The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statements on October 23.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the police firing in Seko village in Jharkhand’s Khunti district yesterday. A large number of tribal people gathered at the village to proceed for participating in a rally at Ranchi called by the Adivasi Sangarsh Morcha, consisting of around 40 adivasi organisations, to protest against the ordinance that seeks to amend the Chotenagapur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act depriving the tribals of their traditional and legitimate access to land.

According to reports the police fired around a hundred rounds to disperse the gathering resulting in the death of one tribal leader Abraham Munda and critically injuring five others.

The BJP state government has during the last one month resorted to repeated police firing against popular protests. There have also been two custodial deaths during this period.

Jharkhand is a state carved out in the name of protecting the interests of the tribals. The BJP government on the contrary is continuously threatening the tribals and other weaker sections of Jharkhand to negate the very purpose upon which the state was formed.

The killing of tribals according to established parliamentary practice is not considered merely as a state law and order subject. The central government must intervene to ensure that the rights of the tribals are protected, including their democratic right to protest, and no further encroachment on their rights to land and forest produce must be permitted.

On Maharashtra CM

Facilitating Extortion

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the role of the Maharashtra chief minister who instead of upholding the rule of the law to stop those threatening film makers has actually facilitated extortion of a reported sum of Rs 5 crore invoking the armed forces. This is a gross insult to the courage, valour and the role being played by the armed forces in defence of India.

The chief minister is under oath to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. By this action he has negated the constitutional mandate. This also creates an environment of fear to stifle freedom of expression.

The chief minister and the government of Maharashtra should employ the instruments of the State to uphold the rule of law. The failure to do so should be taken serious note of by the central government in accordance with the constitutional provisions.