Founding Editor: Daya Varma (1929-2015)
Editors: Vinod Mubayi (New York) and Raza Mir (New Jersey).
Editorial Board: Ram Puniyani and Irfan Engineer (Mumbai); Pervez Hoodbhoy (Islamabad); Dolores Chew (Montreal); Vamsi Vakulabharanam (Amherst); Ajay Bhardwaj (Vancouver).
Circulation/website: Feroz Mehdi (On behalf of Alternatives, Montreal).
IT WAS WORSE THAN A CRIME; IT WAS A BLUNDER!
Vinod Mubayi and Daya Varma
Communists voting along with the arch-reactionary right-wing BJP on July 22, 2008 to topple the Congress-led government of Manmohan Singh is the most puzzling of all the mistakes ever committed by the Communist Party in India leaving India’s 150 million plus Muslims without a reliable friend.
INDO-US ALLIANCE – SOME REFLECTIONS
Daya Varma and Vinod Mubayi
India is already in friendly alliance with the US through a long process, which was intensified by the NDA government of Vajpayee and not by the UPA government of Manmohan Singh. Does the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal which would allow India acquiring nuclear material and technology for civilian purposes make India subservient to the US ?
ARE KARAT AND YECHURI LEADING CPI/CPIM INTO AN ABYSS?
Kaleem Kawaja
The direction in which Karat and Yechuri are taking the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPIM by aligning with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and banking on a possible alliance with Mayawati, one of the most corrupt leaders of a major political party and a campaigner of Gujarat’s Muslim murderer Narendra Modi, is mindboggling. Which direction is CPIM heading? – Ed.
SAVE THE INDIAN COMMUNIST MOVEMENT FROM ITS CURRENT LEADERSHIP
Daya Varma
We argued that an attack on the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM for its development policies in West Bengal weakens the communist movement no matter what the intentions of the critics were. This time it is not outsiders but the leadership of the Party itself destroying the glorious tradition of the Communist Party of India as the architect of a culture of unity and camaraderie among communities belonging to different religions. Notwithstanding CPM/CPI’s recent moves, every effort should be made to save the glorious anti-communal traditions of the communist movement. – Ed.
ORGANIZATIONAL DISCIPLINE AND FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE: THE EXPULSION OF SOMNATH CHATTERJEE
Daya Varma
The contradiction between organization and individual freedom has been addressed in bourgeois democracy by devising various provisions. Lenin’s organizational method of “Democratic centralism”, vulgarized to its extreme by Stalin leaves little room for individual freedom; yet disciplinary measures under this method can vary from simple censorship to expulsion and execution (when in power). The expulsion of veteran communist leader Somnath Chatterjee for abiding by his conscience and parliamentary duty against the dictates of CPM leadership is an extreme and uncalled for measure. – Ed.
PRIME MINISTER DR. MANMOHAN SINGH’S REPLY TO THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LOK SABHA (July 22, 2008)
In his speech, which he was not allowed to deliver fully by the boisterous opposition, the Indian Prime Minister castigated Advani for his role in the demolition of historic Babri mosque, ineptness during the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament and the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat. He praised veteran Communist leaders Jyoti Basu and Surjeet for guidance. The Prime Minister recounted many achievements of his government and asserted that the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal is of benefit to India and does not compromise India’s military nuclear program. – Ed.
WHY DID AIMIM’S MP OWAISI SUPPORT UPA?
Based on a report “AIMIM’s MP Owaisi to support UPA” by Mohammed Siddique in Hyderabad: July 20, 2008; www.rediff.com; posted on Foil by satish kolluri)
The member of the Indian Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, while expressing strong reservations about Indo-US nuclear deal said that for him the top priority is to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from coming to power. Owaisi said that the BJP and the CPIM were the two sides of the same coin and contended that Advani is the number one enemy and Prakash Karat is second. – Ed.
AFTER THE HONEYMOON – GILANI COALITION FACING TOUGH CHALLENGES
Kiran Omar
The first 100 days of the democratically elected coalition government of Pakistan led by Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif present a picture of confusion with no clear direction on the style of governance. The coalition has failed to arrive at any consensus on crucial issues like the restoration of the judiciary, containing the militancy and the faltering economy. Young blood is not being recruited for governance. Capital and assets are leaving the country, violence is on the rise and US-led aggressive measures along the Afghanistan borders have not declined. – Ed.
ANTI-AMERICANISM IN PAKISTAN AND THE TALIBAN MENACE
Pervez Hoodbhoy
While the recent killing of 11 Pakistani soldiers by American-NATO forces caused immense anger, similar incidents would have been a non-event if killers were Talibans. Undoubtedly the United States has for decades waged illegal wars and undermined movements for progressive change. However, the militants are using America as a smokescreen for their real agenda of establishing their writ over Pakistan. A Taliban victory would usher a dark ages with no place for social justice and economic development. – Ed.
SADBHAV MISSION CONVENTION HELD IN MARYLAND , USA
Sadbhav Mission’s annual convention on July 12, 2008 at College Park , Maryland attracted over 50 people from diverse community organizations. It lauded nonviolence as a doctrine of mass struggle against oppression and slavery. – Ed.
LECTURES BY TEESTA SETALVAD, SREEKUMAR AND NISHRIN HUSSAIN ABOUT GUJARAT POGROM
Zafar Iqbal
Teesta Setalvad spoke at the Washington regional Amnesty International of Washington meeting about anti-Muslim riots and justice in India (Gujarat) on July 8th, 2008. She lamented the ineptness of the central government and callousness of Gujarat judiciary in bringing justice for the victims. The report presents a profile of the three speakers. – Ed.
NEW MARRIAGE LAW FOR MUSLIM WOMEN IN INDIA
The “Shariat Nikahnama” released by the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board could give equal rights to both Muslim men and women. – Ed.
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