The
Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New
Delhi on August 17 & 18, 2013. It has issued the following
statement:
Economic Situation
The
economic situation has been deteriorating with the overall slowdown in
growth, contraction in industrial production, continuing high inflation
and the widening current account deficit on the balance of payments
which has resulted in the steady depreciation of the value of the
rupees. These conditions have led to the relentless price rise with the
prices of food items like vegetables shooting up. Petrol prices were
hiked five times in the last seven months amounting to over Rs. 7.30 per
litre. This has contributed to the high inflation. The falling
industrial production is leading to more joblessness.
The
crisis manifested by the steep fall in the value of the rupee which
breached the Rs. 62 mark vis a vis the dollar is an outcome of the UPA
government’s economic mismanagement and the neo-liberal policies
pursued.
The UPA government is seeking to overcome
this crisis by attracting more foreign capital and giving more
concessions to the MNCs and Indian big business. The growing dependence
on foreign flows and FDI will only worsen the problem. The Central
Committee strongly opposed the easing of caps on FDI in various sectors
and the dilution of norms for FDI in retail. Instead of handing out tax
concessions, tax revenue should be collected and the resources mobilized
should be utilised to increase the levels of public investment, to
build much needed infrastructure and this would generate significant
growth of employment and enlarge domestic demand.
The
Central Committee decided to campaign for the alternative platform of
policies which was decided by the Left parties convention. These
policies stress the need for curbing price rise, increasing employment
and ensuring the social and economic rights of the dalits, adivasis,
women and minorities.
Food Security Bill
The
Central Committee reiterated the stand that the Food Security Bill is
flawed and insufficient to meet the requirements of ensuring food
security for all citizens. The CPI(M) MPs have moved amendments to the
Bill. There are a number of common amendments moved by MPs of various
parties and the government should accept these amendments to the Bill.
Telangana State
The
Congress leadership and the UPA have decided on the division of Andhra
and the formation of Telangana state. This decision has been impelled by
the narrow electoral interests of the Congress party. The announcement
of the formation of a separate state has led to widespread agitation in
the coastal Andhra and Rayalseema areas for a united state. The issues
concerning the division of the state should be settled amicably keeping
in mind the interests of the people of both sides.
The
decision on the Telangana state has led to renewed agitation for
separate states in other places particularly in Assam and West Bengal.
It is the Central government’s responsiblity to assist the states to
deal with the situation.
The CPI(M) reiterates its
stand that the linguistically reorganized states should not be divided.
Any further moves in this direction will weaken the federal set up.
Increasing Communal Violence
The
Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the incidents of
communal violence which have erupted in the recent period, in Kishtwar,
Jammu & Kashmir and some places in Bihar. In Kishtwar, two peope
died and many shops were burnt. In Nawadah too two people were killed
and arson indulged in. There were a number of communal incidents in UP
and earlier in Rajasthan too. The rise in communal incidents is linked
to the aggressive activities of the BJP-RSS combine. In Bihar, in
Nawadah and Bettiah provocative slogans and symbols associated with the
BJP-RSS combine were on display.
The Central
Committee decided that a political campaign against the communal forces
and exposing the designs of the BJP-RSS should be conducted. There is a
need for an anti-communal platform consisting of the democratic and
secular forces.
Tensions on the LoC
The
Central Committee condemned the incident which caused the death of five
soldiers of the Indian army at the Line of Control in the Poonch sector
recently. This has come in the background of the rising number of
ceasefire violations this year. The government should take a firm stand
about ending ceasefire violations and counter infiltration by extremists
from across the border. At the same time the strategy of engaging with
Pakistan and holding talks with the Pakistan government should not be
abandoned.
West Bengal
The
Central Committee heard reports of the panchayat elections in West
Bengal which was vitiated by large scale terror and rigging of the
polling in many booths. There was unprecedented manipulation of results
during the counting process with the counting agents of the Left Front
being driven out and results being tampered. This was done in connivance
with the state officials and the police standing by in various centres.
The West Bengal State Committee of the Party will review the whole
election experience and take steps to mobilize the people in defence of
democracy, take up the demands of different sections of the working
people to launch struggles and revamp the Party organisation to maintain
close links with the people. The Central Committee extended its support
to the Party and the Left Front in undertaking these tasks.
Kerala Struggle
The
Central Committee warmly greeted the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) and the
LDF for the historic struggle of the blockade of the state secretariat.
Due to this struggle one of the two demands for a judicial enquiry into
the solar panel scam has been achieved. The Party and the LDF will
continue the struggle for the resignation of the Chief Minister.
Uttarakhand Relief
The
Central Committee heard a report about the Uttarakhand national
calamity and the relief work undertaken by the Party. At the call of the
Party Centre Rs. 60.55 lakhs has been collected by state units to be
utilised in the relief and rehabilitation work.
Election Preparations
The
Central Committee discussed the preparations for the Lok Sabha
elections in the various states. It also decided to strive for an
electoral understanding with some of the non-Congress secular parties in
certain states.
The Central Committee also heard
reports of the preparations for the assembly elections due in Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi to be held in November-December.
Next C.C. Meeting
The Central Committee decided to hold the next meeting of the Central Committee at Agartala in Tripura in the month of December.
