C.C. Communiqué

August 19, 2013

Press Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on August 17 & 18, 2013. It has issued the following statement:

Economic Situation

The economic situation has been deteriorating with the overall slowdown in growth, contraction in industrial production, continuing high inflation and the widening current account deficit on the balance of payments which has resulted in the steady depreciation of the value of the rupees. These conditions have led to the relentless price rise with the prices of food items like vegetables shooting up. Petrol prices were hiked five times in the last seven months amounting to over Rs. 7.30 per litre. This has contributed to the high inflation. The falling industrial production is leading to more joblessness.

The crisis manifested by the steep fall in the value of the rupee which breached the Rs. 62 mark vis a vis the dollar is an outcome of the UPA government’s economic mismanagement and the neo-liberal policies pursued.

The UPA government is seeking to overcome this crisis by attracting more foreign capital and giving more concessions to the MNCs and Indian big business. The growing dependence on foreign flows and FDI will only worsen the problem. The Central Committee strongly opposed the easing of caps on FDI in various sectors and the dilution of norms for FDI in retail. Instead of handing out tax concessions, tax revenue should be collected and the resources mobilized should be utilised to increase the levels of public investment, to build much needed infrastructure and this would generate significant growth of employment and enlarge domestic demand.

The Central Committee decided to campaign for the alternative platform of policies which was decided by the Left parties convention. These policies stress the need for curbing price rise, increasing employment and ensuring the social and economic rights of the dalits, adivasis, women and minorities.

Food Security Bill

The Central Committee reiterated the stand that the Food Security Bill is flawed and insufficient to meet the requirements of ensuring food security for all citizens. The CPI(M) MPs have moved amendments to the Bill. There are a number of common amendments moved by MPs of various parties and the government should accept these amendments to the Bill.

Telangana State

The Congress leadership and the UPA have decided on the division of Andhra and the formation of Telangana state. This decision has been impelled by the narrow electoral interests of the Congress party. The announcement of the formation of a separate state has led to widespread agitation in the coastal Andhra and Rayalseema areas for a united state. The issues concerning the division of the state should be settled amicably keeping in mind the interests of the people of both sides.

The decision on the Telangana state has led to renewed agitation for separate states in other places particularly in Assam and West Bengal. It is the Central government’s responsiblity to assist the states to deal with the situation.

The CPI(M) reiterates its stand that the linguistically reorganized states should not be divided. Any further moves in this direction will weaken the federal set up.

Increasing Communal Violence

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the incidents of communal violence which have erupted in the recent period, in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir and some places in Bihar. In Kishtwar, two peope died and many shops were burnt. In Nawadah too two people were killed and arson indulged in. There were a number of communal incidents in UP and earlier in Rajasthan too. The rise in communal incidents is linked to the aggressive activities of the BJP-RSS combine. In Bihar, in Nawadah and Bettiah provocative slogans and symbols associated with the BJP-RSS combine were on display.

The Central Committee decided that a political campaign against the communal forces and exposing the designs of the BJP-RSS should be conducted. There is a need for an anti-communal platform consisting of the democratic and secular forces.

Tensions on the LoC

The Central Committee condemned the incident which caused the death of five soldiers of the Indian army at the Line of Control in the Poonch sector recently. This has come in the background of the rising number of ceasefire violations this year. The government should take a firm stand about ending ceasefire violations and counter infiltration by extremists from across the border. At the same time the strategy of engaging with Pakistan and holding talks with the Pakistan government should not be abandoned.

West Bengal

The Central Committee heard reports of the panchayat elections in West Bengal which was vitiated by large scale terror and rigging of the polling in many booths. There was unprecedented manipulation of results during the counting process with the counting agents of the Left Front being driven out and results being tampered. This was done in connivance with the state officials and the police standing by in various centres. The West Bengal State Committee of the Party will review the whole election experience and take steps to mobilize the people in defence of democracy, take up the demands of different sections of the working people to launch struggles and revamp the Party organisation to maintain close links with the people. The Central Committee extended its support to the Party and the Left Front in undertaking these tasks.

Kerala Struggle

The Central Committee warmly greeted the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) and the LDF for the historic struggle of the blockade of the state secretariat. Due to this struggle one of the two demands for a judicial enquiry into the solar panel scam has been achieved. The Party and the LDF will continue the struggle for the resignation of the Chief Minister.

Uttarakhand Relief

The Central Committee heard a report about the Uttarakhand national calamity and the relief work undertaken by the Party. At the call of the Party Centre Rs. 60.55 lakhs has been collected by state units to be utilised in the relief and rehabilitation work.

Election Preparations

The Central Committee discussed the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections in the various states. It also decided to strive for an electoral understanding with some of the non-Congress secular parties in certain states.

The Central Committee also heard reports of the preparations for the assembly elections due in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi to be held in November-December.

Next C.C. Meeting

The Central Committee decided to hold the next meeting of the Central Committee at Agartala in Tripura in the month of December.

C.C. Communique

October 14, 2012

Press Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from October 12 to 14, 2012. It has issued the following statement:

Onslaught on People’s Interests

The UPA government has undertaken a series of measures which are meant to appease foreign finance capital and big business on the one hand and to squeeze the people and burden them with steps to increase price rise and cut subsidies on the other.

The decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the disinvestment in profitable public sector enterprises and the efforts to increase FDI in the insurance sector and privatize pension funds are all meant to profit foreign capital and big corporates.

The sharp hike in diesel by Rs. 5 per litre has stoked inflation and in such a situation the limitation in subsidized gas cylinders is a serious attack on the budgets of ordinary families.

The Manmohan Singh government has increased the price of subsidized gas cylinders by Rs. 11.40 and the price of urea by Rs. 50 per tonne in recent days. These callous measures will only further increase the burdens on the people. The UPA government is not bothered with the food inflation rate which has crossed 10 per cent.

The Central Committee noted the growing political isolation of the UPA government. The withdrawal of the TMC from the government, even the partners of the UPA government differing with the anti-people measures adopted – all go to show that the Manmohan Singh government has no mandate to push through such reforms. The September 20 all India protest and hartal showed the discontent and fighting mood of the people. The Central Committee resolved to intensify the movements and struggles in defence of people’s livelihood and to mobilize the people against high level corruption.

Intensified Struggles

The Central Committee endorsed the decision of the Left parties to conduct conventions against FDI in multi-brand retail in state capitals and major cities in the month of November. The CPI(M) will resolutely oppose the opening of foreign supermarkets and will build up a broadbased movement to stop Walmart and other foreign supermarket chains entering India.

The Central Committee also decided to intensify the movement for food security and against price rise. From the second half of November and the whole month of December, Party units at all levels will take up the task of enlisting people who have no BPL cards and ensuring that they get the cards, conduct struggles for adequate supply of foodgrains through the PDS and campaign for an effective food security law. Along with this, the Party will conduct the struggle against the limitation in gas cylinders and the rise in fertilizer prices for farmers, increase in electricity rates etc.

Massive Corruption

The recent period has seen the UPA government and the Congress leadership being engulfed in corruption scandals one after the other. There is no sector in which corruption and loot of resources is not going on.

Coal Block Scandal

The Central Committee reiterated that a high level enquiry should be conducted on the allocation of captive coal blocks. The largescale misuse and corrupt practices which have been exposed by the CAG report has to be comprehensively enquired into. Since the Prime Minister was looking after this ministry, the role of the PMO should also be probed. Those found responsible for the irregularities and malpractices should be prosecuted; allocations made to the private companies should be cancelled and steps taken to recover the loss of revenue.

Other Cases

The CPI(M) demands that nothing should be done to undermine the nationalized coal industry. The captive coal mining route should not be used as a backdoor method of privatisation. Instead of competitive bidding for captive coal blocks, the alternate route should be that such allocations for private steel and power producers should be made through the nodal agency of Coal India Ltd and the mining should be undertaken by the CIL and its subsidiaries and coal supplied to the private power and steel producers through fuel supply agreements.

The Central Committee demanded that action be taken on the basis of the CAG reports on the Sasan ultra mega power project and the Delhi International Airport Ltd. In both cases windfall profits have been made by illegal allotments and benefits.

The Central Committee demanded that enquiry should be conducted by the relevant authorities into the business dealings of Robert Vadra. His companies and its links with the giant real estate company DLF and the nexus with the Haryana government should be probed and action taken if there is any wrongdoing.

Situation in Assam

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the ethnic clashes which took place in the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District areas. Even two and a half months after the clashes nearly two lakh people are living in relief camps, the bulk of them Muslims. All steps should be taken to see that people can return to their homes and lands and the state should ensure their safety and security. The Central Committee condemned the efforts of certain extremist forces to communalise the whole situation in Assam.

The Central Committee reiterated that the right of people belonging to different states and regions to go for work and residence in other parts of the country must be protected. Regional chauvinism and divisive forces who seek to disrupt the unity of the people should be firmly combated.

Increase in Crimes against Women

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern of the increase in the crimes against women which according to the NCRB figures for 2011 is as high as 2.28 lakh registered cases. Rape is the fastest growing crime in India and shockingly, sexual assaults on children under the age of 14 were as high as 10 per cent of the 24,000 cases registered in 2011. The dismal record of convictions shows that 75 per cent of the rape accused walk free, encouraging criminals to commit this heinous crime. The recent incidents in Haryana and West Bengal where those in power have sought to brush aside the increasing sexual assault cases as “a conspiracy against the Government” add insult to injury, demean rape victims and are condemnable.

In protest against increasing cases of sexual assault and crimes against women the CPI(M) will observe a day of national protest on October 30. The Party will campaign to mobilize public opinion against the attacks on women and young girls. The Party will demand the passage of the Bill pending with the Government against Sexual Assault; Accountability procedures and punishment to police officials guilty of delaying filing of FIR, medical examination; ensuring time-bound framework for rape cases through Fast Track Courts.

Prosecution of Minority Youth

The Central Committee deplored the continuing harassment and targeting of Muslim youth who are being arrested in cases connected with terrorism charges. Many instances have occurred of arrest of innocent youth and their being in jail for long period and finally being acquitted by the courts. The State investigative and intelligence agencies have displayed a bias in targeting Muslim youth. Steps have to be taken to step such biased investigations and procedures. The Central Committee decided to campaign for the protection of the democratic rights and civil liberties of the minority community in all such cases.

Assembly Elections

The Central Committee discussed the Party’s participation in the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assembly elections. It approved the decision on the seats to be contested in these two states.

Support to Joint Trade Union Call

The Central Committee supported the call of the Central trade unions for the movement against the anti-working class policies of the government and for the protection of the rights of workers. The Central trade unions have given a call for a two-day strike on February 20-21, 2013. The Central Committee directed all its Party units to work for the success of the strike and to campaign for the success of the protest action among the working class and mobilize other sections of the working people to join the strike call.