[Marxistindia] Letter from Left Parties to the PM on Corruption in Defence Deals with Israel

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 18, 2008

Press Release

The General Secretaries of the four Left parties addressed the following letter to the Prime Minister regarding the corruption involved in the Israeli arms deal. The letter sent on March 17, 2008, is being released to the press.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 17, 2008

Dear Shri Manmohan Singhji,

We have been noting with growing concern the manner in which arms deals with Israel are being conducted. Israel is already the second largest supplier to India. It is now clear that Israeli arms manufacturers, including government-owned entities, have been blatantly violating Indian laws by using middle-men and by giving kickbacks to officials involved in the decision-making process.

The scam surrounding India's acquisition of the Israeli Barak missile systems manufactured by the state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Rafael corporations is the latest case in point. The original deal for ship-mounted Barak systems worth about Rs.1300 crore struck in 2000 during the NDA regime was rife with procedural violations and outright corruption as emerged during the Tehelka expose. CBI's FIR of October 2006 names IAI as an accused, besides naming Delhi-based arms dealer Suresh Nanda and other family members as agents of the Israeli firms. The recent CBI raids and consequent arrests of the Nandas and their associates seem to have added more hard evidence.

Evidence has also emerged in Israel of the bribery and corruption, including payments to agents in India, indulged in by IAI and Rafael. An Indian agent replaced by another petitioned the Israeli Defence Ministry claiming additional commissions due to him, and the matter has even been referred to the Israeli Attorney General. All this has led to the arrest and impending prosecution of Moshe Keretz, who headed IAI for 20 years till 2005, and another agent whose name has been concealed under a gag order of the Israeli authorities.

Regrettably, despite all this evidence, the UPA government has shown a remarkable reluctance to take action against IAI, Rafael and other Israeli arms companies. The Swedish firm Bofors was blacklisted after the involvement of middle-men was proved in the notorious deal. The South African firm Denel was similarly blacklisted in 2005 for resorting to agents and kickbacks. But demands that similar action be initiated against IAI and other Israeli firms have been ignored. Some high authorities have bent over backwards to argue that the cases were not similar in some unexplained manner.

To add insult to injury, the UPA government has further cemented the alliance with IAI by signing a massive $2.5 billion (Rs.10,000 crore) deal for co-development of more advanced Barak NG (mew generation) and Barak-8 missiles with longer range and for land-based anti-missile applications. How can India proceed with this deal in the face of evident wrong-doing by Israeli firms?

By turning a blind eye to systematic violation of Indian laws by Israeli firms, India is sending out wrong signals to international arms manufacturers at a time when India is embarking on huge overseas military acquisitions, with the potential to corrupt and derail the entire system. These developments also underline the importance of self-reliance in defence production which has been given low priority of late.

The Left parties urge the UPA Government to immediately take strong action against the errant Israeli firms, and also ensure that the CBI pursues the Barak scam case to its logical conclusion and brings all the guilty to book.

Sd/-

Prakash Karat A. B. Bardhan

General Secretary, CPI(M) General Secretary, CPI

Debabrata Biswas T. J. Chandrachoodan

General Secretary, AIFB General Secretary, RSP

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister

Government of India
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[Marxistindia] Purchase of USS Trenton

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 15, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

On Purchase of USS Trenton

The Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the purchase of the US naval ship the USS Trenton, (now named as INS Jalashwa) is a damning indictment which puts into question why the ship was bought at all.

The CAG report has raised various disturbing issues:

a.. Why was the ship of 1971 vintage bought when the US Navy itself had concluded in 2003 that the ship was not suitable for modernisation and should be decommissioned in 2006.
b.. Why was the $ 50 million deal finalised after only a visual inspection.
c.. Why were "restrictions on offensive deployment" accepted and permission given to the US to "conduct an inspection and inventory of all articles transferred under the end-use monitoring clause".
d.. In the light of six Indian sailors dying abroad this ship due to a gas leak, were the authorities not aware that ships of this class had suffered similar problems in the past and three US sailors had lost their lives?

The country would like to know why the government is going in for such defence deals with the Untied States? Is it due the pressure of the Bush administration to buy US arms and defence equipment?

The government should order an enquiry and come out with a statement in parliament. It should assure the country that such dubious defence purchases will not be resorted to in the future.

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[Marxistindia] US State Department's Report -- Reference to Nandigram

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

March 14, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly denounces the reference to Nandigram in the US State department's latest annual report among rights violations in India last year.

The Polit Bureau finds this reference unnecessary and unwarranted. The report also is based on totally misplaced facts.

The Polit Bureau suggests that the US government would rather concentrate on taking positions on gross human rights violations in occupied Iraq and by the Israeli regime in the Gaza strip and other areas of occupied Palestine.

The Polit Bureau urges all right thinking people to reject this contention and interference of the US government with all the contempt that it deserves.

eom

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[Marxistindia] RSS-BJP Murder Politics

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 13, 2008

Press Release

RSS-BJP Murder Politics Exposed

The recent bout of violence in Kannur district was unleashed by the targeted killings of CPI(M) workers. The murderous politics of the RSS in Kerala is not of recent origin. The RSS began its murder campaign originally as the tool of capitalists and owners who wanted to smash the unions and the working class movement in Kannur. Subsequently, the RSS has spread its murder politics throughout the state. The first fact to be understood is that the RSS has been assassinating CPI(M) workers in different parts of Kerala, though Kannur district has been the concentrated target. The second fact to be noted is that there has been a spurt in the attacks on the CPI(M) since the LDF government came into office in May, 2006. The BJP and the RSS are making the false propaganda that the CPI(M) is resorting to violence against them and getting the protection of the state government. But the opposite is true. Since June 2006, till now, 12 workers and supporters of the CPI(M) have been murdered by the RSS-BJP gangs. Among these 12, two were killed in Thrissur district, two in Palakkad district, one in Kollam district and seven in Kannur district.

Murders of CPI(M) Workers by BJP-RSS

(Since LDF government took office - June 2006 to March 2008)

Year
Date
District
Name of deceased

2006
June 13
Kannur
K. K. Yakoob

2006
September 25
Thrissur
Raju

2006
December 16
Thrissur
Maheen

2007
July 19
Kollam
Ajayaprasad

2007
October 29
Palakkad
Gopalakrishnan

2007
October 29
Palakkad
Raveendran

2007
November 5
Kannur
Sudheer

2007
November 6
Kannur
Parakandy Pavithran

2008
January 12
Kannur
Dhanesh

2008
January 27
Kannur
Jijesh

2008
March 5
Kannur
Renjith

2008
March 7
Kannur
Aneesh

That the RSS-BJP stepped up its attacks in the recent months can be seen from the way two CPI(M) members were killed in Malampuzha in Palakkad district. Gopalakrishnan and Raveendran were ambushed on 29 October, 2007 and attacked with lethal weapons. As a result, both of them died on the spot.

This was followed by the murders of two CPI(M) workers in Kannur district - Sudhir Kumar and Pavithran - in November, 2007. Sudhir Kumar was killed in Thalassery and Pavithran in Kathiroor. Two more murders occurred in quick succession in the district on January 14 and January 26, 2008. In the first incident, the victim was Dhanesh (aged 24) who was killed with swords while going back to his home. The second murder was of K. P. Jijesh who was killed while returning to his house after attending a marriage. These four murders in Kannur district by the RSS is the background in which the recent bout of violence, in the beginning of March, took place in which two more CPI(M) workers were killed.

CPI(M) Workers Killed in Kannur District

(Since LDF government took office)

Seven CPI(M) workers were killed by RSS-BJP goons in Kannur district since LDF government took office:

· June 13, 2006 - Iritty : K. K. Yakoob - he was killed by RSS-BJP men by using deadly weapons and country-made bombs.

· November 5, 2007 - Near Kavumbhagam school, Thalassery : M. K. Sudheer Kumar - he was transporting school students in a van. His van was stopped by RSS goons and he was killed in front of the school students.

· November 6, 2007 - Namathumukku, Kathiroor, Thalassery : Parayi Pavithran - he was going to purchase milk. RSS goons attacked him with swords and killed.

· January 14, 2008 - Meenkunnu, Azhikkode : M. Dhanesh - he was traveling in a bike and going home. He was stopped on the way, attacked him with swords and killed.

· January 26, 2008 - Narathu Peedika, Thalassery : K. P. Jijesh - he was returning to his house with his friends after attending a marriage ceremony. RSS goons attacked him with swords and killed.

· March 5, 2008 - Illikkunnu, Thalassery : Meethale Parayathu Veettil Ranjith - he was an auto rickshaw driver. He was driving the auto in Thalassery town. He was stopped, attacked with swords and killed.

· March 8, 2008 - Puthoor : K. Aneesh - RSS goons attacked with swords and killed near his house.

That the RSS has been organising the attacks and unleashing its armed goons can be seen from the fact that there have been 12 other incidents of attacks on cadres and Party offices of the CPI(M), in the months of January and February in 2008, a list of which is given below.

· January 6, 2008 - Chundangapoyil, Kathiroor : Five autorickshaws were attacked and destroyed. CPI(M) workers were attacked and injured from a bus.

· January 6, 2008 - Thalassery North : Local Committee secretary, A. C. Manoj - Bombs were thrown to his house.

· January 18, 2008 : Maroli Raghavan - His house was attacked and motor bike was burnt.

· January 27, 2008 - Madapeedika, Kodiyeri - South Local Committee office was attacked and destroyed

· January 27, 2008 - Temple Gate branch office, Mannayadu, Palloor offices were attacked and set fire.

· January 27, 2008 - Christ College, Thalassery was attacked.

· January 27, 2008 - Set fire to Thalassery Dinesh Bhawan, Dinesh Branch office.

· January 27, 2008 - Windows of Thalassery City Centre destroyed.

· January 28, 2008 - Chavassery town : CPI(M) Local Committee office was attacked with bombs and destroyed.

· January 28, 2008 - Mundayamparambu, Aiyamkunnu : Gaya Kumar - his house was attacked.

· January 28, 2008 - Padinjattamuri : CPI(M) worker Biju was attacked.

· February 24, 2008 - Panthakkal : Two Party workers were attacked and wounded.

The RSS and the BJP in Kerala are a degenerated, vicious anti-Communist force. The RSS in Kerala has in its ranks lumpen anti-socials on hire to kill the CPI(M) and target the minorities. The BJP has been exposed by its own leaders as an outfit which sells its vote to the highest bidder during elections.

The CPI(M) in Kerala is a Party with a big mass base and support from all sections of the people. It does not have to demean itself by resorting to violence against an ineffective political force. It is the RSS and its political front which plays the dangerous game of physical annihilation of the CPI(M) as it stands in the way of its rabid communal ideology and politics.

eom
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[Marxistindia] details of attack on VJK Nair's House

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

Details of the attack on VJK Nair's House

At about 10.30 p.m on 9/3/08 several BJP/RSS goons, some of them masked, barged into the house of Com.VJK Nair, Secretary, Karnataka State Committee of CPI(M). Before forcibly entering his residence, they switched off the street light and jumped the compound wall, the gate of which was locked. VJK Nair was not in Bangalore at that time. He had gone to Kanzangad (Kerala) to attend a Seminar organised by the Beedi workers Union there.

The goons, speaking in Malayalam, forced Rajamma W/o VJK Nair to open the main door and holding a "long'( a sharp weapon) against her neck, threatening to kill her if she did not reveal the whereabouts of her husband. On learning that he was not in Bangalore they ransacked his house. They broke the T.V.Set, smashed glass panes of windows, damaged furniture, fridge and other household articles. A laptop computer being used by VJK Nair was taken away by the goons.

Earlier, around 8.15 p.m.one of the attackers had visited VJK Nair's house, met his wife and enquired about him on the pretext of help for securing a job. His wife asked him to come the following day.

There will protest demonstrations throughout Karnataka against this dastardly and cowardly attack. In Bangalore, the protest rally will start at about 4.30p.m. and proceed to Rajbhavan.

eom
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[Marxistindia] attack on house of Karnataka CPI(M) State Secretary

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 10, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the dastardly attack on the house of the state secretary of Karnataka State Committee of the CPI(M), Comrade V.J.K. Nair. At around 10.00 last night, about 25 RSS/BJP workers barged into his house carrying swords, daggers and lathis. They were enquiring about VJK Nair, who was not present in his house at that time. Not finding him in the house, they hurled abuses against his wife, threatened her and destroyed the TV, fridge, furniture and other household articles. They also took away his laptop computer.

This incident once again exposes the ugly face of the RSS/BJP and the practice of its politics.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the BJP-RSS workers involved in the incident should be arrested immediately.

eom
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[Marxistindia] On attack on CPI(M) headquarter

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Attack on Central Committee Office Condemned

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the planned attack on its national headquarters by the BJP-RSS. The Central Committee meeting of the Party was in session at that time. Four Central Committee members and other office staff were injured in the attack. The attackers brought stones alongwith them and damaged the office building and vehicles parked outside. This unprovoked violence should be condemned by all political parties and such attacks can have no place in our politics. The few policemen who were there on the spot did nothing much to control the situation.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demand that the BJP-RSS persons who were involved in this dastardly attack should be immediately arrested.

eom
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[Marxistindia] Central Committee on Tripura victory

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 7, 2008

Press Release

The Central Committee of the CPI(M), now in session in New Delhi, has adopted the following statement:

On Victory in Tripura Elections

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) warmly greets the people of Tripura who have created history. First by 92 per cent polling which is a record for the country and then delivering more than 80 per cent of the seats to the CPI(M) and the Left Front. The Left Front has won 49 out of the 60 seats in the assembly compared to 41 in the last assembly. The stage has been set for the sixth Left Front government in the state.

The Central Committee congratulates the CPI(M) and Left Front cadres and activists for their remarkable success. Due to the outstanding record of the Left Front government, all sections of the working people, tribal and non-tribal and even supporters of the Congress have extended support to the Party. The people have rejected the opportunist alliance of the Congress with the extremist INPT.

The Central Committee is confident that the new Left Front government will continue the work of developing the state and raising the living standards of the people.

eom
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[Marxistindia] CPI(M) statement on Tripura Victory

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

March 7, 2008

Press Release

The Central Committee of the CPI(M), now in session in New Delhi, has adopted the following statement:

On Victory in Tripura Elections

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) warmly greets the people of Tripura who have created history. First by 92 per cent polling which is a record for the country and then delivering more than 80 per cent of the seats to the CPI(M) and the Left Front. The Left Front has won 49 out of the 60 seats in the assembly compared to 41 in the last assembly. The stage has been set for the sixth Left Front government in the state.

The Central Committee congratulates the CPI(M) and Left Front cadres and activists for their remarkable success. Due to the outstanding record of the Left Front government, all sections of the working people, tribal and non-tribal and even supporters of the Congress have extended support to the Party. The people have rejected the opportunist alliance of the Congress with the extremist INPT.

The Central Committee is confident that the new Left Front government will continue the work of developing the state and raising the living standards of the people.

eom
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[Marxistindia] Don't Proceed With Nuclear Deal

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
March 3, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Don't Proceed With Nuclear Deal

The statement made by the Minister of External Affairs in the Lok Sabha, "On Foreign Policy Related Developments", has referred to the negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency and in relation to the Indo-US Nuclear Cooperation deal.

The statement draws attention to "some statements by US officials" regarding the applicability of the Hyde Act to the Civilian Nuclear Cooperation and asserts that the Hyde Act is applicable only to the US side and India's rights are protected in the bilateral 123 agreement.

The US official concerned is none other than the US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, who told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Panel on February 14 that:

"We will support nothing with India in the NSG that is in contradiction to the Hyde Act. It will have to be completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act".

This has been the consistent position of the United States administration regarding the applicability of the Hyde Act. It has become the practice for the Indian government to reiterate that the Hyde Act has no relevance for India and it is not applicable to us. No one else believes this to be so. Neither the Hyde Act nor the 123 agreement which has been drafted within the framework of the Hyde Act provisions meet the assurances given by the Prime Minister in his August 2006 statement to Parliament.

It is ironical that the statement to parliament says that the government will continue to "seek" a broad political consensus within the country. The government should first respect the majority opinion expressed by parliament when the 123 agreement was discussed in the Winter session of 2007. The government should acknowledge that its stand on the nuclear deal does not have the support of parliament. There is no political consensus and hence it should not proceed further with the agreement.

eom
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