Board
Kavita Krishnan attitude of “positivity”. This enforced “positivity” adds insult to the injury
V. Shankar of Indians abandoned by the government to fend for themselves in the
Sanjay Sharma pandemic, waging a daily, often losing battle for oxygen, medicines,
hospital beds, vaccines, and even for the means to decently cremate
Editors' e-mail: or bury one’s dead.
liberation@cpiml.org
The demand that Indians be “positive” in such circumstances is in
Art: V Arun Kumar itself highly insensitive. It is made worse by the callous and shameless
language being used by the RSS and BJP to put a “positive” mask on
Manager the worst horrors of the pandemic in India. The RSS chief declared that
Prabhat Kumar
those who had died of Covid-19 had been “liberated”, and that Indians
Phone: 7042877713
must not be perturbed by death since it was all part of the “cycle of life
Website: www.cpiml.net
E-mail: manager.liberation@gmail.com
and death.” A BJP leader, asked about the thousands of corpses in
the Ganga and the mass graves on its banks, claimed that these are
54 pages including covers
in keeping with the sacred Hindu tradition of “jal samadhi” (death by
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 3
COMMENTARY
government messages urging citizens to seek
vaccination, and there is already an acute shortage
of the anti-fungal drug Amphotericin-B, leading to
avoidable deaths of Covid-19 patients who developed
“black fungus” due to unhygienic conditions. The
vacuum of reliable and affordable healthcare for
the vast majority of people, is paving the way for
charlatans peddling superstitions and “miracle cures”
as Covid-19 remedies.
The Modi regime is suppressing data on cases and
Bodies buried in the sand near the banks of Ganga river in fatalities: data crucial to shaping a proper response
UP, allegedly due to shortage of wood for cremation, during
the second wave of coronavirus,. (Photo: PTI)
and saving lives. A Gujarati poet whose poem
on “The Corpse-Laden Ganga” declared that “My
voluntary immersion in water)! Death stalks every Emperor has no clothes”, is being attacked viciously
village in UP now, and is fast spreading all over rural by the BJP’s troll army. People, and even hospital
North India. The poor, lacking means and space administrators, posting about oxygen shortage are
to decently cremate their dead, are forced to bury being arrested as a threat to “National Security.”
them on river banks or leave them in the river, where But these relentless attacks cannot suppress the
the corpses wash up downstream in Bihar. But the questions. The continuation of the authoritarian and
shameless BJP which rules at the Centre and in UP callous Modi regime itself is a recipe for the continued
too, tells us that what we’re smelling is not the stench Covid-19 massacre. If India is to survive; if at least
of death but the scent of flowers. now, we are to prevent entire villages from being
Meanwhile, vaccines have dwindled, as have wiped out – Modi must go. p
Foil the Modi Government’s Conspiracy to
Overturn the West Bengal Verdict
Dipankar Bhattacharya
I
ndia’s dysfunctional
democracy, renamed elected
autocracy by the international
media, works best at nights. Forty-
six years ago the Emergency had
been ushered in through a dreaded
midnight knock on the constitutional
doors of democracy. In our current
dystopian reign of ‘achchhe
din’, major announcements like
demonetisation and lockdown
are all made usually late in the
evening. Two weeks after the
stunning West Bengal verdict, the
state is now experiencing a whole
new set of nocturnal intrigues. the panchayati raj minister of the afternoon, but the High Court
On 17 May the CBI arrested Mamata 3.0 – in connection with stayed the bail through an ex parte
four politicians – including the a five-year-old corruption case. order around midnight, following
serving Mayor of Kolkata and They got bail from a CBI court in which the four accused were taken
4 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)
COMMENTARY
to jail at the dead of night. The High conducted in 2014, but the tapes blamed the people of West Bengal
Court stay on a reasoned bail order were released just before the for committing a historic blunder by
violated all procedural propriety 2016 elections, and became a big not voting the BJP to power.
and set up a shocking example talking point in those elections. In
It will be height of political naivety
of sending people unnecessarily 2017 the case was handed over
to see West Bengal developments
to jail even as the Supreme Court to the CBI by the Kolkata High
Court. Several of the key accused as just another controversy over
has explicitly advised against it in
these pandemic conditions. have meanwhile shifted to the BJP, a few scam-accused politicians.
including Mukul Roy, currently an The opposition to the politically
Ever since the poll results
all-India Vice President of the BJP motivated use of the CBI or the
announced an emphatic rejection
and MLA and Suvendu Adhikari, office of the Governor is not a
of the BJP dream of conquering
currently the leader of the BJP defence of the scam-accused or
West Bengal, indications were
legislature party and the leader advocacy of impunity for those
clear that the BJP was in no
of opposition in West Bengal implicated in corruption cases.
mood to accept the verdict and let
Assembly. Why is the CBI, which The point is having failed to win
things settle down. Incidents of
showed little urgency with its the elections in West Bengal, the
post-poll political violence were
prosecution all this time, suddenly BJP is out to undermine the verdict
mischievously given a communal
in a hurry when West Bengal has by all means. The concerted
spin and massively exaggerated
just emerged from a protracted intervention of the CBI and the
with forged reports and fake
eight-phased electoral exercise Governor marks just a continuation
videos. The verdict was termed a
and is trying to combat a raging
‘minority veto’ and a campaign was by other means of the BJP’s failed
pandemic? And why this selecting
launched across the country and bid to conquer West Bengal.
targeting of only TMC leaders to the
among the Indian diaspora against
complete exclusion of the accused The BJP is especially aghast with
a so-called anti-Hindu terror and
who have now taken refuge in the the West Bengal verdict because
genocide in West Bengal.
BJP? Incidentally, one of the four it has energised the ongoing
Notorious for his extremely leaders now arrested, is Sovan struggles against the betrayal
partisan role in West Bengal, Chattopadhyay, a former Mayor and incompetence of the Modi
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar of Kolkata Corporation and TMC government and strengthened the
is working overtime to subvert leader who had recently joined people’s yearning for a powerful
the verdict and work as an the BJP only to resign after being national opposition and political
independent centre of power over denied a ticket. alternative to the Modi government.
and above the elected government
There is however more to the Hence the desperate attempt to
and beyond the parameters of
CBI intervention at this moment undermine and overturn the West
constitutional propriety. Even as
than merely regulating the traffic Bengal verdict. Any imposition of
the incidents of post-poll violence
of turncoats – past, present, President’s Rule in West Bengal
ebbed and the state began to
and potential. The unmistakable will be an all-out war on the
pay attention to the ominously
message is that any state refusing constitutional foundation and
escalating Covid19 graph, the
to accept the double engine bait federal framework of Indian polity.
Governor chose to visit Sitalkuchi
of the BJP will have to remain
and Nandigram. And while the It will be not just a distraction of
ready to pay a heavy price for its
MLAs and ministers were being popular attention away from the
defiance. Delhi has had to pay the
sworn in, he authorised the CBI Modi government’s catastrophic
price even though the Aam Aadmi
to proceed with the prosecution of failure in the face of the Covid
Party has hardly played any major
the accused in the Narada case, second wave, but decimation of
oppositional role, and has chosen
as part of the script currently democracy in India. Opposition
to go with the BJP on all major
unfolding in West Bengal, without parties and people’s movements
political issues, from stripping J&K
any consultation with the state across India must therefore
of its constitutional status to the
government or reference to the condemn the Modi government’s
BJP narrative on the Delhi riots
Speaker. and the string of vindictive post- conspiratorial intervention in West
We must remember that the riot arrests of anti-CAA activists. Bengal and demand immediate
Narada sting had actually been Indeed, several BJP leaders have recall of the partisan Governor. p
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 5
COMMENTARY
Casteism and the Spectre of
Hindutva in America
Aishik Saha
C
aste violence reared its their passports taken away once gave a eulogy at his funeral and laid
ugly head in the United they reached the site. They were the foundation stone for a temple
States as Bochasanwasi forced to work grueling hours with that BAPS is building in Abu Dhabi.”
Shri Akshar Purushottam compensation as low as $1.20 per
The fact that most of the workers
Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) day, which is a tenth of $12 per day
were Dalits is once again a stark
was exposed by its workers for minimum wage in New Jersey, and
reminder that caste discrimination
exploitative labor practices and prevented from taking breaks. The
runs amok in the United States,
human trafficking. The workers workers were even threatened as
with Dalits having little way of
who had been recruited in India to not communicate with anyone
legal recourse when discriminated
and taken to the US on ‘R-1’ outside of the community.
against. The BAPS temple had
visas that are usually granted to
The close relationship between previously also been found
religious workers, were made to
the Sanstha and Narendra Modi employing a 17 year old minor,
work in inhumane conditions and
was pointed out by New York who died on the construction
for starvation wages. The Federal
Times stating “The organization site in 2017, but seems to have
Bureau of Investigation raided the
has strong ties with Narendra Modi, evaded any public scrutiny. Caste
premises of the Swaminarayan
India’s prime minister, and his discrimination once again came
Temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey,
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr. into focus as a CISCO employee
reportedly the largest Hindu temple
Modi has said that Pramukh Swami complained of caste discrimination
in the US.
Maharaj, the spiritual head who built in 2020. Neither is this the first time
The workers alleged that they had BAPS into the largest Hindu sect that human trafficking and slavery
been taken to the United States in the United States before dying has been involved with the issue
under false promises and had in 2016, was his mentor. Mr. Modi of temple construction. In the year
6 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)
COMMENTARY
2000 a high profile case emerged Affairs Analyst, has exposed the flow argued that the existing provisions
where a temple was constructed in of saffron dollars into the pockets of against discrimination in the US
the UK using slave labor with the US politicians like Preston Kulkarni are sufficient and inclusion of caste
knowledge of the then UK Home and US Senator Tulsi Gabbard, who would associate the entirety of
Office Minister. has often positioned herself as a the Indian origin population in
Hindutva in the United ‘progressive’. the US with caste discrimination.
States Hindutva has played a key role
One is tempted to ask if the
regular occurrence of caste based
in attempting to downplay any
As a racial minority, Indians have discrimination in US soil not affect
criticism of caste discrimination as
faced a long history of discrimination Indian origin people or if Dalits are
a product of the ‘colonial gaze’. In a
in the United States, with Punjabi not Indians in the eyes of Hindutva?
recent, high intensity debate in the
immigrants playing a pioneering
Santa Clara county in the US, which Proponents of Hindutva play a
role since the late 19th century
has a high number concentration of particularly devious game in the
in California. Many South Asian
South Asian American residents, United States and western world at
students and academics have
the extent of caste discrimination large. While claiming their status as
played crucial role in opposing
became clear as did the extent a racial minority, they do everything
racial discrimination and police
that supporters of Hindutva will in their power to undermine the
atrocities in the US.
go to downplay the issue . As the voices of minorities and ensure the
However Hindutva has sought Santa Clara County (California) continuance of white supremacy in
to use the community in order Human Rights Commission debated the US. This is the basis of their
to purchase political currency whether to recognize caste as an alliance with Trump and the white
in Washington and in order to axis of discrimination, the Hindu supremacist groups within the US.
ensure its own acceptability in the American Foundation, a major voice This policy of running with the hares
international community. Pieter for Hindutva in the US, employed a and hunting with the hounds will
Friedrich, a US based South Asian particularly dubious piece of logic. It inevitably backfire. p
Arguments For Dropping Kerala’s “Rockstar”
Health Minister Are Unconvincing
Kavita Krishnan
for a successive term for the first
K
K Shailaja, popularly chance, and so no Minister from
known as Shailaja time since 1977. the previous cabinet has been given
“Teacher” made her another term. Further, the State
With this impressive track
mark as Kerala’s Health Minister, Committee had also previously
record, KK Shailaja should have
during the Nipah virus attack, decided, to the same end, not to
been a shoo-in for Health Minister
and then during the Covid-19 field any MLA who had already
once again. But, in a move that
pandemic. She received acclaim served two terms.
for her exemplary work, not only made no sense to any observers of
in India, but internationally. And politics in Kerala or India, Shailaja Let us address these, and some
she was reelected with the largest was dropped from the cabinet, and other, arguments in defence of
margin of victory ever in the history instead given the post of Party this decision to drop KK Shailaja
of Kerala Assembly elections. No Whip (a largely ceremonial post in as Health Minister. But before we
doubt, she contributed in a big way a disciplined party like the CPIM). do so, let us clear the air on one
to what People’s Democracy, the In defence of this decision, we have question being raised by many
CPIM organ, reminds us was a been told that the Kerala State CPIM supporters on social media:
“collective effort” to buck Kerala’s Committee of the CPIM decided do I, as a leader of the CPIML, have
usual pattern and re-elect the LDF that new faces should be given a any locus standi to be commenting
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 7
COMMENTARY
on a decision internal to the CPIM cabinet needs a judicious mix tools are meant to correct
and its Kerala State Committee? of experience as well as fresh the underrepresentation of
My humble reply here is: everyone blood? Why drop and replace politicians from oppressed and
has every right to comment on a an able Health Minister, who marginalised backgrounds.
decision that affects the general has passed the test of fire These tools, meant to
public. This is not a decision about
with flying colours, when the promote social and political
who will lead the CPIM party and
pandemic is still ongoing? justice, become unjust if
in what capacity. The Kerala State
Surely, the Kerala mandate applied to those from already
Committee of the CPIM has every
cannot be interpreted only underrepresented identities
right to take any decision. But
when it takes a decision that has as one for Pinarayi Vijayan’s and communities. Women are
implications for public interest, role as Chief Minister? There severely underrepresented
a decision about a cabinet post, is no doubt that Kerala in political leadership.
and about the role assigned to an voters believed they were When a woman achieves
elected people’s representative – I getting Vijayan as CM and political success and mass
have every right to question it, as Shailaja as Health Minister; acceptance, she should be
a citizen of India and as a woman dropping Shailaja now is given more rope rather than
in Indian politics. As a leader of a not in consonance with the be reined in, so that she is
left party, I question the decision mandate. free to explore how much
out of concern for the health and
• Measures like limiting MLAs further she can go. The right
wellbeing of the left in India.
thing to do would be to keep
Now, let us take a look
to two terms, and replacing
Shailaja on as Health Minister,
at the arguments being old Ministers with new ones
while inducting more women
offered. are tools meant to ensure
as Ministers.
that those from privileged
New faces must get a chance
and entitled backgrounds • The glaring exception to the
• While this is an admirable make way for those from “new faces” rule is the Chief
principle, it cannot possibly marginalised backgrounds who Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.
be written in stone. Surely a are usually overlooked. These If the rule is so hard and
8 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)
COMMENTARY
fast, apply it to everyone. politicians, do we not accept a decision to drop their highly
Why make an exception to ambition as a given, and even popular health minister during a
the rule for a man already at welcome and enjoy the tussle pandemic, by saying “You have
the pinnacle of his political between rival political ambitions? to be One of Us to understand
career, while applying the rule this, you are bourgeois idiots
In a communist party, the
to a woman even though it
individual is not important who are too inferior to be able
effectively prevents her from
Once again, this is an to appreciate communist party
building on the popularity she
admirable principle that can discipline and culture.”
has just begun to achieve?
The man who has enjoyed the combat the culture of cults and Equating “communist
sun shining on him for so long, foster a democratic culture. culture” with opaque, arbitrary,
continues to enjoy his place But if this admirable principle arcane, and esoteric rules that
in the sun; while the woman is being applied to every Minister the general public lacks the
who has just found a place in the former cabinet, why not specialised consciousness to
under the sun, is sent back to apply it to the CM as well? question, is very damaging for
the shade: this is not a just or the Left's health.
When Vijayan is retained
welcome outcome.
as CM while all experienced
The Left should be able to
Shailaja has welcomed the Ministers are replaced by
show itself to be more democratic
decision, respect her agency newcomers, does it not give
and transparent, and more
I am intrigued to see the Vijayan, as an individual political
welcoming of criticism than any
invocation of the concept of figure, a disproportionate status
and power? Does it really serve other party. To declare that your
“agency” in this context. Shailaja
a democratic political culture principles and decisions are “too
did not make a personal decision
when the decision seems to treat complicated and abstruse” to
to step down as Minister;
Vijayan alone as irreplaceable be understood or criticised by
she cheerfully and gracefully
and “above the fray”, while those outside your fold, is better
accepted a decision made by
her party. deeming all others to be suited to authoritarian cults, not
expendable? communist parties.
But her acceptance is not
enough to persuade others to There is another aspect of Asked to comment on the
accept an unreasonable decision. individuality, however, that decision, CPIM Politburo member
Hers cannot be the last word on must be emphasised. In the Brinda Karat clearly conveyed
the subject, because the harm c a s e o f w o me n (an d person s
that the Kerala State Committee
of the said decision is not to from other marginalised and
of her party was on its own when
Shailaja alone: it affects public underrepresented categories),
it came to defending its decision
health; it affects the future of it is important to stress that they
to drop Shailaja, saying, “it is for
gender policy in political parties; are individual women, and not
them to give an explanation and
and it affects women in politics. merely token symbols of WOMAN
as a category. When KK Shailaja answer the questions which are
It sends the message that is replaced by Veena George, it being raised by their decision.”
women are most admirable diminishes the individuality of Indeed, the onus is on the
when they eschew ambition and both. Kerala Chief Minister to explain
embrace decorum and discipline.
As we laud these qualities in Critics of this decision do his cabinet choices, and answer
Shailaja, should we not ask not understand communist why he did not insist on retaining
ourselves if we even expect a culture, party discipline the Health Minister who won such
similar lack of ambition in, say, a It’s time to worry if a left party laurels for his Government and
VS Achuthanandan or a Pinarayi responds to questions from his party in the middle of a global
Vijayan? When it comes to male non-party “commoners” about pandemic. p
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 9
INTERNATIONAL
Continuing Ethnic Genocide in Palestine
This recent spurt in violence
A
fter 11 days of bloody shot by Hamas, most of whom
mayhem, a ceasefire were easily demolished by Israel’s is the latest in a long story of
between Israel and sophisticated weaponry, supplied settler colonialism, of forced
Hamas was declared on 20 May this by its faithful allies such as the displacement, ethnic and cultural
year. International media coverage United States. genocide. For the people living in
of the recent developments in Gaza, and also for the residents
What really happened was a
Palestine routinely refer to a ‘war’ of the West Bank in Palestine,
thoroughly unprovoked attack on
between Hamas and Palestine; mayhem and massacres are
the Al-Aqsa mosque in April by
as an armed conflict between two nothing new. Israel has been
the Israeli police, a month before
powers. The fact however is that illegally occupying vast tracts
any rockets were hurled towards
this was no ‘war’: it was a planned, and controlling both areas for
south Israel by Hamas. As several
well-executed, genocidal assault decades. Both Gaza and West
observers have noted, the police
by Israel on Palestine. For 11 Bank resemble vast jails where
action in the Al-Aqsa mosque,
days, Israel launched genocidal economic blockades enforced by
on the first day of Ramzan (or
airstrikes on Gaza targeting Israel are a part of daily existence.
Ramadan, as it is referred to in
essential services like power Israel still controls access to
Palestine), was clearly designed
supplies, hospitals and schools. the area, and over Gaza's air
to humiliate, subjugate, bully and
Attacks were launched even on space and seacoast, and its
terrorise Palestine. What really
school playgrounds. Journalists, forces enter the area at will. Fuel,
happened in Palestine was Israel
doctors and several children electricity, imports, exports and
attempting the ethnic cleansing of
were killed by Israeli forces. the movement of people in and out
Sheikh Jarrah, a predominantly
Throughout this mayhem, Israel of Gaza have been slowly chocked
Palestinian neighbourhood in
touted its usual excuse – that off, leading to life-threatening
East Jerusalem. Armed lynch
it was ‘provoked’ by the Hamas problems of sanitation, health,
mobs of Israeli settlers attacked
and has a right to defend itself. water supply and transportation.
Palestinian homes, supplementing
The ‘provocation’, in fact, was
the official Israeli Defence Forces. All tall talk of ‘two sides’ to
some crude homemade rockets
the violence, and all of Israel’s
10 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)INTERNATIONAL
justifications for the right to defend commentators have pointed out however indicates that the
itself, fly in the face of Israel’s that this deliberate escalation of winds of support for Israel might
own words and deeds over the tensions in East Jerusalem has just be shifting in the US. For
decades. Israeli leaders have allowed Netanyahu to corner his years together, Israel enjoyed
referred to Palestinians and Arabs opponents on the right – forcing unconditional bipartisan support
as ‘grasshoppers’ who need to be them to support him. Netanyahu, from both the Republicans and
crushed; as mosquitoes and wild for his political survival, needed Democrats in the US. This
animals destined to disappear. In to prevent leftists, rightists and bipartisan consensus is facing
1948, David Ben-Gurion, the first Arabs from coming together as unprecedented and public
Prime Minister of Israel, stated a rival faction to unseat him. challenges today. Progressive
that Israel was not “obliged to state Since the current violence has Democratic leaders including
the limits of our state”. To begin successfully rekindled fractures Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib,
with, in 1947, the United Nations between Arabs and Jews, thus Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and
carved the state of Israel for the helping Netanyahu, speculation is others have gone on record,
Jews out of Palestine, giving Israel rife that he had a hand in actively openly condemning Joe Biden
55% of Palestinian land, an event promoting and fomenting it. Now, and his administration’s support
that will probably go down as the the chances of Netanyahu coming to the ongoing carnage in
most audacious legalised thievery back to power are brighter than Palestine. They are pointing out
of our times. Since then, Israel they were before the conflict. that Palestinians have a right to
has blatantly violated every single
The Global Response: live, that Israel is a apartheid state
international agreement. Over the
Signs of a Breaking today. For probably the first time
decades, it has far overstepped
Bipartisan Consensus in in decades, the pro-Israel lobby in
the boundaries allocated to it
the US? the US is having to contend with
by the UN. Today, Israel claims strong opposition in the Senate
control over way more than 80% As Israeli forces continued to
and the House of Representatives.
of Palestine. The planned forced pound Palestine and attempt to
This support for Palestine, of
evictions from Sheikh Jarrah forcibly take over Sheikh Jarrah,
course, is being strengthened by
this month are a part and parcel the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
spirited political and civil society
of Israel using its considerable Netanyahu thanked 25 countries
mobilisations against Israel in
military and political weight to – including the United States
the US, UK and Europe. In one
literally throw Palestinians away and the UK – for their “resolute”
of the most beautiful expressions
from more and more parts of land support. For years together, Israel
of solidarity, dock workers in
that is legitimately theirs. Far from has banked on primarily the US
Italy and the UK refused to load
fighting for its legal and moral and UK to carry forward its racist,
arms and war material meant for
“right to exist”, Israel is waging a expansionist and genocidal project
Israel. Young Jews, in particular,
virtual holocaust against peoples in Palestine. In a recent statement
are standing up to say that they
struggling to protect their lands. brought out by the South Asia
oppose the Israeli state’s Zionist
Solidarity Group, it was pointed
What makes the current violence agenda. Whether this will lead to
out that the US has provided $146
even more despicable is the a long-term shift in international
billion dollars to Israel since 1948,
cynical and political manipulation support to the US is something to
and an additional $375 million
of the conflict by Benjamin watch out for.
worth of arms to Israel. Arms
Netanyahu. Netanyahu is an
unpopular leader in Israel today.
sales from UK to Israel have risen India’s role
from £74 million in 2008-2014 For quite some time now, the
He has been unable to cobble up
to a £361 million in 2014- 2018. Indian government’s foreign policy
a parliamentary majority in several
The US, by using its veto power has been seeing a shift. India,
consecutive elections. He has
in the UN Security Council, has which was one of Palestine’s
failed to establish a majority even
repeatedly provided Israel with staunch supporters, slowly started
after being given three chances
diplomatic immunity and freedom building diplomatic, military and
to do so. Moreover, he is plagued
by serious charges of corruption, from sanctions for its horrendous economic ties with Israel – leading
which have been dogging him war crimes. to a significant dilution in its
for a while now. Several political The current spate of violence condemnation of Israel’s genocidal
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 11INTERNATIONAL
COVER STORY
war crimes. Under Narendra to state unequivocally that East homes. And the Indian government
Modi, the Indian government took Jerusalem is and should always was arresting youth in Kashmir
this process to the next level. be part of Palestine. Without East for holding protests in support of
As a result of the RSS-BJP’s Jerusalem going to Palestine, a Palestine. Kashmiri artist Mudasir
growing influence, the popular two-state solution to the Israel- Gul was arrested for the 'crime' of
discourse in India shifted against Palestine conflict is virtually producing graffiti with the words ‘We
the Palestinian struggle. The impossible. In other words, the are Palestine’.
Hindutva project found a kindred Indian government’s support for
spirit in Israel’s Zionist, anti-Arab, Palestine was toothless because it The battle for justice and
anti-Muslim agenda. did not state the specifics. freedom for Palestine is going to
be a long and arduous one. It will
As the current violence flared up in As the Modi government was
require people across the globe to
Palestine, the Modi government did equivocating on its support to
not join the caucus of unconditional Palestine, right-wing supporters press against racist, fascist ideas
support for Israel. It issued a were cheerfully trending hashtags and put pressure on their own
statement condemning some of on Twitter in support of Israel. governments. We, in India, have
the Israeli violence. However, the Right-wing activists were proudly a historic responsibility to defend
devil is in the details. The Indian stating their willingness to fight the Palestinian resistance, to stand
government, shifting away from alongside Israeli troops brutally against all forms of colonial and
decades of its own policy, refused evicting Palestinians from their imperial agendas. p
Solidarity with the Palestinian People’s
Resistance against Israel’s Annexation
Plan and Crimes Against Humanity
- CPIML Statement
T
he people in the ongoing land-air-sea blockade annex over 30% areas of West
occupied Palestinian and continuous bombings by Bank, particularly in the Jordan
territories of West Bank Israel, that has destroyed Gaza’s Valley. The proposed annexation
and Gaza are facing a new most of the vital infrastructures. will mostly be in Area C of the
wave of brutal aggression by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin occupied West Bank, where most
Israel apartheid regime. On the Netanyahu, has warned of a of the illegal Israeli settlements
night of May 10, 2021, Israeli full force attack on Gaza, with have been built.
military forces launched series of Defense Minister Benny Gantz The airstrike comes in the
airstrikes in Gaza massacring 26 mobilizing thousands of reserve background of growing resistance
people– including nine children*. troops. Netanyahu, who is already by Palestinians against Israel’s
The youngest victim of this Israeli facing massive corruption scandal annexation move in Sheikh
crimes against humanity was and electoral crisis, had been Jarrah, locality in the occupied
10-years-old. The aggression long unleashing violent acts East Jerusalem. Sheikh Jarrah
comes as a further blow to against Palestinians to woo the neighborhood has more than
the people in Gaza who are country’s right-wing sections 3,000 Palestinian families who
already reeling under devastating in his favour. He had already face constant violence by illegal
humanitarian crisis due the announced a full-scale plan to Israeli settlers, and evictions and
12 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)INTERNATIONAL
destruction of property by Israeli is a clear act of ethnic cleansing must impose military embargo on
forces. and eliminating the presence of Israel’s apartheid regime and stop
On May 7, worshippers Palestinian population for their enabling Israel's brutal siege of
gathered at the al-Aqsa mosque own land. Gaza and mass crimes against
expressed their solidarity with Indian Government Must End Palestinians through their support
the families who were threatened Support To Israel’s Apartheid of Israel's military industry.
with eviction in Sheikh Jarrah India had played a crucial role As the Palestinians continue
neighborhoods. The Israeli forces in supporting the anti-apartheid to resist the Israeli brutality,
stormed the mosque and brutally struggle in South Africa and was
apartheid and military occupation,
attacked people who were inside one of the first counties to sever
CPI (ML) Liberation reiterates its
the compound, lobbing tear-gas trade relations with the apartheid
complete solidarity with the people
and firing rubber bullets. regime and subsequently imposed
of Palestine and their struggle for
Since then, Israeli forces have wide range of embargo on South
liberation. We also reiterate our
escalated their violence inside the Africa. Today, Narendra Modi led
support for strengthening the
mosque and against the protests Indian government is standing on
global Palestinian call of Boycott,
by Palestinians demanding end the wrong side of the history by
Divestment and Sanctions (BSD)
to the illegal annexations and supporting the Israeli apartheid
against Israel.
military occupation. Armed Israeli regime. India government
settlers have also been given free continues to expand its relation
hand by Israeli military forces to with Israel and is importing both *Ed: At the time of declaration
attack Palestinians. More than Israeli arms and tactics to be used of ceasefire on 21 May 2021,
700 Palestinians have been against the people in Kashmir and Palestinian death toll stood at
injured in Israeli attacks in the for repressing the democratic and 248, including 66 children, with
West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem people’s movement in India. more than 1,900 people wounded
since last Friday. The need of the hour is that from Israeli air and artillery
The annexation plan by Israel India and international community attacks. p
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 13INTERNATIONAL
In Solidarity With People of Columbia
Against Iván Duque Government
- AICCTU Statement
C
olombia is witnessing
massive protests and
general strike since April
28 against the regressive proposals
of tax reforms and privatization
of healthcare by government of
Ivan Duque. Hand in glove with
the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the United States, Duque
government had been spread-
heading neoliberal agenda in
Colombia, robbing jobs, livelihood
and rights of the people.
While all concessions are being
given to capitalists and corporation
amid COVID-19 pandemic, the
burden of government’s economic
the Duque government on May 2 America in October 2020, Colombia
failure are being forced upon the
announced the suspension of the is one of the most unequal countries
working class with policies like the
proposed reforms, but the national in Latin America and it has the
new tax reform and privatization of mobilizations across Colombia widest development gap among
healthcare. continues demanding an end to its own regions. In Colombia, more
Resisting the tax reforms and neoliberal policies of Duque. The than 7.4 million people are living
privatization of health plans, the people are also demanding an end in extreme poverty. The lack of
workers’ union in Colombia had to police brutalities and justice for economic support for people during
given the call for national strike on victims of police repression. the pandemic has led to further
April 28. Massive mobilizations and increase in unemployment rate in
State sponsored violence against
road blocks were witnessed across the country to around 15% in 2021,
indigenous and peasant leaders,
Colombia with tens of thousands with more than 3 million currently
students, trade unions activist and
joining the strike in Bogota and Cali. without any job.
human rights defenders had been
On the day of International Workers’ rising since the government of Duque The working class and toiling
Day (May 1), Duque government came to power in 2018. Just in 2021, masses of Colombia are determined
deployed military forces in three 57 indigenous and peasant leaders to put a stop to the anti-people
largest cities, the capital Bogota, and human rights defenders were neoliberal policies and sponsored
Medellin and Cali, to quell the assassinated and 33 massacres state violence of Duque regime. The
resistance where tens of thousands were orchestrated against people. people are also demanding an end
had come to streets in solidarity According to United Nations, in 2020, to Colombian government’s support
with the strike. Despite facing brutal 255 people killed in 66 massacres to the US imperialist agenda in Latin
repressions organized by military in Colombia and around 120 human American region.
forces and the infamous Mobile Anti- rights defenders were assassinated. AICCTU extends its unwavering
Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD),
The neoliberal economic model, solidarity to the on-going national
the protests continue to expand in
rampant privatization and state mobilization in Colombia by
strength and spirit across Colombia.
sponsored repression, along with working class, peasants, students,
According to reports, more than 42
the failure of the government to indigenous groups and different
people have been killed in the police
tackle COVID-19 pandemic has sections of the population. We also
violence against the protesters
robbed people of their livelihood, reiterate our support to the demand
and more than 1,139 people were dignity and right to justice. According of an end to the US and IMF’s
arbitrarily arrested. to a study carried out by the Index neoliberal and imperialist project
Facing tremendous resistance, of Regional Development—Latin in Latin America.p
14 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)SPECIAL FEATURE
WORKERS IN THE SECOND WAVE
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and
Lockdown on Local and Migrant Workers
in Bengaluru
(Excerpts from reports workers, Pourakarmikas (Sanitation Centres, on which the working class
prepared by AICCTU Karnataka workers) and Auto drivers. A total entirely depend on, need to be
on the health, dignity, and rights of 73 non-migrant workers and 46 upgraded and expanded extensively.
of local and migrant workers and migrant workers were interviewed The medical infrastructure including
by telephone. These interviews oxygen, beds, and medicines must
crematorium/graveyard workers
were conducted between May 1st be ramped up.
in the pandemic.)
to May 6th. b) Oxygen, Bed, and
T
he objective of this report
AICCTU collaborated with Medication shortages: In
is to highlight the status
Garment and Textile Workers Union coordination with the Central
of workers during the
(GATWU) and Domestic Workers Government, the State Government
COVID-19 2nd wave in Bengaluru
Rights Union (DWRU) for the report. must procure adequate supply of
and the second set of restrictions and
Below are the recommendations of oxygen along with buffer stocks. The
lockdowns. To be able to represent
the report. details of requests placed, oxygen
concerns of a diverse range of
workers, we ensured that we spoke Recommendations supply granted, procurements, and
distribution to various districts and
to diverse set of workers including 1. Health aspects hospitals must be placed publicly on a
Construction workers, Garment
i. Ensuring Adequate regular basis. State Government must
workers, Metro workers, Security
guards, Workers in small shops, supply of medical facilities take immediate steps in coordination
Waste pickers, Domestic workers, a) Strengthening Public with BBMP to ramp up ICU beds
Taxi drivers, Library workers, MC Health Infrastructure: Public health and High Dependency Unit (HDU)
Gang men, Street vendors, Hospital infrastructure, especially COVID-19 beds availability across the State,
workers, Ready Mix Concrete care centres, hospitals and health including conversion of identified
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 15SPECIAL FEATURE
public buildings. Medication required in densely populated areas, with a is the need of the hour. Information
for the treatment of COVID-19 such special focus on slums. dissemination can be done by video
as Remdesivir and Tocilizumab broadcasts on all TV channels in
iii. Quarantine facilities
must be acquired in advance, having all languages, along with official
assessed the requirements, along a) Home quarantine videos, posters, and information
with buffer stocks. Local production facilities: Persons required to being circulated on social media and
must be incentivized. undergo home quarantine must be WhatsApp. It must be constantly
provided with “Home Quarantine reiterated that no stigma is attached
c) Priority in ESI Hospitals:
Kits” which would contain Personal to a positive result, and action will
Workers must be provided medical
Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, be taken against those stigmatizing
treatment of priority in ESI Hopsitals.
masks, gloves, sanitizer, oximeter, COVID-19 patients.
d) Compensation for thermometer, Vitamin D, Vitamin
COVID-19 deaths: In case of C, Zincovit, cough syrups, Dolo/ b) Helplines: Most workers
Covid-related deaths among BPL Paracetamol, steroids (when are not aware of the helplines for
families, the family must be be paid required), and inhalers (when COVID-19 support. The few that
compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs. required). This must be provided reached out to the helplines did
free of cost to families who cannot not receive support. Steps must
ii. Testing and facilities
afford the same. be taken to increase awareness
a) COVID-19 testing camps: regarding the helpline numbers. It
State Government must immediately b) Covid Care Centres must also be ensured that helpline
organize free COVID-19 testing (CCC): Covid Care Centers must desks are adequately staffed and
camps in all slums, working class be increased in number for more equipped to provide 24/7 help.
layouts and colonies, migrant and decentralization and must be
established at ward/community c) Awareness for Migrant
construction worker labour camps
level with adequate beds and workers: Government must
and colonies, along with distribution
facilities to ensure proper isolation specifically keep in mind that there
of masks and sanitizers across
and treatment of COVID-19 patients are vast numbers of Migrant workers
the State. Information regarding
free of cost. in Karnataka state, and helplines
the free COVID-19 testing camps
and awareness programmes must
and their schedules must be made iv. Treatment also be enabled to handle their
publicly available at least 10 days
a) The Covid Care Centres needs as well as to reach them.
in advance so that adequate testing
(CCC) shall be the first point vi. Vaccination
is carried out. Results of the testing
of contact for those requiring
must be released within 24-48 a) Universal vaccination:
hospitalization. These CCCs must
hours to ensure that quick remedial All persons must be given free
have emergency oxygen stock as
steps are taken. Testing must be vaccination, to be provided within
well as necessary medications.
conducted in all slum areas and a fixed period of time. A priority
Arrangements for any person
working class areas. list must be created to distribute
requiring hospitalization including
b) Sanitizing areas: All ICU shall be provided by the CCC. vaccination amongst those most
slums, working class layouts and Every CCC shall have atleast 2 vulnerable on account of shortage
colonies, migrant and construction ambulances for the purpose of of vaccines. The Government
worker labour camps and colonies bringing people to the CCC or to must also push for centralized
must be sanitized on a weekly shift them to the hospitals. procurement of vaccines, and
basis. localized distribution. Legal barriers
b) All treatment and medical to vaccine availability must be
c) Random testing: Random arrangements shall be provided free removed, and the Government must
testing of the public at hotspots for of cost. explore mitigating measures such
transmission must be restarted,
v. Awareness as compulsory licensing and waiver
such as bus stations, railway
of Intellectual Property Rights
stations, airports, and markets. a) Information: There is a
(IPRs).
Especially since containment dire lack of basic information among
zones are not being utilized by the general public in the State b) Method of vaccination:
the State during the second wave, which is causing panic and fear. The system of requiring prior
random testing must be conducted Intense information dissemination online registration for vaccination
16 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)SPECIAL FEATURE
along with documentation is Powrakarmikas, garment workers, establishments, wages have not
inherently exclusionary and in plantation workers and other been paid for the periods prior
violation of the right to equality. The sections of the unorganised sector. to the lockdown and it is unsure
Government must undertake door- The package is a must for allowing if wages will be paid during the
to-door vaccination and establish maintaining a dignified life during lockdown. This has led to complete
vaccination camps to ensure the lockdown period. desperation amongst workers.
free and universal vaccination. ii. Protection of Livelihood Necessary orders must be issued
Additionally, vaccination must directing payment of full wages for
be administered at every block a) Urban Employment the lockdown period irrespective of
level, in CHCs, PHCs, government Guaranatee Scheme: Urban whether work has been undertaken.
hospitals, schools, colleges, etc. Employment Guarantee Scheme
in line with the Mahatma Gandhi f) State as model employer:
c) Vaccination timelines: Where the State is the employer,
National Rural Employment
With the suspension of vaccination it must act as a model employer
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) should
for persons from 18-45 years of age and ensure the fullest protection
be initiated to ensure employment
as on May 12, 2021, the Government of rights of its workers, including
for those in urban areas
must provide a timeline as to when workers in BMRCL and Bengaluru
vaccination will restart, and the b) Ensure Job Security:
Smart City, from full payment of
method in which vaccination will Introduce legislation to make job
wages, to healthcare to provision
be carried out along with details of security a right, abolishing all forms
of proper living conditions to non-
procurement and supply to various of cotnract and casual labour and
termination of employment.
districts. ensuring that those workers are
made permanent g) Arrears of wages:
d) Workers’ camps: Free Workers in various sectors,
vaccination camps must be c) Protection of livelihood:
including garments, suffered in the
organised in all labour camps, Government of Karnataka must
last lockdown as many companies
worker colonies, migrant worker take all necessary steps to ensure
refused to pay salaries. The Labour
colonies and slums that no worker is terminated, and
department must ensure that
full payment of wages is made. In
e) Vaccine information: companies pay the salary or ensure
line with the Circulars dated May
The Government should make government relief is provided.
10, 2021 issued by the Government
publicly available information h) Wages helpline: Labour
of Karnataka directing employers
regarding vaccination procurement, Department must set up a helpline
n o t to te r mi nate constructi on
payments made, and orders placed. for workers who are not paid wages
workers, to pay wages, sanitize
Information dissemination should and who have complaints in regard
their residences, and pay wages,
contain simplified results of vaccine to termination, and immediate
similar directions to be issued
trials, any post-vaccination deaths remedial steps must be taken.
to other industries to ensure the
or complications, and must dispel
protection of livelihood of workers. i) Strengthening of
vaccination hesitancy.
d) Transportation to Labour Department: Government
2. Livelihood workers and Protection against must take all necessary steps to
i. Compensation Police Harassment: Although the strengthen the Labour Department
Government has permitted allows in order to enable it to ensure
a) COVID-19 compensation
for certain works to continue, immediate remedial action for
packages: Government must
workers are in fact unable to go, deductions in wages/non-payment
declare a COVID-19 Financial
due to lack of transportation. of wages.
Compensation package
benefiting all Below Poverty There is also no safeguard against j) Social security: In regard
Line (BPL) families, residents police harassment, in case they to workers in the unorganized sector,
of slums (identified, declared or are travelling in private vehicles. the Karnataka State Unorganised
otherwise), contract and casual Immediate steps need to be taken Worker Social Security Board must
workers receiving wages below Rs. to ensure provision of transportation step up and take responsibility to
15,000/-, domestic workers, street and prevent police harassment. provide social security. This must
vendors, construction workers, e) Payment of wages: It not be limited to those registered
waste-pickers, manual scavengers, is seen that in a large number of under the Act.
LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML) | JUNE 2021 | 17SPECIAL FEATURE
iii. Rent, loan and utility Government must also implement posters and auto announcements,
waivers the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan along with posters to be circulated
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to all in various languages.
a) Rent Waiver: The
persons in PDS shops without
Government must issue necessary b) State assistance: Steps
insistence on ration cards.
orders directing house-owners not must be taken to that any worker
to insist on payment of rent for the b) Indira canteens: Per the who desires to return to his native
lockdown period and a period of two BBMP’s decision to provide food place must be provided travel
months after the lockdown ends. It packets at Indira Canteens, steps assistance to return home.
must also issue orders to ensure must be taken to ensure that when
c) COVID-19 safety
no evictions of any persons are households are located far away
m easur es: Government must
conducted in this period. from the Indira Canteens, they are
ensure that masks, sanitizer, ration
provided food at their doorstep.
b) Loan moratoriums: The kits etc. are distributed at migrant
Government must issue necessary c) Community kitchens: worker colonies specifically as
order directing loan repayment Community kitchens should be also at railway stations.
moratorium across the state of set up to ensure decentralization
d) Provision of safe living
Karnataka for the months of April of food assistance. Support can
conditions: The government must
and May. It must be clarified that the be taken from street vendors to
run such community kitchens. take proactive steps to ensure
said order is applicable to private
An example may be drawn from safe living condition for workers,
and public lenders, individuals and
the Kerala model of community i ncl udi ng undertaki ng regul ar
institutions.
kitchens. fumigation of these areas, have
c) Loan waivers: The intense awareness campaigns
Government must declare waiving d) Food Help-line: The and equip each colony / areas with
of loans owed by workers to Micro Government must set up a help- adequate primary care facilities.
Finance Institutions (MFIs), banks line that caters to food security
specifically, and must ensure e) Periodical testing
and private lenders.
provision of food in a time-bound should also be done so that early
d) Interest free loans: At this manner on receiving any such detection of the illness is possible
time of social and economic crisis, requests. Publicity must be given thereby arresting its spread.
the State Government must provide to these helplines. f) Temporary shelters
interest-free loans to those in need
3. Sector Specific must be established to ensure
based on a transparent policy.
Recommendations migrant workers have facilities
Loans must be prolonged recovery
until the lockdown is lifted.
periods, without any requirement i. Migrant Workers
of securities, and with minimal ii. Hospital and Frontline
a) Helpline: A specific
documentation required. Workers
helpline must be created to address
e) Waivers on utilities: The needs of migrant workers with a) Employers must ensure
Government must waive electricity operators are fluent in Kannada and quality safety equipment,
and water bills to provide financial Hindi languages. The operators of COVID-19 quarantine facility
security to its citizens who are the helpline must be enabled to give while on duty with food and other
suffering at the hands of a pandemic real assistance to those who call, facilities for stay
and lockdown. including b) Risk allowance of
iv. Food Security ● Travel assistance Rs. 10,000/- per month must
● Assistance with non- be provided to all Group – D
a) Ration kits: The State
payment of wages/ termination of housekeeping staff in recognition
Government, in coordination with
employment of their service during the
local municipal corporations,
pandemic
must ensure food security by free ● Health assistance
distribution of ration kits consisting c) Immediate medical
of rice, wheat, ragi, masala, cooking ● Information assistance etc. attention must be provided in case
oil, salt, sugar, etc. to suffice ● This helpline must be widely these workers show symptoms of
for a period of one month. The publicized through social media COVID-19.
18 | JUNE 2021 | LIBERATION - CENTRAL ORGAN OF CPI(ML)You can also read
