Chilling scenes in Delhi

Sonia should have asked for Sheila Dixit’s resignation before meeting the victim

19 December 2012

Press Release

The Socialist Party expressed deep concern for the plight of the victim, a para medical student, gang-raped in the moving bus two days ago. The party wishes her a speedy recovery and healthy future. The activists of the Socialist Party understand that the parents/family members of the victim are passing through a nightmare beyond imagination. We prey that they may face this crisis with patience and courage. The Socialist Party in its meeting today decided to make sincere efforts and extend all possible help to the victim in seeking justice for her. In this regard, the party approached Justice Rajindar Sachar who has reciprocated humbly and promised to look into the judicial process of the case personally. He showed heartfelt concern for the victim and her family and condemned the dismissive and insensitive attitude of the Congress leaders including the P.M., Sonia Gandhi and Sheila Dixit.

In the opinion of the Socialist Party Sonia Gandhi has rubbed salt on the wound of the victim and the thousands of insecure women in the capital by merely reaching the hospital. If she were really concerned, she should have asked for the resignation of the Delhi C.M. Sheila Dixit in the first place. The gruesome crime is the result of absolute incompetence and insensitivity of the Delhi C.M. Delhi has become a city of rapes, murders and loot under her leadership, not to speak of the several allegations of corruption against her. But Sonia Gandhi always protects and promotes her as she is a member of her courtrie. The regret expressed by the P.M. on this heartrending incident is a farce. The security of the citizens is not in his worry, even remotely. His first and last concern is to implement the neo-imperialist capitalist agenda. By implementing this agenda he has thrown the Indian society in the gorge of a sub-culture in which women, children and old people are most vulnerable victims.

The Socialist Party demands immediate resignation of the Delhi C.M. It also demands a speedy and effective action in the case and strong punishment to the culprits.

The workers of the Socialist Party will observe one-day fast at Rajghat on 21 December and will submit a memorandum to the President demanding justice to the victim. All concerned citizen are invited to the fast beginning at 10 am.

Dr. Prem Singh

General Secretary and Spokesperson

Fast at Rajghat in support of the victim

                                                                                                          Date : 21 December 2012

Press Release

Fast at Rajghat in support of the victim

Members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Yuvjan Sabha observed one-day fast at Rajghat today (21 December 2012) in solidarity of the victim, gang-raped in the moving bus; and to condemn the callous attitude of the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, P. M. Man Mohan Singh towards the gruesome crime. Smt. Renu Gambhir, president, Socialist Party, Delhi, lead the fast.

Speaking on this occasion Justice Rajindar Sachar said that it gives me some solace that Socialist Party workers hold this fast at Bapu’s Samadhi to show solidarity with the victim and aguish against the government. He said that it is a matter of shame on the part of Delhi Chief Minister who allowed water canon and lathi charge on women protesters at his residence. She must resign and an effective inquiry and speedy judicial process should be done to punish the culprits. He showed heartfelt concern for the victim and her family and condemned the dismissive and insensitive attitude of the Congress leaders including the P.M., Sonia Gandhi and Sheila Dixit.

National General Secretary Dr. Prem Singh expressed deep concern for the plight of the victim wished her a speedy recovery and healthy future. He said that the members of the Socialist Party understand that the parents/family members of the victim are passing through a nightmare beyond imagination. We prey that they may face this crisis with patience and courage. He informed that on the request of the Socialist Party Justice Rajindar Sachar has promised to look into the judicial process of the case personally.

He further said that Sonia Gandhi has rubbed salt on the wound of the victim and the thousands of insecure women in the capital by merely reaching the hospital. If she were really concerned, she should have asked for the resignation of the Delhi C.M. Sheila Dixit in the first place. The gruesome crime is the result of absolute incompetence and insensitivity of the Delhi C.M. Delhi has become a city of rapes, murders and loot under her leadership, not to speak of the several allegations of corruption against her. But Sonia Gandhi always protects and promotes her as she is a member of her courtrie. The regret expressed by the P.M. on this heartrending incident is a farce. The security of the citizens is not in his worry, even remotely. His first and last concern is to implement the neo-imperialist capitalist agenda. By implementing this agenda he has thrown the Indian society in the gorge of a sub-culture in which women, children and old people are most vulnerable victims. He also demanded  immediate resignation of the Delhi C.M. and speedy and effective action in the case and strong punishment to the culprits.

Dr. Raj Kumar Jain, Shiv Mangal Sidhantkar, Shyam Gambhir, Manju Mohan, Dr. A.K. Arun,  Ram Gopal Sisodia, Rakhi Gupta, Dr. Harish Khanna, Comrade Narendra Singh, Indradev, Abhai Sinha, Anil Nauriya and other activists visited the venue to lend their support.

At the end, a memorandum was submitted to the President. (Copy enclosed)

Niraj Singh

Press Secretary 

Date: 21December 2012 

Memorandum

His Excellency

Shri Pranab Mukherjee

President of India

Respected Sir

The members of the Socialist Party sat on fast today at Rajghat in solidarity with the victim, a para-medical student who was gang-raped in a moving bus on Sunday. The Socialist Party takes inspiration from the thoughts of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, who has placed utmost value on human, particularly women oriented concerns. The gruesome crime once again proves that the capital city of the country is not at all safe for women. The city witnessed strong protests from various activist groups against the incident. The Delhi High Court and the Parliament also expressed deep shock and concern over the shocking incident.

The demand for an effective inquiry and speedy judicial process has been raised from every corner in order to ensure the strongest punishment to the culprits.  Further, there is a demand for stringent measures to be taken so that such nightmarish incidents do not occur in future. We strongly support these demands. But our purpose of observing the fast and submitting the memorandum to you is something more than that.

Sir, the neo-liberal agenda, practiced by the government has thrown the Indian society in the gorge of a sub-culture in which women, children and old people are most vulnerable victims. No matter the market is getting stronger under this capitalist-consumerist agenda but the society is becoming weak, plagued by the tendencies such as alienation, strangeness and value-loss. The market forces, on the one hand, are commoditizing women, and the nexus of patriarchy and upper class dominance, on the other, is nurturing an anti-women mindset. In such a condition crime against women is increasing day by day.   

In view of the above, we humbly request you to kindly advise the ruling establishment of India to stop perceiving everything in the market mode. Market considerations should not be allowed to prevail upon education, culture, art, ethics and basic human values. It is important for a country like India, which has been home to Gandhi, to remember that greatness and success do not come by attaining commercial values or price tags on all our motivations and aspirations. Doing so, will only reduce our vision power and turn us into inhuman, unfeeling brutal creatures, who inflict barbarous actions on the vulnerable and innocent.       

With regards

Yours sincerely

Dr. Prem Singh

(General Secretary)

संविधान से समाजवाद षब्द हटाने की हिम्मत दिखाएं प्रधानमंत्री

प्रैस रिलीज


एफडीआई पर संसद में हुई जीत से प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह नए जोष में आ गए हैं। उन्होंने खुदरा में एफडीआई का विरोध करने वालों पर निषाना साधते हुए कहा है कि या तो उन्हें दुनिया की वास्तविकताओं का पता नहीं है या वे पुरानी विचारधारा में जकड़े हैं। पुरानी विचारधारा से उनकी मुराद समाजवाद से है। भारत के संविधान की उद्देषिका में ‘समाजवाद’ षब्द लिखा है। संविधान के भाग चार में उल्लिखित ‘राज्य के नीति-निर्देषक तत्व’ राजनीतिक पार्टियों और सरकारों के लिए घोषणापत्र का काम करते हैं कि वे देष में जल्द से जल्द सामाजिक-आर्थिक समानता कायम करें। सोषलिस्ट पार्टी का मानना है कि नवउदारवादी प्रधानमंत्री का निषाना सीधे देष के संविधान पर है। वैष्विक आर्थिक संस्थाओं का हुक्म बजाते हुए देष पर नवउदारवादी तानाषाही थोपने वाले प्रधानमंत्री संविधान की प्रस्तावना से समाजवाद षब्द और संविधान से राज्य के नीति-निर्देषक तत्वों को हटाने का प्रस्ताव संसद में लाएं। एफडीआई पर सरकार का समर्थन करने वाली सभी राजनीतिक पार्टियों को सोषलिस्ट पार्टी की यह चुनौती है। 
सोषलिस्ट पार्टी प्रधानमंत्री को बताना चाहती है कि उन्हें खुद वैष्विक वास्तविकताओं की जानकारी नहीं है। उनके लिए विष्व से मुराद केवल पूंजीवादी नवसाम्राज्यवाद का पुरोधा अमेरिका और यूरोप के विकसित पूंजीवादी देष हैं। इन देषों की कंपनियों ने बाकी दुनिया में लूट और तबाही मचाई हुई है। इनके चलते दुनिया भारी हिंसा, असुरक्षा, भय और भूख की चपेट में है। भारत में नवउदारवादी दौर में कई लाख किसान आतमहत्या कर चुके हैं। कई करोड़ लोग भूख और कुपोषण का षिकार हैं। करोड़ों लोग विस्थापित हो चुके हैं। खुदरा में वालमार्ट, कारफुर और टेस्को जैसी भीमकाय कंपनियों के आने से करीब 4 करोड़ खुदरा व्यापारियों और उन पर निर्भर करीब 25 करेाड़ परिजनों की ही तबाही नहीं होगी, किसान भी बुरी तरह प्रभावित होंगे।
लेकिन प्रधानमंत्री को इस दुनिया से सरोकार नहीं है। उनके लिए अमीरों की दुनिया ही वास्तविकता है। नवउदारवादी सुधारों को तेज करके आर्थिक वृद्धि की दर बढ़ाने का प्रधानमंत्री का एलान अमीरों की दुनिया को ज्यादा अमीर बनाने का एलान है। उन्होंने गरीबों को अलबत्ता छूट दी है कि वे चाहें तो आत्महत्या कर लें, चाहें तो बीमारी और कुपोषण की हालत में एडि़यां रगड़-रगड़ कर मर जाएं।
सोषलिस्ट पार्टी ने षुरू से लगातार नवउदारवादी नीतियों और उनके नए संस्करण एफडीआई का विरोध किया है। पार्टी आगे और ज्यादा मजबूती से जनता के बीच जाकर इस संविधान विरोधी ओर गरीब विरोधी फैसले का विरोध करेगी।

डाॅ. प्रेम सिंह
महासचिव व प्रवक्ता

PM should dare to remove ‘Socialism’ from the Preamble

Press Release

The Prime Minister is full of a fresh zeal for reforms after winning the battle on FDI in the parliament. He has targeted opponents by saying that they are either ignorant of global realities or are constrained by out-dated ideology like socialism. The word ‘socialism’ is mentioned in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Further, the  ‘Directive Principles of the State’ in Part Four of the Constitution can be viewed as guiding manifesto for political parties and governments by helping to establish social and economic equality at the earliest. In his attack on opponents, the PM has therefore attacked the very fundamentals of the Constitution. The PM, who has imposed the dictatorship of neo-liberalism on the country by obeying the dictates of the world bodies like WB, IMF, WTO and MNCs, should dare to propose a bill in the parliament to remove the word socialism from the Preamble and the Directive Principles from the Constitution. The Socialist Party also poses this challenge to the political parties who have supported the FDI in the parliament.  

The Socialist Party would like to tell the PM that he himself is ignorant of global realities. For him the world is confined to the US, an epitome of capitalist neo-imperialism and developed capitalist countries of the Europe. The profit hungry MNCs of these countries have played havoc in the poor countries. The result is enormous violence, insecurity, fear and hunger. In India, lakhs of farmers have committed suicide; several crore people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition; several crores have been displaced as the result of neo-liberal reforms. Not only will the 4 crore retailers and around 25 crores of their family members face its disastrous affects but farmers will also be badly affected by the entry of multinational retail chain giants like Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Tesco etc.

The PM has no concern for this world of poor and hardworking. For him the only reality is the world of the rich. His new push to reforms, in fact, is a push to make the rich richer. However, he paved the way for the poor and hard working masses to commit suicide or die in conditions of hunger and malnutrition.

The Socialist Party has been fighting against the anti-poor and anti-Constitution decision of FDI in retail from the beginning. The party will now strengthen its fight by spreading awareness among retailers and farmers.  

Dr. Prem Singh

General Secretary/Spokesperson

Direct Cash Transfer Scheme will Strengthen the Market Forces

Press Release

The UPA government has come out with the direct cash transfer scheme with a great fanfare. As per this scheme the money will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries i.e. poor of the country. Food grains, kerosene, LPG subsidies, pension payments, scholarship and employment guarantee scheme payments as well as benefits under other welfare programs will be made directly to the intended people. The cash provided under this scheme can then be used to buy goods/services directly from the market. For example, in case the government abolishes the subsidy on LPG or kerosene and still wants to give some subsidy to the poor, the subsidised amount will be transferred as cash into the bank account of the beneficiaries.

The Socialist party terms this scheme of the UPA government as ‘go to market’ scheme. By the logic of ‘market socialism’, the rich keep rushing to the market, so should the poor!! The government, under the neoliberal reforms has put a lot of thought, effort and money to envisage this scheme. Naturally, plenty of money will also be spent in its implementation. But the ‘reform-loving’ Government is not ready to reform and re-strengthen the existing PDS scheme which would be in the best interest of the needy. There is reason behind this choice. For the last two decades or more, the government of India has been blindly imposing the neo-liberal reforms without caring about its disastrous impact on the vulnerable sections of society. The Indian state has abandoned its welfare character while obeying the dictates of the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and various foreign and India multinational companies and corporate houses. The government is not at all motivated by the Directive Principles of the Constitution, nor by the socialist goal enshrined in the Constitution that would benefit Gandhi’s last man.

Thus, the erstwhile welfare schemes such as PDS are being replaced by market friendly/oriented schemes such as the direct cash transfer scheme. The present day government is inspired by the philosophy – of the corporate, by the corporate and for the corporate.

The Prime Minister has stated time and again that inflation and price rise are inevitable to achieve a higher growth rate. According to this theory how is it possible that a certain fixed amount of cash would help the beneficiary in purchasing goods like grains, Kerosene, LPG etc. in inflation conditions and ever rising prices? Again, there is no certainty that the beneficiary would buy the same goods for which money is given. They may purchase liqure or sub standard consumerist items at the cost of hunger and malnutrition of family members, particularly children and women. In other words, it would enhance consumerism, thus strengthening the market forces.

The argument that this scheme will stop leakage is also not tenable. Even in the existing governmental schemes aimed in this direction, the would-be beneficiaries are forced to bribe officials to get a part of the amount. Also, only Adhar card holder will get cash transfer. As of now, only 21 crore of the 120 crore people have Adhar cards. Most BPL families don’t have bank accounts and large number of villages don’t have bank branches. The argument that the scheme will spread financial literacy among rural folks and equipped them with management skills is a far fetched dream. The scheme is designed to deny the due of the hard working masses so that the rich-oriented growth could flourish without any protest and challenge.  

The government’s decision seems to be impelled by two goals, one, winning over the poor voters and two, to put an end to subsidy. The first goal is detrimental to the spirit of democracy and second is in tune with the dictates of the WB. In other words, the scheme is a ‘land mark step’ but in the direction of market forces. It could prove to be a ‘game-changer’ but for the UPA II in the next general elections to be held in 2014 or earlier.

The parties opposed to this scheme should also realise the threats presented by  the neo-liberal regime of which this scheme is a by-product. The Socialist Party is opposed to this scheme because it is opposed to the ideology/system of neo-liberalism and supports socialism.

मायावती क्यों नहीं करती एफडीआई का सीधा विरोध?

प्रैस रिलीज

मायावती ने खुदरा व्यापार में 51 प्रतिषत प्रत्यक्ष विदेषी निवेष के यूपीए सरकार के फैसले जैसे अहम मुद्दे पर अपनी राय स्पष्ट नहीं की है। हालांकि इस फैसले को दो साल से ऊपर हो गए हैं। अमित भादुड़ी, कमल नयन काबरा, प्रभात पटनायक, अरुण कुमार चलपतिराव, जस्टिस राजेंद्र सच्चर जैसे कई मूर्द्धन्य अर्थषास्त्री और विद्वान अध्ययन करके बता चुके हैं कि यह फैसला देष की अर्थव्यवस्था के लिए आपदायी है और सरकार इसे गलत तरीके थोप रही है। खुदरा क्षेत्र के संगठनों ने नवंबर 2011 में इस फैसले का न केवल निर्णायक विरोध किया था, सारे तथ्य सामने रख कर आगाह किया था कि यह फैसला भारत के खुदरा व्यापार को वालमार्ट, कारफुर, टेस्को जैसी विदेषी बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनियों का बंधक बना देगा। मुख्यतः सोषल मीडिया में बहुत-सी ऐसी खबरें, रपट और अध्ययन प्रकाषित हैं जिनमें इन कंपनियों के स्वेच्छाचारी और षोषणकारी चरित्र और बर्ताव को सामने लाया गया है। 2009 में विकीलीक्स के खुलासे से लेकर इस साल मई के षुरुआत में हिलेरी क्लिंटन के भारत आने और उन्हीं दिनों वाणिज्य व उद्योग मंत्री आनंद षर्मा से फ्रांस की कंपनी कारफुर के सीईओ के मिलने तक विदेषी दबाव की सच्चाई भी जगजाहिर है।
सोषलिस्ट पार्टी ने इन सारे तथ्यों की रोषनी में पिछले साल मई महीने में इस फैसले को हमेषा के लिए खारिज करने की अपील के साथ राष्ट्रपति को ज्ञापन सौंपा था और बसपा समेत सभी कांग्रेसेतर पार्टियों के पदाधिकारियों और मुख्यमंत्रियों को एक लंबे पत्र के साथ वह ज्ञापन भेजा था। सोषलिस्ट पार्टी ने केरल के मुख्यमंत्रयी ओमेन चांडी समेत कांग्रेस षासित राज्यों के अन्य मुख्यमंत्रीयों से भी इस फैसले का विरोध करने की लगातार अपील की है। लेकिन दलितों के नाम पर देष की प्रधानमंत्री बनने का सपना देखने वाली मायावती ने इस फैसले के प्रभावों का अभी आकलन ही नहीं किया है! जाहिर है, इस गंभीर मुद्दे पर राजनीति करने के सिवाय उनकी नजर में कोई अहमियत नहीं है।
कल उन्होंने एक नया सुझाव रखा कि कांग्रेस पहले उन राज्यों में यह फैसला लागू करे जहां उसकी अपनी सरकारें हैं। उनका तर्क है कि ऐसा करने से खुदरा में प्रत्यक्ष विदेषी निवेष के प्रभावों का सही अध्ययन हो जाएगा। यह तर्क उनकी खंडित दृष्टि का तो परिचायक है ही, साथ ही लोगों को ऐसे जानवर, जिन पर तरह-तरह के परीक्षण किए जाते हैं, समझने की मानसिकता को भी सामने लाता है। 
सभी अगड़े सवर्ण और पिछड़े दबंग नेताओं की तरह मायावती की आंखों में भी अमेरिका बसा है। सोषलिस्ट पार्टी का जोर देकर कहना है कि अमेरिका की चमक-दमक की बुनियाद में वहां के मूल निवासी रेड इंडियनों और गुलाम बना कर लाए गए अफ्रीकी अष्वेतों का खून और हड्डियां दफन हैं। ‘षाइनिंग इंडिया’ की बुनियाद भी करोड़ों गरीबों/कमजोरों के खून और हड्डियों से भरी जा रही है। यह फैसला बुनियाद भराई के काम को तेजी से आगे बढ़ाएगा।
एफडीआई पर बात करते हुए मायावती ने कहा है कि विकास के लिए वे विदेषी कंपनियों की मार्फत विदेषी निवेष को जरूरी मानती हैं। देष के कारपोरेट घरानों का धन तो उन्हें चाहिए ही। सोषलिस्ट पार्टी लोगों को बताना चाहती है कि मायावती और भारत के षासक वर्ग को विदेषी और देषी कंपनियों के निवेष से भारी-भरकम हिस्सा मिलता है। वैष्विक आर्थिक संस्थाओं और बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनियों की मार्फत जो कर्ज और निवेष आता है, वह उनके पास कई षताब्यिों से तीसरी दुनिया के संसाधनों और श्रम के दोहन और लूट से जमा हुआ है। नवउदारवादी नीतियों के तहत आने वाला कर्ज और निवेष मुनाफाखोरी के लिए है, न कि यहां कि अर्थव्यवस्था और लोगों की भलाई के लिए। मायावती को गरीबों की नहीं, अपनी भलाई का वास्ता देकर एफडीआई का समर्थन करना चाहिए।    
मायावती तीन बार भाजपा के समर्थन से मुख्यमंत्री रह चुकीं है। गुजरात में मुसलमानों का राज्य प्रायोजित नरसंहार कराने वाले नरेंद्र मोदी का चुनाव प्रचार कर चुकी हैं। इसके बावजूद उन्होंने पुराना और पिटा हुआ राग अलापा है कि वे सांप्रदायिक षक्तियों को दूर रखने के लिए एफडीआई पर सरकार का साथ दे रही हैं। सोषलिस्ट पार्टी की देष के मुसलमानों से अपील है कि वे धर्मनिरपेक्षता का ढोंग करने वाले ऐसे नेताओं को सबक सिखाने के लिए सोषलिस्ट पार्टी के साथ एकजुट हों जो समाजवाद, धर्मनिरपेक्षता और लोकतंत्र के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है।

डाॅ. प्रेम सिह
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