4. Against Blockade of Socialist Cuba
The 20th Congress of the CPI (M) condemns the illegal and inhuman blockade imposed by the United States on Socialist Cuba and demands that it be lifted without any delay.
The embargo on Cuba which was initially partially imposed soon after the Cuban revolution, in October 1960 has been tightened over the years. In 1996, the draconian Helms-Burton Act was passed which was further expanded in 1999. The imperialist aim has been to strangulate Socialist Cuba and to prevent its trade and commercial relations with the rest of the world. The damage caused by the blockade on Cuba for the island country is estimated at $975 billion.
This blatant interference in the sovereign rights of nations to choose their own path of development and in particular the Socialist path of advance chosen by the Cuban people has been condemned the world over. For the last twenty years, the UN General Assembly repeatedly and consecutively has passed resolutions demanding the lifting of the blockade. On October 25, 2011, when the resolution was put to vote, 186 member countries of UN voted in favour demanding the lifting of blockade on Cuba and only USA and its inseparable ally in genocidal actions – Israel – opposed it. Three Pacific island countries abstained. It is significant that after his recent visit to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI also joined his voice against the blockade.
This Party Congress also demands that the five innocent Cubans who have been incarcerated in US jails for many years now without any proven crime committed by them should be released forthwith. The US insists on keeping them in jail as a means to punish and humiliate Cuban citizens, who have refused to give up unflinching commitment to socialism and unwavering opposition to imperialism.
The 20th Congress extends its solidarity with the courageous people of Socialist Cuba. It demands the lifting of US blockade on Cuba and release of the Cuban Five. The Congress calls upon the Party units to expose the brutal character of US imperialism and rouse public opinion against it.
The embargo on Cuba which was initially partially imposed soon after the Cuban revolution, in October 1960 has been tightened over the years. In 1996, the draconian Helms-Burton Act was passed which was further expanded in 1999. The imperialist aim has been to strangulate Socialist Cuba and to prevent its trade and commercial relations with the rest of the world. The damage caused by the blockade on Cuba for the island country is estimated at $975 billion.
This blatant interference in the sovereign rights of nations to choose their own path of development and in particular the Socialist path of advance chosen by the Cuban people has been condemned the world over. For the last twenty years, the UN General Assembly repeatedly and consecutively has passed resolutions demanding the lifting of the blockade. On October 25, 2011, when the resolution was put to vote, 186 member countries of UN voted in favour demanding the lifting of blockade on Cuba and only USA and its inseparable ally in genocidal actions – Israel – opposed it. Three Pacific island countries abstained. It is significant that after his recent visit to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI also joined his voice against the blockade.
This Party Congress also demands that the five innocent Cubans who have been incarcerated in US jails for many years now without any proven crime committed by them should be released forthwith. The US insists on keeping them in jail as a means to punish and humiliate Cuban citizens, who have refused to give up unflinching commitment to socialism and unwavering opposition to imperialism.
The 20th Congress extends its solidarity with the courageous people of Socialist Cuba. It demands the lifting of US blockade on Cuba and release of the Cuban Five. The Congress calls upon the Party units to expose the brutal character of US imperialism and rouse public opinion against it.
5. Demand to Make Rights of Disabled Justiciable
The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep concern and anguish at the continued violation of the rights of persons with disabilities.
The recent incidents where disabled passengers were deboarded or humiliated are a case in point. Everyday thousands of disabled citizens face varying degrees of difficulties, harassment, and humiliation when in public spaces because of the lack of facilities, insensitivity and stigma. Even though disabled women are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment, police stations in the country have neither the facilities nor the staff to deal with the complaints.
The 20th Congress holds that despite in name being equal before the law, persons with disabilities continue to be discriminated and deprived of basic rights like health, education, livelihood, social security, access and political and civil rights.
The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 has proved to be ineffective and toothless because there is no monitoring mechanism or provision to punish those who violate the law. Consequently, the rights of persons with disabilities are violated with impunity and violators more often than not go scot free. The guidelines issued by various agencies/authorities also continue to be disregarded.
Provisions need to be made to make violation of rights of the disabled an offence and penal provisions be provided for.
The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demands effective legal intervention and penal provisions to make offences against the rights of the disabled justiciable.
The recent incidents where disabled passengers were deboarded or humiliated are a case in point. Everyday thousands of disabled citizens face varying degrees of difficulties, harassment, and humiliation when in public spaces because of the lack of facilities, insensitivity and stigma. Even though disabled women are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment, police stations in the country have neither the facilities nor the staff to deal with the complaints.
The 20th Congress holds that despite in name being equal before the law, persons with disabilities continue to be discriminated and deprived of basic rights like health, education, livelihood, social security, access and political and civil rights.
The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 has proved to be ineffective and toothless because there is no monitoring mechanism or provision to punish those who violate the law. Consequently, the rights of persons with disabilities are violated with impunity and violators more often than not go scot free. The guidelines issued by various agencies/authorities also continue to be disregarded.
Provisions need to be made to make violation of rights of the disabled an offence and penal provisions be provided for.
The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demands effective legal intervention and penal provisions to make offences against the rights of the disabled justiciable.
6. On the Issue of D-Voters in Assam
The 20th Congress of the CPI (M) notes with deep concern the continuing problem of D-voters in Assam which particularly affects people belonging to the religious and linguistic minorities. The names of some voters have been marked with word `D' (Doubtful) in electoral rolls and on the eve of every Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, some additional names are added to the list of D-voters. The D-voters are suspected to be foreigners entering and living illegally in the state of Assam.
The CPI (M), while demanding sealing of borders with Bangladesh, has constantly demanded the solution of the problem of suspected foreigners living illegally in Assam through the judicial process. But most of the Foreigners Tribunals set-up for identifying the illegal foreigners is non-functioning. On many occasions, exparte judgments have been pronounced against many genuine Indian citizens classifying them as foreigners, due to the flawed nature of the exercise. Recently two married women belonging to Koch-Rajbanshi community have been sent to detention camp.
Following the judgment of a single bench of Guwahati High Court on April 21, 2011 which directed all D-voters to be transferred to the Foreigners Tribunals and that these persons must be kept in the detention camps till their cases are disposed of, the situation worsened. This is against the principles of natural justice and violative of human rights. Even though there is a stay order, the state administration has been serving fresh notices to a large number of people belonging to the religious and linguistic minorities resulting in harassment of Bengali and Nepali speaking people. The 20th Congress demands that there should be no such detentions in the name of voters.
The 20th Congress reiterates the demand for the increase in the number of Tribunals with adequate number of judges and infrastructure for early solution of the problem of D-voters. This Party Congress also demands early completion of updating of 1951 National Register of Citizen taking 1971 voters list as the basis and urges the Central and State Government to accept these demands and initiate appropriate action.
The CPI (M), while demanding sealing of borders with Bangladesh, has constantly demanded the solution of the problem of suspected foreigners living illegally in Assam through the judicial process. But most of the Foreigners Tribunals set-up for identifying the illegal foreigners is non-functioning. On many occasions, exparte judgments have been pronounced against many genuine Indian citizens classifying them as foreigners, due to the flawed nature of the exercise. Recently two married women belonging to Koch-Rajbanshi community have been sent to detention camp.
Following the judgment of a single bench of Guwahati High Court on April 21, 2011 which directed all D-voters to be transferred to the Foreigners Tribunals and that these persons must be kept in the detention camps till their cases are disposed of, the situation worsened. This is against the principles of natural justice and violative of human rights. Even though there is a stay order, the state administration has been serving fresh notices to a large number of people belonging to the religious and linguistic minorities resulting in harassment of Bengali and Nepali speaking people. The 20th Congress demands that there should be no such detentions in the name of voters.
The 20th Congress reiterates the demand for the increase in the number of Tribunals with adequate number of judges and infrastructure for early solution of the problem of D-voters. This Party Congress also demands early completion of updating of 1951 National Register of Citizen taking 1971 voters list as the basis and urges the Central and State Government to accept these demands and initiate appropriate action.
7. On the Centenary of the Ghadar Party
The 20th Congress of the CPI (M) salutes the centenary of the Ghadar Party that was founded on April 5, 1913 in San Francisco. The Ghadar Party played a glorious role in organizing struggles like the Komagata Maru voyage for the equal rights of immigrants of all countries and mobilizing powerful militant resistance to imperialism with a brave symbolic action of a voyage to liberate their motherland, India. This Party Congress recalls with pride and salutes the memory of the 200 martyrs who were killed and 35 who were sent to the Andaman Cellular jail for life. Their fearless example raised hopes of overcoming imperialism at its most savage. The movement extended from Vancouver in Canada to San Francisco, Tokyo and the villages of Punjab. As its name indicates, it was inspired by our First War of independence of 1857; and true to this tradition during World War-I the young Kartar Singh Sarabha was executed for rousing rebellion among troops. Later on, inspired by the Russian revolution, cadres of Ghadar Party went on to organize workers and peasants to win freedom and build socialism. Many joined the Communist Party and formed the first Communist group in north-west India.
They dared to storm the bastions of imperialism in their day and their memory should inspire us to carry forward that struggle to victory over imperialism in our time.
The 20th Congress calls upon its units to observe the centenary in a befitting manner.
They dared to storm the bastions of imperialism in their day and their memory should inspire us to carry forward that struggle to victory over imperialism in our time.
The 20th Congress calls upon its units to observe the centenary in a befitting manner.
8. For Rights of Bengali Refugees
This Party Congress calls upon the Central Government to honour the assurance given by the Prime Minister to sympathetically consider the legitimate demand of the large numbers of Bengali refugees to recognize them as citizens of India. They had fled their country erstwhile East Pakistan and then Bangladesh. A large number of these refugees belong to the Scheduled Castes, mainly namashudra communities and are living in different parts of the country.
This Party Congress recognizes that the heightened insecurity of these communities is because of their exclusion in the current AAdhar drive of citizen identification which makes them even more vulnerable.
At the time of the Parliament discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2003, all political parties from across the spectrum had supported an amendment to protect these citizens who are victims of historical circumstances. Yet even after so many years the law considers them illegal migrants. There are cases where they have been treated like criminals.
This Party Congress demands a suitable amendment in Clause 2 (i) (b) of the said Citizenship Act in relation to the Bangladesh minority community refugees. This must be done while protecting the Assam accord reiterating the specific situation in Assam. It demands that the central Government bring such an amendment in the forthcoming budget session of Parliament. It assures these communities the support of the CPI (M) in their struggle for their genuine demands.
This Party Congress recognizes that the heightened insecurity of these communities is because of their exclusion in the current AAdhar drive of citizen identification which makes them even more vulnerable.
At the time of the Parliament discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2003, all political parties from across the spectrum had supported an amendment to protect these citizens who are victims of historical circumstances. Yet even after so many years the law considers them illegal migrants. There are cases where they have been treated like criminals.
This Party Congress demands a suitable amendment in Clause 2 (i) (b) of the said Citizenship Act in relation to the Bangladesh minority community refugees. This must be done while protecting the Assam accord reiterating the specific situation in Assam. It demands that the central Government bring such an amendment in the forthcoming budget session of Parliament. It assures these communities the support of the CPI (M) in their struggle for their genuine demands.
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