CC Communique

February 18, 2016

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on February 17 & 18, 2016. It has issued the following statement:

 

Resist Onslaught on Left Forces

 

The Central Committee noted with serious concern the attack launched by the RSS-BJP against the Left forces. It is clear that under the false allegation of the Left forces being “anti-national” the RSS-BJP have mounted an all India attack against the Left. The six Left parties are meeting on February 19 in order to chalk out an all India programme to counter this challenge from the communal forces.

 

In this context, the Central Committee while strongly condemning the attack mounted by the RSS under the patronage of this BJP-led NDA government against the Jawaharlal Nehru University sees it as part of a larger design by the communal forces to carry forward their agenda in institutions of higher learning. This systemic pattern is clearly visible in the incidents in Film & Television Institute of India, Hyderabad Central University leading to the tragic suicide of Rohit Vemula, the incidents in IIT Chennai and now in Jadavpur University.

 

It is clear that the RSS-BJP are mounting such efforts to sharpen communal polarisation in the country to also divert the attention of the people from the growing burdens being imposed upon them by the total failure of this NDA-led Modi government on all fronts.

 

Electoral Tactics

 

The Central Committee worked out, in accordance with the political-tactical line adopted at the 21st Congress, the electoral tactics for the forthcoming elections to the assemblies of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Assam.

 

West Bengal: In West Bengal, the main task is to restore democracy and foil the aggressive efforts by the communal forces to polarize the people in the state by ousting the present Trinamul Congress government. The CPI(M) will seek the cooperation of all democratic forces in the state to strengthen people’s unity in West Bengal to defeat the Trinamul Congress, isolate the BJP and their machinations.

 

Kerala: The LDF in Kerala is in the midst of finalizing the preparations for defeating the UDF in the state. The large scale corruption and misgovernance has discredited the Congress-led UDF government. The Central Committee has appealed to the people of Kerala to uphold their progressive and democratic traditions and elect the LDF in the state with a decisive majority.

 

Tamilnadu & Puducherry: In Tamilnadu, the Party along with CPI, MDMK and the VCK had formed the People’s Welfare Front and had taken up burning issues of the people. The PWF has now decided to contest the elections as an alliance and has adopted a common minimum programme. In Puducherry also the PWF will contest elections as an electoral alliance.

 

Assam: In Assam, the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RSP, SUCI(C) and the RCPI have decided to contest the election unitedly under the slogan of “Oust the Congress from power, defeat the BJP and strengthen Left and democratic forces in the interest of the unity-integrity, peace and all round development of Assam”. 

 

 

 

C.C. Communique

August 8, 2009

Press Statement

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on May 16-17, 2004. It has issued the following statement:

Election Victory

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) hailed the verdict of the Indian people in the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and its allies have been decisively defeated. The verdict of the people is against the communal platform assiduously propagated by the RSS-BJP combine, its brazen pursuit of pro-rich, pro-big business economic policies and its abject capitulation to the US hegemonic designs.

This is a mandate given against the naked policies of liberalisation and privatization which have harmed the livelihood of farmers, the rural poor and the common people. The fact that the BJP alliance lost 4 per cent of the vote as compared to 1999 shows the extent of the erosion of popular support.

The defeat of the BJP is a victory for the secular, democratic and Left forces. Many parties and forces have contributed to this historic mandate. The Central Committee congratulates all these parties and forces. The threat posed by the BJP and the communal forces continues to exist, despite their ouster from the Central government. All the secular and democratic forces should remain vigilant to foil their designs.

CPI(M) and Left Strengthened

The Central Committee expressed its deep satisfaction that the CPI(M) and the Left have emerged as a strengthened force. The Left’s tally of seats is the highest registered so far since 1952. The CPI(M) has got the highest ever tally of 44 seats. This is a recognition of the firm and consistent role of the CPI(M) and the Left in the fight against the harmful policies of BJP-led government and its unblemished record in defending secularism and national unity. The Central Committee greets the people of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura who have played a major role in enhancing the strength and role of the Left.

Attitude to New Government

The stage has been set for the formation of a secular Government at the Centre. The CPI(M) is of the opinion that various parties who have contributed to the defeat of the BJP should form the government. The Congress party which has the largest number of seats is in a position to constitute the coalition government and lead it.

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) decided to support such a government. The CPI(M) cannot be part of the Congress-led alliance which will form the government, but it will, in order to ensure a stable and viable government, extend support to it from outside.

The CPI(M), alongwith the Left, while supporting the government will also play an independent role in asserting the interests of the working people, in protecting the secular edifice and opposing imperialist penetration in our society.

The Central Committee appreciated the concern of a large number of intellectuals, prominent personalities and Left sympathisers that the Left should play a direct role in the government. The Party assures them that it will discharge its responsibilities to ensure that under a new government, the democratic and secular forces are strengthened and will in no way permit the communal forces to stage a come back.

The Central Committee decided that the Polit Bureau will consider the draft proposals for a Common Minimum Programme and take whatever necessary steps thereafter.

Policy Direction of Secular Government

The CPI(M) and the Left parties fought these elections on a platform of isolating the communal forces, initiating economic policies which are in the interests of all sections of the working people and an independent foreign policy. The people expect the new government to adopt a policy direction which comprises:

a) Steps to weed out the communal penetration in the institutions of the State, educational, research and cultural bodies. Restoring the secular character of the State and its institutions should be a priority.

b) An independent foreign policy which is consistent with India’s traditions of non-alignment. The policy should promote multi-polarity and good relations with our neighbours and promote the dialogue with Pakistan.

c) The economic policies should be oriented towards providing relief to the ordinary people, generation of employment, giving priority to agriculture and for upliftment of the rural poor. The public sector has to be streamlined but there can be no privatisation of profitable public sector units.

d) The public distribution system has to be revamped, so that the current targeted programme, which deprived large sections of the people of cheap food, is done away with. There must be increased spending in the social sector so that education, health, welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and women are promoted. The women’s reservation bill must be taken up for adoption. Anti-working class legislations and POTA must be scrapped.

e) In the sphere of Centre-State relations, sufficient resources have to be provided to the states, lower interest rates and provision of substantial debt relief.