The View from the Left

FROM THE FRONT PAGEThe CPM weekly organ says in an editorial that the Election Commission had overreached itself by directing that those aga...

FROM THE FRONT PAGE
The CPM weekly organ says in an editorial that the Election Commission had overreached itself by directing that those against whom non-bailable warrants had been pending for more than six months should be struck off the rolls. This would lead to disenfranchisement of 23,000 people in Bihar and is no way to fight criminalisation of politics. The editorial refers to comments from a commission official that it was more difficult to conduct elections in Bihar, compared to Jammu and Kashmir. 8220;EC must urgently rid itself of its baseless prejudices and biases,8221; the editorial says.

A report on the CPM politburo meeting dwells on the right to strike in the IT sector, which was raised by West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, quotes party general secretary Prakash Karat as stating that as in other sectors, those in the IT sector too had the right to form unions and conduct collective bargaining and this included the right to strike as well. Karat is quoted as saying that some branches of the IT sector may demand continuous work and the party would consider these aspects to make its stand on the issue 8220;realistic8221;.

IN THE NEWS
The Indian Workers8217; Association of Great Britain organised a public meeting to coincide with CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury8217;s trip to the country, for his inaugural address to mark the beginning of the Communist University of Britain. Yechury will later go to New York where he will speak at the UN General Assembly.

Left Front chairman Biman Basu says the state government should immediately go ahead with the scooter manufacturing unit in Uluberia, to be set up in collaboration with Indonesia8217;s Salim group for which Salim will invest Rs 250 crore. Last week, Salim8217;s chief executive Benny Santosa was in Kolkata to ink the deal. The Salim group has been caught up in controversy over the allotment of land for the project. Basu clarifies the land is arid and not classified as agricultural holding. Incidentally, Salim8217;s name does not figure in the news item.

FRATERNAL TIES
A report on the 8220;International Forum on Economic Globalisation and Trade Unions 20058221; organised by the All China Federation of Trade Unions ACFTU refers to the challenges from so-called pro-US international trade union bodies that are reportedly pulling strings 8220;to promote hegemonism with the intention to weaken the trade union movement8221;. The report shows how such forces are manipulating the membership of ILO8217;s governing body, and trains its guns on India8217;s INTUC, the Congress8217;s trade union wing 8212;- saying the ACFTU was not a member while the INTUC had been 8220;enjoying this privilege8221; for decades though it had only 2 per cent of ACFTU8217;s membership.

BY INVITATION
Efraim Davidi of the Communist Party of Israel, writes the Israeli army8217;s withdrawal from Gaza signalled the end of only one kind of occupation there continues to be economic occupation. The Palestinian Authority is doing precious little to end its reliance on Israel, and its actions are monitored by the World Bank, IMF and 8220;Palestinian colleagues8221; to implement Israel8217;s 8220;neo-colonial formula8221; that can quickly turn into a Palestinian nightmare.

FOR A CAUSE
Details of donations for the CPM8217;s Earthquake Relief Fund for earthquake victims in Jammu and Kashmir shows the following contributions from the party8217;s state committees: MP state committee 8212; Rs 5,000; Tripura state committee 8212; Rs 1,00,000; West Bengal state committee 8212; Rs 30,00,000; Delhi state committee 8212; Rs 10,000.

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The donations surely show where the party has a strong cadre base.

NEW PUBLICATION
Articles on India-US Strategic Tie-up: In Whose Interest? by Prakash Karat is available for Rs 5

Compiled by Ananda Majumdar