Opinion Target Maoism

The CPM favours strong administrative action to curb Maoist activities in the aftermath of the attack on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh

June 5, 2013 12:39 AM IST First published on: Jun 5, 2013 at 12:39 AM IST

TARGET MAOISM

The CPM favours strong administrative action to curb Maoist activities in the aftermath of the attack on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh. The party,however,believes left-wing extremism (LWE) should not be treated as a mere law-and-order problem. Sitaram Yechury argues in the partys Peoples Democracy: Given the Maoist line of reliance on the gun and violence,there is no other way but to take firm administrative action to curb such activities. At the same time,it is imperative that the ordinary people do not become victims of state repression. The administration has to ensure that basic services and facilities are provided to the people. The violence of these self-styled Maoists cannot be tackled only as a law-and-order problem. Above all,the democratic forces must mobilise the people and counter the Maoists politically and ideologically…

He says the attack in Chhattisgarh is the latest example of the politics of violence and the murderous tactics adopted by the CPI (Maoist). He also targets the BJP government in Chhattisgarh for not providing enough security to the Congress convoy. Yechury alleges that both the Central and state governments,under the cover of providing development to these backward tribal areas,have been allowing in private companies for mining and the loot of other resources in these areas which has led to displacement and loss of livelihood for the tribal people. The Maoists,in turn,have been targeting government personnel and disrupting whatever welfare measures could be undertaken.

OVERHAUL BCCI

Focusing on the spot-fixing and betting saga,the CPI(ML) has advocated a thorough overhaul of the BCCI to make it function like a transparent,accountable and democratic body. Such a move should set the tone for a larger streamlining and democratisation of other sporting associations. Sports bodies should be run exclusively by retired sportspeople,professional sports administrators and persons of impeccable integrity and politicians and corporate bosses should be barred from having anything to do with the business of running sports organisations and deciding the future of Indian sports, the editorial in ML Update says.

It alleges that the way in which the BCCI is managing the IPL spot-fixing scam is similar to the UPA governments management of the string of scams that have recently surfaced. It also says that the cancer of corruption afflicting Indian cricket is attributable to the same corporate-politics nexus responsible for the scams that have become the hallmark of neoliberal governance.

DOUBLING PRICES

The editorial in the CPIs New Age uses the monthly increase in the price of diesel and a reported proposal of the petroleum ministry to raise the price of natural gas to attack the UPA: It seems that the UPA 2 government has finally realised that this is the last year of its mis-governance as people burdened with all sorts of difficulties and miseries are not going to elect it back. Hence it is taking all steps that enhance the burden of the people… It says that after having liberalised the pricing of petrol and diesel,the government,in the name of reducing the subsidy burden,has limited the supply of gas cylinders to nine per annum.

For more cylinders one has to pay almost double the price… This has already upset the budget of middle-class families that are already under huge burden due to phenomenal price rise and growing dependence on credit based family budgets, it says. Now,the petroleum ministry has proposed a mechanism under which prices of all types of gases will be raised quarterly.

This rise will affect every aspect of our economy. Manufacturing cost will go up. Travel and transport charges will shoot up. Cost of fertilisers will also increase leading to rise in the prices of all agricultural products. There will be very a serious cascading impact on general prices. It will also create difficulties for small and middle industries that depend on gas as fuel, it adds.

Compiled by Manoj C.G.