Central Committee Communique

May 13, 2013

 

 

May 13, 2013

 

 

Press Communique

 

 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on May 11 & 12, 2013. It took stock of the international and national situation and has issued the following statement:

 

Resignation of Two Ministers

 

The Central Committee noted that the Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, were finally forced to resign after the Prime Minister and the Congress party resisted this demand while the parliament session was on. This has exposed the hypocrisy of the Congress which has blamed the opposition for the disruption of the parliamentary proceedings since the wrong-doing of the ministers became known.

 

Prime Minister’s Role

 

The episode of the two ministers highlights how corruption has become endemic in this government and how efforts are made to cover it up. The Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office cannot escape responsibility for these affairs, since during the coal block allocations, the Prime Minister was directly looking after the coal ministry. A Joint Secretary of the PMO was involved in the discussions to change the status report of the CBI to the Supreme Court. The Prime Minister’s image has been tarnished as he is presiding over such a corrupt regime. The Prime Minister has to come out and explain his role and that of his office in both the coal block allocation case and in the 2G spectrum matter.

 


Harmful Economic Policies

 

The Central Committee noted that there is a general squeeze on expenditure in the Union Budget and cuts in subsidies on petroleum products & fertilizers and negligible increase in the food subsidy. This will add to the burdens on the people in the form of rising prices and cut in entitlements.

 

The Central Committee strongly criticized the partial decontrol of sugar which will lead to an increase in sugar prices both in the PDS and open market and affect the interests of sugarcane growers.

 

The Central Committee strongly opposed the move to increase the prices of natural gas based on the recommendations of the Rengarajan Committee.

 

Food Security &

Land Acquisition Bills

 

The Central Committee discussed the proposed Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill which the government wants adopted in Parliament.  The CPI(M) reiterates that the Food Security law should provide for universal public distribution system. It should provide for 35 kg of foodgrains for each family (of five persons) at not more than Rs. 2 per kg.

 

The Land Acquisition Bill has a number of flawed clauses.  The major flaw is that it exempts 13 laws from the purview of the Bill.  These include the Indian Railways Act, National Highways Act, Land Acquisition (Mines) Act etc under which the bulk of the land acquisition takes place.  The Left parties want a number of amendments to be made to the existing Bill.  The UPA government should not consider promulgating ordinances on the two Bills since they are major legislations and require thorough debate and scrutiny in Parliament. 

 

Stop India-EU FTA

 

The Central Committee demanded that the government not proceed with the Indo-EU Free Trade Agreement which is being negotiated.  The agreement will have negative impact on virtually every area of economic activity, including agriculture, industry and services.  For instance, the impact of subsidized dairy imports from the EU can jeopardize the livelihood of millions of  farmers and milk cooperatives.

 

The Central Committee demanded that the government not conclude the negotiations.  It should wait for the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, hold public consultations with all affected groups and conduct a parliamentary debate on the issue. 

 

Strict Regulation Required

 

The Central Committee noted with dismay that lakhs of people have lost their savings and livelihood in the collapse of the Saradha group of companies. The Trinamul Congress has been closely working with this group of companies and using its media for its political purposes.

 

The Saradha episode also highlights the wrong policies of the Central Government. It has cut the interest rates for small savings deposits and also eliminated or reduced the commissions for agents of various savings and insurance schemes. This is helping chit fund companies to lure the people. The Central Committee called for a new law to govern the non-banking financial companies and chit funds and an effective regulatory mechanism, which does not exist at present.

 

Modi & BJP

 

The Central Committee noted that fresh evidence has surfaced about the role of Narendra Modi as Chief Minister during the Gujarat pogroms in 2002. The SIT material made available shows how the police were prevented from taking action against mobs who were out to commit the communal carnage. The Central Committee demanded that on the basis of this evidence, fresh charges be formulated against Narendra Modi and he should not continue in the post of Chief Minister.

 

The so-called Gujarat model which the BJP government under Modi has followed has led to growing deprivation and a fall in human development index. 48 per cent of the children of Gujarat are malnourished; its literacy rate has slumped from fifth to seventh position for children between 6 to 14 years.  The state has slipped from 10th to 11th position between 2000 and 2008 according to the latest Human Development Report.

 

The Central Committee noted that the BJP has been routed in the Karnataka assembly election. This is a consequence of the rank corruption, the nexus with the mining mafia and misrule of the BJP state government.

 


Tripura Election

 

The Central Committee warmly congratulated the CPI(M) and the Tripura Left Front for its superb success in the assembly elections and the formation of the 7th Left Front government in the state.

 

Panchayat Elections in West Bengal

 

The Mamata Banerjee government has been trying to sabotage the holding of panchayat elections by refusing to heed the recommendations of the State Election Commission. The High Court verdict has unambiguously endorsed the stand of the State Election Commission for a three phase poll and the deployment of central paramilitary forces. Yet, the TMC is seeking to further delay the holding of the elections by going in appeal against this verdict. The Central Committee demanded that the panchayat elections be held within the scheduled time on the basis of the norms set out by the State Election Commission.

 

The Central Committee condemned the widespread attacks and violence against the CPI(M) and the Left Front in West Bengal which was unleashed on the pretext of an untoward incident, during the protest on the custodial death of Sudipta Gupta, in Delhi. The Central Committee demanded an end to such attacks and the State Government should discharge its responsibilities to maintain peace and law and order.

 

Abolition of Death Penalty

 

The Central Committee discussed a note presented by the Polit Bureau on the abolition of the death penalty. The Central Committee decided that the Party will advocate the abolition of the death penalty. In India, the death penalty, as it is in practice is arbitrarily implemented. It is inhuman and after execution irreversible. Instead of capital punishment, the Party wants in the “rarest of rare” cases and most heinous crimes, life imprisonment to be extended for the entire life of the person convicted with no scope for remission.

 

Sajjan Kumar Case

 

The Central Committee noted that there has been a miscarriage of justice in the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a murder case during the anti-Sikh violence in Delhi in 1984.  Of the six accused in the  case, five have been convicted by the court and Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted. 

 

The Central Committee demanded that there should be an appeal made against the acquittal. Further, a Special Investigation Team should be constituted to investigate and prosecute Sajjan Kumar in another anti-Sikh riot case. 

 

Kerala

 

The Central Committee noted that rifts have developed within the UDF in Kerala and the government is failing to tackle the urgent problems facing the people and the state. It is important at this juncture that the Party provide a united leadership so that the Party and the LDF can make significant advances.

 

A Commission of the Polit Bureau has been constituted to look into certain organisational matters which have been referred to the Central Committee. The six-member Commission consists of Prakash Karat, S Ramachandran Pillai, Sitaram Yechury, Nirupam Sen, B V Raghavulu and A K Padmanabhan.

 

The Central Committee approved the disciplinary action taken by the state committee against four Party members in Kerala.

 

On Neighbouring Countries

 

The Central Committee extended its support and solidarity for the secular and democratic forces in Bangladesh who are conducting a big struggle against the rightwing fundamentalist forces in the country. The Central Committee expressed its deep shock at the tragedy due to the collapse of a building housing garment factories in which a thousand workers have died. The Bangladesh government should immediately take steps to close sweat shops, for ensuring the safety of working conditions, provision of adequate wages and social security for the lakhs of garment workers in the country.

 

The Central Committee welcomed the resolution of the issue on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, between India and China. Both countries are committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the India-China border and have set up a mechanism which is working to resolve whatever issues and disputes that arise. The forthcoming visit of the Chinese Premier should help improve relations.

 

The Central Committee strongly disapproved the obdurate stand taken by the President of Sri Lanka who is going back on the commitment to arrive at a political settlement on the Tamil issue wherein devolution of powers to the Tamil areas were assured.

 

The Central Committee welcomed the holding of parliament elections in Pakistan which is going to result in the formation of a new government. These elections were held in the face of extremist and terrorist attacks. The people have ensured for the first time a democratic transition from a civilian government, which completed its term.

 

Picketing Programme

 

The Central Committee reviewed the Sangharsh Sandesh jathas undertaken by the Party in March. It discussed the preparations for the countrywide programme which is to take place in the second half of this month. The picketing is to be done on the issues of: Right to Land and House-sites; Curb Price Rise and Right to Food;  Right to Education and Health; Right to Employment; Ensure Social Justice;  End Corruption; farmers issues and FDI in retail trade. It called upon all Party units to make the mass picketing programme a success. 

Central Committee Communique

August 7, 2009

Press Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met at Kochi from January 8 to 10, 2009. It has issued the following statement:

Israeli Attack on Gaza

The Central Committee has already adopted a resolution condemning the barbarous attack on Gaza by the Israeli armed forces which has led to the death of 700 persons including a large number of children. The Central Committee demanded that the Manmohan Singh government end its security and military collaboration with Israel and actively work to mobilise international opinion to compel Israel to halt its illegal and inhuman aggression.

Sri Lankan Situation

The Central Committee discussed the situation arising out of the military offensive in the Northern province. The Sri Lankan armed forces have captured the LTTE’s defacto capital Kilinochchi. The Rajapakse government should not use the military reverses of the LTTE as the pretext to delay or deny a political solution to the Tamil problem. The Government of India should step up its diplomatic efforts to see that there is a lasting political solution based on autonomy for the Tamil areas within a united Sri Lanka.

The fighting has led to more civilians being displaced from their homes. More efforts are needed by the United Nations and other international agencies to ensure the safety of the civilians trapped due to the fighting and ensure that there is adequate supply of food, medicines and essential commodities.

Deteriorating Economic Conditions

The Central Committee expressed serious concern at the increasingly adverse impact of the global economic crisis on the Indian economy. Due to the global recession there is a slowdown in industrial production, fall in prices of agricultural commodities and largescale loss of jobs due to closure of export oriented units and other industries. Already ten lakh jobs have been lost and it is estimated that one crore jobs will be lost in the coming period. The Manmohan Singh Government is not willing to shed its neo-liberal polices and adopt effective steps to deal with the crisis. All its efforts have been directed towards ensuring liquidity into the financial system and to dole out concessions to the corporates. No substantial measures have been taken to stimulate domestic production, create demand and jobs for which largescale public investment and public expenditure are required.

The CPI(M) has been demanding a package directed at increasing public expenditure in ways which increase the income and consumption of the people. Increased public investment in agriculture, expansion and proper implementation of the NREGA, extension of employment guarantee shcue to urban areas, higher allocations for health and education, infrastructure like rural roads, housing for the middle and lower income groups and universalisation of the PDS.

There has to be tariff protection for farmers and small industries and a halt to financial liberalisation. There has to be a moratorium on jobs and wage cuts.

The Central Committee called upon all Party units to take up the urgent issues of the different sections of the working people and launch struggles to defend jobs and livelihood.

FDI In Insurance

The Manmohan Singh Government has not learnt any lessons from the financial crisis in the United States and its global impact. The introduction of bills in parliament to increase the FDI in the insurance sector and to facilitate the dilution of the State share in the LIC are against the national interest. This is a government which has surrendered to the interests of international capital and is more interested in fulfilling the decisions of the US-India CEO Forum. This single act confirms the correctness of the decision of the Left parties to withdraw support to such a government.

Price Rice and Food Supply

The UPA government reduced the price of petrol and diesel by only Rs. 5 per litre and Rs 2 per litre respectively. This is totally inadequate given the sharp drop in the international oil prices. The Central Committee demanded further reduction in the prices of diesel, petrol and cooking gas.

Though the rate of inflation is going down there is no reduction in prices of food items and other essential commodities. It is in such a situation that the food insecurity has had a devastating impact leading to increased malnutrition and hunger as a direct result of the faulty food policies.

With the increased procurement of foodgrains this year, stocks with the government are 29.8 million tonnes against the minimum buffer norm of 16.2 million tonnes, a 84 per cent surplus over the required buffer. Yet, the Central Government has cut the allocation for APL ration card holders by over 73 per cent. The government refuses to restore the allocation, preferring instead to sell the stocks to traders at subsidised prices.

Kerala which is a food deficit state and has an effective Public Distribution System is suffering because of the drastic cut in allocation of rice. The Central Committee demands that the Central Government immediately increase the allocation of foodgrains for the Public Distribution System to the states.

Communalism and Terrorism

The Central Committee strongly denounced the terrorist outrage in Mumbai in which 164 people including security personnel were killed. In the aftermath of the Mumbai attack, the Central Government has to take immediate measures to revamp the intelligence system and ensure effective coordination between the intelligence and security agencies. In this connection, the Central Committee disapproved of the refusal of the Central Government to associate the state governments in the investigations of terrorist offences to be conducted by the newly set up National Investigation Agency. The Central Government should not use the NIA in a partisan fashion as it tends to do with organisations like the CBI.

The Central Committee also warns against the misuse of the newly introduced provisions in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The CPI(M) and the Left parties had proposed amendments against some of its clauses in parliament. Previous experience shows that such draconian laws are used against the minorities and popular struggles and leaders of the working class movement.

The fight against terrorism should be carried on along with the fight against communalism. Communalism and religious extremism helps create a climate for terrorism. In this connection, the CPI(M) condemned the BJP’s attempts to use the anti-terrorist platform in a communal fashion. The recent investigation into the Malegaon blasts that has revealed the role of some extremist Hindutva elements, shows the utter falsity of the BJP-RSS propaganda identifying terrorism with one community. It is necessary to oppose all forms of terrorism, whatever their source.

The Central Committee decided to continue its campaign against communalism and terrorism in the coming period.

Don’t Rely on USA

The Manmohan Singh Government, which has bound itself to the United States through a strategic alliance is now seeking to further tighten the embrace by relying only on the US to get Pakistan to take steps against terrorist elements operating from its soil. Why is the CIA involved in providing evidence gathered by India to Pakistan? The United States has its own priorities in the region. The policies of US imperialism and Israel are such as to spread terrorism around the world. India should cease allying with the US and Israel which is against the country’s interests.

The Central Committee decried talk of military action against Pakistan which will only convert the serious issue of terrorism into a Indo-Pakistan conflict. The Government should internationalise the Mumbai attack and go to the UN Security Council which can direct Pakistan to take the necessary measures to suppress the terrorist network operating there.

Assembly Elections

The results of the recent assembly elections are not in any way indicative of the trends for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Neither the Congress nor the BJP can take satisfaction from the results. The BJP suffered a greater setback having lost Rajasthan and failing to dislodge the Congress from the government of Delhi. As for the Congress, it could not oust the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh despite the discontent and anti-incumbency in these two states.

The Central Committee congratulated the Rajasthan State Committee for its good performance in the assembly elections.

The Central Committee appreciated the popular participation in the J & K polls which has given credibility to the democratic process.

Lok Sabha Elections

The Central Committee decided to conduct a vigorous political campaign in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress-led government has followed anti-people economic policies and there will be harmful consequences for national sovereignty due to the strategic alliance with the United States.

Therefore the CPI(M) calls for the defeat of the Congress and the rejection of the UPA alliance in the election. The BJP has to be kept out of power due to its communal platform and its reactionary economic policies.

The CPI(M) calls for the defeat of the BJP and the NDA alliance in the elections. The CPI(M) stands for alternative policies to protect the jobs and livelihood of the workers, peasants and all sections of the working people. It stands for defence of national sovereignty and secularism.

The CPI(M) and the CPI have worked out an electoral understanding with parties like the Telugu Desam, the AIADMK and the Janata Dal (S). The Left parties along with the secular parties should work together to make the non-Congress non-BJP alternative realisable. For this, the CPI(M) appeals to all the non-Congress secular parties to come together on a platform of defence of secularism, pro-people economic policies and an independent foreign policy.

The Central Committee finalised the seats to be contested from the various states and gave necessary direction for election preparation in these constituencies.

The Central Committee called upon all state units to devote the whole month of February to the political campaign projecting the Party’s political positions and policies.