Press Communiqué

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on 5th and 6th December 2000. It has issued the following statement:

Chargesheeted Ministers Should Quit

Parliament has witnessed stormy scenes on the issue of the continuance of the three chargesheeted ministers, L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati in the Union cabinet. These ministers have been accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The chargesheet filed by the CBI was admitted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Lucknow on September 9, 1997, who found a prima facie case against Lal Krishna Advani and 48 others under Section 147, 153(A), 153(B), 259, 295 (A) and 505 read with Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code.

Under the law, the accused have to be summoned before the sessions judge who frames the charges and reads it out to the accused. All the accused persons were directed to be present in the court on 17th October 1997 for this purpose. The accused have been absenting themselves from the court for the last three years while their revision petition is pending in the Allahabad High Court.

It is thus clear that through the judicial process, the Union Home Minister and his two cabinet colleagues have been booked for criminal charges and the process has begun. The BJP cannot take cover, behind the plea that it was a political movement. According to the law, the Union home minister, is prima facie guilty of criminal conspiracy.

 

Prime Minister’s Shocking Statement

Instead of asking the ministers to resign, Prime Minister Vajpayee has come out with a brazen statement characterising the movement for building a temple at the site where the Babri Masjid stood as an expression of national sentiments and claiming that the task is not over. This statement has completely exposed the Prime Minister as a leader of the kar sevaks who committed the heinous crime of assaulting the Constitution and violating the commitment given to the Supreme Court. Such a statement cannot be treated lightly. The Prime Minister has to not only disown the statement but also take steps to remove the chargesheeted ministers.

The allies of the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance and the supporters of the BJP like the TDP have to explain how the Prime Minister’s statement defending the movement which led to the assault on the Babri Masjid and the role played by the three union ministers conforms to their understanding that the temple issue cannot be on the agenda of the BJP-led government. The non-BJP partners have been warned time and again of the designs of the BJP leadership. It is Vajpayee who said sometime ago in New York that he will remain a swayamsevak for life. The pretence that there is a coalition with a separate agenda apart from the BJP-RSS gameplan cannot be continued any more. The people will demand of the NDA partners, where they stand on this issue.

Intensify Struggles Against Economic Policies

The Polit Bureau took stock of the widespread discontent and the growing struggles developing among different sections of the people. The three-day successful coal miners strike, the bank employees struggle against privatisation, the proposed power sector strike on 12th December, and the ongoing postal workers strike are all manifestations of the resolve of the workers and working people to resist the attacks on their livelihood through liberalisation and privatisation.

In this connection, the Polit Bureau extended its full support to the indefinite strike launched by the postal employees for the full implementation of the Justice Talwar committee recommendations on Extra Departmental employees and for minimum benefits. It called upon the Vajpayee government to immediately fulfill its past commitments and arrive at a settlement.

Support Kisan Struggle

The Polit Bureau noted the success of the rally organised by the Left-led Kisan and agricultural workers organisations on November 30 at Delhi. The rally has given a call for a countrywide campaign culminating in mass picketting on February 5th, 6th and 7th. The Polit Bureau decided that all party units must actively work for the success of this mass campaign against the imposition of the WTO guidelines which has led to the free imports of agricultural commodities which have seriously affected farmers and agriculture in India.

The Polit Bureau decided that all efforts should be made to channelise the various streams of the struggles so that a powerful all-India movement is developed against the pro-imperialist and pro-big business policies of the Vajpayee government.

Against Privatisation of Nationalised Banks

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) warned the Vajpayee government not to proceed with the legislation to amend the banking Act to privatise the nationalised banks by lowering the stake of the government to 33%. The CPI(M) and the Left parties will strive to see that such legislation is defeated in parliament with the help of the powerful movement against privatisation being conducted by the bank employees.

Provide Central Funds for

Flood Relief in West Bengal

The Polit Bureau extended full support to the demand of the Left Front of West Bengal for prompt and adequate central funds to tackle the immense damage caused by floods in the state. The central government has not given a single rupee from the central funds so far. Neither has it brought any legislation to set up the National Calamity Contingency Fund as recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission to provide funds for dealing with national calamities. The Polit Bureau supported the movement launched by the Left Front including the dharna by the MLAs in Delhi for immediate sanction of funds.

RSS Violence In Kannur

The Polit Bureau sharply condemned the violence initiated by the RSS-BJP elements in Kannur district. The dastardly bomb attack on the CPI(M) district secretary of Kannur by RSS goondas was the provocation for this latest round of violence which has led to six persons being killed including three CPI(M) members. The RSS has not given up its violent gangsterism in this district despite many efforts to end clashes. All democratic and peace loving citizens must demand an end to these terror tactics.

Electoral Tactics

The Polit Bureau held a preliminary discussion on the election tactics to be pursued in the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Assam. The PB decided to formalise the election tactics at the next Central Committee meeting to be held in January. The Polit Bureau is of the opinion that the Left Front in West Bengal should work in a strengthened and unified manner to ensure its victory and return to power in the state for the sixth time.

In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front which has been successful in the local bodies and panchayat elections should be geared up for taking on the UDF which is seeking to have an underhand understanding with the BJP.

In Tamilnadu, efforts should be made for an electoral understanding with the major parties opposed to the BJP-DMK alliance such as the AIADMK and the TMC. An effective electoral combination is required to defeat the DMK-BJP alliance. In Assam, the Party will seek to have an electoral understanding with the Assam Gana Parishad and the Left parties.

Next Central Committee Meeting

The Polit Bureau decided to hold the next Central Committee meeting of the Party at Bhubaneshwar on January 20, 21 and 22, 2001.