C C Communique

March 30, 2018

Press Communique

 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from March 28 to 30, 2018. It has issued the following statement:

 

Tripura Violence

 

The post-poll violence in Tripura by the RSS/BJP continues unabated against the CPI(M) and the Left Front. Nearly a thousand Left cadres have been physically targeted, 1699 houses have been ransacked and looted, over 450 shops burnt, over 800 Party offices have been attacked, looted and some burnt down and 134 offices of Left mass organisations have been captured and occupied by the BJP. Indiscriminate arrests and foisting of false cases against the Left cadre continue.

 

The Central Committee expressed its solidarity with the Tripura unit and the comrades heroically facing these attacks and called for a nationwide solidarity against the RSS/BJP attacks on the CPI(M) and the Left supporters in the state. The Central Committee called upon the concerned authorities to uphold the law of the land instead of harassing and intimidating Left supporters.

 

 

Communal Polarisation

 

Widespread communal disturbances are occurring in most districts of Bihar. After the betrayal of the Mahagatbhandan by Nitish Kumar and the BJP being in government, official patronage is being extended to such communal polarization. Central ministers are playing an active role in creating disturbances in various states across the country – Bihar, Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh etc. It is clear that after the severe drubbing that the BJP received in recent by-elections it is intensifying the sharpening of communal polarization by mounting such attacks against religious minorities and the Dalits.

 

The communal disturbances in parts of West Bengal started with the violent manner in which Ram Navami was sought to be celebrated by the RSS-led organizations and BJP. A new feature since last year has been the open display of arms. This is part of the vicious attempts at communal polarization spearheaded by the Hindutva forces elsewhere in the country. 

 

In Uttar Pradesh the BJP state government has decided to withdraw 131 riot cases, thus, abosolving the RSS/BJP perpetrators of violence. This exposes the victims of these riots to greater risks and uncertainties. Instead of punishing those guilty of violating the law the BJP state government is rewarding such criminals for sharpening communal polarization.

 

The CPI(M) Central Committee strongly condemns these efforts by the BJP and calls upon the governments and the authorities to strictly uphold the law and punish the guilty. Central ministers who are spreading hatred must be brought to book.

 

Karnataka

 

The Central Committee discussed the political situation in the state of Karnataka where elections to the state assembly have just been announced. The Central Committee approved the list of CPI(M) candidates who would be contesting the elections.

 

Kisan Struggles

 

Maharashtra: The long march of the kisans in Maharashtra organized by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) had a nationwide impact. The Maharashtra state government was forced to enter into a written agreement on various demands raised by the struggle for the provision of remunerative prices and pensions; implementation of the Forest Fights Act; loan waver for indebted farmers etc.

 

This long march began on March 6 with around 25000 kisans. By the time it reached Mumbai on March 12 the numbers had swelled to more than 50,000.

 

A positive highlight of this struggle was the sympathetic response it evoked from all sections of the people in Maharashtra including Mumbai’s elite. Many organisations voluntarily provided food, water, footwear and medical assistance. The wide media coverage that the march received also played a role in generating a sympathetic response.

 

Rajasthan: The kisan struggle in Rajasthan was met with severe repression by the BJP state government. Large scale arrests and false cases were foisted against our leaders. The state government had betrayed its promise given to the kisans following the struggle of September 2017. In February this year finally the government had to concede after the prolonged struggle that paralysed the Shekawati region of Rajasthan and affected the whole state.

 

CBSE: Question Paper Leak

 

Under the BJP rule various scams connected with exams have been intermittently exposed. After the Vyapam and the SSC scam now another scam involving the future of lakhs of students who appeared for Class X & XII of the CBSE exams this year has come to light. The CBSE has admitted to the leakage of question papers. This has affected the future of 16.38 lakh students of Class X and 8 lakh students of Class XII.

 

The CBSE was headless for nearly two years. It is only in September 2017 that a CEO from Gujarat was appointed to this important body.

 

All those responsible for causing distress to these students need to be identified and punished.

 

No Confidence Motion

 

For over two weeks now the Lok Sabha is being prevented from considering the No Confidence Motion moved by the YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam. The TDP withdrew from the NDA coalition on the BJPs refusal to grant special status to AP that was promised. The YSR Congress distanced itself from the BJP on this issue. The other opposition parties also moved independent No Confidence motions. The CPI(M) has declared that it shall highlight the all-round failure and evasion of parliamentary accountability by the government during the course of the debate.

 

The BJP’s double standards in the conduct of the business in parliament and its anti-democratic character is thoroughly exposed by the fact that the same Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill permitting the government to withdraw sums of money of nearly ten lakh crores of rupees from the Consolidated Fund of India when the Lok Sabha was not in order and without any debate in the din. Such is the manner in which parliamentary democracy and accountability is being undermined.

 

Oppose the New Labour Laws

 

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the decision of introducing fix contract jobs all across the private sector. This will rule out the future possibilities of any permanent employment and work security for the working people. It will lead to the outright contractualistaion of labour. Surreptitiously the hard-won rights of the working class, the existing labour laws are being changed to further the interests of foreign and Indian corporates. The Central Committee supports the protest actions planned by the trade unions on this issue.

 

Finance Commission

 

The Central Committee demands the revising of the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission that adversely affects the interests of the southern states. The Finance Ministers of all southern states have already raised this issue which must be seriously considered.

 

SC/ST Act Judgment

 

The judgement delivered by a Supreme Court bench diluting the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act ignores the social reality of caste oppression, harassment and caste atrocities perpetrated on Dalits on a daily basis. This judgment makes the arrest and prosecution of those accused under the Act almost impossible by removing restrictions on getting anticipatory bail and that prosecution of a public servant can only proceed further after obtaining sanction from higher authorities. This judgment must be challenged by the Central Government moving a review petition before a larger bench of the Supreme Court.

 

Breach of Privacy

 

The recent exposure of the use of data from social networking platforms such as Facebook to influence voters has exposed the vulnerability of democracy and an individual’s privacy. The sale of such data by Facebook to be used to influence elections has now been revealed leading to a public apology by the platform. The protection of privacy and data of individual citizens must be urgently undertaken through the promulgation of new laws. A legal structure has to be urgently created to protect the privacy of individuals which is a fundamental right in our country.

 

The Election Commission must seriously reconsider in view of these exposures its tie-up with Google and using the Facebook for its messaging. The data that can be harnessed by these platforms and then outsourcing them to influence elections for parties with money power undermines the very essence of our democracy.

 

Serious charges have been levelled against the PMs app regarding the collection and misuse of data of individuals.

 

A high level enquiry must be instituted to find out how such operations have been conducted in India by the concerned companies and who the clients were.

 

22nd Party Congress

 

The Central Committee discussed the draft Political-Organisational Report presented by the Polit Bureau. This will now be presented to the 22nd Congress to be held at Hyderabad from April 18 to 22, 2018.

 

The Central Committee also heard reports from the Telangana State Committee about the preparations for the Congress.

 

 

C C Communique

August 8, 2009

Press Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi between July 30 and August 01, 2004. It has issued the following statement:

BJP’s Disruptionist Tactics

The Central Committee condemned the confrontationist stance adopted by the BJP during the first session of parliament after the 14th Lok Sabha elections. Right from the debate on the President’s address which was not held, the BJP and its allies resorted to disruptionist tactics. This has culminated in a call for a boycott of all parliamentary committees. Such a stance is showing contempt for parliament as the Standing Committees are not committees set up by the government but by parliament. The BJP’s refusal to act in a democratic fashion betrays the party’s inability to come to terms with the defeat it suffered in the elections.

The BJP, at its national executive session in Mumbai has announced that it will fall back on the Hindutva agenda, relying on the RSS for reviving the party. The BJP-RSS combine will seek to take up communal issues for political mobilisation. This will pose a threat to communal harmony and adversely affect the common people who are more concerned about their issues of livelihood. The CPI(M) along with other Left and democratic forces will have to counter such manoeuvres and safeguard people’s unity.

UPA Government: Policy Directions

The Central Committee expects the UPA government to earnestly take up the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) especially those measures which are designed to provide relief to the people who have suffered under six years of BJP rule. The CMP proposals for agriculture, relief to farmers, employment generation, increased allocations for education and health, repeal of Pota and correcting imbalances in Centre-State economic relations, are all steps which have to be taken up by prioritizing the programmes.

In this connection, the Central Committee endorsed the idea for a coordination committee of the UPA government and the Left to discuss policy issues which are of common concern.

Drought & Floods

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the delayed and scanty monsoon rainfall in various parts of the country. The northwestern states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Saurashtra & Kutch in Gujarat and western UP have been particularly hit. In other states too parts of western Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and south Bengal have received deficient rains. Already serious damage has been caused to the kharrif crop.

The problems of the farmers and the rural poor of the drought-affected areas have to be addressed immediately. Provision of fodder, drinking water, foodgrains at antodaya rate and food-for-work programmes have to be taken up by the state and the central governments immediately.

At the same time, severe floods have affected Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar. The flood situation in Assam and Bihar is unprecedented. The funds provided for relief work so far by the Central Government is totally inadequate to deal with the magnitude of the problem.

The Prime Minister has announced the setting up of a task force which would recommend to the Central Government ways to solve the recurring floods problem. It is important to see that these recommendations are taken up seriously for implementation in a time-bound manner.

On Certain Economic Policy Measures

The Central Committee reiterated its opposition to the raising of the FDI caps in the telecom, insurance and civil aviation sectors. The Central Committee voices its opposition to handing over telecom companies to foreign control by allowing 74 per cent equity. The insurance sector is vital for generating resources for the country’s development and the bulk of it should not be handed over to foreign private companies.

The Central Committee noted that the CMP has committed that profitable public sector units will not be privatised. In this light the decision to privatise the Mumbai and Delhi airports and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port are not warranted. The Central Committee wants the UPA government to adhere to the process set out in the CMP and reconsider the matter.

On Diesel & Petrol Prices: The Central Committee notes with regret that the government has so far not considered the proposal put out by the CPI(M) and the Left parties for a review of the import duty and excise structure in the oil sector. The import parity pricing on oil products has transferred the burden to the consumer. The oil companies are benefiting from such an arrangement to the detriment of the consumers and the common people. The Central Committee opposed the current hike in diesel and petrol prices under the new arrangement of the oil companies making fortnightly adjustments. Hike of Rs. 1.10 for petrol and Rs. 1.42 for diesel Per litre has been announced.

This is the second successive hike within six weeks. The Central Committee called upon its units to organise protests against these burdens being imposed on the common people and the inflationary impact it will have on the economy and lives of the people.

Manipur Protests

There has been popular outrage at the killing of a Manipuri woman arrested by the security forces. Widespread protests are going on in the state. It is important that the central government and the state administration take steps to shift the Assam Rifles headquarters outside Kangla; review the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act so that people are not put to any hardships and create conditions for talks with the rebel groups. The Central Committee appeals to the Central Government to take the initiative to see that peace and normalcy is restored in the state.

Maharashtra Elections

The Central Committee heard a report on the political situation in Maharashtra which is going to the polls by early October. The Party will adopt electoral tactics to minimise the division of votes among the secular parties to ensure the defeat of the BJP-Shiv Sena combination.

Inequitable Higher Education Structure

Consequent to the Supreme Court judgement on the admission and fee structure in professional private colleges, there is a chaotic scene in the higher education in many states. Under the arrangement set out by the Court, 50 percent of the seats in medical and engineering colleges are being filled by private managements with exorbitant fees. In Kerala, a 22-year old engineering girl student committed suicide because she was unable to finance her education or get a bank loan. This has intensified the student agitation against the fee structure. In other states too students and their parents are agitated about the unconscionable admission and fee system. It is necessary to have a Central legislation to regulate admission and fee structure in higher education and to establish social control over private and self financing institutions.

Review of Lok Sabha Elections

The Central Committee discussed and adopted a review report on the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The report has reviewed the performance of the Party in the elections in different states. It has proposed certain organisational measures to strengthen the Party and to develop the mass organisations. Special attention is to be paid to building the Party in selected tribal areas.

Party Congress

The Central Committee decided to convene the 18th Party Congress in the beginning of April 2005. The schedule of conferences from branch conferences onwards will begin from September.

The 18th Congress will be held at New Delhi.

Party’s Independent Role

The Central Committee reiterated that the Party will play an independent role advocating alternative policies based on the Left and democratic programme in taking up people’s issues and demanding that the pro-people measures in the CMP be implemented.

The state committees have been asked to identify the various issues which are directly concerned with the people’s livelihood and democratic rights and conduct movements and launch struggles in their interests.

Call For National Campaign

In order to take the Party’s political message and the policy issues to the people, the Central Committee decided to conduct a week-long political campaign from August 25 to 31. This campaign will focus on the following issues:

1. The danger posed by the BJP-RSS combine seeking to revive the communal Hindutva agenda. Exposure of the disruptionist attitude of the BJP in Parliament by refusing to accept the popular verdict.

2. Necessity to weed out the communal ideology and elements entrenched in the State institutions and steps taken to enforce the secular principle.

3. Observe September 1 as “Anti-Imperialist & Anti War Day”. Project the necessity for an independent foreign policy to correct the pro-American and pro-Israeli strategic collaboration of the previous BJP-led government.

4. Implementation of the pro-people measures in the CMP such as the National Employment Guarantee Act, central legislation for agricultural labour, one-third reservation for women in legislatures, increased public investment in agriculture, increased credit for farmers and increase public expenditure in education and health.

5. Strengthening of the public distribution system particularly in tribal and backward areas and provision of BPL cards to all poor people.

6. Danger of indiscriminate opening up and handing over control of key sectors to foreign capital such as the increase in the FDI cap in telecom, insurance and civil aviation. Stop privatisation of the profit-making Delhi and Mumbai airports.

7. Ensure fair return for people’s savings. No reduction of interest on employees provident fund.

8. Stop eviction of tribal communities living in forest areas and provide rights to forest dwellers.

9. Stop transferring burdens on common people and consumers by periodic increases in diesel and petrol hikes. Revise import duty and excise structure to reduce tax burden on retail consumers.

10. Immediate relief and assistance to drought-affected areas by provision for `food for work’ programmes, free distribution of foodgrains where distress exists, drinking water and fodder. In the flood-affected states, Centre should provide adequate funds for relief and rehabilitation measures. Centre should take up comprehensive flood control measures within a fixed timeframe in the flood-prone areas of eastern India.

11. Central legislation be brought to empower state governments to regulate admissions and fee structure in private institutions in higher education and to overcome the difficulties created by the supreme court judgement.