Polit Bureau Communique

February 9, 2019

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met on February 8-9, 2019 at New Delhi. It has issued the following statement:

Rising People’s Protests

The Polit Bureau salutes the people of Kerala and West Bengal on the manner in which they responded to the calls given by the CPI(M) and the Left parties in their respective states.

Women’s Wall in Kerala: More than 55 lakh women held a human chain linking the northern tip of Kerala to its southern tip to uphold equal rights for women and for carrying forward the renaissance movement in Kerala.

West Bengal Rally: West Bengal saw probably one of the largest gathering of people in response to the Left Front’s call at the historic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata under the slogan `Oust Modi Government, Save India; Oust TMC Government, Save Bengal’.

Tripura: The people and the CPI(M) rank and file continue to resist the fascistic attacks mounted by the BJP and its state government.

General Election Preparations

The Polit Bureau discussed the state-wise reports on the electoral tactics the Party would pursue in order to achieve the following tasks:

• Defeat the BJP alliance
• Increase the strength of the CPI(M) and the Left in the Lok Sabha
• Ensure an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre.

The Central Committee meeting scheduled to be held on March 3-4, 2019 will finalise the details.

Rafale Scam

Ever since the Rafale deal was renegotiated by the Modi government, there have been a flood of reports that alleged that the price being paid for the planes in question is much higher than what had been decided in the initial agreement. The BJP-led NDA government has been making vain attempts to defend the deal on one pretext or the other and has been unsuccessfully seeking to brush off allegations of favouritism, corruption and crony capitalism of the worst kind.

The Modi government has consistently undermined the capability of the air force and the authority of the Defence Ministry in its attempt to defend the corruption involved in the Rafale deal. This has cost the public exchequer heavily and caused damage to national security.

The Polit Bureau reiterates that a Joint Parliamentary Committee must be established to go into the entire scam and identify those responsible for such high level corruption, crony capitalism and undermining India’s defence interests. The Modi government’s obdurate refusal to do so is tantamount to “admission of guilt”.

Increasing Unemployment

The BJP had promised to generate two crore new jobs every year. But according to data of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), that is being prevented from publication by Modi government, unemployment rate in India is at a 45-year-high of 6.1% in 2017-18.

As against the promised ten crore new jobs, crores of employed persons have lost their jobs and joined the ranks of the unemployed. According to reports, the NSSO Survey says that unemployment for rural male youth (aged 15-29) went up from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 17.4 per cent in 2017-18. The corresponding figures for rural women in the same age group, was 13.6 per cent, up from 4.8 per cent.

The Polit Bureau calls upon all its units and the Indian youth to mount popular pressure through struggles against the Modi government’s policies that is depriving our youth the possibility of realizing their potential.

Withdraw NSA

The Polit Bureau condemned the Madhya Pradesh Congress state government’s decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against five persons arrested on allegations of cow slaughter. This stringent legislation was meant to be used against anti-national terrorists. Instead, it’s invocation over such allegations displays an effort to appease the communal elements.

The Polit Bureau demands the revocation of the NSA. The existing provisions of law would be sufficient to deal with any such allegations.

Attacks on Education

The Polit Bureau expressed serious concern over the severe onslaught mounted by the BJP government on public funded education at all levels, particularly on institutions of higher learning and research. Slashing of funds, undermining autonomy and principles of social justice, together with deepening communal orientation through the promotion of mythology as a substitute for objective scientific learning and history have become the order of the day. The Polit Bureau extends its support to the united protest march of teachers of all categories, students and non-teaching employees on February 19 in New Delhi.

Polit Bureau Communique

August 7, 2009

Press Communiqué

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on September 6-7, 2008. It has issued the following statement:

Surrender on Nuclear Deal

The waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for India represents another surrender by the Manmohan Singh government in its journey to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal. The NSG waiver is neither clean nor unconditional. As in the case of the 123 Agreement and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement, the waiver by the NSG, organised by the United States, will bind India to all the conditions set out in the Hyde Act. All these steps have gone against the Prime Minister’s assurances to parliament in August 2006.

The voluntary moratorium on testing has now become part of a multilateral commitment. Restrictions on transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology will continue. India has become part of the non-proliferation regime which it always held to be discriminatory. The NSG waiver is in alignment with the 123 Agreement and India will not get any better terms from other countries supplying fuel or reactors.

The country is being subjected to an orchestrated barrage of propaganda terming the NSG waiver as a `historical’ one. The reality has been mercilessly exposed by the US State Department’s interpretation of the 123 Agreement which was sought to be kept secret. The people of India will see through the veil of propaganda and recognize the truth that the Manmohan Singh government has compromised India’s national interests.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) will rally all the democratic and patriotic forces to fight back this strategic alliance with the United States and the surrender the nuclear deal entails. (Detailed statement issued separately)

Tata Project at Singur

The Polit Bureau heard a report on the situation in Singur consequent to the disruption caused by the Trinamool Congress-led agitation at the site of the Tata motor plant. Talks are being held through the Governor and the issue should be resolved, so that the Tata motor project goes ahead and measures taken for the rehabilitation of those affected.

Price-rise

The Inflation rate (WPI) continues to remain over 12% with food prices rising. The relentless price-rise exposes the failure of the Central Government to take the corrective measures required to bring some relief for the people. The easing of international oil prices have had no effect on domestic inflation because of the high indirect taxes on petroleum products, which the UPA Government has stubbornly refused to reduce. The CPI (M) reiterates its demand to rescind the recent price hikes of diesel, petrol and cooking gas. CPI (M) also demands a reversal of the cuts in foodgrains allocations to the States and restoration of their quotas, in view of the better foodgrain procurement by public agencies this year.

The Planning Commission had constituted an Expert Committee under Prof. Tendulkar to review the flawed poverty estimates, which currently form the basis of the Targeted PDS. This Committee has failed to complete the review process so far and the inordinate delay is perpetuating the use of flawed poverty estimates for the PDS, leading to the exclusion of a large section of the poor from the PDS net at a time of high inflation. CPI (M) reiterates its demand for universalizing the PDS and delink all schemes for employment, health and education from the flawed poverty estimates.

Orissa Violence

The savage violence on the Christian community in Orissa by the RSS led sangh parivar, specifically the VHP and the Bajrang Dal is a national shame. The perpetrators of the violence have been provided patronage by the BJP as a coalition partner in the Orissa Government. It has added a black page in the shameful record of State connivance in violence against minority communities where the BJP has been in power. For over a fortnight Christians have been attacked, many of them brutally killed, thousands of homes burnt, churches and prayer halls reduced to ashes and yet the perpetrators of these crimes are free to roam around even today threatening the Christian community of further violence unless they renounce their faith. The Central Government has failed to act within the constitutional framework to direct the State Government to provide security to the community. It has remained virtually a mute spectator. CPI(M) demands steps to halt the violence in Orissa, full compensation and security to the affected community.

Strong Action Against Bajrang Dal

Earlier the Bajrang Dal has been indicted by official agencies including the anti-terrorist squad in Maharashtra of making bombs in a plan to incite communal violence. In Kanpur also recently two Bajrang Dal activists were killed in an explosion while making bombs. The CPI(M) demands that the central Government end its soft approach to the terrorist like activities of this organization and in the light of further evidence from Orissa, take stringent action against them.

WTO Talks

There are reports that in the last WTO mini-ministerial conference, out of the 20 issues 17 were resolved. These include issues affecting our national interests relating to the steep farm subsidies in the USA, regulating the green box subsidies and customs duties on imports. Only on three issues there was no agreement, related to the Special Safeguards Mechanism (SSM) on agricultural imports, cotton subsidies by USA and intellectual property.

The country should know the status of the issues that have been decided and those that are yet to be resolved. The Polit Bureau therefore demands that the government issue a white paper on this matter.

Call Parliament Session

The Polit Bureau expressed its strong disapproval of the way in which the UPA government has done away with the monsoon session of Parliament which should have begun on August 11. The government has now decided to hold a truncated session from October 17 and to do away with the winter session altogether. It is apparent that the government is afraid to face Parliament after the dubious way in which it got the trust vote.

The Polit Bureau demanded the immediate convening of the monsoon session. It should be followed by the holding of the regular winter session.

The President of India should advise the government not to abrogate Parliament’s rights and functions in this brazen fashion.

Bihar Floods

The Polit Bureau expressed grave concern at the devastating floods in Bihar, the worst in its history, due to the Kosi river changing its course. It criticised the Central Government for its delayed response in tackling the disaster, given its enormous magnitude. Deployment of the army on a large scale is required.

The Polit Bureau approved plans for sending relief and medical teams to camps to be run by the Party in Bihar. The Polit Bureau exhorted all Party units to collect funds for the relief work.

Next Central Committee Meeting

The next meeting of the Central Committee will be held on October 12, 13 and 14, 2008 at Kolkata.