PB Communique

August 4, 2018

A meeting of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was held on August 3 & 4, 2018 at New Delhi. It has issued the following statement:

Support to Kisan-Mazdoor Agitations

The Polit Bureau reiterated the CPI(M)’s support to the kisan-mazdoor jail bharo on August 9, 2018. Among other issues the peasant organisations are demanding a complete liberation from all kinds of debts for the toiling farmers and agricultural workers; legal guarantee of minimum support price of one-and-half times of cost of production for all agricultural products; immediate vesting of land in the name of tillers and implementation of the Forest Rights Act; minimum pension of Rs 5,000 per month to all agricultural workers, poor and middle peasants as also for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme.

The Polit Bureau also extended its support to the big mobilization of peasants, workers and agricultural labourers that will take place in New Delhi on September 5, 2018. This protest in Delhi will highlight the issues of crores of workers, peasants, agricultural workers, artisans and other toiling people, to demand enhanced employment generation, better working conditions, better lives and better future for their children.

Reverse SC Judgment on PoA Act

The Polit Bureau noted the belated decision taken by the Union Cabinet to clear a Bill to reverse the judgment of the Supreme Court that diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, under pressure from large-scale protest actions. However, this is not enough.

It is essential that in order to safeguard the provisions of the Act from any future misinterpretation and prevent its dilution, the Act should be brought within the ambit of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Polit Bureau extended its wholehearted support to the demands raised by various organisations on this issue as also the demand for the release of all those under detention in connection with the April 2 bandh. Perpetrators of violence against Dalits on that day must be punished.

Don’t Deny Citizenship to any Indian

The Polit Bureau took stock of the situation consequent to the publication of the draft NRC rolls in Assam. It condemned the misleading statement made by the BJP President with regard to the exclusion of 40 lakh people declaring them as “illegal migrants”. Such irresponsible statements only add to the fear and anxiety of an already harassed people.

It is evident that a large number of women have been left out despite producing panchayat certificate as well as ration cards and other supporting documents. Strangely, in a single family, some members are included while others are excluded. 

The Polit Bureau reiterates its demand that all the complaints regarding non-inclusion must be thoroughly and seriously examined and corrected.  The time limit for claims on inclusion of names must be extended to allow people to file their complaints. Only then the final NRC should be published.  It has to be ensured that no single Indian should be denied citizenship.

Carry Out Electoral Reforms Urgently

The Polit Bureau, while emphasizing on the urgency of electoral reforms, rejected the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies being mooted by the BJP government as inherently anti-democratic. 

Such far-reaching electoral reforms should be all comprehensive and should address concerns about electoral funding, corruption, corporate control, proportional representation, non-partisan and independent nature of the election agencies, role of media etc. These far reaching measures need to be put in place before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In this context, the Polit Bureau demands the rollback of the scheme for electoral bonds; the amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act made through the Finance Bill that paved the way for Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies to contribute to political parties as also the amendment to the Companies Act to remove the ceiling on political donations. 

The CPI(M) in consultation with all stakeholders will convene a meeting of such parties at the national and state levels in pursuance of this agenda.

Draft HECI Bill: Regressive

The Polit Bureau called upon educationists, intellectuals, teaching fraternity, students and all other concerned individuals and organisations to build a broad resistance to the proposed Higher Education Commission of India.

The NDA-II Government has repeatedly targeted Public-funded Higher Education and Research in the last four years. It has been asking public-funded Higher Educational institutions to generate a part of their costs through internal resources and loans, drastically reducing seats and fellowships for M.Phil. and Ph.D. research programmes, further curtailing SC/ST reservations, and promoting short-term contractual employment of faculty and administrative staff instead of permanent recruitment.

Higher Educational Reform under the NDA-II Government is guided by twin concerns of privatisation and social exclusion that threaten to destroy the foundations of Higher Education in independent India and impede the salutary role it has played, over decades, in empowering the common people with learning, jobs and social confidence. Both of these are strongly reflected in the Draft of the HECI (Repeal of UGC Act, 1956) Bill, 2018.

Don’t Introduce NMC Bill

The proposed National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill by the Modi government is a systematic attack on whatever little achievement we have   made in the realm of   medical education, science, research and health care system.  Instead of reforming and strengthening the Medical Council of India (MCI), what is sought to be put in place is a bureaucratic organisation negating the federal structure of our Constitution. In its attempt to appease the giant MNCs, corporatisation of health system and suppressing dissenting voices, the all-important ‘patient’ is criminally ignored. Both medical education and health care system will be costlier and beyond the reach of the poor, backward and marginalised sections of our population.

The Polit Bureau expresses its solidarity with the medical fraternity who are already up in arms against this damaging move of the government and calls upon every section of   our society to oppose this draconian Bill.

Attacks in Bengal & Tripura Continue

The Polit Bureau condemned the continuing attacks against the Party and the Left in Tripura & West Bengal. In Tripura, the targetting of Party offices and cadres by the RSS/BJP continues unabated. In West Bengal also there has been no respite in the attacks by the Trinamul Congress goons and the state administration.

Mob Lynching

The Polit Bureau noted with concern the increasing instances of mob lynching that have been reported from some states. The Supreme Court observations  on mob lynching have held up a mirror to the Prime Minister and the BJP Central Government under whose watch such crimes are being committed and vigilante groups are allowed to rule the roost.  Many BJP leaders have come out openly in support of such criminals. The very fact that the culprits, even when identified, go unpunished speaks volumes of the patronization provided by RSS/BJP to them.

The Polit Bureau reiterates its demand for the enactment of a comprehensive law in the current session of Parliament to meet the apex court directions.

Attacks on Independence of Media

The Polit Bureau expresses its grave concern over the increasing intimidation of the media. During the course of the last four years of the BJP rule most of the mainstream media have been coerced into submission. All those who dare to speak critically of the government or expose its various misdeeds have been coerced into silence. There are reports of television programmes critical of the government being blocked. Such intolerance for criticism and open threats to the media broods ill for democracy.

Failed Attack on Pinarayi Vijayan

The Polit Bureau condemns the attempt to attack Polit Bureau member and Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan within the premises of the Kerala House in New Delhi. How such an incident could occur needs to be probed.

Talks with Pakistan

In the background of the Prime Minister designate of Pakistan expressing his desire for holding talks with India including on the Kashmir issue, the Polit Bureau demands that the government of India should come out with its response.

P.B. Communique

August 8, 2009

Press Communiqué

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met at New Delhi on April 15 and 16, 2003. It has issued the following statement:

US Occupation of Iraq

The invasion of Iraq by the US and British troops has led to large-scale destruction and a terrible toll of lives of the Iraqi people. This brutal and criminal war has been exposed for what it is in the past four weeks – a blatant conquest to occupy a sovereign Arab state and to capture its valuable resources. To achieve this, the US has used lethal weapons of mass destruction in the form of cluster bombs, fuel-air explosives and thousands of missiles. The massacre of innocents in Baghdad and other towns has been condoned by the American and British leaders as part of the exigencies of war. History will not forgive George Bush or Tony Blair for their unpardonable crimes.

The pretext for this war has been thoroughly exposed and blown to pieces. There are no “weapons of mass destruction” that have been found, nor were the Iraqi people waiting to be liberated. Instead, the Iraqi forces put up determined resistance against the over-whelming and wanton use of military force.

The loot of the Iraq National Museum has destroyed at one stroke the precious heritage of the Iraqi nation and mankind – artifacts and cultural products of the world’s most ancient civilizations. The fact that the US troops allowed this pillage makes them culpable for this act of cultural genocide.

The world is witnessing the shameful spectacle of an occupation regime being put in place with an American general acting as the proconsul. Now Iraq will be “reconstructed” by the destroyers utilizing the funds generated from Iraqi oil. The United States has rejected calls for allowing the United Nations to play the major role in the post-war set-up, disregarding even the views of its loyal ally, Britain.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the Vajpayee government give up its double-faced attitude to the American aggression. It should demand that the United Nations be handed over the responsibility for running an interim administration and the withdrawal of the occupation forces. The Government ,apart from extending humanitarian relief, should not participate in the so-called reconstruction under the US occupation regime. Getting sub-contracts to profiteer from Iraq’s misery is not acceptable to the Indian people.
Ayodhya Issue

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the Vajpayee government’s request to vacate the order prohibiting any activities on the acquired land and for maintenance of the status quo. With this, the Government has no other option but to firmly uphold the law and prevent any activities by the VHP which are inimical to the Court order. The BJP efforts to assist the VHP in its activities to subvert the law must stop forthwith.

In this context, the Polit Bureau strongly condemned the provocative speeches and activities of VHP agitators like Praveen Togadia. It supports the Rajasthan government’s step to prohibit the trishool distribution ceremonies and the measures taken to enforce them.

Jammu and Kashmir

The Polit Bureau noted the heinous moves of the extremist groups to disrupt the efforts to restore peace in the state after the Mufti Mohd Sayeed government was formed. The Nadimarg massacre of 24 Kashmiri pandits was part of this design. Instead of loose talk about preemptive strikes, which apes the illegal stance of America, it would be better if the Vajpayee government take steps to strengthen security in the state in cooperation with the state government.

West Bengal Panchayat Elections

The Polit Bureau heard a report about the preparations for the panchayat elections to be held on May 11 by the Party and the Left Front. The sixth panchayat elections involves 59000 seats in the three-tier system. The Party is confident of victory for the Left Front for the sixth successive time. It is in the face of this certain outcome and the steady erosion in its mass base, that the Trinamul leader, Mamata Banerjee has begun making wild charges which have no credibility whatsoever.

Kerala Situation

The Polit Bureau strongly condemned the severe repression unleashed by the Antony government against the LDF opposition. The brutal lathi charges which injured hundreds of CPI(M) and LDF leaders and activists on March 17 is unprecedented in the history of Kerala. The anti-democratic posture of the Antony government was evident in its refusal to accept the minimum demand for a judicial enquiry into the Muthunga police firing. Such repression is resorted to by a government which is facing increasing opposition for policies which seek to reverse the progressive gains made by the state.

It is in this background that a division surfaced within the Congress party which was reflected in the elections to the Rajya Sabha seats. A rebel nominee was able to muster one-third of the Congress party’s legislative members.

The Polit Bureau fully endorsed the steps being taken by the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) to intensify the movement against the anti-people policies of the Antony government.

Change In Election Procedure For Rajya Sabha Seats

The Polit Bureau expressed its strong opposition to the legislation to amend the procedure for election of members to the Rajya Sabha. The bill proposes to make the election of Rajya Sabha members by the Members of Legislative Assembly by open ballot instead of the present secret ballot system. Secondly, the legislation does away with the requirement that a candidate of the Rajya Sabha belong to the state concerned. This goes against the basic premise of the Rajya Sabha that the Rajya Sabha is the Council of States as provided in the Constitution. The upper house represents the states, recognizing the federal principle. The new system will be a perversion of the Constitutional and federal principle. The secret ballot system cannot be given up because of some parties inability to exercise minimum discipline over their MLAs. Floor crossing and bribery cannot be checked by giving up the principle of secret ballot. Though the bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Congress and other parties, the CPI(M) appeals to all political parties not to abandon the basic principles. The bill should not be proceeded with.

Support to 21st May General Strike

The Polit Bureau extended its full support to the strike call given by the central trade unions on a six-point charter of demands to be held on 21st May. Various other mass organisations of the peasants, agricultural workers, women, students and youth have decided to join this protest action in support of their own demands and in solidarity with the working class.

The Polit Bureau called upon all its Party units to extend help to the preparations for the strike and to rally the widest support for this all-India protest action. The 21st May strike will be a clear signal to the Central government that its policies of privatisation, cutting public investment and not providing relief to the people will be strongly resisted.

Review of Work on the Agrarian Front

The Polit Bureau discussed a draft document reviewing the work of the Party on the Kisan and agricultural workers front. After finalisation, the draft will be placed in the next Central Committee for discussion and adoption.

Next Meeting of the Central Committee

The Polit Bureau decided to hold the next meeting of the Central Committee at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 7th to 9th June 2003.