The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in
New Delhi on September 8-9, 2012. It has issued the following statement:
Prime Minister in the Dock
The coal allocation scandal has exposed how the “captive coalmine
route” has led to corruption and crony capitalism. This was a route
devised and utilized to bring backdoor privatisation of the coal
industry which is still a nationalized sector by law in India.
The coal ministry was under the Prime Minister during most of the
period which has been examined by the CAG. Under his watch, the Prime
Minister’s office intervened to ensure coal blocks to certain private
parties and to provide undue benefits for those allocated coal blocks
such as the use of excess coal.
The Prime Minister in his statement tabled in parliament has sought
to defend the indefensible. The Prime Minister is in the dock for the
policies and decisions which have led to high-level corruption in the
coal block allocations.
The Polit Bureau demands a high level enquiry which should
encompass the role of the Prime Minister’s office in the allocation of
coal blocks. All those found responsible for wrong doing and causing
loss to the exchequer should be proceeded against. In the meantime, the
coal block allocations to private companies which have been done in an
irregular fashion and those who have violated the terms and conditions
should be cancelled forthwith.
There are certain lessons to be learnt from this coal allocation
episode. Coal is a fossil fuel and a non-renewable natural resource. The
State holds these reserves in public trust and it should not be
featured as a means of maximising revenue or enabling windfall profits
for private companies. That is why the CPI(M) is resolutely opposed to
the privatisation of the coal sector.
The present arrangement of assigning coal blocks to private
companies for mining for certain end-use should be stopped. Allocation
of coal for private sector power and steel plants should be done through
the nodal agency, the Coal India Ltd. Blocks allotted for such
enterprises should be mined by the CIL and its subsidiaries. In the
states, state-run mining corporations can be involved in the process.
The rights of the coal-bearing states have to be safeguarded while the
production of coal and its allocation for the entire country should be
done in a planned manner.
The BJP which stalled parliament on this issue is itself
responsible for the coal allocation policy during the NDA government. It
sought to privatize coal allocation by bringing legislation to that
effect. There is no difference between the BJP and the Congress as far
as allowing private companies to loot the coal reserves of the country.
Other CAG Reports
Two other CAG reports were tabled along with the report on coal
allocation. One of the reports is on the Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project.
Here permission was given to use the excess coal produced from the coal
block allocations to the UMPP. This was a post-bid concession to the
Reliance Power Company getting a benefit of Rs. 11852 crore. Action
should be taken to realize the amount.
The other report pertains to the PPP for the Indira Gandhi
International Airport with the GMR group. Under the agreement a big part
of the total land area of the airport was given to the private airport
company at a lease amount of Rs. 100 per annum. The provision of land
which can be used for commercial exploitation of this is valued on a
conservative basis as Rs. 24000 crore. Further the project cost is
financed by development fees charged to passengers which amounts to Rs.
3415 crore. This user development fees itself is not legal. The Polit
Bureau demands the revision of the PPP agreement with GMR and the
cancellation of the user fee charges.
Assam
The Polit Bureau discussed the situation in the Bodo Territorial
Autonomous District (BTAD) area since the clashes which took place a few
weeks ago. Even today there are 2.4 lakh people living in relief camps.
The Polit Bureau wants steps to be taken expeditiously for the return
and rehabilitation of all the people in the relief camps. The
administration should provide adequate security for the people to return
to their homes and for restoration of normal life. The Party condemns
the efforts by various extremist forces to further the communal and
ethnic polarization in the state. There has to be the speedy updating of
the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) based on the 1971 voter
list and distribution of photo identity cards to all citizens based on
that.
Communal & Divisive Forces
The situation in Assam have been utilized by various communal and
divisive forces in the rest of the country. Both Hindu and Muslim
extremist organisations have sought to fan passions. There was an exodus
of people of the North East from various places like Bengaluru, Pune
and Chennai.
There have been a spate of communal incidents in Uttar Pradesh
particularly in the western part of the state. Communal violence
occurred in Kosi Kalan, Bariely, Saharanpur, Pratapgarh and some other
places. The Hindutva outfits have been conducting a systematic campaign
against the minorities. In Maharashtra, the MNS leader, Raj Thackeray
has been conducting a hate campaign against the Biharis branding them as
infiltrators.
The right of workers and citizens to work and stay in any part of
the country has to be protected and ensured. The Polit Bureau calls for
vigilance against the activities and designs of the communal and
divisive forces. The efforts to disrupt the unity of the people on
communal or regional lines should be strongly rebuffed.
Kerala
The Polit Bureau greeted the Kerala unit of the Party for the
successful siege of the secretariat and the district collectorates on
August 22. Over five lakh people participated in these protesting
demanding food security; a universal public distribution system; 35 kg
of foodgrains at a maximum rate of two rupees a kilo per family per
month etc.
The UDF government continues to target CPI(M) leaders and cadres by
implicating them in false cases. The secretary of the Kannur district
committee, two other state committee members, some district secretariat,
area and local committee members of the Kozhikode and Kannur districts
have been implicated in three cases of murder. In the T.P.
Chandrasekharan murder case, the police have chargesheeted 76 persons,
of which many are CPI(M) cadres and members who have been falsely
implicated.
The CPI(M) had stated at the outset that the Party is not involved
in the murder of T.P. Chandrasekharan. The CPI(M) had said that a proper
investigation should be conducted and the culprits brought to book.
However, even after the investigation by the state police which has been
done under political pressure, the demand for a CBI investigation has
been made by the RMP. Their claim is that a CBI investigation is
required as the state leadership of the CPI(M) has not been brought into
the net of the accused. The political intention for a further probe is
evident i.e. to implicate the leaders of the CPI(M) who have not been
found involved in the case by the SIT. The Home Minister of Kerala has
stated that he has no objection to a CBI enquiry. The CPI(M) warns
against any such motivated enquiry and calls upon the people to realize
the conspiracy behind such a move.
Food Security
The Polit Bureau reviewed the movement for food security conducted
by the Left parties in July-August. It decided to make the September 12
Food Security Day observance a success.
Trade Union Call
The Polit Bureau welcomed the call given by the central trade unions
in the national convention organized on September 4 for the next phase
of the struggle. The Party will extend its full support to the joint
struggle which will culminate in the two-day general strike in February
2013.
