An Emphatic Victory for TNUEF’s Direct Action Programme

IN a customary way, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) conducts direct action programmes on September 30, the death anniversary day of Comrade B Srinivasa Rao, whose tireless work against untouchability and atrocities on dalits in erstwhile Thanjavur has left indelible mark.

Although the struggle against untouchability in the state goes on almost 24x7, there is an emotional touch to this direct action programme since it is attached to this great leader’s name. TNUEF takes inspiration from the past achievements that were gained by the Left movement under the leadership of Comrade B Srinivasa Rao. In fact, his unfinished agenda is being carried forward further by the TNUEF.

This year, the direct action programme was planned in seven places. Prior to this, field surveys were undertaken at the state level. Last time, the survey was conducted in 2007. Several struggles were undertaken based on the reports of that survey. In its last meeting, the state committee of the TNUEF had decided to conduct a fresh survey to analyse the latest scenario. The work of compiling these survey reports is underway. Meanwhile, some of the untouchability practices that have come out from this survey were earmarked for direct action programme.

Hundred Years Dream Comes True in Erode

IN Erode district, Ezhumathur village, for more than 100 years, dalits were not allowed to enter the Chathiswaran Temple. This was revealed during the field survey that was done by the TNUEF. As part of the direct action programme, the TNUEF had announced that dalit people will go to the temple and worship under the leadership of P Sampath, TNUEF president, K Thangavel, MLA, N Amirtham, state president of AIDWA and others.

Sensing the mood among the people and the firmness of the TNUEF, the dDistrict administration was forced to call for talks. The talks were held on September 28. The TNUEF insisted during the talks that not just the entry into the temple, the community hall that is being occupied should also be available for dalits. The administration had to concede the demands. On the same day, at 5.30 PM, dalit people from Kootapalli, Sivananda Colony, Selvan Nagar, Anna Nagar, Ponvizha Nagar and other villages walked into the temple and worshipped.

During this temple entry, K Durairaj, CPI(M) state committee member, P Mari Muthu, CPI(M) district secretary, M Annadurai, TNUEF district president, PP Palani Samy, TNUEF district secretary and others took part.  The dalit people thanked the TNUEF and the CPI(M) for having enabled the dream since hundred years to come true.

Successful Temple Entry in Tiruvannamalai

IN Tiruvannamalai district, Kalasapakkam Panchayat Union, Siruvallur village, dalits were not allowed into Narayana Perumal Temple. Also, in this village, two tumbler system in the tea stalls, denial of road to cremation ground etc existed.  As planned, the direct action programme was conducted on September 30. Hundreds of dalit people led by K Balakrishnan, MLA, K Samuel Raj, TNUEF general secretary, R Velmurugan, DYFI state secretary, had proceeded towards the temple. The casteist elements had assembled on the road that leads to the temple. 

The district administration and the police that intervened, told the leaders and the dalits that there is no denial of entry into the temple. But the leaders insisted that the people should be taken into the temple immediately. With the leaders and the people standing firm, the entry was allowed.  The seventy-year old untouchability practice was put to an end.

Right to Enter the Own Land in Dindigul

IN Dindigul district, Oddanchanthiram town, Kudalingapuram, pattas were given to 48 dalit Arunthathiyar families, 32 years back. Though the land was measured as per the area allotted to them, it was not handed over to them. Years gone, the value of the land ran into crores of rupees. Repeated petitioning by the people did not settle the issue. Hence, they decided to undertake a direct action programme under the leadership of the TNUEF. The Front has also announced that this programme would be part of the direct action day programmes that will be conducted on September 30.

The talks that were arranged prior to the action day did not yield any result. On 30th, more than a thousand people took part in the rally and the siege. It was led by  P Sampath, R Jayaraman, TNUEF treasurer, K Bala Bharathi, MLA, N Pandi, CPI(M) district secretary, K Chinna Karuppan, TNUEF district president, M R Muthu Samy, TNUEF district secretary and others. The administration held talks with the leaders and agreed to hand over the land to the dalit Arunthathiyars.

Untouchability Gate Demolished in Ooty

IN Ooty (Niligiris), Coonoor, Gandhipuram, the dalit Arunthathiyars were denied entry through the common road. A private company had put up a gate to block the way. The TNUEF saw it as an untouchability practice. Many demonstrations were held to draw the attention of the administration. They kept repeating the promises that were never fulfilled. Hence, a decision was taken to go for direct action programme under the leadership of the TNUEF and the CPI(M).

On September 30, the dalit Arunthiyars led by P Dilli Babu, MLA, U K Sivagnanam, TNUEF state secretary, R Badri, CPI(M) district secretary,  L Thiyagarajan, CITU district secretary and others proceeded towards the untouchability gate. Talks were held for four hours and no decision was forthcoming. The leaders saw it as a delaying tactic. They had informed the administration that they would demolish the gate themselves.

With this, the administration had no other alternative except to demolish the gate. Finally, the gate was broken in front of jubilant dalit people who were denied entry for the last 50 years.

“First time” hair cuts and tea in Thanjavur

IT was for the first time that dalit people could get a hair cut and tea in their village. In Thanjavur district, Orathanadu, Echankottai village, two tumbler system and denial of haircut existed for many years. Dalits had to go miles away for having a hair cut. Separate tumblers have kept them discriminated for years together. The announcement of direct action programme led by Nagai Mali, MLA, had put the administration on alert.

Timely intervention by the administration had helped to put an end to the untouchability practice. It was decided that the dalit people will be served in the common tumblers and will have hair cuts at the local saloons on September 29. Enthusiastic local dalits led by Ganesh, TNUEF state secretary,  J Rajmohan, SFI state secretary,  G Neelamegam, CPI(M) district secretary, Abhi Mannan, TNUEF district president, Chinnai Pandian, TNUEF district secretary, proceeded  to the saloons and the tea stalls at 12 PM.

Tehsildar and local police had played a vital role in bringing some non-dalits to take part in the event. They made it sure that dalits had hair cuts in two saloons in that area. This was the first time that dalits had hair cut in those saloons. Also, they were served with tea in all the three tea stalls. These actions have put an end to the vicious untouchability practices in that area.

Hair Dressing in Madurai

IN Madurai district, Vadipatti town panchayat, dalits were not allowed to have hair cut in the saloons. This was also revealed during the survey conducted by the TNUEF in August. The TNUEF had listed out the saloons that were refusing cut hair for dalits and handed over to the district administration. Sensing that the administration is hesitating to act, it was decided to conduct direct action programme under the leadership of P Shanmugam, AIKS state secretary, on September 30. 

Talks were held by the administration with the Hair Dressers Association and finally the Association had to agree to the demands of the dalits. The leaders and the dalit people were firm in having hair cut on September 30. But the administration said that this would be done on September 29 itself. They also assured that the untouchability practice would be put to an end with this.

On September 20, dalit people under the leadership of M Thangaraj, TNUEF state secretary, S K Ponnuthai, TNUEF state secretary, C Ramakrishnan, CPI(M) district secretary, D Chellakannu, Boominathan, N P Ramesh Kannan, district leaders of the TNUEF, Thamizhalan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s state assistant secretary, Viduthalai Veeran, state  joint general secretary, Athi Thamizhar Peravai and others, went to the saloons. In all the three saloons, hair cut was done to dalits.

Successful Bath by Dalits in Virudhunagar

THIS was the first victory in the direct action programme. In Virudhunagar district, V Muthulingapuram, the dalit Arunthathiyars were denied permission to take bath in the common water tank. Here, 70 Arunthathiyar families are residing. The petitions to the administration yielded no result. Hence, the decision for direct action programme led by A Lazar, MLA.  There were other issues also like, denial of path to the cremation ground, non-filling up of drinking water tank, making the dalit students to clean the toilets in the school etc.

The water tank was built in 2011-12.  When the Arunthathiyar youth tried to take bath, the casteist elements resisted them. During another attempt, they made the tank empty by releasing out the water. The announcement that the direct action will be held on September 30 had unnerved the district administration.  They came forward for the talks.

During the talks, under the insistence of the TNUEF leaders, the district administration had to agree for all the demands regarding the untouchability practices. On September 21, the dalit Arunthathiyars took bath in the common water tank. C Murugesan, TNUEF district president, S Gnana Guru, TNUEF district secretary, M C Pandian, CPI(M) area committee secretary, along with the leaders of various organisations took part in this.

In the direct action programme that was conducted across the state, leaders and activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Athi Thamizhar Peravai, CITU, DYFI, SFI, AIDWA, AIKS, AIAWU, AIIEA have taken part in the talks and direct action programmes. The state committee of the TNUEF has congratulated and appreciated the achievements and the efforts put in by all. These events will have its echo in many parts of the state. Also, the momentum gained by this emphatic victory, will also be intensified further.

A Spark That Lights Many Lamps!

"Sir, I have cleared the exam...” This was the joyous voice which was received by the co-ordinators of Dr Ambedkar Education and Employment Coaching Centre, Tamilnadu in the last few days. The results of the Bank clerical written exam that was conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) were released few days back. Eighty two students who had undergone the training for the written exam have cleared the exam. More results are expected, since the candidates have just started receiving the score card. It is likely that the centre will score a hundred.

That was in July 2009. A TNUEF (Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front) team in Coimbatore was on a mission to create awareness among the dalits about the existing employment opportunities. At a place, there were sixty young faces keenly watching us. Our team member was explaining, "...There is an employment opportunity now. The educational qualification for the applicant is just tenth standard..." After lecturing for thirty minutes, we asked how many are going to apply. Just ten people raised their hands. When enquired about others, we were shocked to know that they did not even complete tenth standard.

This had happened not in some remote area or rural area. It was in the heart of Coimbatore, which is nicknamed as South India's Manchester. Almost coincidentally, the TNUEF was taking a decision to set-up up education and employment coaching centres to facilitate the dalits in availing the opportunities. Coimbatore is the first place to initiate the action. It was in December 2009 that the centre was inaugurated. It was named as Dr Ambedkar Education and Employment Coaching Centre.

At the same time, an advertisement for selection of Group II officers was released by the Tamilnadu Public Service Commission. Hence, the classes were started in January 2010. Since then, the centre did not look back. After the class for Group II exam, Spoken English class was conducted. Then, the classes for VAO (village administrative officer) exam and other exams were held. Except for a brief period, there was no long break for the aspirants. Results were slowly showing. Due to the special attention given for Mathematics, Kalpana could clear the co-operative bank exam. Surya Prabha had cleared the Group II examination. After clearing the exam, she said the spark was provided by the centre. Three were selected for Tamilnadu State Police. Spoken English class had its effect. Some candidates had informed the centre that the class had given them the confidence in their work. Some said they did better in interviews.

OFFICIAL

RECOGNITION!

Some sort of an official recognition came to the centre, when Repco Bank contacted us for conducting classes for repatriate candidates. Without any hesitation, the centre took up this task and conducted classes at two places, in Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli. Three candidates who had attended the classes got through in the written test. Also these three have got the appointment order after clearing the interview. Punithavathi has joined in Yelahanka (Karnataka), Magesh Prabhu has joined in Gudalur (Nilgiris district, Tamilnadu) and Dayanidhi has joined in Tiruvannamalai (Tamilnadu).

Moorthy, who has been selected for the post of sanitary inspector, attributes the credit to the Centre. Apart from all this, like icing on the cake, Jegan who took almost ten months training at our Centre had cleared the Civil Services Prelims Exam. 

AN IMPORTANT

ROLE OF AIIEA

When the classes began, the main task was to give coaching material to the candidates. We had to photocopy the material and give them. The cost was gradually increasing since we had to cater them for about four to five months. The All India Insurance Employees Association, Coimbatore had taken a decision, which nobody would have ever imagined. A brand new photocopy machine costing around Rs 55,000 was bought. Every class, the candidates are offered tea in both the sessions. The meeting hall at the new Union Office building has virtually turned into a permanent class room.

Other places drew inspiration from the Coimbatore centre.  Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tiruchengode centres followed.  It was the advertisement for Bank Clerical Exam that prompted many other places to start such centres. Classes were conducted in Coimbatore, Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchengode, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mannargudi, Pudukkottai and Sivagangai. An important feature to be noted is that except for two centres, all the other centres are being managed by the AIIEA. Chennai Centre is being run by the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and the Centre at Madurai is being run by Tamilnadu State Transport Employees Federation. In these two centres too, the AIIEA comrades are playing an important role.

A GREAT

FILLIP

The latest results of Bank clerical written exam have come like a great fillip. The centres have taken care of the students from the beginning itself. Few centres like Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchengode and Tirunelveli went one step further. The candidates were given assistance to online registration too. Computers along with internet connections were arranged for this purpose. In fact, this has increased the number of applicants among the dalits. Among these, many of them could not register online for the officers' examination earlier.

The classes are conducted according to the area's nature. At some places, daily classes were conducted. Few centres had conducted classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Some centres like Coimbatore are doing it only on Sundays. But, a regular contact is established with the candidates through the SMS. Questions are being sent to the candidates through SMS almost everyday. Tests and model examinations were conducted to allay the exam fear. Apart from the syllabus, students are introduced to time management, personality development etc., through special classes.

RESOURCE

CENTRE

To provide all the centres with the exam materials, a resource centre has been set-up at Salem. It was a sort of recognition, when Arunthathiyar Co-ordination Committee (a dalit organisation) gave Rao Sahib LC Gurusamy Memorial Award to the Centre for its services. This had sent a message to the dalit masses that the Centre has come to stay.

FUTURE

TASKS

Presently, the classes have already started for SBI, RBI, EPFO, ESIC exams and for the forthcoming IBPS exam. More districts are likely to start the coaching centres in the coming months. Apart from consolidating the gains, the Centre has also decided to concentrate on school students. Some places have been identified in Coimbatore and Madurai already. English, Maths and Computer classes are likely to be taken up at these places.

Victory in Uthapuram

THE sustained struggles and efforts by the CPI(M) and Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front(TNUEF) have led to the success achieved by the dalits of Uthapuram village, Madurai district in Tamilnadu. On November 11, the dalits of this village had entered the Muthalamman temple that was "out of bound" for them for almost 22 years.

BACKGROUND

The presence of an untouchability wall came to light in Uthapuram village in a survey conducted by the TNUEF in 2007. In the subsequent interactions, it was found that there are many untouchability practices existing there. The CPI(M) and the TNUEF had decided to take up these issues and made it clear that the movement will end only after accomplishing the task. On May 6, 2008 the untouchability wall was demolished as Prakash Karat, general secretary of the CPI(M) was scheduled to visit Uthapuram on May 7. A common path was created there for public use. The visit of Prakash Karat had set the tone for further social struggles not only in Uthapuram, but in the entire state.

Even after the breaking of the wall and securing the public passage, the Uthapuram dalits have not been allowed to use the passage freely by the caste Hindus. They have obstructed the free movement of dalits by laying their household belongings, stones, sand and rubble on the public passage. When a complaint was lodged against the upper caste groups with the police, it was the dalits who had to face enquiry and harassment. Eventually there was brutal lathicharge on the dalits injuring the women, children and the elderly. There were plans to arrest hundreds of dalits. The TNUEF and the CPI (M) organised powerful protests demanding a judicial enquiry into the incident.

Thereafter, the Madurai unit of the AIDWA filed a writ petition in the Madurai bench of Tamilnadu High Court, demanding a judicial enquiry into police atrocities on Uthapuram dalits and sought compensation to the victims and punishment to the culprits under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The High Court appointed a commission consisting of two judges to inquire into the incidents and directed to report its findings to the High Court. The commission in its report indicted the police for excesses against the Uthapuram dalits and recommended Rs 15 lakhs compensation for the victims. While the Tamilnadu government objected to the findings of the report, the High Court has passed an interim order to pay compensation to the victims to the tune of Rs 10 lakhs. This interim order has come as a notable victory in the legal battle.

Although demolishing the wall was an important development, other issues like denial to go around Peepul tree, refusing to erect a shelter at bus stop, the false cases foisted on dalits by the police, diversion of the ditch that was coming towards the dalit area and so on. People were organising struggles under the leadership of the CPI(M) and the TNUEF. Last year, the TNUEF had organised a picketing of Madurai Collector Office. The police had resorted to lathicharge on the leaders and the dalits. T K Rengarajan, MP, P Sampath, president, TNUEF, K Samuel Raj, general secretary, TNUEF and other leaders were injured in the attack. Protest demonstrations were organised all over the state.

Then came the temple entry movement, in which the leaders of the TNUEF had made some heroic attempts. The entire village was looking like fortress which was under the firm control of police. They did not allow anybody from outside. G Ramakrishnan, state secretary, CPI(M) was leading the temple entry movement. But he was arrested in Madurai itself. The surprise came from within the Uthapuram village. The government machinery was stunned to see some of the leaders in front of a procession that was proceeding towards the temple. They were also arrested.

Madurai(rural) district secretary of AIDWA, S K Ponnuthai had to enter the village at night time. It took four hours for her to cross just four kilometres. Despite the heavy posse of policemen, K Samuel Raj, S K Mahendran and S K Ponnuthai had sneaked into the village. This had given the dalits a great confidence and these events greatly enthused them. On the same day, they were getting ready for further struggles.

AGREEMENT

After the temple entry movement, the temple was closed. Before the struggle, only caste Hindus were allowed to enter the temple. The struggle has made the temple a disputed one. The melting point was this. Some of the caste Hindus had started feeling the pinch. Hence, they were ready for the compromise when the superintendent of police Asra Garg made an attempt to resolve the issue. On October 20, there was an agreement between the dalits and caste Hindus. According to the agreement, dalits can enter the temple and worship the deity, they can worship by going around Peepul tree, bus stop shelter would come up and the cases will be withdrawn etc. It was also agreed that the path that was laid after the demolition of the untouchability wall will be widened.

A first step was taken in implementing the agreement. On November 11, the dalits entered the temple and offered pujas. They were in tears when they stepped into the temple. They offered coconuts and fruits to the deity. Some people from caste Hindus had welcomed the dalits at the entrance of the temple. Sankaralingam of Uthapuram village had to say this, "We are happy to enter temple after a long time. Hereafter, there will be no problem between the two communities. We will live together and in peace".

The CPI(M) and the TNUEF have welcomed the agreement and the entry of dalits into the temple. R Annadurai, CPI(M) MLA, Madurai(South), M Thangaraj, Madurai district secretary, TNUEF, S K Ponnuthai, state secretary, TNUEF and district secretary, AIDWA, U Nirmala Rani, Lawyer reached Uthapuram and greeted the dalits when they were proceeding to the temple.

CPI(M) & TNUEF

HAIL THE DEVELOPMENT

Social harmony will be prevalent only when the atrocities are brought to an end, CPI(M) state secretary, G Ramakrishnan said in a statement. The statement also insisted on fulfilling the other promises made in the agreement. Further, developmental activities should be carried out in the village. The state and district administration should gear upto this, he demanded.

Since there are more promises that have to be fulfilled, the TNUEF had exhorted the people of Uthapuram to further the struggles for achieving the democratic rights. It has also pointed out that the unity among the dalits and working class will pave the way for success.

Dalits Enter Temple After 25 Years

THE dalit people’s struggle to assert their rights is continuing in Tamilnadu. It is a fact that there are in the state hundreds of temples which the Dalits could not enter for a long time. Among them is Vanniyakumarasamy temple at Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, in Coimbatore district. For the past 25 years, dalits were not allowed to offer prayers in the temple.

This temple is managed by the state government under the aegis of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department. The dalits kept petitioning for a long time for permission to offer prayers and worship. But all their attempts went in vain. Hence the decision by the leadership of Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front and (TNUEF) and Adi Thamizhar Viduthalai Munnani (ATVM, which is also a part of the TNUEF) to enter the temple on June 12, 2011.

It was about three weeks ago that ATVM leaders submitted a memorandum to the district administration, seeking permission to enter the temple. It is notable that with the struggles growing in Coimbatore district since the inception of the TNUEF, the district administration has been constrained to allow the dalits entry into several temples.

On June 12, Ravi Kumar (convenor, ATVM and vice president of the TNUEF) and V Perumal (secretary, TNUEF) led the dalits into the temple. Though the police force was meant to facilitate the dalits’ entry into the temple, it in fact tried to stop them. In the end, it was agreed that dalits would go inside through an alternative path. They were thrilled to offer a special puja there.

After the successful entry, leaders addressed the press and thanked the district administration. But they said the struggle to eradicate untouchability would continue since many forms of untouchability are practised in the district. They also urged the new government to address the dalits’ problems of Dalits.

The recently held TNUEF state committee meeting has decided to take forward the struggle ahead. It has decided to draft a charter of demands regarding the SC/ST sub-plan in the month of June. To retrieve the panchami lands, the Front has decided to launch a movement in four districts. Various forms of agitation have been announced.

At the organisational level, it decided to complete the district level conferences by the end of December 2011.

Untouchability Unmasked in "Singaara" Chennai!

THE word "Singaara (Beautiful) Chennai” was coined when the present deputy chief minister and the so-called choice for the future chief minister, M K Stalin, took over the reins in Chennai Corporation as mayor. That was really a dream for every Chennai-ite, and that remains a mere dream even now. The myth like "there is no untouchability in cities" was disproved by the existence of Untouchability Walls in urban areas.

Though concrete information remained for long elusive regarding the capital city, the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) has brought out the realty by surveying Chennai, thus exposing the ugly side of the "Singaara" City. For this purpose, the TNUEF had deputed 80 volunteers to carry out the survey. As many as 31 locations in the city were selected and the volunteers met 775 people. This was carried out in October 2010. The survey report was released to the press on December 29. P Sampath (president of the TNUEF), K Samuel Raj (general secretary, TNUEF), R Jayaraman (treasurer, TNUEF), K Swaminathan (state secretary, TNUEF) and R Krishnamoorthy (convenor, TNUEF in South Chennai) were present at the press meet.

The detailed questionnaire meant for the survey incorporated issues like land patta, toilet facilities in houses, maintenance of public conveniences, health hazards, maintenance of houses of the Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB), availability of ration shops, social welfare schemes, school education, playgrounds, roads, drinking water and hospital facilities etc.

The general belief that no oppression in the name of caste takes place in the city was then belied. The city has its own story of caste discriminations. The censuses of 1991 and 2001 have earlier presented a bleak scenario. It was claimed that, post-1991, dalits have got jobs and their share in the middle class population has increased. It is, therefore, surprising to note that the ratio of dalits in the city population has come down between 1991 and 2001.

In 1991, dalit population in Chennai was 13.78 per cent but it got reduced to 13.76 per cent in 2001. "This is because of the eviction of dalits from their areas in the name of development," said P Sampath while releasing the survey report. Also, most of these dalits are living in the Chennai slums. This in itself proves that discrimination is alive and kicking in the Chennai metro.

About 60 per cent of these dalits are living in places where there is no water, nor ditches or litter bins. They are staying on the banks of Koovam and Adyar rivers and of Buckingham Canal. In the past 38 years, the Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board has built only 72,000 houses. In fact, an ambitious plan has been announced to make Chennai hut free by 2013. The real intention seems to be to throw the dalits out of the city rather than rehabilitating them.

The discrimination in the casteist sense gets reflected in the jobs they perform. They are doing the "demeaning" jobs in which manual work is involved. Many streets are named after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, but these have remained as the dalits-only residential areas. Dalits are not welcomed in posh areas like West Mambalam, T Nagar, Kodambakkam, Triplicane and Mylapore. Even those who are in coveted government posts do not get a house on rent to stay here.

There are places where dalits are living for the last 80 years but they have not yet get the pattas for their plots. Likewise, there are various other places where dalits have been living for the last 50 to 60 years but have been denied pattas. Everyday, they live in the fear of eviction. Even when the TNUEF volunteers went to these areas with their job of survey, the residents though that government officials had come and were perplexed that their fears of eviction had come true. However, when the intentions of the surveyors became clear, they briefed them in detail.

Most of the dalit students are studying in government schools and municipal corporation schools. As far as their general health is concerned, they live in such places as can be described as health hazardous only. Safe drinking water remains a distant dream for dalits in almost all of the dalit areas. Most of these places have no hospital facilities. Even if there is any, doctors are not regular. Dalits hardly get any medicines in these places. Many dalits are not aware of the social welfare schemes that are supposedly being implemented for them.

In the name of development, dalits are being thrown out of the city. This act had devastated their economic conditions. Many of them have lost their jobs and some of them have left since they cannot go all the way from outskirts to the city. The conditions of their women are still worse. Their girls are being married off at very early ages. Their bad economic conditions have making them sex workers.

Dalits have no place in the temple administration. Conversion to Christianity has not been a balm to the disease. In CSI churches too, dalits remained outside of the administration. They are not allowed to contest the church elections.

What happened in Lalgarh?

In yet another brutal attack six people were killed and 15 others seriously injured when Maoists and Trinamool Congress activists jointly opened fire on a group of villagers at Netai at Lalgarh under Binpur block in West Midnapore district of West Bengal January 7 morning. Scared by the growing people’s resistance against Maoist-Trinamool terrorism and violence the Maoists have resorted to a reign of terror with the help of Trinamool activists.

It was on December 31 a massive rally was held at Lalgarh in which participation of local villagers was spontaneous to voice against Maoist-Trinamool violence and for restoration of peace in Jangalmahal. It created wrath among the Maoists who in retaliatory measures have started terrorizing the innocent village people.

With this in mind a group of armed Maoist cadres under the leadership of Tanmoy Roy, who was once a secretary of the pro-Maoist Janaganer Committee (PCPA) but now a Trinamool leader, swung into armed action in the morning of January 7 and started indiscriminate firing on villagers protesting against the Maoist menaces. As a result 6 villagers were killed and 15 others seriously injured.

Deepak Sarkar, secretary of West Midnapore district CPI(M), in a statement, demanded immediate arrest of those who were responsible for the murder. The CPIM) brought out processions in Lalgarah on January 8 to condemn the incident.

Untouchability Modernised!

UNTOUCHABILITY practices are going "modern" now. This was evident from the recent exposure in Nagarajapuram, a village that is there in the outskirts ofCoimbatore city. In the name of resettling the dalits, they were driven to almost no man's land years ago. But the expansion of the city and its sub-urban areas brought them near again. So the profit minded real estate companies have resorted to a new strategy to keep dalits away from their area. Blocking the way for dalits to have access to the area, they expect the value of the land to remain high.

This has happened in many places and Nagarajapuram was no different. In this place, hundreds of dalit families are living since 1976. The real estate promoters have built a wall that was measuring 10 feet in height and 2 feet in width and the length is close to a kilometre. To have direct access to the main road, therefore, most of the people had to take many extra steps. The building of the wall did not happen overnight. But the landowners of the other side did it clandestinely. It was carried out during the last two years. Dalit people on the other side woke up only when the last 30 metres length of the path was closed.

A team led by U K Sivagnanam, district convenor of the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) recently visited the spot. When the team was convinced that this is an untouchability wall indeed, TNUEF decided to take up the issue. Next day, Tamil daily Theekkathir prominently published the news and that created tremors in the administration. At the very first sight, the officials were convinced that the wall was unlawful. The sketch for the plots also showed a 30 metres path. The people also complained to the officials that the closure of the path had made them feel like imprisoned. The only hitch was that the wall itself was on the border of not only for two panchayats but of two taluks as well. This did not deter the TNUEF to press for the demolition of the wall. A series of agitations was planned.

Expecting a backlash, the district administration acted fast lest there was some mass action. On December 25, revenue officials demolished two portions of the untouchability wall. These two stretches of 30 feet and 23 feet now provide the dalit people direct access to the main road. Though the structure has remained largely intact, the purpose of the land promoter has been defeated. Just after the demolition, one could find joyful women and children walking through the newly restored path.

Uthapuram was just a beginning in of exposing the untouchability walls in Tamilnadu. Somebody sought to belittle its impact by saying that villages are yet to be radicalised. Another wall in Periyar Nagar, that is in the heart of "South India's Manchester," i.e. Coimbatore city, exposed that too. One more wall was found in the municipal limits of Trichy. Now in the news is Udumalpet, a small town in Tirupur district. A wall has been raised by a realtor to block the way for dalits.

The world is getting modernised. Yet the caste oriented society somehow finds space to land its feet. The landing is atrocious. The TNUEF, through its well oiled machinery, has conducted many surveys. In its first state conference, a list of atrocities was released. But the recent problems have brought new varieties of atrocities. In another village near Coimbatore, a Dalit cannot talk on his cellphone in front of a caste Hindu. He has to switch off his phone or cut the call. When this came up, A Raja of the "spectrum" notoriety was the union telecom minister. This village falls in his constituency.

"SOFTWARE" FOR UNTOUCHABILITY

Another incident of untouchability has crossed all the limits. One Mr Jayan had registered himself with tamilmatrimony.com in order to find a life partner. He is a Christian and was registered in that category. When a few proposals came for him, he surfed some of the profiles. In one profile, “caste no bar” was mentioned. He was happy to see that. But his happiness did not last for more than a moment. The very next column said "SC/ST excuse." Jayan was furious to see that. He did not stop there.

He called up the contact number and blasted them. His argument was: people may prefer one or another particular caste in the matrimony ads, but how come these people could say, "we do not want these and these castes." He rang up a few newspaper offices to give vent to his anger. He said, “This is untouchability modernised. In fact, the website that offers this service should pull up its socks. The software that serves the purpose of casteist requirements should be thrown away by thetamilmatrimony.com.”

The TNUEF had listed around 85 types of atrocities committed upon dalits in Tamilnadu. In the states where the survey has been done, Gujarat stands first. As many as 99 types of atrocities have been listed by the Navsarjan, a non-profit voluntary organisation. It seems that Tamilnadu is now poised to take Gujarat over by creating new, "modern" types of atrocities.

The impact of the agitations run by the TNUEF is being felt. The people have started looking up to the TNUEF for solving their problems concerning social issues. Uthapuram is leading from the front. Wherever an untouchability wall is found, people take inspiration from Uthapuram. The unsolved problems in Uthapuram make the people more steely. The TNUEF has announced a series of programmes for the next year. The year 2011 is going to be an eventful year for the TNUEF.

UPA Government Zindabad...!!!

"I Have Become A Communist!"

Venezuela's March Continues...


ONE by one, the bricks are being removed in the capitalist walls that were erected in Latin American nations during the pro-imperialist rule. Taking Cuba as a model, president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez is chalking his own path towards socialism. Last week, he had nationalised Venezuela's third largest bank, i e the Banco de Venezuela. This bank was earlier privatised in 1996. The government of Venezuela has paid one billion dollars to the Spanish group Grupo Santander for their shares.

This purchase has brought one fifth of all bank deposits in Venezuela into the government fold. After getting the people's nod for nationalisation of core sectors, President Hugo Chavez has nationalised telecommunications, electricity, steel, oil and other core companies in the last two years. The latest push of bringing the banking sector under control will increase the government's role in shaping the economy.

Now, the government can regulate the money supply in a better way. Even earlier, the banking sector was properly regulated and the interests rates and commissions were set by the government. Leonardo Vera, an economist and professor at Venezuela's Central University, pointed out, "The government of Venezuela will now be able to indirectly regulate prices and market strategies."

Moreover, the welfare oriented schemes also will get enough resources after this move. Chavez has once again assured the people of his country that the march towards socialism will continue.



“Sympathy Budget” For Warmongers



IT has now come to light that the Japanese rulers are throwing away the taxpayers’ money in the name of national security. Toguchi Osamu, a Japanese Communist Party representative in the Okinawa prefectural government, has raised a question on the expenditure incurred by the US forces stationed in Okinawa.

The revealed fact was outrageous. The prefectural government had paid 10 billion yen to the US forces stationed in Okinawa. This amounts to 71 per cent of the entire nation's electric bill in 2007. Toguchi commented, "The government spends nearly 10 billion yen of tax money in the name of “sympathy budget” while the elderly have to bear the increasing financial burden of medical services that used to be free. Free medical services for the elderly can be achieved by doing away with the sympathy budget."

But this is the picture of Okinawa only. All over Japan, about 33,000 US soldiers are stationed, and the expenditure for this force is enormous. The government has named the expenditure as sympathy budget. The US forces play a role in Japan's national security, the officials justify. The Japanese Communist Party has demanded that this issue should be discussed in the Diet, the Japanese parliament.



Startling Facts On Israeli Offensive



STARTLING facts have come out regarding the war crimes committed by the Israeli forces in Gaza in January this year. Amnesty International, a rights group, has come out with an indepth report on this issue. In the three-week offensive, the report says, 1,400 Palestinians were killed. Among them were 300 children and 900 unarmed civilians. The rights group has questioned: Why did high-precision weapons like tank shells, air-delivered bombs and missiles kill so many children and unarmed civilians?

On the other side, the Israelis have refused to cooperate with the veteran war crimes investigator Richard Goldstone. He is probing this massacre on behalf of the United Nations. This UN probe’s investigator is biased, Israel claims. They say they have themselves investigated the whole episode and announced that their military had done nothing wrong! Hamas, the ruling group in Gaza, is cooperating with the UN investigating team and allowed them into Gaza.

However, even the startling facts revealed by the rights group are an understatement. Israeli forces have used Palestinians as human shields, charged the Hamas. Apart from killing the civilians, Palestinians were blocked from receiving medical care and humanitarian aid from neutral sources. The Hamas has pointed that even the counter-attack killed only 10 Israeli soldiers, showing that it was purely defensive in nature.



"I Have Become A Communist!"



I HAVE become a communist, said a girl to her parents. They were surprised to hear this from their daughter. But the girl did not want to get identified, fearing that she might lose her job. She is one among those lakhs of Japanese who were browsing in Google, Bing etc to come out from the crisis. The crisis that started from the sub-prime loans doled out by the US banks, has affected the second largest economy in the world too.

The girl found out that "in capitalism now we are controlled by the capitalists, or capital. But I think in a communism society we can think about the whole of society and decide our economic activities in a democratic way." She claims that she is a member of a "lost generation." She also mentioned about the people who came to the employment market during Japan's long stagnation in the 1990s and could not find proper jobs.

She is not alone in embracing communism in Japan. The party that has four lakh members on its rolls, is getting about 1,000 new members every month. Rallies by retrenched Japanese workers have become day to day affair. Presiding over these protests are none other than the leaders Japanese Communist Party. One worker among the rallyists claimed, "I support the Communist Party because it's the one that thinks about workers first." "The Communist Party is the only party that gets really serious about problems like this," said another.

When the recent international economic crisis erupted, Marxist literature came in demand from the affected, would-be affected and may-be affected sections. It was a 'classical' case in Japan. One classical novel was written in 1929 and was almost forgotten by the Japanese. The crisis has brought that novel into limelight now. The title of the novel is Kanikosen, and its story revolves around some poor fishermen uniting against their owners. Along with history, the story also repeats itself.

Finally, the cat is out

For long, there was a constant denials from the Japan's ruling establishment. They had dubbed the charge as nothing but fiction. The charge was that the US and Japan had a secret pact regarding the handling of nuclear weapons. Japan, being the only country that was struck the nuclear bomb has a policy of not to allow the production, possession and bringing in of nuclear weapons. But the secret pact that has come into light clearly shows that nuclear weapons carrying Warships or planes do not need prior consultations when they enter the Japanese territory.

This secret pact was brought out by the Kyodo News through four former Vice Foreign Ministers who were interviewed. They had even said that few former Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers knew about the whole thing. The people of Japan were kept in dark. Japanese Communist Party has called for a thorough enquiry. Its Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi has demanded that the Parliament should summon all those people connected with the deal to bring the truth out.

lnfact, the JCP has pointed out about such secret pact on handling of nuclear weapons by the US in Japanese territory on earlier occasions too. Their claims were dismissed as mere gossips. The latest revelations have proved that what JCP was kept saying was one hundred percent right. Ichida commented, when the entire world is moving towards non-nuclear world, the Japanese government should reveal publicly the facts regarding the secret deal with US.

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Military superior to Health!

Gloabal Financial Crisis has taken its own toll. But the crisis did not deter the nations from spending more on military. The expenditure on military went up 4% more in last year, 2008. The total expenditure was $1.46 trillion. As per the report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, US's close ally Israel spends more than any other country when compared with the population. They spend more than $2,300 per citizen. This is $300 more than United States of America that stands at the second place.

As far as the total military expenditure concerned, the US stays at the top. It spends 41% of the world military expenditure. Only the combined expenditre of other top 14 countries can match the US expenditure. Though the People's Republic of China has increased its military expenditure by 10%, it is still far away from US. Meanwhile, the US Federal Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke has urged the US Congress to address the nation's budget deficit that stands at $2 trillion. He has warned that there cannot be any indefinite borrowing by the country.

Military expenditure by the US is mounting. On the other side, the US President Barrack Obama is pushing health care reform. This is the make or break period said Barrack Obama to some Senators. He is insisting that the legislation for health care reforms should be passed without any delay. Unmindful expenditure on military has put pressure on both industry and healthcare.

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The so-called Left beaten, not the ism!

European Parliament elections have shown the doors to the Centre-Left. The outcome of the elections is that the Centre-Right has won considerable victory. Centre-Left has been defeated. The Left and the Greens have increased their tally marginally. Some analysts says that the result is contradictory. One side the rightist policies have put the entire world into crisis. But the people have no hesitation to choose them. Some say that the people believe that the rightist policies can only heal the wounds inflicted by the Global economic crisis.

The reason for the defeat of moderate Left is in the policies itself. Though the Centre-Left parties have claimed themselves as the custodians of Left policies, they do not practice the same. Infact they do not even preach. The tilt of these parties is towards the same harmful imperialist driven policies. The Labour Party of Britain is the best example. Be it Tony Blair or the incumbent Prime Minister Gordon Brown, they are toeing the policies US administration. A serious joke in the restaurants of London is that the Britain does not need separate ministries in many sectors.

When the people voted for the European Parliament, Greenland voters have rejected the rightist party, Siumut, which was ruling the country for the last 30 years. The new Government, led by the Leftists has put the issue of full independence from Denmark in the priority mode. To begin with, Greenland will implement Keynesian policies through which the country will develop the domestic market. The people were disgusted with the lavishness of Siumut party.

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Isolation isolated!

The life has come full circle incase of Cuba. Last week was politically more important for the nation that stood the imperialist assault for the last 50 years. Firstly, the El Salvador has signed an agreement with Cuba for renewing the relation between both the countries. The time has gone, when the US could manouvre other countries in the American continents to isolate Cuba. With El Salvador opening its doors to Cuba, only US is left in the American continents that did not have the relations with Cuba.

El Salvador had its own celebrations since another Leftist President has taken over the reins. Mauricio Funes took Office on June 01. His first job was to restore the diplomatic relations with Cuba. With the co-operation from other Left Presidents, a new path has been laid in the area that was considered as the backyard of US not so long ago. The policies of US have gone awry in each and every place it was implemented. The countries that implemented the US-prescribed policies have done it not on conviction, but by compulson.

The second event was that the Organisation of American States(OAS) has voted unanimously to end Cuba's 47 year suspension. The United States that was cornered by the other countries also voted in favour of the resolution. The Cuba should adhere to the pro-democracy principles of OAS, the US put a string on the vote. Cuba has firmly rejected the call to join OAS. It has infact called for a new organisation that will reflect the real aspirations of American people.

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Response to Economist.com article...

The ground reality in India is different. Post-2004, the so-called reforms have been slowed down. Welfare programmes have come up due to the intervention of the Left parties, particular Communist Party of India(Marxist). For example, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme through which the rural poor gets 100 days of employment in a year. Though many shortcomings are there in the implementation of the scheme, it has given a breathing space to the rural poor.

During the election campaign, the Congress did not campaign on reforms plank. It campaigned saying that they had brought a scheme that gave the employment to the poor. Infact, the Congress should thank the Left parties for having helped them to come back.

Another example is banking sector. Even the people in the government had agreed, the banking sector did not collapse because of the ownership nature. Since the banks are in public sector, unlike the American banks, they have survived the worst world economic crisis.

Congress could capitalist the inaction of the main opposition party, that Bharathiya Janata Party(BJP). They had always side-stepped from the issues that affects the people.

If the Congress deviates from the trend that was set due to the pressure of the Left, they will start losing from the next state election itself.

Goliath wins, temporarily..!!

Mr.M.K.Azhagiri has won the election from Madurai parliamentary constituency. He was pitted against the sitting CPI(M) MP, Com.P.Mohan whose re-election was the choice for many from the temple city. This was the scene upto the day of mass distribution of money to the voters. It is alleged that they have distributed Rs.500 to near about 7 lakhs voters. Apart from this the distribution of sarees etc.. also were there.


This act was strongly resisted by the cadres of CPI(M), AIADMK and other allies. In one day, that is on 5th May night itself, brutal attacks were unleashed against the cadres and 16 of them had to be admitted in the hospital due to serious injuries. This has stopped their further distribution of money. It was widely believed that they had a plan for massive distribution of money on 8th and 11th of May. This could not be done due to vigil actions by the workers of CPI(M), AIADMK and other allies.


The future will not only speak about the victory, but also about the heroic struggle waged by the cadres of CPI(M)and the people of Madurai against the money power. Though many people have accepted the bribe for voting, the Madurai where the political conscience is more had seen the people firmly rejecting the bribe also. There were many in Madurai who felt insulted for being bribed. If the DMK people think that this particular gentleman and his family will not accept the bribe, the money was thrown inside the house. Elders were threatened with dire consequences if they do not accept the money.


Folklore stories are plenty for the Maduraites. They can pass on these to their upcoming generations. Stories like resisting a group of 300 people by a single man from distributing the money and material, few used left hand to press the button instead of right hand and many more like these that includes attempts to remove the fear created by the rowdyism will withstand the time.


A rumour was spread among the Madurai voters that the DMK men have been trained to find out for whom the vote is casted at the polling booth itself. One voter has described his strategy to overcome this. He was told by some people, since the Azhagiri's name figured at the top of the list, if the hand goes down to press the button you will be exposed. He had fear in his mind like others. But he could overcome that. He said, "while my right hand was near the top button, Left hand had quietly pressed the other button". With a long breath, "How many of us have time to devise such strategies...?" he asked.


One elder woman had a different story to tell. Her daughter's father-in-law expired one day prior to the polling date. She had to rush up next morning for two reasons. Though she did not accept the money, she believed that those who have distributed it might have kept in their pockets and informed their masters that the money has been given to all. So, if she does not vote it will be attributed that she had protested. She came back. Second reason is that she really wanted to protest. Hence, she voted for Mohan.


Many young voters have felt like being insulted. They had dissented when their parents accepted money. They hate to hear that there is no alternative. One youth said, "no need of any alternative. The one that is there is the best". He was pointing out that the sitting MP is P.Mohan and there is no need to change that. He saw the positiveness in the manner the CPI(M) and other parties have conducted themselves.


Getting around 3 lakh votes has proved these heroics are not mere stories. It has both blood and muscle. That is why the DMK and its machinery went to an extent, where they themselves have made some material and claimed that this was distributed by the CPI(M). The people, including the staunch DMK supporters, had laughed at this strategy. Such credibility the CPI(M) and its candidate have among the Madurai voters.


When Goliath wins, the general feeling is that they hate the result. When we say David, he does not represent the weak. David is the one who has the wherwithal to bring down Goliath. He is seen as a good. Goliath represents the opposite. He is bad but strong. But his strength lies in his muscle power and not in character. The result of the battle is always as expected. The David wins. This is the result people longing for. But when the Goliath wins, the entire humanity mourns.


Madurai is not in mourning mode. The hate feeling has widened. It may not have been translated as a winning formula for the moment. But, its strength cannot be just washed away. Madurai will once again erupt from the present turmoil.

Just the beginning of the larger struggle

Hundreds of Dalits led by the CPI(M) leaders made an attempt on Wednesday to enter the Kannanallur Mariamman temple situated at Panthapuli near Sankarankoil in Tamil Nadu.
The situation is such in this temple, the Dalits cannot go into the temple despite the court orders. The local court has given its judgement in the month of September that the Dalits have right to offer prayers. When the judgement came, the priest of the temple had locked up the temple and ran away.

The Dalits protested on being kept away from worshipping in the temple. Administration was also playing into the hands of dominant section. It is refusing to implemente the court orders. CPI(M), on behalf of Dalits, took up the issue and held talks with the administration.
Instead of implementing the law, The local administration imposed section 144 to stop the dalits to enter the temple. The CPI(M) and the Dalits were firm in their decision in exercising their rights to enter the temple.

The attempts by the administration to create division within the dalits were futile. They stood behind the CPI(M) that is conducting the struggle for untouchability eradication. Dalits led by the CPI(M) party leaders had assembled in Sankarankoil to proceed towards Pandhapuli.
The police arrested the leaders and the dalits for violating the orders. In total, 400 people were arrested. The police didnot allow even the MLAs to visit the temple. Addressing a meeting on the Golden Jubilee Grounds, Ms. Balabharathi came down heavily on the official machinery for banning the CPI (M)’s temple entry.

Before the arrest, CPI(M)'s MLA K.Bala Bharathi spoke to the presspersons. In that, The administration is not able to execute the order of Munsif Court that the Dalits should be allowed to worship in the temlple. Hence, the party is taking up the issue and wil make sure that the dalits enter the temple as they desire, she said.

She charged that the district administration is functioning with casteist feelings. The state government is just standing as silent spectator for these events. Chief Minister should take initiatives to solve the issue immediate. If the trend continues, the CPI(M) will conduct statewide agitations.

It is atrocious on the part of the Chief Minister who is busy in issuing statements and writing letters as if he is sitting in Opposition. When the Dalits were struggling to exercising their rights, he was busy in writing about Sirudhavur where the farmer Chief Minister Jayalalitha and her associates have grabbed the land of dalits.

Chief Minister Karunanidhi was trying to pinpoint the State Secretary of CPI(M), N.Varadarajan, saying it was Varadarajan who first took the issue of land grabbing. Karunanidhi was trying to focus the attention on the decision of electoral alliance between the AIADMK and CPI(M). He says, Varadarajan took up the case two years back.

The point here is, N.Varadarajan has not withdrawn his complaint. The dilly-dallying is only on the part of Government who is just sitting over the matter for the last two years. Infact, it is Karunanidhi who is having some pact with the corrupt elements in the other parties. The exoneration of Sedapatti Muthaiah and Indira Kumari are pointers towards this.

He once even invited J.Jayalalitha also to join DMK. The agitations for the social justice cannot be diverted by the cheap politics carried out by the Karunanidhi and co. The firmness shown by the people of Pandhapuli is proof to the belief that the struggle of the oppressed groups will succeed despite the opponents' efforts.

KBC III : "Kaun Banega Candidate"

NDA decides to conduct a KBC type contest to pick up its Prime Ministerial candidate. Amitabh Bachan conducts the contest.
Advani tries his luck. He is through to the last question.
AB : Advaniji... We are in a very important stage...
Advani : Ball is in your court Amitabh... my next book may be on you ... I will name it "your country, your life"...
AB : Ha..ha..ha.. Thank you, Advaniji...
Advani : I think all lifelines are left...
AB : Ji haan Advaniji...50-50, Audience poll and dial a friend... all these options are there...shall we go to the question..?
Advani : OK...
AB : As we know, India is also affected by the Global economic crisis... The reason is
(a) The country has followed the neo-liberal policies
(b) Ram Mandir was not built at Ayodhya
(c) Modi is a potential prime ministerial candidate
(d) The pace of the neo-liberal policies was slow
Advani : It is tough indeed... All the options are seems to be right... I think I should start a book titled "no country, no life..."
AB : You have all the lifelines, Advaniji..
Advani : you have confused me, Amitabh...
AB : I used to hear from your party people, that yours is a party with a difference...
Advani : Yes, we had a lakshman rekha... we never explained the limit of that rekha...But it got exposed finally, people came to know it was Bangaru lakshman rekha... Now everybody is trying to cross that rekha...wants to prove better than Bangaru...
AB : so you, as a party, have no economic crisis...
Advani : Not at all... we have experts in all the departments...Katara in Human Resource, Venkaiah Naidu in Land Development, Lalji Tandon in Textiles, Praveen Togadia in Steel, If I don't mention my name, the list will be incomplete... I am expert in Hawala dealings...
AB : OK...Advaniji..let us come to the answer... Would you like to use any of the lifeline?
Advani : Yes... 50-50..
AB : Computerji...Advaniji has chosen his lifeline... Remove two options...
(Computer has removed option b and c)
AB : Advaniji...now you have left with two options...
Advani : my problem is not solved...I will go for audience poll..
AB : Oh...Computerji..get ready...
(Audience votes)
AB : Advaniji, the people says the answer is A. The country has followed the neo-liberal policies.
Advani(scratching his head) : hmmmmm...
AB : Advaniji... Are you going with the people...
Advani : I would like to try the last lifeline too...
AB : OK... Whom would you like to call... who is that friend...??
Advani : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh... as far as the economic policies, we sail on the same boat..
AB (Dials for MMS ) Hello... I am Amitabh Bachan calling from Kaun Banega Candidate...(He lists out the question and options).

MMS : It is D.
AB : Advaniji... What are you going to do... You are going to listen to your friend Manmohanji or will go alongwith the people...?
Advani : My answer is D...
AB : Computerji...give us the correct answer...
In the screen the answer flashes.. India is also affected by the Global economic crisis... The reason is
A - The country has followed the neo-liberal policies...
(Advani goes) .......
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Saffronisation of Armed Forces

IT was Sangh Parivar's second U-turn on the enquiry of a case that occurred on September 29, 2008. Initially, they had distanced themselves from the Sadhvi & Co., saying that they are not part of Sangh Parivar. When Sadhvi Pragya was arrested, initially there was a lull in Parivar camp. Hush-hush could be heard, but there was no reaction.Suddenly, Rajnath Singh, coined a slogan, "Terrorism has no religion". The media took it as a sign of distancing from the accused. Rajnath Singh, at least for a while, liked the focus on him. Suddenly the RSS, the mother organisation, woke up and had parleys with Advani and Rajnath Singh.Here came another slogan from none other than the president of BJP, Rajnath Singh, "Hindu cannot be a terrorist". And he said that the accused will get legal help from the party.

The U-turn was made when the serving Lt Col Purohit was arrested. Here the Army's response to the arrest also came. It said this is a "freak case" and called it an "isolated incident". The response is all the more disgusting to those who have watched the process of the BJP and its cohorts having tried to communalise even the Army. The process started when the BJP got the opportunity of sitting in power. On May 31, 1999, two senior military officers drove along with the then Defence minister George Fernandes to the BJP executive meeting to brief on the Kargil operation. The first one was the then additional director-general of military operations, Lt Gen N C Vij who later became the Army chief in 2003. The second officer was Air vice marshal S K Malik.After their brief, the national executive of BJP passed a resolution urging the international community to condemn Pakistan for the intrusion into Kargil. The oath of secrecy undertook by the military officers was breached, but they were let off without even a mild warning. In fact, N C Vij became general and took over as chief of the Army staff on January 01, 2003.

Next incident came immediately after the Kargil war, when the infantry division commander Lt Gen V N Budhwar had permitted the Sindhu Darshan festival in Leh that was organised by the RSS. The process that started during the Kargil war was carried forward further.This process did not stop there. The government collapsed due to the withdrawal of support by AIADMK. Portraits of chiefs of tri-services were adorning the stages from where the BJP had carried out its election campaign. They claimed it as a victory of BJP during their speeches. The second rung leaders of BJP had claimed it as a victory of Hindus against Muslims. Communalisation and politicisation of Army was continuing.Not to forget is the great achievement of BJP led government that dismissed the Naval chief admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. He was the only one Naval chief who was dismissed in India's history. BJP and George Fernandes had no regret in doing that. For none of his mistakes, he bore the brunt. But the then Defence minister, George Fernandes, escaped unscathed though Jaya Jaitley was caught taking bribe in his official bungalow.

The communalisation and politicisation of military by the BJP and its allies have instigated even an honest and upright officer like Air Marshal M S Shekhon to look for a favour from political leadership. He was Air Officer-in-Charge, Southern Air Command, which is a not so important portfolio. He wrote to the then chief minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal to help him to take over as Air Officer-in-Charge, Western Air Command, the most important post in Indian Air Force after chief of Air Staff. The exposure of his letter to Badal had made him to resign.

In 2004, despite their India shining campaign, BJP and its allies had lost the parliamentary elections, as expected. The recent events have proved that the damage has already been done. Anti Terrorist Squad is looking for more army personnel. The whereabouts of 54 people trained by Purohit are yet to be traced. These events have escaped the attention of Army intelligence people. Three services have a wide network of counter intelligence operation. But it is very difficult to detect the anti- national activities by the counter-intelligence officer himself. Lt Col Shrikant Purohit is from the Intelligence Corps. This has helped him evade from Intelligence lens while giving arms training for several years.

More startling facts are coming out now. "Sadhu" Amirtanand Swami who was arrested by Anti-Terror Squad(ATS) of Maharashtra on November 12, 2008 in connection with the Malegaon blasts is also an ex-serviceman. Eight years ago, he was a non-commissioned officer in Indian Air Force.Not only in the Defence services, the RSS-BJP combine has an outfit called "Sankalp Sanstha" that brain washes the civil servants and has them in their camp. Knee jerk reactions like "freak case" or "isolated incident" comments will not help to stem the crisis. A thorough enquiry into the events by the political and military leadership will only help in putting an end to such things.

Ganesh