Central Committee Communique

January 30, 2024

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in Thiruvananthapuram on January 28-30, 2024. It has issued the following statement:

Ayodhya: Temple Inauguration

The Temple inauguration at Ayodhya on January 22, 2024 has virtually sounded the death knell of secularism, defined as the separation of religion from the State, administration and politics. The whole programme was a State sponsored event directly involving the Prime Minister, UP Chief Minister, UP Governor, and the entire state machinery. Both the President and Vice President of India sent congratulatory messages to the Prime Minister variously hailing him as having ‘redeemed a pledge’, “India’s tryst with destiny in its civilizational trajectory” etc. The whole function was a direct violation of the fundamental principle of the governance of India as reiterated by the Supreme Court, which is that the State under the Constitution should have no religious affiliation or preference. 

This was an event directly aimed at political and electoral gains. The RSS/BJP mounted a massive nationwide campaign in the run-up to this event. Public screenings of the live telecast were organized at various places on giant screens. Educational institutions were closed for the day. All Central government offices were shut till 2.30 pm in order to facilitate the participation of employees. So was the case with many public sector institutions and organizations including banks. It is planned to mobilise people to visit the temple from every state and Parliamentary constituency. This will be spaced out till March 2024, i.e., till the eve of elections.

This event also signals that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 which mandates that the status quo of all religious places except Ayodhya, will remain the same as it was on August 15, 1947 will now be put in cold storage. The disputes in Kashi and Mathura have once again surfaced with a degree of judicial connivance. Modi profusely thanked the Supreme Court for its Ayodhya Verdict.

The CPI(M)’s policy has been to respect religious beliefs which are the personal choice of every individual. The Party has steadfastly upheld the right of every individual to pursue their faith. But at the same time it has consistently opposed the efforts to misuse and convert people’s religious belief as an instrument for political gain and merging religion with the State.

Assembly Elections

In the last two rounds of the Assembly elections, the BJP registered victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while Congress won in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana amongst the major states that went to polls.

BJP’s victories were mainly due to the consolidation of the Hindutva communal vote combined with a pernicious exploitation of caste sentiments.

Hindutva communal consolidation must be confronted in a forthright manner. The recourse to competitive soft Hindutva and pale saffron positions only lead to further strengthening the hold of Hindutva on significant sections of the people. This provides the RSS/BJP and all other Hindutva outfits the opportunity for further communalizing the society and targeting the minorities.

BJP: Brazen Misuse of ED and Money Power

Despite the blatant misuse of religious sentiments generated centering around Ayodhya and these recent electoral victories, the BJP appears to be unsure about the outcome of the 2024 elections.

BJP has resorted to brazen and aggressive misuse of the ED and money power to engineer defections among the opposition parties ruling in states and forging alliances with former rivals hoping to improve its Lok Sabha electoral prospects. It has done this earlier in Maharashtra, later in Karnataka, and now in Bihar the JD(U) has set an inglorious record of the largest number of flip-flops. Nitish Kumar was sworn in for a record 9th time as CM of Bihar, this time with BJP support. The people in these states, who had defeated the BJP, will teach such turncoats a lesson.

CAA: Since December 2019, the Modi government has not framed the Rules under this Act. Now, on the eve of the general elections, it is pushing for its implementation with a view to further sharpen communal polarization and hoping to reap electoral gains, particularly in Eastern India.

INDIA bloc

Despite the JD(U) deserting the INDIA bloc and collaborating with the BJP, the CPI(M) will make all efforts to further strengthen this formation and continue the activities to defeat the BJP in order to safeguard the secular democratic character of our Constitutional Republic.

The focus is to complete the ongoing state level talks on seats sharing between its constituents at the earliest and then proceed to reach out to the people on the basis of core issues that are aimed at improving their livelihood and defending Constitutional values.

Kerala

The Central Committee congratulated the people of Kerala and the LDF government for the highly successful programme of Nava Kerala Sadas. This is a unique programme undertaken by any state government in the country.

Governor: Unfit for the Post: The Kerala Governor has over-stepped all boundaries with his constant political attacks on the elected state government and his grossly erratic behavior. The latest has been his sit-in on the Kerala roads ostensibly to protest against a perfectly democratic and peaceful student demonstration. In an unprecedented fashion he sought and procured protection from Central security forces with the highest permissible security cover for himself. His statements like “beginning of the collapse of the Constitutional machinery” are threats leveled against the state government which will be rejected outright by the people of the state. 

The Congress party is adopting a negative and anti-democratic approach to the LDF government and making baseless allegations against the Chief Minister. It keeps silent on the Centre’s assault on the rights of Kerala which helps the BJP in its maneuvers against the state government. The people of Kerala will reject this disruptive approach of the Congress party.

West Bengal: The Central Committee congratulated the youth of Bengal on the successful Insaf Yatra that marched across the state culminating in a massive brigade rally.

Tripura: The one-party dictatorial BJP government in Tripura is intensifying its fascistic terror attacks casting serious apprehensions for holding free and fair elections. The CPI(M) cadres are being targeted and this is being resisted.  

CC Calls

1. All state units should continue to intensify the struggles against growing unemployment, price rise and assaults on people’s livelihood by the policies of the Modi government.
2. Simultaneously with the protest Dharna organized by the Kerala state LDF government in New Delhi on February 8 against the Modi government’s discriminatory policies towards Kerala and assaults on the rights of the states and federalism, all state committees must organize protest programmes in the states.
3. The Central Committee expressed solidarity with the call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the joint platform of Central Trade Unions for country wide protest actions on February 16, 2024.
4. Given the widespread concerns over the functioning of the EVMs, the Party will campaign across the country that there should be the following re-sequencing of the electronic units in the polling booths – voting units, control units and VVPAT. At least 50 per cent of VVPAT must be tallied with that recorded in the control unit.

Central Committee Communique

August 8, 2009

Press Communique

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in Kolkata from January 8 to 10, 2005. It has issued the following statement.

TSUNAMI RELIEF WORK

The Central Committee got reports of the ongoing relief work in the Tsunami affected areas, particularly in the Andaman & Nicobar Island and Tamilnadu. The Party has set up a relief fund and money is being collected by Party units all over the country which will be utilised for relief and rehabilitation work by the Party in all the affected areas. The CPI(M) has already contributed Rs. 10 lakhs to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and donated one month’s salary of its Members of Parliament to the fund.

The Central Committee decided to co-operate fully in the national effort for the relief work which was discussed in the all parties’ meeting convened by the Prime Minister. It also decided to organise its own relief and rehabilitation activities.

DRAFT POLITICAL RESOLUTION
The Central Committee discussed and adopted the Draft Political Resolution for the 18th Congress to be held in New Delhi in the first week of April. After the finalisation of the Draft Resolution, it will be released for discussion in the Party after January 15. The Draft Resolution takes stock of the national and international situation and sets out the direction for the Party for the coming period.

The Draft Political Resolution will be discussed by the Party at all levels and after receiving the amendments and suggestions from the Party members and units, the Draft will be placed before the Party Congress for adoption.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

The Central Committee finalised the Party’s stand for the forthcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana. The Party will work for the defeat of the BJP and its allies in these three states. The Party is of the view that the secular parties should avoid division of votes which can be pooled for defeat of the BJP alliance. The CPI(M) will strive for an understanding with the Left parties, the RJD and other secular forces in Bihar and Jharkhand.

In Jharkhand the Party has decided to contest in 11 constituencies. In the first phase the 2 seats to be contested are Chatra (SC) and Bhavnathpur.

In Haryana the Party will be contesting five constituencies, the list of which will be announced after the Haryana State Secretariat meeting on 12th January.

In Bihar, the Party is discussing with RJD for a seat adjustment. It has shortlisted 14 seats to contest. In the first phase of polling on February 3rd, the Party will be contesting in 3 seats – Hisua, Buxar and Kahalgaon.

PRICE RISE

The Central Committee expressed its serious concern at the rise in the prices of certain essential commodities. In recent period the price of sugar has shot up and kerosene oil has become too expensive for the common people. The rate of inflation is worrying. The UPA govt. should take immediate steps to check the price rise and ensure that the public distribution system which is virtually dismantled by the previous regime is strengthened.

PATENT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE

The Central Committee strongly criticised the Central government’s decision to go in for an ordinance to amend the Patent Act. The government has acted in haste and provisions in the ordinance do not sufficiently protect domestic interests. The flexibilities in the TRIPS system have not been utilised. The result of doing away with some key provisions will lead to an increase in the price of medicines which will become unaffordable for the common people.

The Central Committee decided that the Party will seek to bring necessary changes in the legislation which has to be brought before Parliament.

GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE

The Central Committee expressed unhappiness at the manner in which the UPA govt. is pushing forward with measures which are in the interests of big business and foreign finance capital while delaying and refusing to take measures which concern the interests of the working class and the working people. Despite promising active consideration to restore the rate of interest of the Employees Provident Fund to 9.5% nothing has been done in this regard. At the same time the government is going ahead with the privatisation of Pension Funds of govt employees as seen in the setting up of the Pension Regulatory and Development Authority. In such matters the government resorts to the ordinance route which is inherently undemocratic. The government is also eager to facilitate the takeover of Indian private banks by foreign banks by allowing them to buy upto 74% of the shares.

ADOPT PRO-PEOPLE MEASURES

The Central Committee urged the Central Government to amend the Rural Employment Guarantee Bill to remove the dilution of some of its essential provisions so that it can be adopted in the next session of Parliament.

The Central Committee calls upon the UPA government to start implementing many of the assurances made in the Common Minimum Programme aimed at improving peoples’ welfare especially in the rural areas. Issues such as central legislation for agricultural labour, investments for rural infrastructure, credit etc. must be taken up in right earnest. Given the continued rural distress these issues must be urgently addressed.

The provision in the Common Minimum Programme for one third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures should be introduced in Parliament.

The Central Committee requested the Central govt. to adopt a central legislation which will enable the state governments to regulate admissions and fee structure in private professional educational institutions.

The Central Committee further wanted the UPA govt to ensure the protection of the right to strike by adopting suitable measures.