Camp: Kolkata
June
09,
2003
Press Statement
The
Central
Committee
of
Communist
Partyof
India
(Marxist)
met
in
Kolkata
from
June
7th
to
9th
2003.
It
has
issued
the
following
statement
:
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
recognized
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.
The
CC
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
normalize
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.
The
Central
Committee
sharply
criticized
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
refuses
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
CC
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.
The
Central
Committee
condemned
the
Central
Government’s
continuing
push
for
privatization
of
the
public
sector
units.
Despite
the
majority
of
the
members
of
parliament
opposing
the
privatization
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
privatization
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
organize
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
govt.
The
CC
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
CC
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%
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.
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
lathi
charges
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
organization
of
Muslim
extremists
or
the
RSS,
their
activities,
instead
of
being
countered
are
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.
The
Central
Committee
reiterated
its
support
for
the
adoption
of
the
Women’s
Reservation
Bill
in
Parliament.
The
Vajpayee
government
failed
to
fulfill
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.
The
Central
Committee
discussed
the
political
situation
in
the
4
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
CC
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.
A
dispute
has
arisen
about
the
issue
of
Karnataka
government’s
construction
of
a
reservoir
at
Paragodu
on
the
Chitravathi
river.
The
Andhra
Pradesh
govt.
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.