People's Democracy

ASSAM CPI(M) CONFERENCE

Pledge To Chart Out A New Path

Isfaqur Rahman

At was an awe-inspiring, scintillating event when, on January 28 last, 36 artists, celebrities and promising young starts, came out to join in a unique action and to draw paintings against ‘Terrorism and Religious Fanaticism.’ The programme was organised in Guwahati on the occasion of 17th Assam state conference of the CPI(M). Braving chilly weather and biting cold, luminaries like Neel Pawan Boruah, Samiran Boruah, Tapan Bordoloi and Dilip Tamuli took up cudgels against the twin evils of terrorism and communalism and collectively drew paintings on two huge canvases. A large number of people came to Dighali Pukhuri Park to see the artists in creative action under the sky in a showery day. The participating artists have their own independent opinion but expressed solidarity with the CPI(M) programmes in fighting back terrorism and religious fanaticism. The spectacular event sent clear signals in advance about the success of the Assam state conference of the party.

The CPI(M) conference was held in Guwahati from January 31 to February 2 with enthusiasm and success. It started with a mass rally organised at the Latasil playground in heart of the capital city on January 31. The entire city wore a festive look with party flags flying and banners rising everywhere. Around 22,000 people from every nook and cranny of the state assembled in the playground. The mass rally mirrored the multi-lingual, multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-religious state of Assam. It was a massive show of unity and action --- a pledge to carry forward the struggle against liberalisation, against communal, divisive and separatist forces. It was a pledge to further expand and strengthen the party and the Left, democratic and secular forces.

The slogan shouting rallyists came by buses, trains and other means of transport from far-flung areas to join the procession. A reserved bus carrying party members and sympathisers from Tihu area of Nalbari district met with a tragic head-on collision with a speeding truck near Barama, 80 km from Guwahati. Fifteen comrades were severely injured and had to be hospitalised. Comrade Pabitra Talukdar (37), a poor rickshaw-puller, could not reach the rally ground and succumbed to his injuries at the Medical College Hospital.

The open session was addressed by two Polit Bureau members Buddhadev Bhattacharya and S R Pillai and CPI(M) state secretary Hemen Das, with veteran CPI(M) leader Nandeswar Talukdar presiding.

Addressing the rallyists, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya charged the Pakistani ISI and American imperialism with sponsoring terrorism in the country. The north eastern states have been experiencing the menace of terrorism for quite a long time. Now West Bengal has also been chosen for their nefarious designs. The ISI have been helping the insurgent outfits like ULFA and KLO in creating disturbances in Assam and West Bengal, said Bhattacharya. He further asserted that US imperialism was the fountain-head of terrorism in the entire world.

Bhattacharya said the CPI(M) is opposed to all kinds of terrorism, and urged upon the progressive and democratic forces of the country to unite against the communal and fundamentalist forces.

Referring to the escalating Indo-Pak tensions, Bhattacharya said the Vajpayee government should try to find out a solution to the current impasse politically and diplomatically. He lambasted the saffron brigade and the BJP-led government for trying to create a war hysteria and foment communal troubles. He also launched a scathing attack against the Vajpayee government for its policies of liberalisation and privatisation. Bhattacharya said this regime has also jeopardised the tea industry in Assam and West Bengal with its decision to import tea from abroad.

Addressing the rallyists, S R Pillai underlined the democratic nature of the CPI(M) conferences at all levels. He also castigated the Vajpayee government’s policies, its communal drive and its pro-US foreign policy.

State party secretary Hemen Das narrated the woes and sufferings of the people of Assam, and strongly criticised the state Congress(I) government for its misrule. Das said the Congress(I) government has failed to pay even monthly salaries to its employees. All developmental activities have come to a halt due to corruption at all levels and financial crisis. The limited fund for rural development is also being siphoned away through massive corruption. The Congress(I) government has been delaying the formation of panchayats even after elections, Das said.

Expressing surprise at the acceptance of recommendations of the Committee on Fiscal Reforms (COFR) by the state government, Das described these recommendations as anti-people. He urged the people of Assam to launch struggles against the policies of both the Congress(I) and the BJP. He stressed the need to forge greater unity of the Left, democratic and secular forces for evolving a third alternative in Assam.

Immediately after the open rally on January 31, the inaugural function started in the evening with the flag-hoisting by veteran CPI(M) leader Nandeswar Talukdar at the district Library premises, followed by floral tributes to the martyrs.

The four-member presidium comprised Nandeswar Talukdar, Noorul Huda, Mahodar Pathak and Satyabati Bhuyan, the steering committee was formed with the state secretariat members, while the credentials committee comprised Deepak Bhattachryya, Parimal Chakrovorty and Jagat Goswami.

Formally inaugurating the conference, S R Pillai explained the current international situation after the September 11 terrorist strike, and US attempts to establish its hegemony over the world with a vengeance. He also pointed to the severe global economic recession and added that the imperialist countries are seeking to transfer the burden of their crisis on to the developing countries.

Dealing with the national situation, Pillai charged the BJP-led central government with abjectly surrendering before imperialism in every sphere. Through its disastrous economic policies, it is impoverishing the common people, and through its communal conspiracies and jingoism it is threatening national unity. The Vajpayee government’s corruption scandals extended even to the purchase of coffins for the Kargil martyrs. He underscored the need to unseat the BJP-led government which represents the most reactionary government in independent India.

Buddhadev Bhattacharya also greeted the delegates session and discussed the West Bengal experiences in building up the party and mass movements.

Hemen Das presented the draft political and organisational reports in the conference. Analysing the political situation in the state, Das underlined the need to forge Left unity and to form a third alternative through people’s struggles. He also underscored the need to intensify independent actions of the party for forging a viable third alternative against the anti-people policies of the state Congress(I) government and the unholy and opportunistic alliance of the AGP-BJP in Assam.

The political report also reviewed the political-tactical line of the party in Assam since the 16th state conference, objectively assessed the current situation in the state, and formulated the tasks ahead and the future course of action.

The report said eight months have elapsed since the ruling Congress(I) assumed power in the state. However, its government has failed to take policy decisions distinct from the earlier AGP-led regime in the matters of collapsing economy, administration, ethnic problems, problems of the toiling people and the problems of employment. Rather, problems relating to the acute crisis of the state government, irregular payment of salaries to the employees, creation of employment avenues for the unemployed deteriorating law and order situation, etc, have further aggravated. As a result, the grievances of all sections of people against the Congress(I) government is growing. Obviously, the AGP-BJP alliance is trying to make use of the popular discontent. In recent times, the communal BJP’s strength and organisational activities have grown to dangerous proportions. The situation, the report added, creates opportunities as well as poses challenges before the party and other Left, democratic and secular forces to build up and expand democratic movement in the state.

The conference self-critically reviewed the implementation of party line in Assam and the party’s relation with the AGP. The party entered into an electoral understanding with the AGP in the 1996 assembly elections and then supported the AGP-led government from outside. The party took this position to keep both the Congress and BJP away from power. However, due to the perfidious role of the AGP and its opportunistic alliance with the communal BJP on the eve of the last assembly elections, the party severed its relation with the AGP. The conference approved the line adopted by the state committee in this regard.

The political report also dealt with the problems of terrorism and extremism, danger of communalism, increasing attacks on education, the depressing economic situation, COFR recommendations, developmental issues, law and order situation, the vexed Bodo problem, the problem of other ethnic groups and tribes, the problems of tea-tribes and people of riverine areas, formation of the Lok Morcha, Left unity, independent role of the party, etc.

Dealing with the Bodo problem, the conference demanded immediate creation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in the areas of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). It also demanded that the rights of the non-Bodos in the proposed BTC be ensured and Bodo language included in eighth schedule of the constitution. The conference also demanded that Koch-Rajbongshis and tea-tribes be recognised as scheduled tribes. It demanded immediate elections in the three autonomous councils of the Mishings, Tiwas and Rabhas, and more decentralisation of powers to them. Dealing with the woes and sufferings of the people of reverine areas in the bank of the mighty Brahamaputra, the conference demanded expansion of education and social development in these areas.

The organisational report dealt with the problems of stagnation in the party and mass organisations, class and social composition of the party and the related weaknesses. It also reviewed the style of functioning from the state committee down to the branch level, the principles of democratic centralism, parlimentary activities, party and mass organisations, etc.

The whole of February 1 and part of February 2 was devoted to a free, frank and lively discussions on the reports. A total of 50 delegates took part in the discussion and enriched the reports with their suggestions and criticisms.

After the secretary’s reply to the discussion, wherein he clarified certain points, the conference adopted the reports, amidst cheers and slogans, with minor additions and amendments. 278 delegates voted for while 9 opposed.

The conference chalked out a course of action for immediate future. It decided to intensify mass movements against imperialism, terrorism, communalism and fundamentalism, disastrous policies of the BJP-led government and against the anti-people policies of the Congress(I) government in the state.

The conference also decided to strengthen the Lok Morcha and build up a third alternative in the state, to fight for all round development of the state, democratic solutions to the vexed tribal problems, land pattas to the landless peasants and reverine people, reasonable wage to the tea workers protection and revival of the sick industries, etc.

The conference adopted sepcific resolutions on the financial crisis and development of Assam, against the POTO, on attempts of the Congress(I) government to emasculate the panchayats, on peasants problem, and education.

The conference unanimously elected a 45-member new state committee with provisions to co-opt 4 members later. The new committee re-elected Hemen Das as its secretary. The secretariat will be formed after the party congress to be held in Hyderabad. Hiren Gagoi was elected editor of the weekly party organ, the Ganashakti.

The conference also elected 15 delegates, 2 observers and 2 alternate delegates to the party congress. It also elected a 3-member state control commission with Naren Dutta as its chairman.

On behalf of the credentials committee, Parimal Chakrovorty placed the credentials reports, some of the highlights of which were as follows:

A total of 293 delegates, including 6 observers, representing 10,480 members of the party attended the conference. There were 36 women delegates. The social composition of the delegates were scheduled tribes – 21, scheduled castes – 10, other backward classes – 71, tea-tribe – 12, Muslims – 38, linguistic minorities – 50. Nandeswar Talukdar experienced the longest period in jails – a total of 6 years, 8 months and 18 days.

The class composition of the attending delegates was: working class – 43, agricultural labour – 4, poor peasant – 54, middle peasant – 43, rich peasant – 5, middle class – 142. Of the delegates, 99 were wholetimers of the party and mass organisations.

Polit Bureau member Biman Basu attended the conference from February 1 till its conclusion. Lambasting the imperialist offensives and the ferocious intensification of exploitation of working people and the developing economies by imperialist powers, Basu explained the new phase of global capitalist crisis and adverse impact of structural changes on the third world countries.

Referring to the challenges posed by terrorist organisations, Basu asserted that US imperialism was the father of terrorism. In America itself, Basu said, 800 terrorist groups are still active of which 400 are armed terrorist outfits. Pakistan’s ISI too was the creation of the CIA. CIA officials were present during the ISI’s formation in Quetta, he said.

Biman Basu also came down heavily on the BJP-led central government and its anti-people policies, asking the delegates to build up powerful mass struggle and to strengthen the Party and mass organisations.

In his concluding speech, Pillai congratulated the delegates for the many positive aspects of the conference, clarified certain political-organisational issues and expressed the confidence that the party would surge ahead in Assam in the years to come.

After a brief speech by Nandeswar Talukdar on behalf of the presidium, the state conference successfully concluded with the singing of the Internationale.

Multifarious programmes were also organised on the occasion of the CPI(M) conference. On February 1 evening, a programme was organised to felicitate veteran artists at Lakshiram Boruah Sadan. Nandeswar Talukdar felicitated renowned dancer Mukunda Das Bhattacharya and cultural celebrities Dilip Sarma and Sudakshina Sarma.

Cultural shows were also organsied in jam-packed auditorium of Lakshiram Boruah Sadan on February 1-2 evenings. Prominent artists like Mukunda Das Bhattacharya, Bibhu Ranjan Chaudhary, Subha Prasad Nandi Majumdar, Ghana Deka and the veteran Sarma duo, Dilip and Sudakshina, presented songs and dances in the shows and ethralled the audience with their grand performances. The participation of the IPTA’s Silchar unit and their ballet presentation added splendour and colour to the functions.

An enlightening and well-attended seminar on "India’s secular-democratic structure and threat on it posed by communalism" was also organised on February 2 afternoon, with Professor Bijanlal Chaudhary presiding. It was addressed by Dr Chandra Mohan Sarma of Gauhati University and Biman Basu. Both the speakers castigated and exposed the saffron brigade for their brazen attempts to communalise society and penetrate the state apparatus.