West Bengal Left Front observes National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day commemorating 68th Independence Day

The Sovereignty, Secularity, National Integration and Democracy as proclaimed in the Constitution of India are now in crisis. Time has come to combat the increasing threat to jeopardize the constitutional proclamations. Left Front in such a situation avows to fight against such concerted move with all its strength. West Bengal State Left Front Committee has observed National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day on 15th August throughout the state to commemorate 68th Independence Day of the country. The day was marked by organizing “Human Chain” programme in every possible corner of the state with common people from all spheres of life joining hands from 11.00 to 11.30 in the morning. Left Front Chairman and CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu along with other leaders of Left Front joined the programme in Siliguri, North Bengal. The day was duly marked by different such gatherings addressed by the Left Front leaderships. 

Earlier Left Front had decided to organize Human Chain in every locality of each district. While talking on this issue Left Fornt Chairman and CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu said that 'news of communal crisis and communal violence are meanwhile increasingly coming from different parts of the country. The country hovers toward communal crisis. Violence and killing are spreading steadfast in the country. The Army Patrol is continuing in different parts of the country but the problem remains persistent. Left Front for that reason has decided to organize Human Chain programme to observe communal harmony day'.

In one such gathering held in Central Kolkata at the Entally Market area the leader of opposition and CPI(M) Politbureau member Surya Kanta Mishra warned about the different attitudes and notions that are being shown by the rulers who are at the helm of the Nation and in the State. He stated that 'not Congress, it was the Leftists, who had called for Complete Independence. It was the Leftists, who still have the strength and political will to safeguard and protect the essence of the Tri-Colour flag that holds the prestige of India. Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Democratic, Republic. In its 42nd amendment it has been added to be a Secular and Socialist Country. It is indeed saddening that the path India has taken vouches to move its inclination far from these declarations. Instead of Socialism we are moving in the direction of the Rightist. The economic independence of the Country is now at stake. It is being dictated by the imperialist rulers of other Countries. America is directly dictating the policies that India is supposed to acquire. For this reason the Minister of the Petroleum Department is being changed frequently. India has earlier announced to acquire gas at a cheap rate from Iran via Pakistan but the diktat of America is setting new terms to block the aspiration of India because it knows that India will then move ahead in acquiring self reliant independence and will not have to adhere to dictum of dollars to. The rulers at the centre are now moving ahead to surrender to USA'.

He appealed to the people to be careful about the various policies being taken by the Central government to disturb the National Harmony. He said that 'now the call of the government is for the proclamation of Hindustan. It is frequently being said that India is to be known by Hindustan. It is a country of the Hindus. The National Integration of the Country is thus confronting destruction. So the Left Political Strength has to unite to give a sustaining fight against it. The occasion was marked by the important presence of different Left Front leaders like CPI State Secretary Manju Kumar Majumder, RSP leader Kshiti Goswami, Forward Block leader Hafiz Alam Sairani etc.

Central Committee Communiqué

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from August 8 to 10, 2014. It has issued the following statement:

 

Modi Government

 

The two and a half months period of the Narendra Modi government has confirmed that it will not only pursue the same neo-liberal  policies as the previous UPA government, but it will  do so more vigorously.

 

The Union Budget and the Railway Budget were characterized by a heightened push for privatization, greater FDI and more concessions to big business.  49 per cent FDI in defence production  and insurance; FDI in railway infrastructure; greater opportunities for big capital to profit at the expense of public resources through PPP and tax adjustments to benefit foreign  institutional investors and the upper classes.

 

Accompanying these measures is the unstated squeeze on public expenditure.  The allocation for MGNREGA shows no increase, there is steep cut in fuel subsidy and no real increase in expenditure on health and education. 

 

The Central Committee expressed its strong opposition to the FDI cap in insurance being increased from 26 to 49 per cent.  It called upon all opposition parties to oppose the move.  The Party will extend full support to the struggle to stop the FDI increase in the insurance sector. 

 

Labour Law Changes

 

The BJP government is proposing to bring changes in the labour laws.  Already the BJP state government in Rajasthan has got certain changes made in the labour laws through the legislative assembly.  It must be emphasized that the changes being proposed are not in the interests of the workers but of the employers and the capitalists.  For instance, the amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act raises the limit of workers in an enterprise from 100 to 300 where government permission would be  required for retrenchment of workers.  By this, the government wants to facilitate the removal of workers from their jobs.

 

The Central Committee called for a strong movement to oppose the dilution to the labour laws.  All the trade unions and the Left and democratic parties should jointly oppose this move.

 

Land Acquisition Act Changes

 

It is reported that the government will be proposing changes in The Right To Fair Compensation And Transparency In Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act which was adopted in 2013.  The efforts to dilute the Land Acquisition And Rehabilitation Act  is being done at the behest of industry.  Among the changes proposed are bringing down the consent required to 50 per cent of the land owners instead of 80 per cent and this being made applicable for PPP projects.  The changes proposed will be detrimental to the interests of  land owners and those dependent on land. 

 

Communal Incidents

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the  rising number of communal incidents across the country.  After the Lok Sabha elections, communal clashes have taken place in a number of states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana and Maharashtra. The largest number of incidents have occurred in Uttar Pradesh.  The BJP and the RSS are trying to utilise the communal tensions and incidents for their political interests.  This was seen in the way they tried to fan tensions and escalate trouble in Moradabad district. Instances of attacks on women are given a communal slant.

 

The mood of triumphalism after the BJP victory has led to such communal incidents often targeting the minority community. It is also a fallout of the intense communal campaign conducted during the elections.  The Central Committee noted that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindutva outfits are  stepping up their activities.  With the BJP coming to power at the Centre, efforts are being made to re-write textbooks and to introduce the communal content in the educational system. 

 

The Central Committee decided that the Party should step up its political and ideological work to counter the influence and activities of the communal forces.  It will cooperate with other secular and democratic forces to counter the communal offensive. 

 

 

Violence against Women

 

The Central Committee expressed its deep concern at the continuing cases of sexual violence against women and children.  The shocking case of gangrape of a child in a Bangalore school and the instances of gangrapes in Uttar Pradesh points to the utter failure of the police and the government to put in place standard procedures to ensure the quick arrest and prosecution of the accused. 

 

The Central Committee condemned the insensitive and objectionable public pronouncements of some politicians in positions of power such as two ministers of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh who blamed the victims.  The highly condemnable statement of the Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal who threatened to send his men to rape CPI(M) women deserve immediate  prosecution of the culprit and suspension from Parliament.  Instead, the shameless TMC state government of West Bengal is spending public money to defend the accused  appealing against the High Court verdict to file an FIR against him. It is high time that Parliament and state assemblies adopt a code of conduct for  their members regarding derogative statements about women, the violation of which will invite punishment. 

 

Israeli Aggression in Gaza

 

The Central Committee condemned in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza which has lasted for over a month.  1,869 people were killed in the aerial and ground attack.  The fact that 429 children were killed makes this attack a war crime.  Not only should Israel stop resorting to such violence, but it should lift the blockade and  siege of the Gaza strip which is illegal and against all humanitarian norms.

 

The Central Committee strongly criticized the BJP government for refusing to categorically condemn the Israeli aggression when it was raised in Parliament. 

 

BRICS Meeting

 

The Central Committee welcomed the decision of the BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil to set-up a New Development Bank and a Contingent Reserve Arrangement.  As India is a founding partner of the Bank, the Modi government should adopt such policies which will help the Bank and the CRA to function in a manner which will be in the interests of the developing countries eschewing the approach adopted by the IMF and the World Bank. 

 

 

50^th Anniversary of the Foundation of CPI(M)

 

The Central Committee  decided to observe the 50^th anniversary of the  foundation of the CPI(M) which falls in November this year.  A month-long campaign will be observed to popularize the ideology and Programme of the Party.

 

Call for Campaign

 

The Central Committee called upon the entire Party to conduct a campaign on the following issues: (i) against FDI in railways, insurance and defence production; (ii) against disinvestment in public sector shares; and (iii) against dilution of labour laws.

 

The party will take up a political and ideological campaign against the offensive of the Hindutva forces and all forms of communalism and the efforts to communalise the education system and text books. All secular and democratic forces should be mobilized for this purpose.

 

The party will mobilize people for the full implementation of the MGNREGA programme and to oppose any curtailment of the scheme. The Party will launch struggles against price rise of essential commodities; demanding universalisation of the PDS and curb on futures trading in food items and essential commodities. The Party will work to widen and strengthen Left unity and work for the emergence of a broad Left platform to fight against neo-liberal policies, communalism and imperialism.

 

Party Congress

 

The Central Committee decided to hold the 21^st Congress of the Party in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in April 2015. 

 

The Central Committee decided on the timetable to hold the Party conferences at all levels in the run-up to the Congress.

Mid-Day Meal Workers March to Parliament

SCORES of Mid-Day Meal workers held a march to parliament on August 5, in support of their demands including immediate implementation of the declared increase of Rs 1,000 in honorarium and regularisation of jobs of nearly 26 lakh such workers with provision for pension.

Nearly 5,000 Mid-Day Meal workers from across the country, under the aegis of the CITU-affiliated All India Coordination Committee of Mid-Day Meal Workers (AICCMDMW), gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the march. Later, a delegation, led by CITU general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Tapan Sen and AICCMDMW convener A R Sindhu, submitted a memorandum to human resources development minister Smriti Irani, who assured the delegation that she will look into the matter positively.

Nearly 26 lakh Mid-Day Meal workers are not recognised as workers and are paid a pittance of Rs 1,000 a month and that too only for ten months in a year. They are not provided any social security. The government is not ready to implement the 45^th Indian Labour Conference recommendations that the Mid-Day Meal workers be recognised as workers, paid minimum wages and social security including pension.

The HRD ministry declared as early in May 2013 that the remuneration of the Mid-Day Meal workers will be enhanced by Rs 1,000 per month. Despite repeated promises, this was not implemented by the UPA government. The minister for HRD of the new NDA government also promised, during a meeting in July, that this enhancement would be implemented early but this year’s union budget has neglected the workers as well as the scheme. “It is unfortunate that the union budget 2014-15 did not reflect either aspirations of the Mid-Day Meal Workers or the need for infrastructure, quality and management needs of the scheme,” the AICCMDMW said in its memorandum to the HRD minister.

The AICCMDMW’s demands include immediate implementation of the declared increase of Rs 1,000 in honorarium with effect from April 1, 2013; Implementation of the 45^th Indian Labour Conference recommendations – regularistion, minimum wages and pension; Payment of remuneration for all 12 months through ‘zero balance bank account’; And 180 days’ paid maternity wages. The workers also asked the government to stop privatisation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme by handing over to corporate NGOs and to ensure safety of Mid-Day Meal workers and provide medical insurance.

 Mid-Day Meal workers from several states including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telengana, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal participated in the march.

The march was inaugurated by CITU president A K Padmanabhan at Jantar Mantar. He called upon the workers to intensify their struggles to change the policies of the government. CITU general secretary Tapan Sen assured the gathering that CITU would take forward the struggle of Mid-Day Meal workers. Sen called upon the workers to expose the politics behind the policies and mobilise people against it. CPI(M) MPs P Karunakaran and P K Sreemati assured the gathering that the struggle inside parliament by the Left parties will echo the struggle outside parliament by the working class. Student Federation of India (SFI) president V Sivadasn and All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) president Sudha Sundararaman also expressed solidarity to the struggle of the Mid-Day Meal workers. Leaders from different states also addressed the gathering.

The workers marching towards parliament were stopped by police on Parliament Street. The workers warned the government against intensified agitations during the winter session of parliament if their demands were not met at the earliest.

Maharastra: Election Campaign Launched

The Maharashtra State Committee of the Party launched its election campaign with a mass rally at Solapur on August 6, 2014. Attended by nearly 3,000 people, predominantly youth, the enthusiastic participants came from all over Solapur city and also from the adjoining rural areas. Most of them were working class youth and came from varied backgrounds.

 

Addressing the rally, CPI(M) Central Secretariat Member, Nilotpal Basu, observed that policies pursued by the Modi Government were no different from those of the previous Congress-led UPA regime. With the increase in railway passenger fares, freight charges, diesel and petrol, and all other essential commodities, people were realizing that there was little difference between the Narendra Modi and Manmohan Singh regimes.

 

On top of all this was the conscious pursuit of the communal agenda after the assumption to power by the BJP. However, he said the big difference this time was that their communalization drive had the full support of the corporate lobby. He called upon the people to understand all these challenges and to work vigorously to ensure the victory of the CPI(M) in this election.

 

CPI(M) State Secretary Dr Ashok Dhawale said that the Congress regimes in both centre and state did nothing to ensure minimum  living wages and social security to the lakhs of unorganized workers of Solapur and Maharashtra.  Corruption in Maharashtra has also increased by leaps and bounds, as seen in the Adarsh Society scam, the irrigation scam, the co-operative sector scam and so on, in all of which not only Congress-NCP but also Shiv Sena-BJP leaders were involved, he pointed out.

 

Recalling the dastardly murder in Pune of a young It professional Mohsin Shaikh who hailed from Solapur, and the shocking incident of Shiv Sena MPs force-feeding a fasting Muslim employee of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, he called on the rally to fight communalism of all types and to defend secularism and communal harmony.

 

CPI(M) candidate for the Solapur seat, Narsayya Adam, said that both the Congress-NCP combine and the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance had made a mess of Solapur city and district. He said that it is only alternative policies propounded by the Left and secular forces that can save Maharashtra. He called upon the rally to reject the communal forces and the anti-people policies of both the Congress and BJP regimes and to ensure the victory of the Left forces. The rally was presided over by veteran Party leader Allahbaksh Patel

Left parties convention in Punjab

LEFT PARTIES WILL ORGANISE PROTEST DHARNAS AT DISTRICT LEVEL FROM 2ND SEPTEMBER TO 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

Four Left parties of Punjab- the CPI, CPI(M), CPM Punjab and CPI(ML) Liberation organized a big convention in Deshbhagat Yadgaar Hall here today. More than 2000 people participated in the convention. A large number of workers had to remain outside the hall as it was packed to capacity. The Convention demanded immediate withdrawal of the draconian ‘ Punjab prevention of damage to public and private property bill-2014 ‘ passed by the Punjab assembly. Through another resolution the convention decided a phased programme of struggle for settlement of burning genuine demands of the people. It was declared that as a first phase of struggle , district level protest dharnas will be organized from 2-5 September, 2014 all over Punjab. 

Coms. Charan Singh Virdi, Raghunath Singh, Vijay Misra, from CPI(M), Coms Dr Joginder Dyal, Hardev Arsi, Harbhajan Singh from CPI, Coms Harkanwal Singh, Mangat Ram Pasla, from CPM Punjab Coms. Gurmit Singh Bakhtupura and Ruldu Singh from CPI ( ML ) Liberation addressed the convention.

They speakers said that the Modi led NDA government is pursuing the anti people and pro MNCs and foreign finance capital neo- liberal policies initiated by the UPA government more enthusiastically. They also cautioned the workers that it is for the first time that a pro Hindutava idealogy party has secured absolute majority in Lok Sabha and they have already started implementng divisive and sectarian agenda of the RSS. The speakers said that the Akali-BJP coalition government in Punjab is a partner of the Central government and is pursuing the same policies. They condemned the anti people policies of the Punjab government which have resulted in sharp price rise and unemployment. Mafia aided and abetted by the government is controlling transport, cable TV, sand and gravel in Punjab. The leaders of ruling coalition are grabbing public land from village level to city level. They said that drug mafia has shelter and patronage of politicians , police and civil administration. 

The convention demanded Rs 3000 as minimum old age and widow pension, Rs 15000 minimum wage for unskilled workers, implementation of Swaminathan recommendations, unemployment allowance removal of toll plazas, cheap education and health services within the reach of common people etc etc. The convention expressed serious concern over rising atrocities against women and dalits in the state. 

The convention was presided over by Comrades Ranbir virk, Jagrup Singh, Kulwant Singh Sandhu and Sukhdev Singh Bhagokawan.

Left Front Announces Human Chain Programme on 15th August in West Bengal

'Already convicted for criminalizing and intimidating public statement the Trinamool MP Tapas Pal is neither a state minister nor a Government official; but why then the State Government spending public money is advocating for such a person in High Court?', asked the Left Front Chairman Biman Basu. The Trinamool Government has however already spent more than 11crores of Rupees last year just giving fees to advocates. Lion's share of this money has been spent for cases like deferring Panchayat Election and to anyhow prevent CBI enquiry on Saradha Scam.

While addressing the press after Left Front meeting at Mujaffar Ahmed Bhavan Thursday, Biman Basu said that the Trinamool Government is running for their own interest hooting out public interest of the state. The Government has merged into the Trinamool Congress Party. The Government is advocating for such a person who has publicly threatened to CPI(M) workers, supporters to kill them brutally by cutting throat; to rape innocent women by their partymen. On the other hand they are arresting those innocent people who are trying to raise voice against such anarchy.

Human Chain Programme on 15th August

Left Front will observe National Integration-Unity-Communal Harmony Day on 15th August throughout the state. Left Front has decided to organize Human Chain in every locality of each district. While talking on this issue Biman Basu said that 'news of communal crisis and communal violence are meanwhile coming from different parts of the country. The country hovers toward communal crisis. Violence and killing are spreading steadfast in the country. The Army Patrol is continuing in different parts of the country but the problem remains persistent. Left Front for that reason has decided to organize Human Chain programme to observe communal harmony day'.

The Human Chain programme will be commencing between 11 to 11-30am and continue 10 minutes duration. Biman Basu has appealed to all progressive people to participate in the Human Chain programme.

COM. HARKISHAN SURJEET remembered

Punjabi Daily Desh Sewak organised a function to observe 6th Death Anniversary of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Former General Secretary of CPI(M), a Freedom Fighter and internationally renowned communist leader. The function was held in Bhakna Bhawan 

A large number of people participated in the function. Comrade Joginder Sharma , Central Secretariat Member, CPI(M) was the Chief speaker . Com. Vijay Misra, CEO, Desh Sewak welcomed the leaders and participants to the function. He said that Com. Surjeet was a far sighted leader and he knew that in the near future electronic and print media would be under the control of Corporate sector and that is why he started Daily Desh Sewak to highlight the problems of society and common people. Com. Joginder Sharma , Central Secretariat Member, CPI(M) said that to pursue and expand the idealogy of Com. Surjeet would be the best tribute to him. Com. Sharma recollected his long association with Com. Surjeet and told that he took his primary membership from him in the year 1970 and he was with him till he breathed his last in the hospital. Com. Sharma further said that Comrade surjeet was deadly against the RSS and BJP and he used to say they are extremist sections who divide the society . He narrated many instances of Comrade Surjeet’s life starting from Hoshiarpur where he he unfurled the Tri-colour on the Collector’s office by removing the Union Jack at a tender age of 16. He told that he was able take quick decisions in the most complex situations. Com. Sharma said that Comrade surjeet had influence in almost all the political parties of India. 

Comrades Charan Singh virdi, Secretary, Punjab State Committee , CPI(M), Bant Brar, Secretary, Punjab State Council of CPI, Dr Joginder Dyal, National Executive Member, CPI, Inderjit Singh, Secretary, Haryana State Committee, CPI(M), Tikender Singh, Deputy Mayor , Municipal Corporation, Shimla, Raghunath Singh, State Sectt. Member, CPI(M), Lehmber Singh Tagger, Ex General Secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha, , Justice Ajit Singh and S Balwant Singh Ramoowalia , Senior vice President, SAD ( Badal ) also addressed the function.

Thousands of Israelis protest the Gaza war in Tel-Aviv

Some 7,000 Israelis on Saturday evening protested the war in Gaza under the banner: “No more deaths – Israeli-Palestinian peace, now.” The protest took place in Rabin Square in central Tel Aviv. Slogans chanted by the protesters included “Stop the war,” “Bring the soldiers back home” and “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies.”

Speakers included Hadash MK Dov Khenin; an Israeli and Palestinian veteran from the organization Combatants for Peace, Yifat Solel, the head of the Meretz party’s anti-occupation forum; Professor Eva, President of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design; author Odeh Bisharat, former Hadash secretary and Dr. Julia Chaitlin, a lecturer at Sapir Academic College in Sderot and resident of kibbutz Urim, near Gaza. A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel, and union organizer, Alon-Lee Green was the presenter. Channel 2 noted that left-wing Zionist party Meretz as well as the Peace Now organization had opted not to take part in the rally.

Ben Kfir of the Parents’ Circle, whose daughter was killed in a Hamas suicide bombing in 2003, also spoke, refuting the government’s claim that there is no partner for peace among the Palestinians. The speakers criticized the government for its attitude toward peace negotiations, and for resorting to war as a default policy. Demonstrators called for an end to the occupation and the siege on Gaza, and lit candles to commemorate the victims.

Roughly 300 extreme right-wing counter-protesters were on the scene trying to sabotage the main demonstration. A large police presence circled the square in order to keep the sides separate. Eight were arrested.

The invitation to the peace protest read: “On Saturday, the peace camp takes a stand at Rabin Square. The war is taking a heavy toll in lives and injuries on both sides, in destruction and horror, in bombings and rockets. We answer this by taking a stand and making a demand: end the war now!”

“We must end the war and start talking with the recognized Palestinian leadership of the West Bank and Gaza to end the occupation and the siege and to achieve independence and justice for both peoples – in Israel and Palestine.”

“Instead be being drawn, again and again, into more wars and more military actions, it is now time to lead the way to dialogue and a political settlement. There is a political solution. What price must we pay – the people of the South and the other residents of Israel, and the people of Gaza and the West Bank – until we reach that solution? Together, Jews and Arabs, we will overcome occupation and war, hatred, incitement and racism – and offer a path to life and hope.”

Memorandum submitted by the four Left Parties to the Honourable Punjab Governor.

A Delegation of four Left Parties, the CPI, CPI(M) , CPM Punjab and CPI( ML) Liberation met Honourable Punjab Governor and submitted him a Memorandum requesting him to not to give his assent to the Black Bill ' THE PUNJAB PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES BILL-2014' got passed in the Punjab Assembly by the Akali- BJP coalition government. This bill bans all types protests, march, demonstration and strikes etc without prior permission against the government for genuine and justified demands of the people.
This bill was earlier also passed in the year 2010 but was withdrawn in 2011 under pressure of strong protests from the public.

A copy of the Memorandum submitted by the four Left Parties to the Honourable Punjab Governor.


To
His Excellency, Shri Shiv Raj Patil,
Governor of Punjab,
Chandigarh.

Subject : Request for not giving assent to ‘The Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public And Private Property Bill – 2014 ‘ adopted by Punjab vidhan Sabha.

Honourable Sir,
With due regards the four Left parties: Punjab State units of CPI, CPI(M), CPM Punjab and CPI (M-L) Liberation wish to submit to your kind honour as below on the above cited subject for your kind consideration and favourable action.
* That the Punjab Assembly has adopted a Bill ‘The Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill- 2014.’ The bill has been submitted to your office for your assent.
* That provisions of this bill are an attack on the fundamental democratic political rights and liberties of the people provided under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. It curbs their voice of organized protest against the anti people policies of the government and other legitimate and genuine grievances, articulated by their organisations.
* That it may be recalled that this draconian bill was got passed by the Akali- BJP Government in the Assembly on October 12, 2010 also. But following strong public protests, it was withdrawn in the Assembly on October 9, 2011 while it was still at the stage of ratification by the Honourable President.

CPIM P.B. Communiqué

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on July 19 & 20, 2014. It has issued the following statement:

 

Attack on Gaza

 

The Polit Bureau strongly condemned the Israeli military attack on Gaza. The aerial bombardment followed by the ground invasion of Gaza for the past nearly two weeks has led to the death of 386 Palestinians. The brutal and indiscriminate violence has killed more than 60 children. Israel has been subjecting the occupied territories and the people of Palestine to continuous violence and this is the third attack on Gaza in the last six years. The United States of America has supported the military action taken by Israel.

 

The Polit Bureau strongly criticized the BJP government for refusing to condemn the Israeli aggression. Earlier the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a statement equating both sides as responsible for the violence. The government’s attempt to avoid a discussion in the Rajya Sabha is most objectionable.

 

The Polit Bureau demanded an immediate halt to the Israeli attack and the withdrawal of all its forces from the territory of Gaza.

 

Modi Government’s Economic Policies

 

During the nearly two months of the Narendra Modi government, it has become clear that the government will adopt policies for the benefit of big business and international finance capital. The direction of the Union Budget for 2014-15 is to provide concessions to the corporates and the upper classes at the expense of the poorer sections. It is a trajectory for significant privatization of the economy through large-scale sale of public sector shares and greater reliance on public-private partnership. The fiscal deficit will be reined in only by expenditure cuts and squeezing the people further.

 

The railway budget has proposed FDI in the railway sector and reliance on the PPP model for its future development. Prior to the budget passenger fares were hiked by 14.2 per cent and freight charges by 6.5 per cent. Periodic passenger and freight charges will be determined by the fuel price index as decided earlier by the UPA government.

 

The CPI(M) is opposed to the increase of FDI in defence production to 49 per cent. Foreign arms companies getting a controlling stake in the defence production enterprises will be detrimental to national sovereignty. Entry of US arms companies into this sector will only lead to further dependence on the United States for India’s strategic interests. The CPI(M) is strongly opposed to the proposals for further disinvestment of shares in nationalised banks and the proposed massive disinvestment in the shares of public sector enterprises. All these steps are being taken to appease Indian big business and international finance capital.

 

Price Rise and Inflation

 

The Modi government’s failure to curb price rise has been exposed within a short time. The government is pursuing the same policy of deregulation of petroleum prices. Petrol prices were increased by Rs. 1.69 per litre and diesel had been raised by Rs. 0.50 in May and June. Railway freight fares have been hiked steeply. All this has contributed to the price rise of essential commodities and there is no let up in the food inflation.

 

Dilution of Labour Laws

 

The government has announced its intention to bring in labour law reforms. Already the BJP government in Rajasthan has proposed amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour Act and Factories Act. The changes proposed do away with existing safeguards for workers in the case of retrenchment, rights of contract workers and so on.

 

The CPI(M) is totally opposed to any dilution or doing away with the rights and safeguards provided to workers which are in the existing labour laws. Many of the provisions in these laws are not being implemented. The CPI(M) will mobilize the working class to oppose all such changes which are detrimental to the rights of workers.

 

Appointment of Governors

 

The Polit Bureau cricitised the manner in which Governors are being changed and new ones appointed. The BJP is misusing the office of Governors for its narrow partisan ends just as the Congress has been doing in the past.

 

It is wrong on the part of the Central government to appoint a Governor in a state without consulting the Chief Minister. The Polit Bureau reiterated that the Central Government should adhere to the principle that a Governor should be appointed after consultation with the Chief Minister of the state concerned.

 

Tripura Panchayat Elections

 

The Polit Bureau congratulated the CPI(M) and the Left Front in Tripura for the sweeping victory in the three tier panchayat election. The Left Front has gained a majority in more than 95 per cent of the gram panchayats; 97.6 per cent of the panchayat samitis and 99 per cent of the zilla parishad seats. The Polit Bureau greeted the people of Tripura who have reposed their faith in the CPI(M) and the Left Front in such a spectacular fashion.

 

 

Party Conferences

 

The Polit Bureau discussed the time table of holding the Party conferences in the run-up to the Party Congress. These will be placed before the next Central Committee meeting for finalization