CENTRAL COMMITTEE COMMUNIQUE

  CPI(M) To Run Fortnight Long Campaign

The Central Committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in Kolkata from June 7 to 9, 2003. It issued the following statement on June 9.

No Troops For Iraq

THE Central Committee strongly opposed the move to send Indian troops to Iraq which is under US occupation. The US administration has requested the Vajpayee government to send a contingent of troops for policing the country under the US military command. The UN Security Council resolution has recognised the US as the occupying authority. It has not sanctioned a UN peacekeeping force. Indian troops, if sent, will have to serve under the American military command. Further, they will be used to suppress the growing opposition to the American occupation.

The BJP-led government’s willingness to consider such a request indicates the double-faced stand it has taken throughout the war in Iraq. Having been forced by the public opinion to adopt a resolution in parliament deploring the war, the government cannot flagrantly violate the wishes of the parliament and the people to further the interests of the US in Iraq.

The Central Committee noted that the US has stepped up it aggressive policies for global hegemony. At such a time what is required is that India adopt such policies which help to curb the unilateral steps taken by the US. This requires an independent foreign policy and not the pro-US policy adopted by the BJP.

Indo-Pak Relations

The Central Committee welcomed the move for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan following the initiative taken by the prime minister in his Srinagar speech. Promoting a composite dialogue on all outstanding issues will help to normalise relations. There are many hostile elements on both sides but among the common people there is an urge for peace and normalcy.  There should be sufficient grounds prepared to finalise the agenda for the talks and for the dialogue to be sustained. Immediately the posting of High Commissioners and restoration of travel links between the two countries will help in the process.

BJP And Communal Agenda

The Central Committee sharply criticised the BJP-led government for continuing with its efforts to undermine the ongoing judicial process regarding the Ayodhya dispute. After the refusal by the Supreme Court to vacate the stay on the acquired land at Ayodhya as per the centre’s request, the Vajpayee government has followed this up with a submission before the Liberhan commission that there is historical evidence that a Ram temple existed at the site where the Masjid stood.

The recent cabinet reshuffle has led to the biggest ministry since Independence.  It has also made the cabinet a totally BJP dominated affair with the other NDA parties being sidelined. The Central Committee reiterates the demand that all the ministers charge-sheeted in the Babri Masjid demolition case quit the ministry.

The central government and the BJP leadership refuse to condemn the VHP’s activities to promote communal tension such as the trishul distribution ceremonies. The decision of the Rajasthan government to ban such ceremonies and arrest Pravin Togadia who sought to defy the ban shows how a firm stand can counter such disruptive activities.  In this connection, the Central Committee deplored the stand of the Kerala chief minister A K Anthony who refused to ban a similar ceremony in Kerala and sought to justify his inaction.

Economic Situation

The Central Committee condemned the central government’s continuing push for privatisation of the public sector units. Despite the majority of the members of parliament opposing the privatisation of the HPCL and BPCL, the government is determined to go ahead with this harmful step which will seriously affect our economic sovereignty. The Central Committee also warned that the decision to open up the defense production industry to Indian and foreign capital is a threat to our vital security interest and should be reversed.

The Electricity Bill adopted in parliament is a retrograde measure which will lead to privatisation of electricity distribution and supply, paving the way for steep increases in electricity charges for the common people.

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the serious agrarian crisis and the distress faced by the rural poor. The drought conditions have aggravated the problem. It is shocking that the per capita availability of food has reached the lowest level in the last six decades. The central government and the state governments concerned failed to provide adequate relief to the peasantry and the agricultural workers and the drought affected areas. The central government even now refuses to release of foodgrain stocks for food for work programmes. The party must immediately organise movements to provide succour to the rural poor who do not get employment and who are deprived of cheap food due to the anti-human policies of the government.

West Bengal Panchayat Elections

The Central Committee warmly congratulated the West Bengal state committee of the CPI(M) and the Left Front for the splendid victory in the 3-tier panchayat elections held recently. These elections assume national significance since it was the sixth successive election held after the path breaking measures taken in rural West Bengal in implementing land reforms and nurturing local democracy through the panchayat system.

The Central Committee commented that this victory is a strong rebuff to the campaign of falsehoods and slander conducted through the media and by the opposition parties to depict these elections as dominated by the terror tactics of the CPI(M). Of the 42 persons killed during the entire campaign, 26 belonged to the CPI(M). This, in itself, nailed the lie about CPI(M) sponsored violence. The elections saw the combined opposition of the Trinamul-BJP and the Congress trying to dislodge the Left Front from the panchayat system at the behest of the rural vested interests.

The victory of the CPI(M) and the Left Front is greater in sweep with an increase of 9 per cent in seats won as compared to 1998. Coming in the wake of the victory in the Tripura assembly elections, the panchayat election results have enhanced the prestige of the CPI(M) and the Left in the country.

Kerala Events

The Central Committee strongly condemned the A K Anthony government for unleashing severe police repression on the CPI(M) and the LDF cadres who were conducting an agitation for a judicial enquiry into the Muthanga firing on tribal people. Hundreds of CPI(M) leaders and cadres were badly injured in lathicharges all over the state on March 17. Such repression was resorted to by the government which is facing increasing opposition for policies which seek to reverse the progressive gains made in the past.

The Congress-led UDF is a combination of all communal and caste forces.  The UDF government has followed a policy of appeasing different communal groups with the sole purpose of consolidating its power and isolate the CPI(M). The harmful effects of such a policy are being witnessed in the state. The recent killing of 9 people in Marad near Kozhikode by a gang of Muslim extremists is a danger signal. This attack was in retaliation for the communal violence which erupted last year in the same place. Whether it is the NDF, an organisation of Muslim extremists or the RSS, their activities, instead of being countered, are being nurtured by the Anthony government.

The Central Committee called upon the party and the Left and democratic forces in Kerala to intensify their efforts to fight all these reactionary forces both on the political and ideological plane and to rally all sections of the working people to forge a broad unity and counter the divisive policies.

Reservation Bill For Women

The Central Committee reiterated its support for the adoption of the reservation bill for women in parliament. The Vajpayee government failed to fulfil its commitment to push for the adoption of the bill in the last session of the parliament even though parties representing three fourths of the Lok Sabha declared support for the bill.

The party is not in favour of the proposal for reservation by political parties in their list of candidates as this will not ensure adequate representation for women. The Central Committee demands that the bill be taken up for adoption in the next session of parliament. The talk of consensus is only being used as a means to scuttle the bill.

Uttar Pradesh

The withdrawal of support to the Mayawati government by the RLD and the coming together of all the opposition parties has led to a situation where the majority of the BSP-BJP coalition is in doubt. It is incumbent, therefore, for the governor to call an assembly session immediately to test the strength of the ruling coalition. The CPI(M) demands that the democratic method of settling the issue in the legislative assembly be adhered to.

Forthcoming Assembly Elections

The Central Committee discussed the political situation in the four states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi where assembly elections are to be held later this year. In the fifth state, Mizoram, the party has no unit.  The Central Committee decided that the main aim should be to defeat the BJP in these elections as the record of the BJP-led government at the centre has only led to strengthening of the communal forces and economic policies which have spelt ruin for the people. The BJP’s bid to return to government in these four states must be thwarted.

While calling for the defeat of the BJP, the CPI(M) will also expose the Congress governments’ record in these states and oppose the anti-people policies. The Left parties and other non-Congress secular parties are not a significant presence in these four states except in a few pockets. The CPI(M) will, therefore, contest a limited number of seats where it can effectively intervene in the electoral arena.  It will seek to have seat adjustments with the CPI and some other secular opposition parties in those seats where they have a base. The party will conduct an independent campaign and work for the defeat of the BJP.

On River Water Dispute

A dispute has arisen about the issue of Karnataka government’s construction of a reservoir at Paragodu on the Chitravathi river. The Andhra Pradesh government has objected to the construction of a dam saying it will affect the people of the neighbouring areas. The Telugu Desam Party has announced an agitation on this issue.

It is important not to let the dispute lead to chauvinist sentiments being whipped up on both sides. The central government should immediately intervene and call for a meeting with both the state governments to arrive at a negotiated settlement.

Call For Campaign And Movement

The Central Committee decided to conduct a fortnight-long campaign from August 16 to 31 to highlight the urgent problems facing the country and the harmful policies of the central government which are also followed by many state governments. Economic policies which erode economic sovereignty and have ruined the livelihood of millions of peasants, workers, artisans and agricultural workers will be one of the themes of the campaign. The campaign will also take up the threat posed by the communal agenda of the BJP-RSS combine and its fall-out.  The party will also highlight the growing influence of imperialism in our society due to the pro-imperialist policies of the Vajpayee government. The party will put forward its alternative policies on all these issues during the campaign. The campaign will culminate in state-level rallies to be addressed by party leaders.