The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on September16-17. It has issued the following statement:

INDIA bloc

The Polit Bureau decided to work for the further consolidation and expansion of INDIA bloc to strengthen the efforts to safeguard the secular democratic character of the Indian Republic, the Constitution, Democracy and People’s fundamental rights and civil liberties. This requires that the BJP must be kept away from controlling the Union government and State Power. The Polit Bureau decided to further strengthen these efforts. The Polit Bureau endorsed the CPI(M) position at the last three meetings of INDIA bloc in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai to organize a series of public meetings across the country and to mobilize the people to ensure the defeat of the BJP in the forthcoming elections. Efforts should be focused to further expand the INDIA bloc and also to draw in significant sections of the people’s movements in this effort. While all decisions will be taken by the leaders of the constituents, there should be no organizational structures that will be an impediment for such decisions.

One Nation One Election

This would constitute a twin assault on Parliamentary democracy and Federalism as enshrined in our Constitution. Modi government has appointed an 8-member committee headed by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind to recommend how to proceed to implement simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Apart from significant amendments to the Constitution, such a proposal would entail either curtailing or extending the life of State Assemblies to synchronize them with Lok Sabha elections. When a government loses its majority on the floor of the House, its continuation is illegal. If a Central rule is imposed denying people their right to elect a government, then it is anti-democratic. The CPI(M) strongly opposes this proposal.

Adani Affair 

Fresh evidences that have emerged about Adani group’s manipulation of stock prices of its companies’ calls for a serious probe and the Supreme Court which is seized of the matter has to ensure that there are no cover ups. The Financial Times and The Guardian have, based on inputs from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, revealed how two close associates of Vinod Adani used an investment fund in Bermuda and set-up shell companies to buy millions of dollars of shares in the Adani companies. This is a total violation of existing regulatory provisions.

The reports also show that the SEBI was looking into the matter of offshore funding of Adani companies in 2014 but had closed the enquiries subsequently.

Election Commission Legislation

Modi government has circulated a draft Bill on the appointment of Election Commissioners and related matters. This bill negates the Supreme Court Constitution bench verdict which proposed that the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be appointed by a selection committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. This proposed legislation to be considered by the special session of the Parliament replaces the Chief Justice of Indian with a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. This ensures the domination of the government over the Election Commission which is patently undemocratic and undermines the EC’s efforts to implement its Constitutional mandate of holding free and fair elections.

The CPI(M) urges all the parties of the INDIA bloc to oppose and defeat this Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

J&K Terrorist Attack

The Polit Bureau saluted the valour and the sacrifice of Col. Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak and DySP Humayun Muzammil Bhat gunned down by terrorists during operation Garol in Anant Nag, J&K. This totally exposes the Modi government’s claims of establishing peace and normalcy in Kashmir.

The Polit Bureau conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved families.

Murder of Democracy in Tripura

The Polit Bureau condemned the total rigging of the by-elections to two Tripura Assembly constituencies on September 5 by the ruling BJP. An extraordinary situation of terror was created under the direct supervision of the government and law enforcement authorities. Total rigging was resorted to. These elections ought to have been countermanded and fresh polls under strict security arrangements should have been held. The Polit Bureau condemned such unleashing of terror and the murder of democracy by the ruling BJP in Tripura.

G 20 Summit

Following the G 20 Summit, Modi government projected itself as the leader of the ‘Global South’. Yet, the Indian Foreign Minister who had announced his participation at the Summit in Havana, Cuba absented himself. Clearly, Modi government, as a subordinate ally of USA, chose not to have a ministerial presence at this most representative gathering of the ‘Global South’ – by travelling to Cuba.

Central Committee Meeting

Central Committee Meeting of the CPI(M) has been convened on 27-29 October 2023.

 

(Muralidharan)

For CPI(M) Central Committee Office