CPI(M) to launch nine-day agitation in Tripura

The CPI(M) Tripura State Committe has decided to launch a nine-day agitation from November 1 to press for five demands.

The demands were control of the price hike of essential commodities, introduction of a strong Lokpal bill, distribution of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates, filling up the vacant posts in government services and stop foreign investment in retail.

State secretary Bijan Dhar said the campaign would start from November one and continue till November 8.

Attacking the proposed Food Security Bill, Dhar said the bill needed to be changed to ensure food security for every person in the country. The party demanded distribution of rice or wheat at Rs 2 per kg and 35 kg of the food for each family. "We demand a strong central act which would ensure bearing of all costs of distribution of the food grains to the ration shops from FCI godowns at government cost, he said.

CPIM PB Communique

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on October 17-18, 2011. It has issued the following statement: 

Anti-Corporate Movement

The `Occupy Wall Street’ movement in the United States and the various protest actions in Europe and other parts of the world are a manifestation of the growing anger of the people at the predatory role of big banks and finance capital. The people have seen how the corporates and banks have been bailed out while the ordinary people are made to bear the burdens of the crisis.

The CPI(M) extends its full support and expresses its solidarity with the protest actions against the rapacious exploitation by big capital and finance. It is necessary to step up and broaden the struggles against the neo-liberal policies in India.

By-Election Results

The Congress party has fared poorly in the by-elections to Hisar Lok Sabha seat and other Assembly seats. These results indicate how corruption and the failure to curb price rise are causing the people to reject the Congress all over the country.

Advani’s Yatra

The yatra undertaken by the BJP leader L. K. Advani against corruption has only succeeded in highlighting the record of corruption of the BJP. The arrest and jailing of former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa on corruption charges has highlighted how the BJP government in Karnataka has been part of the nexus with the mining mafia. The record of the earlier NDA government also shows how the BJP is no different from the Congress when it comes to the question of high level corruption.

Kerala : Suspensions Condemned

The Polit Bureau condemned the action of the UDF government in getting two of the CPI(M) MLAs suspended from the Assembly. The Oommen Chandy government has resorted to brutal police repression on protesting students. When this matter was raised in the Assembly by the opposition, it has resorted to this undemocratic step. People of Kerala can see through the political motivation behind such an action.

Maruti Workers Struggle

The Polit Bureau condemned the repressive tactics and victimization of workers at the Maruti Suzuki plant at Manesar. The workers in this factory have been waging a determined struggle to defend their rights to form a union. The management has resorted to suspensions and dismissals to break the struggle. The Haryana state government has connived with the management in this anti-labour action. The Japanese multinational company should realize that the right to form a union of their choice is a basic right of the workers. The CPI(M) extends its full support to the struggle of the workers.

Ideological Resolution

The Polit Bureau discussed the draft of an ideological resolution. The draft after finalization will be placed before the Central Committee for its consideration in its November meeting.

Campaigns and Protest Actions

The Polit Bureau renewed its call to the Party units to conduct a week-long campaign from November 1-7 on the following five demands: (i) Curb price rise and ensure universal right to food (ii) Take firm action on all corruption cases and adopt an effective Lokpal Act (iii) Ensure supply of fertilizer at subsidised prices to farmers and stop black marketing of urea (iv) Steps to curb unemployment and fill up all vacancies in government posts (v) Stop FDI in the retail sector; protect the interests of small shopkeepers and traders.

The Polit Bureau called upon all its Party units to support the November 8 `Jail Bharo’ protest action called by the Central Trade Unions.