People's Democracy
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist) No. 40
October 13,2002
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of
India (Marxist) |
Vol.
XXVI No. 40 October 13,2002 |
ANDHRA
PRADESH
CPI(M)
Plenum Resolves To Build United, Broad-Based Struggles
M
Venugopala Rao
THE
CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh state committee in its state plenum, held at Sundarayya
Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad from September 20-22, resolved to strengthen the
organisation and build broad-based, united struggles against the anti-people
policies of the central and state governments. It also resolved to strengthen
the alternative of Left and democratic forces in the state through such
struggles and also increased political unity of the Left parties.
The
plenum, attended by 700 delegates, was inaugurated by the CPI(M) Polit Bureau
member Sitaram Yechuri. The proceedings were conducted by a presidium consisting
of M V Narasimha Reddy, G Ramulu, T Pavani, D Nagaraju and Sheikh Abbas. The
plenum passed a resolution, moved by P Madhu, condoling the death of comrades
who passed away recently, and observed silence for one minute.
Earlier,
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Koratala Satyanarayana, hoisted the Red flag amidst
resounding slogans of the delegates who attended the plenum.
Sitaram
Yechuri, in his inaugural address, gave a clarion call to bring the people, who
were disgusted with the policies of the central and state governments,
into struggles and asked the Party to deliberate on how to strengthen the
people’s movements in the state. Explaining
the efforts being made to build a third alternative on the basis of policies at
the national level, Sitaram made it clear that it would take time and not happen
immediately. Warning that the country would have to face a serious danger if the
communal forces win again in the elections to the Gujarat state assembly, he
underlined the imperative of defeating the BJP there by ensuring a one-to-one
contest against that party. He accused the constituent parties in the BJP-led
NDA of adopting double standards in regard to their approach on the economic
policies being pursued by the central government.
Referring to the spate of corruption scandals being witnessed after the
advent of the NDA government at the centre, Sitaram stressed the need for
agitations demanding prosecution of the
accused in these scandals, including M Venkaiah Naidu, president of the BJP, for
illegally taking possession of government land.
Sitaram
touched on the efforts of the Sangh Parivar, who, with the active connivance of
the Vajpayee government, were trying to whip up communal passions and clashes
among the people for their political vested interest. He said that the chief ministers of A.P and Orissa,
Chandrababu Naidu and Naveen Patnaik, though they
were claiming to oppose the carnage in Gujarat and spreading of
communalism, were as much responsible as the RSS and the BJP for the carnage
because of their continued support to the BJP.
Though
the central government was talking of fighting against terrorism,
it was not prepared to send paramilitary forces to Tripura and West
Bengal to curb terrorists. He accused the Congress of acting against the country’s
integrity by preparing itself to have alliance with terrorists in Tripura.
Sitaram
dealt with the present international situation and explained the growth of
struggles all over the world against the American hegemony and globalisation. He
said the communist parties were getting strengthened wherever they supported
those struggles.
Detailed
discussion took place in the plenum on the organisational report presented by
the state secretary B V Raghavulu. Altogether, 47 delegates took part in the
discussion. Discussions took place on the key issues to be concentrated upon in
the coming days and strengthening the organisation of the Party and mass
organisations. These discussions dwelt, in detail, the organisational matters,
both district-wise and front-wise. Clarifying the political issues raised by the
delegates, Koratala Satyanarayana appealed to the cadres to always maintain the
distinct identity and political line of the Party, while conducting united
struggles. Raghavulu summed up the organisational issues raised in the
discussion. The plenum unanimously
adopted the organisational report.
RESOLUTIONS OF
The
state plenum of the CPI(M) adopted resolutions on various issues facing the
state populace. It gave a call to conduct militant struggles by mobilising the
people for redressal of various
problems confronting them. The plenum criticised the all-round failure of the
Chandrababu Naidu government and the anti-people and World Bank-dictated
policies pursued by it. B V Raghavulu released the resolutions passed by the
plenum at a media conference in Hyderabad.
·
On
Drought Situation
Due
to the severe drought situation, the loss of crops in the state is estimated to
be around Rs.4000 crore. Though meteorologists gave early warnings of the
impending drought situation, the government deliberately failed to take
precautionary measures. Its neglect of construction
of irrigation of projects and creation of permanent
water sources, the lopsided
priority given to generation of hydel power at the cost of irrigation
requirements, had contributed to this plight.
The situation in Telangana, Rayalaseema and other upland areas where only
one crop is being raised looks more frightening. There is acute scarcity for
fodder and drinking water in some areas. Unable to get work, the agricultural
workers are migrating to urban areas in search of work.
With
about 502 mandals declared as drought-hit for four years during the last six
years, the indebtedness of farmers, and their dues of revenue and
power bills had increased greatly. The farmers are agitating for release
of water for their crops and supply of power for the promised 9 hours a day. The
continuing suicides in the state are indicative of the seriousness of the
situation.
The
plenum criticises the government for harassing the farmers and
raiding villages, resorting to forcible collection of dues,
auctioning of their assets and foisting cases against them.
It demands the government to stop this harassment and forcible
collections and take appropriate relief measures to come to the rescue of the
drought-affected farmers and agricultural workers.
In
another resolution, the plenum of the CPI(M) appealed to the people of the state
to be prepared to resist the burden of power tariffs and for protecting
the power sector. The present situation of the power sector makes it clear that
the propaganda of the government that reforms would ensure quality and
uninterrupted supply of power is sheer bunkum.
The people are realising that reforms means imposing more burdens on
them. Though the government is claiming that power tariff during the last and
current financial years has not been increased much,
the additional burden imposed already in various forms is more than
Rs.600 crore. The plenum demanded the government to return the additional load
charges already collected and to stop further collections. The plenum demanded
the government to stop its preparations to privatise assets of the power sector
worth about Rs.60,000 crore. The plenum of the CPI(M) also demanded the
government stop the reforms responsible for these burdens and abrogate the
agreement it had with the World Bank.
On
the land issue, the plenum demanded the government to distribute lands to the
poor, if it was sincere about
eradication of poverty. The experience in the countries of the world and West
Bengal has made it clear that it is not possible to eradicate poverty without
giving land to the rural poor. The plenum criticised the government for issuing
a G O with an intention to give land to the corporate houses. Though there is an
extent of about 60 lakh acres of waste lands in the state as per official
statistics, most of these lands are in possession of the landlords. Similarly,
out of 3.68 lakh acres of endowment lands, the rich are enjoying a major chunk.
Corruption
is rampant in the state and the chief minister’s daily chanting of
‘transparency’ mantra has become a beautiful cover for corruption. The plenum criticised the government for leaving the culprits
caught in large-scale misuse of the food for work programme to go scot-free and
supporting the ministers who were hand-in-glove with those culprits. All
arrangements have been made to turn the Rs.2500 crore Velugu scheme into an
employment scheme for the Telugu Desam Party. The plenum demanded the government
to stop this machination and to ensure participation of all the local
bodies and people’s organisations in the implementation of these schemes.
POLITICAL
The
Telugu Desam Party is continuing its tie-up with communalism at the national
level. Even after the horrific
Gujarat genocide, it has not opened its eyes.
On the other hand, the TDP shamelessly supported the BJP in the
Parliament. This is the height of
opportunistic politics of the TDP. The
BJP-led government at the centre has issued an order to drive away the tribals
from the forest lands they have been cultivating over the decades.
While pursuing anti-people policies like privatisation and selling away
of governmental assets in the country, the BJP is now carrying on a campaign of
making the villages green with crops. The
Congress is pursuing the same policies in the states where it is in power.
It is promising to act differently in A.P.
In view of the past experience, the people are not giving credence to the
promises of the Congress. Notwithstanding
its secular policies, the Congress is not showing any way for the development of
the State because it does not have any alternative economic policies.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which has come to the fore with the
slogan of separate Telangana, like other ruling class parties, is suffering from
internal bickerings. The assessment of the CPI(M) that the existence of the TRS
would be beneficial to the TDP has been proved correct in practice.
