18th CPI(M) Congress Reception Office Inaugurated

 Continue Vigil Against Threats To Sovereignty!

IT is for the first time since its inception that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will be holding a party congress --- eighteenth in this case --- in the national capital and the event will be backed up by a spate of activities concentrated on Delhi and the Hindi heartland. This fact was underlined at the inauguration of the reception committee office in New Delhi, on January 25.

Inaugurating the new reception committee office, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said that the 18th party congress, scheduled to be held in April, would focus on the  danger the country is facing from imperialism and on how to protect the nation’s sovereignty and democratic system.

Looking at the present scenario in India, he added that while the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance government had capitulated to the imperialist forces and endangered national security, the danger continued as the stand of the United Progressive Alliance government, led by the Congress, remained the same on various issues.

This, he said, cast a great responsibility on the Left parties in general and the CPI(M) in particular to raise the people’s consciousness about the perils facing the country, as the non-Left parties do not properly comprehend the issues. 

Karat recalled that the party had been able to secure the goals the 17th party congress, held at Hyderabad, had set. These goals were (1) to defeat communal forces, (2) to bring about an alternative secular government, and (3) to increase the presence of the CPI(M) and Left parties in parliament.

While continuing the struggle against communalism, the party’s Delhi congress will deliberate on what should be the role of the party and the mass organisations led by the party in the changed circumstances when the Congress led government is in power at the centre.

Elaborating on the threat from imperialism, he said it is not confined to Iraq or Iran. American imperialism is trying to intervene everywhere, whether it is Latin America or our neighbourhood, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He then adding that, for instance, Parvez Musharraf cannot stay in power in Pakistan without US pleasure.   

Karat said American imperialism is trying to penetrate every aspect of our society and exerting pressure through institutions dominated by it like the World Trade Organisation and World Bank. In this connection, he also referred to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) floated by the US to finance the bodies fighting against forces inimical to US interests, and recalled that the NDA government had allowed it to set up office in Delhi. He also referred to military collaboration which further helped the US to strengthen its hold in the subcontinent.

Pointing to the importance of the BJP’s defeat, Karat cited instances of deviations from the Common Minimum Programme by the UPA government which he said compromised the nation’s political and economic sovereignty. These included the issue of patent ordinance, decision to allow foreign direct investment in print media and the decision to disinvest equity in BHEL.

While the patents decision would harm the domestic pharmaceutical industry and make medicines beyond the reach of the common man, he said the decision to allow FDI in print media could endanger country’s security. For, now such news and views will appear in our newspapers as may serve foreign capital’s interests. Karat then added to say that the domestic newspaper owners had enough resources to invest in the sector.

As regards BHEL investment decision, he said it was against what was decided in the CMP. BHEL is one of the navaratnas and the CMP clearly says that the navaratnas would be strengthened, and that while they can raise money from the market for their expansion or modernisation needs, the government would not dilute its equity in such undertakings to reduce its fiscal deficit. The decision to divest five per cent of its equity in BHEL to raise Rs 1600 crore to reduce the fiscal deficit of the centre should therefore be  condemned, he said.

A spectrum of the party in Delhi, including a good number of students and youth were present on the occasion, besides many presspersons and party supporters.

The date was so timed as to coincide with the 23rd death anniversary of Comrade Major Jaipal Singh, freedom fighter and a pillar of growth of the party not only in Delhi but also in neighbouring states where the party almost started from scratch.

CC member and reception committee chairman Joginder Sharma spoke on the occasion. (INN)