People's Democracy

THE draft political resolution for the 17th Congress of the CPI(M) was released on January 15 by the party general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet at a press conference at AKG Bhavan. Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat who was present on this occasion spelt out the gist of the resolution which was finalised in the recently held Central Committee meetings in Kolkata.

With this release of the draft political resolution the preparations for the 17th Congress to be held in Hyderabad from March 19-24 have begun in right earnest. The party constitution mandates that the draft resolution be made available to all party members at least two months before the party Congress for enabling them to discuss it thoroughly and suggest any amendments they feel necessary. It was mentioned that this year all such amendments should reach the party headquarters in New Delhi by February 28.

The draft political resolution, which when approved by the party Congress becomes the guiding path for the tactics to be adopted by the party till the next party Congress, calls for defeating the BJP-led government which has proved to be the most reactionary government in independent India. It says that the struggle must be conducted in such a manner as to pave the way for the advance of the Left and democratic forces.

Another important task it details for the party is the fight against growing US imperialist influence by mobilising all patriotic and anti-imperialist sections of the people. It commits the party to fight with redoubled vigour against the policies of liberalisation and privatisation even while promising to continue the fight to isolate the communal forces on the political and ideological plane.

Replying to questions about the tension on Indo-Pak border Surjeet faulted the Vajpayee government for not coming out with any comprehensive evaluation of the Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's address to the nation. He felt there should have been reduction of tensions on the border following Musharraf's speech and expressed dissapointment that the tensions actually rose. The point made by Musharraf about separation of religion from politics was significant in the sense that a Pakistani president has taken such a stand for the first time, said Surjeet.

Replying to a question he made it clear that CPI(M) representatives will not participate in the delegations being sent abroad to explain India's standpoint on the present situation. "If the government of India itself has not made it clear what its position is regarding Musharraf's speech what will these delegations explain abroad"? questioned Surjeet.

He said US wants to keep both Pakistan and India in its pocket and warned against its gameplan on Kashmir.

When questioned about the seat adjustments for the coming assembly elections in UP, Surjeet said there would be no problems and Lok Morcha would fight in all the seats as a Front. While refusing to be drawn into the possible scenarios post UP elections, Surjeet made it clear that the defeat of BJP in these polls would have a definite impact on its government at the centre. (INN)