The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met
in New Delhi from October 12 to 14, 2012. It has issued the following
statement:
Onslaught on People’s Interests
The UPA government has undertaken a series of measures which are
meant to appease foreign finance capital and big business on the one
hand and to squeeze the people and burden them with steps to increase
price rise and cut subsidies on the other.
The decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the disinvestment
in profitable public sector enterprises and the efforts to increase FDI
in the insurance sector and privatize pension funds are all meant to
profit foreign capital and big corporates.
The sharp hike in diesel by Rs. 5 per litre has stoked inflation
and in such a situation the limitation in subsidized gas cylinders is a
serious attack on the budgets of ordinary families.
The Manmohan Singh government has increased the price of subsidized
gas cylinders by Rs. 11.40 and the price of urea by Rs. 50 per tonne in
recent days. These callous measures will only further increase the
burdens on the people. The UPA government is not bothered with the food
inflation rate which has crossed 10 per cent.
The Central Committee noted the growing political isolation of the
UPA government. The withdrawal of the TMC from the government, even the
partners of the UPA government differing with the anti-people measures
adopted – all go to show that the Manmohan Singh government has no
mandate to push through such reforms. The September 20 all India protest
and hartal showed the discontent and fighting mood of the people. The
Central Committee resolved to intensify the movements and struggles in
defence of people’s livelihood and to mobilize the people against high
level corruption.
Intensified Struggles
The Central Committee endorsed the decision of the Left parties to
conduct conventions against FDI in multi-brand retail in state capitals
and major cities in the month of November. The CPI(M) will resolutely
oppose the opening of foreign supermarkets and will build up a
broadbased movement to stop Walmart and other foreign supermarket chains
entering India.
The Central Committee also decided to intensify the movement for
food security and against price rise. From the second half of November
and the whole month of December, Party units at all levels will take up
the task of enlisting people who have no BPL cards and ensuring that
they get the cards, conduct struggles for adequate supply of foodgrains
through the PDS and campaign for an effective food security law. Along
with this, the Party will conduct the struggle against the limitation in
gas cylinders and the rise in fertilizer prices for farmers, increase
in electricity rates etc.
Massive Corruption
The recent period has seen the UPA government and the Congress
leadership being engulfed in corruption scandals one after the other.
There is no sector in which corruption and loot of resources is not
going on.
Coal Block Scandal
The Central Committee reiterated that a high level enquiry should
be conducted on the allocation of captive coal blocks. The largescale
misuse and corrupt practices which have been exposed by the CAG report
has to be comprehensively enquired into. Since the Prime Minister was
looking after this ministry, the role of the PMO should also be probed.
Those found responsible for the irregularities and malpractices should
be prosecuted; allocations made to the private companies should be
cancelled and steps taken to recover the loss of revenue.
Other Cases
The CPI(M) demands that nothing should be done to undermine the
nationalized coal industry. The captive coal mining route should not be
used as a backdoor method of privatisation. Instead of competitive
bidding for captive coal blocks, the alternate route should be that such
allocations for private steel and power producers should be made
through the nodal agency of Coal India Ltd and the mining should be
undertaken by the CIL and its subsidiaries and coal supplied to the
private power and steel producers through fuel supply agreements.
The Central Committee demanded that action be taken on the basis of
the CAG reports on the Sasan ultra mega power project and the Delhi
International Airport Ltd. In both cases windfall profits have been made
by illegal allotments and benefits.
The Central Committee demanded that enquiry should be conducted by
the relevant authorities into the business dealings of Robert Vadra. His
companies and its links with the giant real estate company DLF and the
nexus with the Haryana government should be probed and action taken if
there is any wrongdoing.
Situation in Assam
The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the ethnic
clashes which took place in the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District
areas. Even two and a half months after the clashes nearly two lakh
people are living in relief camps, the bulk of them Muslims. All steps
should be taken to see that people can return to their homes and lands
and the state should ensure their safety and security. The Central
Committee condemned the efforts of certain extremist forces to
communalise the whole situation in Assam.
The Central Committee reiterated that the right of people belonging
to different states and regions to go for work and residence in other
parts of the country must be protected. Regional chauvinism and
divisive forces who seek to disrupt the unity of the people should be
firmly combated.
Increase in Crimes against Women
The Central Committee expressed its deep concern of the increase in
the crimes against women which according to the NCRB figures for 2011
is as high as 2.28 lakh registered cases. Rape is the fastest growing
crime in India and shockingly, sexual assaults on children under the age
of 14 were as high as 10 per cent of the 24,000 cases registered in
2011. The dismal record of convictions shows that 75 per cent of the
rape accused walk free, encouraging criminals to commit this heinous
crime. The recent incidents in Haryana and West Bengal where those in
power have sought to brush aside the increasing sexual assault cases as
“a conspiracy against the Government” add insult to injury, demean rape
victims and are condemnable.
In protest against increasing cases of sexual assault and crimes
against women the CPI(M) will observe a day of national protest on
October 30. The Party will campaign to mobilize public opinion against
the attacks on women and young girls. The Party will demand the passage
of the Bill pending with the Government against Sexual Assault;
Accountability procedures and punishment to police officials guilty of
delaying filing of FIR, medical examination; ensuring time-bound
framework for rape cases through Fast Track Courts.
Prosecution of Minority Youth
The Central Committee deplored the continuing harassment and
targeting of Muslim youth who are being arrested in cases connected with
terrorism charges. Many instances have occurred of arrest of innocent
youth and their being in jail for long period and finally being
acquitted by the courts. The State investigative and intelligence
agencies have displayed a bias in targeting Muslim youth. Steps have to
be taken to step such biased investigations and procedures. The Central
Committee decided to campaign for the protection of the democratic
rights and civil liberties of the minority community in all such cases.
Assembly Elections
The Central Committee discussed the Party’s participation in the
Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assembly elections. It approved the
decision on the seats to be contested in these two states.
Support to Joint Trade Union Call
The Central Committee supported the call of the Central trade unions
for the movement against the anti-working class policies of the
government and for the protection of the rights of workers. The Central
trade unions have given a call for a two-day strike on February 20-21,
2013. The Central Committee directed all its Party units to work for the
success of the strike and to campaign for the success of the protest
action among the working class and mobilize other sections of the
working people to join the strike call.
