Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy Ex MP

“Ruling classes, express apology to the Nation”

2020-05-28T01:35:00.000-04:00

Greatest genius and philosopher of our planet has rightly commented that “All human relations are mere economic relations.”. Many have not agreed upon this comment referring to capitalist society. Criticised as well. In this world ,Corona disease has spread to 50 lakhs of people and lakhs are still dying. But US President Donald Trump is giving priority to business rather than to precious lives of people declaring it openly and opening lockdown. Corona affected people and deaths are more in US only. In India without such declaration on the name of easing lockdown, silently lockdown is being lifted in daytime and curfew is being continued in night time. “Mun Ki bath “of Trump and Modi are same.

Lockdown can not be continued for ever. Already it has surpassed 58 days. Lives of common people have been paralysed. Govt is propagating as there is no other alternative.

If any mistake takes place Govt should have courage to accept it. Our Govt has imposed lockdown in the last week of March. It has made delay in imposing lock down in right time. Because of delay in decision of Govt , country has compelled to pay a lot. The number of Corona victims are increasing day by day. The number of people on whom tests are being conducted is very less. If the number of tests are increased, more times of number of cases of victims will be traced out.

President of Niti Ayog has announced that due to lockdown , according to a survey the number of Corona affected cases got reduced in tens of lakhs. On what basis this survey is being done, nobody knows. According to certain estimates the number of Indians who has to return to India by flights will be 30,000. There are some crores of migrant workers who are on the way to their respective native home towns. Crores of workers are returning back. Among them certain got affected with Corona positive. There is more percentage of who have come in flights. There is a danger of spreading to co travellers, employees and above all to their family members. This is most agonising but it is a fact. This dreaded disease will spread to how many lakhs of people is no body knows.

Ruling classes are advising people to co exist along with Corona. They are preaching people to coexist with Corona as you are coexisting with poverty and ill health.

This painfull development would have resisted but most adamant , narrow thinking BJP leadership has avoided the great chance of combating . The most jeopardy is being underestimated. More over a felitication public meeting was organised in Gujarat with a one lakh people to Donald Trump was most unwise ,foolish and unwanted act. In Madhya Pradesh dethroning the Chief Minister of rival party and making chief Minister of their own party, announcing of lock down became delayed. In order to create an impression of all is well ,sessions of parliament is also lengthened is another parochial step. All these added to delaying in making announcement of lockdown. Some doubt that, the one of top most leader who is playing role “Shakuni”(evil character in Maha bharath) in Indian political arena, who is silent now is responsible for entire episode.

I am not making this allegation with hostility of either Narendra Modi or BJP. First Corona case is being got exposed in America. Nobody knows by that time that the Corona is such dreaded disease. While it has spread dangerously in Woohan city of China, it’s danger is being understood. Many felt that it is confined to China alone. China has intimated it’s magnitude to World Health Organisation on 31st December 2019 itself. WHO in turn has warned all countries on 30 th January itself to take preventive steps for not spreading the disease and declared International public Health Emergency. Suggestions of WHO are being implemented immediately by Vietnam & North Korea which are neighbouring countries and also South Korea with little delay. Borders are being closed and flights are being cancelled. All necessary precautions are being taken. Vietnam could take care in such a way that not even single death occurred. The same situation is prevailing in North Korea. In South Korea there was a limited loss but ultimately could eradicate Corona right at the moment. Sri Lanka which is in south of our country has taken necessary precautions with first warning itself and it has limited Corona affected cases with below 1000 and deaths to below 30. Cuba a socialist country which is in American continent, has efficiently controlled Corona and could send medical teams to 37 countries including many small countries which are not cared by any country. One Italian has flirted Cuban Flag in Italy with affection. Trump has roared not to take Cuban help, but his order was kept deaf ears by those nations who are receiving medical help of Cuba.

Our Prime minister who was in full ecstasy of getting hugged by Donald Trump neglected the warning of WHO. He has been awakened late and suddenly announced lockdown in last week of March with out giving few hours time to people. Certain chief Ministers gone to extent of announcing in their respective state assemblies that Corona can be cured with paracetamol.

There are certain leaders of central and state govts who think that they themselves are great personalities and all opposition leaders are useless and they know nothing,with this adamant attitude they kept deaf ears to the criticisms of sensible eminents.

Actually on 11 th February itself opposition parties have warned about dangers of Corona disease and about necessary steps to be taken by Govt. Our rulers felt that they are most genius on earth..They also felt that in the past, present and even in future such brilliant personalities will not emerge. Hence did not care the appeals and suggestions of others. So called “ Shakuni” who used to response on every issue conspicuously did not respond to this issue.

If Govt would have responded in February itself and week time would have given to migrant workers, employees ,retail traders and other toiling sections to go to their native home towns, air travel would have banned, India also would have saved many lives from the clutches of Corona dreaded disease, as Vietnam saved it’s people’s lives. As Govt miserably failed in taking such precautionary steps country has gone to disarray.

As part of “ Vandhe Bharath” mission thousands of Indians who are trapped in foreign countries for various reasons are being brought back in Air India, by collecting exorbitant flight charges. But the same Vandhe Bharath mission did not applied to migrant workers. They are still walking on foot to thousands of miles to reach their native home towns. As there is no employment, no wages, not in a position to pay home rents and starving due to lack of food. Lakhs of migrant workers are on the way to their respective home towns on foot. Hundred and fifty nine migrant workers have lost their lives on the way ie some on railway track, some on truck accident, some with starvation and some due to even in thirsty & heat wave etc. Migrant workers have soaked High ways through shedding their blood while walking.A pregnant woman after walking hundreds of miles delivered in middle of the road and after a gap of two hours she was compelled to walk 150 kms again in order to reach their home town. A 14 year young woman took his injured father on back seat of bicycle from Delhi to their home town in Bihar by riding nearly 1300 kms. Such incident was appreciated by even Ivanka ,but our leaders did not open their mouths.

Aftermath of lockdown the performance of central Govt has further deteriorated. In the months of January& February , WHO has appealed to procure adequate number of PPE kits, masks, sanitizers, ventilators etc. But our did not care that valuable suggestion. Ours is country of 135 crores of population. Even one percent of of population got affected by Corona , one crore 35 lakhs people will suffer. Of course this will not spread all at a time. Let us wish that will not spread to many. We are having just 40,000 ventilators. Medical staff is not having adequate training.There are no warnings and suggestions to states from the center. The responsible minister Harshavardhan who is supposed to supervise on all these aspects but he has failed in all fronts. But as a reward for his failures became the president of WHO. But Harshavardhan can play a role efficiently as per the hints by Trump against China.

State governments have worked with dedication along with their medical staff and their funds to fight out Covid-19. Kerala State has played admirable role in this mission. Even Sri Lanka Govt also has also appreciated health minister of Kerala.Allotment of central Govt funds are limited. Mass applause, igniting lights and demagogic speeches could not eradicate Corona. Cow urine therapy has become counter productive in Calcutta. Narendra Modi has promised ₹ 15 lakhs to each familiy.Now he has deposited ₹ 1500/- each in jandhan accounts. People are questioning in how many instalments the amount will be deposited. To fulfil his promise how many hundreds of years will take place. As country is in lockdown and people are in distress ,BJP govts of Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh have suspended labour laws and introduced 12 hour working Day. Even in Rajasthan, Punjab and Pudhuchery where main opposition party congress govts are there, they have also brought 12 hour working day. In this regard both the BJP and congress are the same. They are going to use ESMA if workers are on strike. Working class will resist these anti working class steps. Because 8 hour working day was achieved with long standing struggles all over the world. Even British colonial period also 8 hour working day was there. Working class will definitely win the battle for 8 hour working day again.

Nirmala Seetharaman Union Finance Minister has proposed stimulus package of ₹20 lakhs crores. This is nothing but jugglers of mere digits. Even after giving detailed explanation, nobody could understand. Though she has claimed it as 10 percent of GDP. But many international organisations and renowned economists have clarified that it is less than 1 percent. Nirmala Seetharaman’s Indian self reliant mission can not be understood by any body .It is unsolved puzzle for ever.

Swadeshi slogan,but practically protection to Foreign Direct Investments. In coal mines, space and minerals 75 percent investments are being invited. On the name of reforms in electricity burden is heaped upon common people.Loans are being extended to billioneers & crorepathis. In previous year public sector undertakings which have earned profits to the tune of ₹ 1,75000 crores have been sold to private big business magnets and foreign corporate sharks. Though country is being sold,, economic situation is slowing down,, people are in pathetic conditions,, though crores of workers were on strike on 22nd, those issues are not being reflected in media. Corporates are under the umbrella of Govt and these corporates are controlling 750 TV channels,hundreds of daily papers . That is the reason why facts are not being published. Throats of journalists are being throttled. Some opportunists of them are bending on knees if they are asked to bend their heads. This criticism is not of mine. It is of Lal Krishna Advani’s in emergency period. Rulers are being changed. Who ever are in power these Goswamys worship their feet. Personality cult is on increase to it’s heights. In this background if we would have privatised health sector just like America, what would have been fate of India. ?

In our country details have to be received yet. According to Chicago based news paper “ People’s world” among the deaths due to Covid -19, in America, considerable number is from in organised construction workers, Afro -Americans, Mexicans, and above all from migrants. Ironically Trump has stated that It is beautiful to see them dying. He was referring to medical staff. It is sad state of affair is that though there is no happy to the top leaders but they do not have culture of expressing sympathy with the families of diseased. The same culture has prevented union Govt to appreciate the Kerala state which could control Corona in an excellent way. In many countries even prisoners are being released during the period of Covid-19. Our governments are keeping deaf ears to even court directives. On the name of urban Natalie’s, intellectuals, human rights activists are sent to behind the bars. Grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar, Prof Anand Theldumbde, intellectualand journalist, Sudha Bharadhwaja, Advocate, 80 years old senior poet Varavara Rao, Saibaba who is confined to wheel chair due to physically handicapped and his colleagues are being imprisoned and with a pretext of their release is dangerous to the nation,even bail is being refused. Many may not agree with their ideals. If any body dictates One should not have any ideals & thoughts means it is nothing but fascism. In the rule of Italy which is resembling the Nazism , Gramsci an Italian communist intellectual is arrested and produced in the court. Public prosecutor has pleaded with the justice that his mind be kept idle for atleast 25 years. Justice has granted the punishment to Gramsci.

In the period of lockdown opposition parties,workers and people cannot agitate. Media will not reflect the criticisms. Only alternative left is social media. If in social media the leader is criticised, that particular person is branded as communist and anti national, and agents of Pakistan. In spite of it people are resisting.

Aftermath of lockdown the period will be much more complicated one. There is possibility of increase of Corona affected cases. State governments will not have in a position to arrange medical facilities. State governments are being sent to banks of bankruptcy. Federal character is being dismantled. Electricity Amendment Act is part of it.

After Well knowledgable person has become the leader of the nation, relations with neighbouring countries have deteriorated. In Pakistan, civic government is mere a mask to military government. In solving people’s problems Pakistan miserably failed more than India. But for Pakistan, Kashmir issue is strong weapon. The same Pakistan is weapon for our ruling party. Our ruling party leaders can not sleep with out mentioning the name of Pakistan.whatever may be Government relations with China, but it Attacks on China stating that China is more dangerous than Pakistan. Though there is no conflict with Bangladesh& Sri Lanka, but there are no good relations with those countries. At present Nepal also do not have good relations with us. Nepal is small country, on one hand our government says that India will discuss with Nepal,on the other hand it says that some body is there behind Nepal. This is nothing but adding fuel to fire instead of reducing tensions between both the countries. In this way in Nepal anti India ness is enhanced. Will there not be self respect for small countries? While Donald Trump threatened to serious consequences if Hydrochloroquins medicine is not exported to US, with in 24 hours medicine is sent by digesting the humiliation. Can’t we maintain harmonious relations with Nepal? Let us reject their argument. Is bad relations are necessary with a neighbouring country like Nepal where 30 lakhs Indians have established their residence? We have to review them. Trump and Netanyus are the businessmen to sell their dangerous weapons. They are not helpful to India at any cost.

Atleast now the Govt has to open it’s eyes.The BJP which has come to power with the support of one third of population should try to get the confidence of 70 percent of people and their representatives. They have to discuss with opposition parties,mass organisations and Trade unions etc. Anti labour legislation s be withdrawn.present stimulus package be withdrawn and people get cash in hand,manufacturers and industrialists should get financial assistance with certain limit. The package be corrected accordingly. Public sector be defended and black money be bring back from foreign countries.

State govts which are suffering with the expenditure of Corona, be helped by center justifiably. All families except income tax payers be paid with ₹7500/- for the period of Covid-19. All migrant workers be given with 10 kgs of food grains till six months more. Remaining migrant workers be arranged transport facility with Govt expenditure. Farmers be supplied with better quality of seeds and fertilisers. Supporting price be enhanced.for their produce. Remunerative price be given for agricultural produce. Political & other prisoners be released on bail. Communal propaganda on Corona be put an end. Diseased police and medical staff due to Corona be paid with a compensation of₹ 25 lakhs. Diseased families of migrant workers also be paid a compensation of ₹ 25 lakhs. Discuss with opposition and intellectuals. Create harmonious atmosphere. Let us continue united struggle against Corona.

Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy

Former, Member of Parliament.

Injury on Head, Medicine on Toe | Government's response to economic crisis

2019-09-21T13:33:00.001-04:00

One should really appreciate the Modi government's ingenuity in finding a way to pour in more money to the Indian oligarchy of Adani’s and Ambani’s with the most unlikely excuses.

Indian economy has drastically shrunk because common man doesnt have money to spend due to increased prices and since incomes haven't kept pace with inflation. Companies are cutting jobs because there is an oversupply of goods and people aren't buying them due to decreased buying power.

To ease the situation for peoples buying power has to increase which will put the economy back on track. For this the Modi government policies of increasing indirect taxes has to be reversed. Most of the products are in the 18% GST range making one fifth of every product price payable to government. Apart from this more than 50% taxes on diesel and petrol increases each product cost due to increased transportation costs at all stages including raw materials stage, finished material to dealers stage and finally dealers to retail shops stage. Each time a good is being transported half the cost of transportation goes to government.

This lopsided taxation has squeezed out the savings of the common man. The resultant reduction of his buying power has put manufacturing and service industry into a decline resulting in reduction of jobs and has put the nation into a vicious recession cycle.

While the nation is facing the worst economic management the NDA ministers responses have put comedy shows to shame. While finance minister blames millennials using cabs for the crisis, commerce minister says maths didn't help Einstein discover ‘Gravity’. Ofcourse what can be expected from the team of the Prime Minister who has said that clouds will help Indian aircrafts avoid detection by radars and that he had sent photos by email in 1988 whereas email attachment was invented in 1992.

While on the one hand the government is steadfast that there is no economic crisis in the country, on the other hand the government is continually coming up with supposedly economic stimulus measures.

Through mergers it is damaging the banking sector which has been the national economic backbone

that protected India through many recessions.

In the latest measure the finance minister has announced a cut in corporate tax from 35% to 25% approximately at the cost of 1.45 trillion rupees. How does the government hope that will help the crisis? If next year corporates have to pay less tax, then they ‘may’ use the money to increase manufacturing which will help the money to particulate the money down the economic strata. However the question is that when there is a production glut with people not buying products, how will further increase in production adding to the glut help in reversing the recession.

In the budget speech in July finance minister had announced that companies upto 400 crores turnover will have an effective rate of 25%. This she had claimed will cover 95% of the companies. Then is the new cut going to help the remaining 5%? No since the rider is that this tax rate is applicable for only those who are not enjoying any other tax sops. So where is the 1.45 trillion rupees going? It is going to help approximately only 0.7% of the corporates who are the oligarchy of India.

By cutting only corporate tax, the Modi government has proved once again that it is a ‘by corporates, for corporates, of corporates government.

The government hasn't explained which expenditure will be cut in the face of the 1.7 trillion loss but obviously the social welfare measures will be deeply affected. This will further make the poor poorer. 1.7 trillion going into corporate coffers will not reverse the economic downturn. If the same money was used to reduce the indirect taxes or to strengthen social welfare measures it would have helped increase the buying power, which will put the market back in action.

Now that the government has reduced the corporate tax, it is essential to reduce income tax slabs. Higher income tax than corporate tax will lead to many registering companies for incomes rather than receive the same as individuals.

The government should stop its crony-capitalist economic policies that will harm both the poor and rich of the country and adopt more people centric economic policies. It should also give up its anti-economists, anti-scientists attitude to gain scientific inputs necessary for policy making.

- Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy Ex. M.P.

Former General Secretary of CPI

Please No Beeps & Blurs on Digital Media

2019-09-05T08:11:00.000-04:00

The government’s plan to censor streaming services like Netflix in wake of shows like Leila that make them politically uncomfortable is a dangerous move. Currently anti-government content can easily be labelled as anti-national content in television and film. This will spread to digital media platforms.

People have the maturity to absorb content on issues and take informed decisions. It is not right for the government to curb the creativity of the content producers in any form. If curbed every content creator’s first thought would be whether the current ruling dispensation will allow this content.

There are enough laws to deter potential issues like defamatory content, insulting of national symbols, etc. Only age appropriateness certification model should be put in place. A censorship model of approving content is not only a anti-democratic step but will also affect the financial growth of the OTT industry.

Indian OTT market is growing at the rate of 23% despite current economic conditions partly because people are not satisfied with the model of television were someone decides what content has to be shown to the audience.

OTT has enabled democratisation of content. Shows that were rejected by television have succeeded on digital mediums. People are having the opportunity to choose what they watch. Content that matches viewers preferences are succeeding as it is unfettered by any person or groups intervention. It is important to protect and strengthen this democratisation of content. #FreedomOfSpeech #OTT #Democratisation of #Content #Netflix #Prime #Hotstar

Banks Merger is to favour the Oligarchy

2019-09-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

On the face of it, Modi Government economic policies at best appear to be clueless and directionless. However underneath it is a deep rooted conspiracy to systematically loot the nation in favour of the few who have put their puppet in the prime ministers chair.

Deep economic manipulation by a few was put to an end by nationalisation of banks which was done at the behest of CPI. Banks nationalisation put an end to the manipulated creation of artificial money crunch in the markets that would cause inflation of prices creating huge profits for companies owned by the same owners of the erstwhile banks. Nationalised banks played a huge role in the development of small and medium scale industries across the country which is now the backbone of the economy. The banks created food security for the country by protecting agriculture through farming loans and insurance. Though the banks have not been able to meet the farming requirement to the full extent, farmers dependence on private money lenders has been greatly reduced. Nationalised banks promoted savings in Indian middle class through various schemes and enabled their housing, transport and education requirements. There was no more fear of the days of banks suddenly shuttering down and peoples money being lost into thin air. The nationalised banks through their sound financial decisions protected Indian economy through multiple economic recessions across the globe which struck even the most developed nations a severe blow.

However a few conglomerates that can be called the Indian Oligarchy continued to exert undue influence on successive governments to manipulate the banks into giving them undeserving loans which created large chunk of Non Performing Assets (NPA’s) which caused financial stress to the banks. Bank employees under AIBEA and AIBOA have even exposing this for decades. In contrast with the public perception that has been created it is the biggest businesses in the country that make up majority of the NPA’s and not the small farmers. Despite the government failing to take action against the defaulters and despite government failing to pay the banks for the various social and welfare initiatives for which it was supposed to pay, the nationalised banks as a whole continued to make profits for the government and also expanded their reach across urban and rural areas while developing their international network too. The nationalised banks had a unique character of belonging to different regions of the country which helped them to understand the local requirements better and therefore connect to the people culturally and thereby perform better. They also set up branches were that region people migrated more - be it in India or abroad - and maintained a constant support to them in their language and in their cultural atmosphere wherever they are.

The Indian oligarchy was not satisfied with influencing the government and wanted complete control of the same. They sponsored their candidate, Modi, who would fly out from his home city everyday in their private plane for campaign everyday and back by night to receive instructions on what to speak the next day. Their successful campaign put him in the chair and he continues to receive instructions from them about what to say and do and refuses to take any questions from anyone else.

His sponsors needed large volumes of credit from the banks and since the banks did not have that kind of cash volumes it was squeezed out of the people of the country in the form of demonetisation. Every Indian citizen had to rush to the bank to put his or her money into the banking system and yet there was no money in the ATM’s when withdrawals were required. Where did this money go? The RBI which was announcing how much money was received each day for the first few days suddenly went mute and didn’t announce any details for years.

The oligarchy wanted to squeeze out every rupee from the system and when the RBI governor was not agreeing to the same, he was replaced with Modi’s own person. Even this RBI governor’s conscience seemed to come in the way and he too objected which led to majority of the RBI board being replaced and government decisions were pushed down the throat of this autonomous body.

However the financial appetite of the oligarchy could not be filled and they want loans of such massive size that only the merger of all banks can create credit of such enormous proportions. Government is mindlessly following their masters’ instructions and merging the banks which is a danger to the national economy. The social nature of the banks will be lost. The protection of economic security of the nation from global recessions will be severely damaged. The banking system reflecting the cultural diversity of the nation will be forever murdered.

Every excuse given by the government for bank mergers do not stand scrutiny very much like the excuses given during demonetisation. Not only will the mergers not help in the reduction of NPA’s but also create bigger NPA’s as bigger banks will give bigger loans, have bigger NPA’s and result in big losses.

It is necessary for the people to understand the devious plans of this government and oppose the mergers and other disastrous economic policies of the oligarchy controlled government.

ECONOMIC REVIVAL DOESN'T NEED JUST COSMETIC CHANGES BUT A MAJOR POLICY SHIFT

2019-09-03T08:15:00.000-04:00

The only positive aspect about the initiatives announced by the Union Finance Minister is that the government has finally acknowledged that the economy is in crisis. However the directionlessness of the initiatives shows that the government still does not understand what ails the economy.

India is a mixed economy with both strong public and private sectors. The artificial money crunch created by the private sector was controlled by nationalisation of banks at the behest of the CPI. The social nature of the strong public sector banks have protected the private sector of Indian economy from numerous international economic recessions including the ones that shook the world's largest economies.

The government has destabilized the Indian economy by weakening public sector banks through mergers, non-action against large defaulters and lack of professional management due to political appointments of non-economists to bank boards. The autonomy of RBI has been severely impacted and the government bulldozing of demonetisation despite warnings from then RBI governor and economists wrecked the Indian economy.

The governments crony-capitalist policies favoring those who funded the prime ministerial candidatature has killed the sense of level playing field. Professional industrialists are scared of few families being able to twist government policies into their favour thereby creating an oligarchy in the country. The using of tax agencies to hound not only political opponents but also rivals of those close to the Prime Minister has created an unspoken distrust in the market forcing out others from the sectors in which these families operate.

India's Public Sector has been the backbone of the economy. The government has created a perception that overall public sector are facing losses and are a lag on the economy. Many public sectors have been systematically put into self destructive mode by government by not paying them pending bills and showed them as loss making. This is in contrast to the fact that despite all manipulation by the government all profit making PSU together generate a profit of 1,59,635 crore compared to all the loss making PSUs together making a loss of Rs. 31,261 crore in 2017-18. Public sectors are essential in all core social sectors and protect the economy in all kinds of economic weather and create massive volumes of employment. The government has not only completely stopped the development of public sector but also killing the existing pillars of the economy by systematically shutting them down creating lot of unemployment and making the country dependent on other countries even for core sectors. Even the all important requirements of secretive development of national defense equipment has been reversed by favouring foriegn companies just to favour the oligarchy of the country. It is essential to develop large public sector units in social sectors to create large volumes of employment. Disinvestment is nothing but murder of the economy.

Various countries across the world including the world's top economies have been continually protecting their industries by blocking MNC’s that may affect their native industries. Countries that had advocated globalisation and free market are now going to great lengths to protect their industries and employment. However the Indian government despite the largest economic downturn in two decades has shown no urgency in doing the same. MNC’s have been welcomed into sectors that kill our local industry as long as it helps the families close to the ruling establishment. It is necessary that the government come up with a sector wise policy so that international investments are welcomed in sectors in which India is weak and protect the sectors in which Indian industries are strong.

There has been a complete disregard for the small and medium traders and cottage industries in framing of government policies. The implementation of GST without any kind of protection to the small traders and cottage industries have killed the livelihood of millions. They have now become labour in big industries or remain unemployed. The complexity of the tax system and the continually changing rules for the same has made it impossible for businesses with small turnovers to survive. It is necessary to create confidence that Indian system encourages small businesses and ensure that they are not harassed by rules that are a result of knee jerk reactions.

Government has acknowledged that lack of liquidity or credit in the economy is affecting the health of the economy. However, it is necessary to understand where the money has gone. Almost 100% of the money came back into banks due to demonetisation. However the money now with the banks is a fraction of what it was before demonetisation. All the money has been given as credit to the huge corporates of the oligarchy. These companies have invested money in projects outside the country. Instead credit should have been allocated sector wise and also for housing loans which would have strengthened the economy. A thorough investigation is necessary into what happened to all the money that came into the banks during demonetisation.

Finally economy is strong when people are financially strong. Economy is weak because people do not have money to spend. Government has to realise that for the first time in history, poor people are paying more taxes than rich people. This is due to the huge increase in indirect taxes. Now indirect taxes are contributing more money to government coffers than income taxes and corporate taxes together. This is a policy that is making the poor poorer and the rich richer. Indirect taxes need to be drastically reduced for prices to come down and increase the buying power of people.

Instead of taking these kinds of steps, the government is further walking down the path of crony capitalism and reduced taxes on the rich. This will weaken the economy greatly and make the survival of the common man very difficult. Explicit steps need to be taken to increase employment and wealth to the common man. This can be directly achieved by strengthening defence, banking and public sector industries. This path can be adopted by the government only when it dawns on them that ‘People are the true wealth creators’

Inaugural Speech in Seminar on “ Alternative to Global Economic Offensive : Asian Response” By S. Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary, CPI

2015-11-28T04:54:00.000-05:00

Dear Comrades,

I heartily welcome all the participants in this two-day Seminar on the subject “ Alternative to Global economic offensive: Asian Response” convened to mark the 90th Foundation Day of the Communist Party of India that will be celebrated on December 26, 2015 all over the country. I am particularly thankful to the leaderships of the fraternal parties of China, Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Korea, Japan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who have sent their representatives for the seminar. We especially welcome all the representatives of the fraternal parties who are here amongst us. We are thankful to other fraternal parties who have either sent their point of view or expressed solidarity by other means.

Dear Comrades,

Communist Party of India was founded in 1925 and has been in the thick of struggles right through the struggle for independence from British Colonial rule to this day for the rights of the people and to advance towards the goal of socialism. We have gone through various stages of capitalist development. Like the other developing countries India too today is facing the challenge from the global offensive of International Finance Capital. This is a new stage of capitalist development. As the challenges posed by the International Finance Capital has launched a fierce economic aggression in the garb of Neo-liberalism are common for most of the Communist and Workers parties in our region, there is the need to have exchange of ideas on alternative and learn from each other’s experiences in the fight against neo-liberalism.

Hence we in the CPI decided to make a beginning by taking this very limited and small initiative to have interaction with the fraternal parties of the region.

Comrades,

Lenin while analyzing the basic feature of the latest stage of capitalist development has pointed out: (i) the concentration of production and capital, which has created monopolies that play a decisive role in economic life; (ii) the merging of bank capital with industrial capital, and the creation of basis of finance capital, of a financial oligarchy; (iii) the exceptional importance of the export of capital as distinguished from the export of commodities; (iv) the formation of international monopolists capitalist association, and (v) the territorial division of the whole world among the biggest capitalist powers.

Though there had been bids by the Finance capital in past, particularly during the great recession of 1930s to usurp economic dominance, it seized the opportunity to establish its economic and political hegemony in the wake of the disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union and collapse of the Socialist regimes in Eastern Europe.

With the collapse of Socialist system, the protagonists of neo-liberalism pronounced the theory of “end of the history” meaning end of class struggle and propounded the theory of economic neo-liberalism as the only path of future development. The collapse of the Soviet Union opened the floodgates of economic aggression by the imperialist countries. America as the sole super power led the aggression, breaking all restraints in the open plunder of loot of the markets and resources of the developing world and extending the grip over their economy. With the disappearance of competitive Super power that championed the socialist system International finance capital launched its aggression, not only for monopolizing the economy as a whole but also to establish its political hegemony. In place of division of market through war, the offensive of the Finance Capital is for complete hegemony of it, both economically and politically.

The philosophy of neo-liberalism has brushed aside the Keynesian prescription that sustained capitalism for several decades after the War. Structural Adjustment Programme--liberalization, privatization and globalization are new buzzwords. The three aspects of LPG are being aggressively used to take over the economy of developing world through maximization of profit by promoting export of capital in share market, taking control of natural resources, imposing the concept of market deciding everything and ultimately fully controlling the concerned national economy. Forums like IMF and World Bank and even the recently formed World Trade Organization are being used as the tools of the International Finance Capital to lure and impose the neo-liberalism.

Except for the socialist countries like China and Vietnam that are experimenting with their own evolved concepts of socialist oriented market economy and certain moves by the Latin American countries led by Cuba and Venezuela, the finance capital had an open field.

The International Finance Capital has been able to impose its dictate in most part of the world, as the global offensive is not confined to economy only. It is a multi-pronged offensive. To promote debt-based economy both at individual and national level, various methods are being applied. Consumerism is such one tool. Consumerism is leading to distortion of art, culture, literature and the national and regional ethos in general. Scam and scandals involving mind boggling amounts are the main feature of the neo-liberal economic order.

On political level, International Finance capital had its plan to isolate and marginalize the political forces that have the potential to expose and resist the disaster caused to economy and people’s life. They even floated political outfits to achieve their goal of isolation and marginalizing the opponent of neo-liberalism, particularly the Communists and other Left parties. It is a double-edged weapon. In some cases parties are promoted and patronized to distract people’s ire from the basic causes of disaster and concentrate on only one aspect like corruption or any specific issue of anti-austerity measures being imposed as part of “rescue packages” of IMF and World Bank. Even so-called “left extremists” political outfits are floated to become tools in their ploy.

The first decade of imposition of neo-liberalism bared its real nature as a system that pauperizes the people, and maximizes the hardships and economic difficulties of the people to maximize the profit of Corporate Capital. Within the first decade itself neo-liberalism plunged into a serious crisis. The current crisis that started in May 2008 that was first termed recession and later as double and triple recession is not the cyclic crisis of capitalism. It is the specific crisis of finance capital and cannot be resolved in routine manner. From time to time it is claimed that the economic crisis due to recession started in 2008 is getting resolved. The fact is that it is becoming deeper and deeper with every passing day. Several European countries are on the verge of bankruptcy. The packages offered by IMF-World bank tied with conditionalities have failed to help these countries to come out of crisis. Conditions like austerity measures have heaped new burden on common people. Reduction of wages, retrenchment, unemployment and even abolition of pensions and other financial supports though subsidy are necessary part of the so-called austerity measures.

It has led to people taking to street against one or the other aspect of disaster caused by pursuance of the neo-liberalism. People have started realizing the disaster that is their fate, if neo-liberalism is not rejected totally. With deepening of the crisis, even those who had chewed the prescription, have started realizing that the current crisis could not be solved in the routine manner. Some even believe that, if the present course is not altered, the crisis may be much more serious than the past recessions. The imperialist powers are devising different divisive and destructive means to overcome the crisis.

The International Finance Capital uses regional conflicts, creates and patronizes all sort of sectarian and religious terrorism. Regional conflict and wars are also used by America to revive the crisis ridden Industrial Military Complex. America and its allies are behind the sudden rise of various terrorist groupings including ISIS. “Regime change” slogan too is for the same purpose .To sustain their control on oil and other resources and to extend it further, Middle East has been pushed in to chaos and conflict.

In other developing countries, every mean is being used to take over their resources, force them to further liberalize and privatize their national assets. FDI is the main weapon in this offensive. Rise and fall in Share market has become main index of assessing the development.

In India the rulers had swallowed the prescription of neo-liberalism covering it as economic reform from early nineties itself but the situation has become much more grave after the coming to power of a rightist combination. It is shamelessly showing haste in completing the remaining agenda of neo-liberalism. It is out to sell the remaining national assets, handing over the key sectors of economy to MNCs by allowing FDI in these sectors like Defense, Railways, Media, infrastructure and retail trade. The economy is in shambles. People are suffering by growing unemployment and inflation.

The deepening crisis and growing hardships,our people are also coming out against the consequences of following the disastrous course of neo-liberalism. They are in search of alternatives. That is also our worry.

Some countries are showing signs of resistance. In Latin America, there are moves to challenge the International Finance capital and break the hold of it through IMF and World Bank. Attempts to promote economic cooperation among BRICS members and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the role played by Vietnam in ASEAN are few encouraging signs. But it is not enough. Leave apart the cooperation at Asia level, even region within the Asian continent are far from such cooperation. SAARC can be cited as an example of such failure.

Comrades,

These were a few of the worries we are facing and on which we wanted to start a process of inter-action and discussion. Detailed analysis of Indian situation and challenges will be presented by our colleagues and economists during the course of further deliberations.

Time has come for the Communist and Workers Parties to use each other’s experience to evolve a determined struggle against neo-liberalism and evolve appropriate alternatives.

I once again welcome you especially participants from the fraternal parties and wish, the deliberations in two days to be fruitful.

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy Garu in Vizag

2015-04-14T00:34:00.002-04:00

CPI General Secretary Com. Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy addressing the public meeting

2015-03-29T23:38:00.002-04:00

Com.Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy has been reelected as General Secretary

2015-03-29T23:21:00.000-04:00

Towards the 22nd Party Congress

2015-01-31T01:33:00.002-05:00

Towards the 22^nd Party Congress

Our political opponents who are ignorant of the basic organisational principle called democratic centralism, generally accuse us of imposing the decision on lower units by the central leadership. This is just contrary to the fact. The principle of democratic centralism in practice means, discussion on major political and organisational issues from bottom to top and implementation of decisions arrived at after discussions at all levels from top to bottom.

For that the communist parties hold their conferences with a regular interval. In our case, it is three years. The process of holding our national meet, known as Party Congress, begins almost six months in advance. Branches take up the grass-root issues and also review the functioning of the party organsiation. This practice is repeated at all levels.

Besides, our party releases the draft of political resolution, two months in advance. Not only our party members and sympathisers, but common people are also invited to send their suggestions and amendments. For that purpose we released the draft political resolution on January 24 at a press conference.

On the contrary, no bourgeois party holds its conferences regularly. Generally the “sermon” delivered by the “leader” is accepted as the policy statement. We are different in all these aspects.

The process of the 22^nd Party Congress is in full swing. Conferences from the branch, Mandal/Tahsil to district level are going on. We have 35,676 party branches spread over in 26 states with a membership of 6,54,708. Comrades are enthusiastically participating in the conferences, decorating the villages and basties with Red Flags, festoons, and organising open meetings, collecting funds and so on. People are responding positively. Already Uttarakhand state conference is concluded in spite of the chilly winter.

Our Party Congress is taking place in a totally different national political situation. The change of government at the Centre is not a normal transfer of power from one bourgeois party to another bourgeois party. It is a total rightist takeover. The NDA government under the leadership of BJP is a combination of pro-corporate rightists along with rabid Hindutva communalists led by the Sangh Parivar. Our secular democratic fabric is under severe threat. Minorities are in constant fear with continuous provocations and communal tensions by Parivar organizations.

The result of the Lok Sabha polls where the BJP with just 31 per cent of votes has captured 52 per cent seats, the folly of the current First-Pass-the-Post system has been thoroughly exposed. Besides, with the growing mass consciousness against corruption, the demand for electoral reform is getting revived. Our party has always demanded comprehensive electoral reform. It believes that the present system of First-Pass-the-Post only breeds corruption. It should be replaced with appropriate proportional representation system. There are several reports, including one by Indrajit Gupta Committee on electoral reform. They must be taken up for comprehensive electoral reforms. Reforms must aim at curbing role of money and muscle power and combating communalism and casteism. The party must initiate a mass campaign for meaningful electoral reforms.

From the day one after BJP took over, the entire executive and government machinery are working overtime to satisfy the demands of MNCs and corporate houses.

Consumer Price Index is skyrocketing with prices of food grains, edible oils and other essential commodities continuously shooting up. Water, electricity charges, school fee, drug prices, etc, are going up.

The index of Sensex is the main criteria for the BJP government. It is estimated that Adani and Ambani groups of companies reaped more than one lakh crore of rupees worth in their net value, within these eight months after the BJP has come to power.

The attack on the living standards of the poor has started by cutting the budget for MGNREGA scheme. The budget allocations for education and health are reduced by 20 per cent. The tall claims of brining back black money have proved to be hollow as the Modi government has taken a U-Turn on the issue.

US President’s Visit

US President Barak Obama visited India as the chief guest of the Republic Day. There are wide spread speculations in the Press that the BJP government has totally surrendered on the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Treaty conditions. The liability in case of any incident and accident was kept limited to Rs 1,500 lakh crores by the UPA government and now it is said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to throw this burden by 50 per cent on four public sector general insurance companies of India, 25 per cent through bonds of public sectors banks. Thus the vendor companies will have to pay only Rs 375 crore. If this is true after the disastrous accidents of Chernobil in Russia, Fukushima of Japan, this surrender is disgusting and a shameless betrayal of the nation. The US is also demanding a safeguard that no citizen should have a right to sue, the vendor which is unconstitutional.

The Congress party which was defeated badly due to its anti peoples neo-liberal economic policies, political corruption and non-governance is yet to recover from the shock. They are in serious crisis of policies and leadership.

Though the Left suffered a big setback in elections, despite its making all efforts to expose and fight back the offensive of the UPA-II government against the people. Serious introspection is taking place through discussions and our national council meet at Nagpur finalised the draft political resolution to be placed before the 22^nd Party Congress at Puducherry. Left alone can fight the rightist offensive and communalism.

International Situation

Our national council analysed the international economic crisis, particularly in the US and Europe continues. Many European countries are neck deep in internal external debts. But the resistance is building up. The leftists who refused the so-called bailout trap of European Union won and formed the government in Greece, giving a shock to EU. Workers and people are fighting in the streets in many other countries.

Latin America is making significant advances and is trying to find out alternative financial institutions to escape from the cluches of US-controlled World Bank and IMF. The Left is consolidating in Latin America. The US policy of Cuba has to be changed as it failed to nail down Cuban people.

In India the working class has slowly but steadily started resisting the anti-peoples policies of BJP government. Labour laws are amended and workers are fighting back. Coal workers of all CTUs went on two day strike against the privatization of coal mines. Bank Employees organised zone wise strike and preparing for another round of struggle. BSNL employees went on strike. Transport workers too are on streets, particularly in states like Rajasthan against privatization. Now Central government employees are preparing for nationwide indefinite strike.

Peasants all over the country are agitating against the ordinance, which snatched their hard-won right of reasonable compensation and their right of choice on the alienation of land to the industrialists.

The need of the hour is to mobilise the masses and build up powerful alternative that gives confidence to masses. The unity of the Left is the key in this task. “A stronger united left movement with relentless joint struggles will create confidence among the Left following and among the general masses. Ideological political battles are to be carried on with vigour and consistency to re-establish the independent identity of the Left.”

Some people raise a question whether the Left alone can fight and defeat the strong right reaction which is already in power and backed by corporates and a well-oiled machinery of communal Sangh Parivar.

“With left unity as base, our strategy should be to build a broad left democratic unity. It means to forge unity with all those forces, groups and parties who agree with us on a minimum democratic programme which includes the defence of secularism, democracy and pro-people economic policies as alternative to neo-liberal economic policies.” says our draft political resolution. It also emphasised that Left is the most committed secular force in the country. It is only the Left that is capable of projecting alternative to economic neo-liberalism to which most of the bourgeois political parties, both national and regional are committed.

“Strengthening of CPI is the basic necessity to forge the left unity as well as the left democratic unity.”

Reorient the party at grass-root level byidentifying the basic issues of the people, organise result-oriented militant struggles, and re-establish credibility of the party as the champion of the exploited and down trodden sections of the society. Our task is to draw the youth, rouse the political consciousness of the working class and win sections of the middle class who are ready to fight on common issues.

The reunification of the communist movement in India is the goal to be achieved as soon as possible. It cannot be rushed through and will take its own time.

The right is in power. That need not demoralize the people. It opens a new challenge and opportunity to Left to show its metal its capacity to mobilise people and organise the struggle and lead them.

Forward to Party Congress with courage and confidence.

(S.Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary, CPI

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy in Kanchupadu

2014-11-01T03:06:00.000-04:00

CPI Urges upon Union Government to Declare HudHud Cyclone as National Calamity

2014-10-15T08:40:00.000-04:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543, Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

General Secretary: S. Sudhakar Reddy

New Delhi,

October 14, 2014

PRESS STATEMENT:

CPI Urges upon Union Government to Declare

HudHud Cyclone as National Calamity

The Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of India has issued following statement to the Press:

The Secretariat of the communist party of India expresses its deep concern at the death of 21 people in Andhra Pradesh and three in Orissa and great loss of property of poor and common people due to HudHud cyclone. It was devastating cyclone which destroyed road and railway transport, telecommunication and power.

Vishakhapatnam, the steel city is worst affected. No milk and drinking water is available to the millions of people of the city and three districts of north Andhra Pradesh .The state government of AP and Orissa the staff and officials have done good job in evacuating lakhs of people in time and saved precious human life. The advanced technology in meteorological department helped to identify the exact location of cyclone and helped to save huge destructions and loss of life.

CPI urges upon the government of India to declare HudHud cyclone as a National calamity and provide all help that is necessary. The state governments should help the poor people to reconstruct their houses.

CPI postpone the anti-price rise movement day on 16^th October in AP and Cyclone effected districts of Orissa and instruct all party units and members to help this cyclone victims. They anti-price rise day will be observed in other states on 16^th October. CPI appeals the party members to collect funds to help cyclone affected victims

(S. Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

CPI National General Secretary Surawaram Sudhakar Reddy speaking at CPI Telangana first State Council meetings at makhdoom bhavan in Hyderabad on thursday

2014-07-11T03:28:00.002-04:00

Letter to PM

2013-11-19T22:01:00.000-05:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543, Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

General Secretary: S. Sudhakar Reddy

New Delhi,

November 19, 2013

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,

Sub: Sale of Gold Coins by Indian Post Offices regarding.

This is further to my earlier letter to draw your attention on the sale of gold coins by banks despite directive from RBI and assurances from the Finance minister to restrict their sale as they are a heavy burden on our import bill.

The high gold imports and specifically the import of gold coins has surely led to a burden on our import bill. On October 22, 2013 Finance Minister Mr. Chidambaram reiterated that the ban on imports of gold coins and medallions would stay. He also added banks have been told to strictly follow guidelines on gold imports.

Despite the above ban, I am surprised to see that while the Finance Minister holds a specific view on the import of gold coins, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology holds a divergent view on the same. The Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications has floated a tender for “supply of gold coins on sale” which concludes on November 27, 2013.

Further to the above tender I wish to draw your attention to the following:

a. The decision of Ministry of Communications and Information Technology against the decision of Ministry of Finance.

b. Gold coins import and to float the tender by Department of Posts immediately implies encouraging important of gold coins, once again.

c. With a heavy import bill burden already on the economy why is the government not having an uniform view regarding sale of gold coins.

d. If banks selling gold coins are strictly being discouraged, how could post offices selling gold coins being encouraged.

Given the above, your views and intervention on the government status of sale of gold coins and its imports are being requested.

With Regards,

Yours Sincerely,

(S. Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hon’ble Prime Minister

Government of India

South Block

New Delhi

Copy to: 1. Minister of Finance

2. Minister of Communication & IT

Oct 30 Convention not for political Alliances- Sudhakar

2013-10-22T22:51:00.003-04:00

New Delhi: Communist Party of India on Oct 22,2013 stressed that the four Left and other secular parties have planned the Oct 30 National Convention here with an avowed aim to defend secularism and defeat the Sangh Parivar’s nefarious designs to split the nation in the name of religion.

“ The Convention has nothing to do with formation of the political alliances for ensuing polls,” CPI general, secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said here amid media reports that the Left is set to 2014 agenda under :” secular umbrella.”

The CPI general secretary’s comment assume special significance in the wake of media reports that the Convention against Communalism is an attempt to protect secularism and prepare for a non- Congress, non- BJP political alternative in the back drop of the 2114 Lok Sabha polls.

Sudhakar said the four Left parties- the CPI, CPI(M), Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist party, Janta Dal( U), Samajwadi Party, Biju Janta Dal( BJD), AIADMK and People’s party of Punjab( PPP) have jointly organised the Convention to be held at Talktora Stadium.

The Chief Ministers of Pondichery, Nagaland and Sikkim might participate.

The organising committee- comprising, CPI’s Amarjeet Kaur, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, JD(U)’s K C Tyagi, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav alongwith distinguished intellectuals have been entrusted with the task of making the Convention more broad based.

Sudhkar said the holding of Convention became necessary in the backdrop of the Mujaffarnagar communal clashes In Uttar Pradesh, which vitiated the atmosphere. The BJP, after the JD (U) having walked out of the coalition in Bihar, also started communalising the state politics. There sere several instances of communal clashes in Bihar.

Besides, in the last two years the Assam also witnessed communal violence, which affected the whole country, he said.

“ In this background the necessity arose to defend secularism in the country and vanquish the game plan to the Sangh Parivar. They want to split the nation in the name of religion.”

He said the political parties, individuals and intellectuals had been roped in for the Convention that would be a huge success.

Sudhakar said they would like to continue to propagate the secular v alues in the later period too.

Oct 30 Convention not for political Alliances- Sudhakar

2013-10-22T22:51:00.001-04:00

The Chief Ministers of Pondichery, Nagaland and Sikkim might participate.

Besides, in the last two years the Assam also witnessed communal violence, which affected the whole country, he said.

“ In this background the necessity arose to defend secularism in the country and vanquish the game plan to the Sangh Parivar. They want to split the nation in the name of religion.”

He said the political parties, individuals and intellectuals had been roped in for the Convention that would be a huge success.

Sudhakar said they would like to continue to propagate the secular v alues in the later period too.

State polls-no test case for 2014 elections: Sudhakar

2013-10-12T10:08:00.002-04:00

New Delhi: Communist Party of India( CPI) on Oct 7,2013 disagreed with those who think that the ensuing assembly polls would be a test case for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, while cautioning the people against the use of money bags in the electioneering even as they have got the right to reject.

“ I don’t think that the polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Mizorum will be a test case for the national polls,” CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in an interview to UNI.

Sudhakar also fielded questions on the political impact of Rahul Gandhi’s outburst against the controversial Ordinance on the convicted law makers, forcing its withdrawl on the political scenario, the possible results of the assembly polls and the President Pranab Mukherjee’s contribution in this regard, the role of social media and the Negative Voting, the BJP’s projection of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister candidate and Home Minister Sudhil Kumar Shinde’s circular to the Chief Ministers to ensure stoppage of harassment of the minorities, particular the Muslim youth.

On the influence of money bags in the polls, the CPI general secretary deplored that those would unfortunately determine the outcome.” The outcome will depend on which party- the Congress or the BJP has greater amount of money. Indeed polls are going to be a contest between the money bags.”

But on the positive side he said the voters would for the first time have the advantage of the None of The Above” column to express their unhappiness with the candidates.

“ Though it would help to check the criminalization of politics. But a specific column to express anger and rejection against a particular candidate would have been better.” he said.

On Rahul Gandhi’s comment of “ Non sense” ordinance to be torn away, Sudhakar said the Congress Vice President’s remark was “ harsh and rough even as the spirit was correct. Actually it was his calculated move as he wanted to play to the gallery.”

He, however, did not agree with certain poll observers and the Congressmen who are eager to project Rahul as an assertive, decisive and a very powerful leader.” This will have some impact in a section of the middle class intellectuals.”

Sudhakar said he did not think that the episode would have an impact on the polling.

ON the President’s role towards withdrawl of the Ordinance, he said Pranab Mukherjee did ask for certain clarifications and expressed his displeasure.

But as for the Ordinance is concerned this was a very wrong ordinance. The government went ahead with the same overruling the Supreme Court’s order.

He said two MPs have already lost their Lok Sabha seats because of the withdrawl of the Ordinance adding that RJD chief Laloo Yadav, a secular friend had also to lose his Lok Sabha seat. The law had taken its course.

On the “ misleading” election campaign of the BJP, CPI general secretary said the BJP sought to make a direct election between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. The elections in our country are fought on the basis of political parties and not an individual centric.

The BJP is attempting to project Modi as an assertive and decisive leader and run down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a weak person. The saffron party has no concrete policies and programmes to deal with economic, domestic and foreign policy issues.” It has engaged itself in the wrong type of campaigning.”

The BJP had influence in a section of the newly emerged social media but it was not more than 10 to 20 per cent of the Facebook, Twitter or Blogs.” Besides we should not forget that India’s 70 per cent of population have yet to possess the computers.”

And 50 per cent of the users of social media are the committed BJP workers, he added.

On Shinde’s circular to the states to ensure the check on harassment of the minorities, he said this is essentially a welcome step. Only recently in Andhra Pradesh, his own state, a court had awarded a compensation to one Muslim young man who had languished for two years in jail framed in a fabricated case in the Makka-Masjid case. A similar case of compensation had also been reported from Uttar Pradesh.

On the BJP’s possible performance in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the CPI general secretary said it might do well in these two states.” But in Delhi it has equal fight in Rajasthan.”

On the entry of Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) in Delhi assembly polls and its likely impact, Sudhakar Reddy said if Arvind Kejriwal led party managed some seats, it could lead to hung House in Delhi assembly. In Mizoram, the BJP does not exist.

He said if the BJP did well in the assembly polls, the BJP would give the credit to Modi to boost his image for the national polls.

Circular for All State Councils

2013-09-27T23:26:00.000-04:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543, Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

SC/Circular No.68 / 2013

New Delhi

Dated : 26^th September 2013

Circular

To,

The Secretaries of

All State Councils,

Sub: Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 21^st October 2013 organised by the All India Federation of Elementary Teachers’ Organisation

Dear Comrades,

The Teachers’ Department of the CPI in its meeting held in Delhi on 12^th & 13^th August 2013 to further strengthen AIFETO-the Elementary Teachers’ organization, in view of its decision to organize ‘Dharna’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 21^st October 2013 for their 7 point demands.

Com. Prabhakar G.Arade, President of the AIFETO has requested us to write to all State Council for help to get wider participation in the ‘Dharna’ on 21^st October and wider support of the Elementary Teachers of all states.

It is necessary that the party should give all help to Elementary teachers in their just struggle.

The postal address of the president Com. Arade is given below:

Com. Prabhakar G.Arade, President,

All India Federation of Elementary

Teachers’ Organisations

Nikam Park Bungalow,

R.S.No. 744, Devakar Panand,

A Ward, KOLHAPUR – 416 012

(M) : 09421970000/07875227000

e-mail: ardentview@yahoo.coin and prabhakarg1947@gmail.com

We request you to advice the Elementary Teachers Organisation in your state to make the Dharna programme successful by extending support to it.

Please keep us informed of the steps taken by you with copy of the president, AIFETO.

Yours Comradely,

(S.Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

CPI slams corporates opposing food security

2013-08-29T12:06:00.001-04:00

New Delhi: Communist Party of India (CPI) on August 29,2013 came down heavily on certain corporate houses who believe that the Food Security Bill has a bearing on the downfall of rupee calling them “ anti-poor and anti- nation.”.

“ I think that it is a wrong interpretation. The downfall of rupee has been taking place for over three months,” CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said here.

Sudhakar’s comment assumes significance in the backdrop of certain corporate leaders’ remark that the Food Security Bill has spooked the market because it believes that the fiscal balances would get distorted and they could slip up there. The corporate leaders and analysts said the industry was feeling that this is negative on the economy.

The rupee continued its free fall against the dollar touching a record low of 68.85 on August 28, 2013.

The CPI general secretary said feeding the poor is a responsibility of the nation and is a patriotic act.” The nation means people and not the corporates.”

CPI letter to PM

2013-07-26T11:20:00.002-04:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543,

Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

General Secretary : S.Sudhakar Reddy

New Delhi

Dated: 24^th July 2013

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,

Sub : Decision on Telangana, consult Stake holders before final decision and some suggestions regarding.

The Media reports suggest that the decision on Telangana, is on the Agenda and by the month end or by 1^st week of August the final decision will be taken. I hope it is in favour of Telangana. We have a few suggestions in this regard.

1. As the ruling Party CWC’s decision is very crucial. We do not question your right. But before or after the recommendation is made to Government by CWC it is necessary that the Government should consult all the Political Parties who supported statehood to Telangana and the political JAC which is spearheading the agitation.

From 1955, all the agreements/assurances on Telangana are signed by Congress leaders of Andhra Rayalaseema and Telangana, as if no other Political Party was involved. That is why when these assurances were not implemented, there was no mechanism and accountability and people have to come into streets, resulting in firing, killing and violent suppression. There are people who fought for Telangana, sacrificed a thousand youth and they will not even be consulted, discussed when such important decision is to be finalized? After statehood if every thing is to run smoothly it is necessary to consult all of them. We are in a democratic set up. Please respect democratic traditions. The credit for giving Telangana can be claimed by Indian National Congress but processes should involve all stake holders. Please consider this humble suggestion.

There should be meeting of all parties of Andhra and Rayalaseema separately to discuss about problem of new capital assets and liabilities etc.

There are still some confusing proposals. We would like to request you to be clear on these issues.

1. Telangana state with Hyderabad City as its Capital should be announced. No Telangana without Hyderabad.

2. The status of Hyderabad should not be diluted as centrally administered city like Chandigarh. Chandigarh is located exactly between Punjab and Haryana. Hyderabad is in the heart of Telangana.

3. Do not entertain Rayala Telangana. That is not a feasible proposal. Dividing Rayalaseema into two states is not correct because of its political, cultural, Geographical reasons. Telangana state should be with 10 Telangana districts which merged with Andhra. Nothing less, nothing more.

Telangana statehood should not be postponed any more. Even now people are doubting the intentions of the Congress Party. This time if people are betrayed your party’s credibility will be questioned. There will be more renewed, militant, massive agitation which may be difficult to suppress. Please take fast and positive decision.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

(S. Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hon’ble Prime Minister

Government of India

New Delhi

CPI letter to PM

2013-07-17T15:56:00.001-04:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543,

Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

General Secretary : S.Sudhakar Reddy

New Delhi

Dated: 13^th July 2013

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,

I am writing this letter regarding fixing gas prices by the cabinet sub committee presided over by you from $ 4.2 to $8.4 per million British Thermal unit. This decision is taken despite opposition from Left Parties, your allies and even your cabinet ministers.

It is said this will boost the investment in the gas extraction. This is a strange argument. The price increase will be a burden on people to pay Rs. 16,000 crores for every additional dollar increase of Gas price every year in fertilizes and power sectors alone. This is done to satisfy RIL gas company who willfully reduced the gas production to 19% in KD6. We urge upon you to reconsider and withdraw this decision.

Another important point is that why the gas produced in India by our companies with some foreign companies collaboration is be fixed in US dollars rather than in Indian rupees. This looks very illogical. The price from beginning is in dollars. It looks that there is a deep conspiracy behind this method adopted.

After your decision to raise the gas price to

$ 8.4, the rupee value is fast shrinking. Already there is fear that Petroleum products, cars, all other imported goods are going to be much costlier. Rupee has depreciated by 13% since May. Travel, Education will cost more. Deficit financing will increase. The gas which is produced in India is becoming costly with every fall in the value of rupee. One corporate house Nawab enjoys the profits at the cost of
Aam Admi. This is unacceptable.

I urge upon you to reconsider the whole decision, and instruct that the price of the gas produced in India should be fixed in Indian currency, to save the nation from further loot. Hope you will react positively.

With regards,

Yours Sincerely,

(S. Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hon’ble Prime Minister

Government of India

New Delhi

RTI and CPI

2013-07-11T01:57:00.000-04:00

We have received a number of inquiries about the CPI's position on bringing parties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The decision of the Central Information Commission (CIC) that political parties should come under the RTI, as they receive a substantial amount of financial help from the government, has been rejected by all parties. Many eyebrows were raised as to why the Left parties are also opposed to it. I have received 180 emails in this regard.

What do you want to hide? Why are you opposing the CIC's decision? Why can't the Left parties agree to be transparent and accountable? These are some of the questions asked by well-wishers and the general public. And we have a responsibility to reply.

First, we would like to make it clear that the CPI is for transparency on income, expenditure, sources of such income and the names of donors. We have no hesitation in being accountable to the people. A political party is a voluntary association of people who believe in the political ideology of the party. We collect funds from people and work for them. Hence, people have a right to know our financial dealings.

Where, then, is the problem with being brought under the RTI? The RTI Act gives the people the opportunity to learn about the party's decisions, the contents of its files and other details. Political parties, though working for the public, enjoy confidentiality regarding their internal decisions, meetings and discussions. We are not prepared to share the minutes and other details of internal discussions, except with those who are members of our party committees. It is an internal matter of the party. We do, however, announce the party's decisions to the public. We announce the names of candidates who will contest on our party ticket, whom we will support, etc. But we cannot share information about the decision-making itself — who supported which candidate and the arguments within. RTI access of this kind will create problems for the internal, democratic functioning of the party. Our privacy will be compromised before our rivals, political or otherwise. We cannot agree to such an embarrassing predicament.

We cannot agree with the argument that political parties run with substantial help from the government. It is an insult to India's political parties. Some help and facilities are provided by the government to parties for the better functioning of democracy. In no way is it "substantial help".

The CIC agreed with the arguments of some RTI activists that political parties get substantial help from the government as they receive voters' lists from the Election Commission, are allotted timeslots on Doordarshan and Akashvani to explain their election manifestos, are allotted houses or bungalows in Delhi and other places for party offices, and quarters for party leaders in the capital.

It is true that the above facilities are provided. But it is not substantial financing. It is necessary to provide voters' lists to recognised parties as they have to check and distribute voting slips. The same is supplied to independent candidates and unrecognised parties at a nominal cost of a few thousand rupees. Allotting parties timeslots on government-run electronic media is a necessary exercise in making the public aware of the manifestos and other promises of the parties. It is not a favour done to the parties, and cannot be valued as commercial campaigning. Some committees on electoral reforms recommended that even vehicles be allotted to parties in order to curb corrupt electoral practices.

On the question of allotment of sites or buildings for party offices, I would like to cite the example of the CPI. In the 1970s, we wanted to purchase a site for the construction of our party office in Delhi. The government refused to sell, but allotted a site on lease. At that time, even the market price of the land was only a few lakh rupees. We constructed our party headquarters, "Ajoy Bhavan", and paid rent every six months. Costs of housing sites have since appreciated many times. The CIC calculated the value of our site at a market value of Rs 88 crore. The market value should be calculated as at the time of allotment, not at present rates. As it is leased land, we can neither own nor sell it, wholly or partly. This calculation, the basis of which is unscientific and unrealistic, misleads the public into thinking that a piece of land, costing a lot, has been allotted to the CPI. If an office site's value is calculated on the basis of the market price at the time of allotment, the total assistance to political parties will be less than 1 or 0.5 per cent of their incomes. This cannot be "substantial help".

Living quarters are allotted to leaders of some parties, along with their MLAs and MPs, for which rent is collected — between the concession rate and the market rate. So it is not based on nominal prices. This facility, or all of the above, cannot be treated as substantial financial aid.

So how do we make the financial resources of political parties transparent? Since we do not receive funds from corporate houses, we do not have anything to hide. The CPI is preparing to put all of its financial dealings on its website and make them available to the public. This can be made compulsory for all parties. As the most important part of a party's activity, people should know this as a right. We request people to understand and appreciate our apprehensions and reservations on the question of bringing political parties under the RTI Act. We want the CIC to withdraw its decision.

CALL FOR FUND COLLECTION

2013-06-21T08:58:00.000-04:00

Unprecedented floods in Uttarakhand brought disaster to that small state. It is estimated that big number of people might have been killed. Thousands of people are missing. Towns and villages, thousands of houses, shops, choultries are washed off in the fury of floods. Roads, Bridges are destroyed. Loss can be tens of thousands of crores of rupees.

The harm to environment by big nations could be a cause for the imbalance in the nature. The loss in floods is man made with floating all norms, by allowing large number of Hydro projects in Uttarakhand by Congress and BJP regions in that state. There is a need for a thorough enquiry to pinpoint the causes and for necessary steps to present such occurrences in the future.

The entire nation should stand to help our brothers and sisters in Uttarakhand. CPI calls upon all Party units and general people to contribute generously and to collect money and send to Party National relief fund to the following address.

CPI Letter to PM

2013-06-21T08:56:00.000-04:00

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

Central Office

Ajoy Bhavan, 15, Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi-110002

Telephone: 23232801, 23235058, Fax: 23235543,

Email: cpiofindia@gmail.com

General Secretary : S.Sudhakar Reddy

New Delhi

Dated: 20-06-2013

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Hon’ble Prime Minister

New Delhi.

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,

Sub : Central P.S.Us’ Pensioners issues, redressal of grievances regarding.

I have received a letter from Pensioners’ Association. They are pensioners from P.S.Us. They are getting only
Rs. 450/- as pension. Some Beedi workers are getting less than Rs. 5/- a month. The pensions were increased in the years 1986, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by 4% or 4.5%. For the last 13 years there is no increase. There are 38 lakh pensioners in the country. In the last few years the prices of all essential commodities have gone up. Inflation is on increase. It is humanly impossible to live a reasonably decent life with such a meager amount.
I request you, to enquire into the grievances of these people and instruct the Finance department and the concerned ministries to revise their pensions to a minimum of Rs. 3000/- to the lowest paid.

Hope you will take some positive action at the earliest.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

(S.Sudhakar Reddy)

General Secretary

CBI should be Independent and Autonomous

2013-05-13T04:14:00.001-04:00

The Resignations of the Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Law Minister Aswani Kumar are inevitable in the present circumstances. Their resignations are in fact late. Communist Party of India demand of the resignation of both the ministers. If this wisdom prevailed earlier, the Parliament Budget scission would not have been washed off. However we disapprove BJP’s stand in stalling the Parliament for long. The Congress Party took the decision of resignations late, because of the false prestige.

It is a shame on UPA II that so many scams and corruption allegations are coming one after another. Seven Ministers in the last few years resigned due to corruption charges, while one is back in the Ministry.

The issues on which the resignations followed should be thoroughly inquired and guilty should be punished. The involvement of the PMO in tampering the CBI report on Coalgate scam should be thoroughly enquired and Prime-Minister should come out with a statement whether the interference is done with his knowledge or not. The PMO is a important office but not above the law and rules.

The resignations should now follow with the decision to make CBI as independent and autonomous, without Political or Bureaucratic Control.