CC Communique

Date: 
Monday, October 8, 2018

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from October 6 to 8, 2018. It has issued the following statement:

Tripura

The Central Committee condemned the fascistic attacks against the CPI(M) which are continuing in Tripura since the assumption of office by the BJP-IPFT government. 96 per cent of the local body bye-elections were won uncontested by the BJP as the opposition candidates were violently prevented from filing their nominations. This is the real face of the RSS/BJP.

The cancellation of the registration of the CPI(M) associated newspaper and the second largest circulated daily, Deshar Katha, is an authoritarian attack on the freedom of the press. While condemning this, the Central Committee noted the widespread opposition growing on this issue and demands that the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting under the Modi government must immediately rescind this order.

Kerala

Flood Relief: The Central Committee placed on record its high sense of appreciation of the manner in which the LDF government, the Party and the people of Kerala rose as one to tackle the damage caused by the recent devastating floods. The Kerala LDF government is not merely seeking to rehabilitate the victims but to rebuild a New Kerala. The Central Committee appreciated the fact that people across the country and abroad have, cutting across all political lines, enthusiastically donated to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

Sabarimala Verdict: The Central Committee welcomed the judgment of the Supreme Court on entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple. This verdict upholds equal rights for women.

The BJP and the RSS are opposing this judgment and are conducting an agitation in Kerala against it. The all India Congress leadership had welcomed the Supreme Court judgment as a progressive step. But surprisingly, the Kerala unit of Congress is opposing the implementation of the verdict and is protesting along with the BJP. By such a stance the Congress is only helping the RSS-BJP combine’s campaign against secular-democratic values and the right to equality enshrined in the Constitution.

Attacks on Non-Gujaratis

The Central Committee condemned the violence unleashed in the state of Gujarat against people hailing from Northern states, particularly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who are working there. It condemned the rape of a child allegedly by a migrant worker. This violence has led to an exodus of thousands of workers and their families fearing for their lives. The BJP state government in Gujarat, instead of containing this violence, is allowing these tensions to foment.

The Thakore Sena in the state, is rousing passions which is adding to the insecurity of the non-Gujaratis. This is reprehensible.

Assam: NRC

The Central Committee reiterated that no Indian must be left out of the National Register of Citizens. Under the orders of the Supreme Court the appeals being made by over forty lakh people who have been left out of the NRC are to be decided upon. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court approved the withdrawal of five documents which were the supporting basis for proving citizenship. These must be restored as the withdrawal will adversely affect a large number of people.

Rafale Scam

Despite all efforts being made by the Modi government to try and divert attention away from the mega Rafale scam, all later developments have only confirmed that this deal was done only to benefit the PM’s crony capitalist friend. In the process, our country’s security has been undermined. This is also paving the way for large-scale privatization of defence production. This is not in the interests of India’s security priorities.

Having institutionalized political corruption through the changes made by this government of electoral bonds, such crony capitalism is becoming the conduit for funds for the ruling party with no questions being asked and no one being accountable.

Jammu & Kashmir

The CPI(M) through its MLA in Jammu & Kashmir, Mohd. Yusuf Tarigami, has impleaded in the appeal against the repeal of Section 35A of the Constitution which is the backbone of Article 370 and the promised autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir.

Despite the boycott announced by major parties like the National Conference, PDP and the CPI(M), the Jammu & Kashmir Governor is going ahead with the elections to the local bodies. The first phase is taking place today. In the run-up to the elections, violence has already claimed the lives of two workers of the National Conference.

The Modi government is attempting to use these disturbances that it is fomenting in Jammu & Kashmir to aid its campaign of communal polarization all across the country.

Electoral Tactics

2019 Lok Sabha Elections: The Central Committee discussed the context in which the 2019 General Elections are going to be held. It noted that the four-pronged attack mounted by this Modi government is viciously intensifying the attacks on people’s livelihood through price rise, particularly petroleum products, growing unemployment, deepening agrarian distress. This has drastically affected the living conditions of the vast majority of the people.

The sharpening of communal polarization is spreading the atmosphere of hatred, violence and terror in which many innocent lives have been lost, particularly Dalits and Muslims. The authoritarian attacks continue to escalate against people’s democratic rights and through the undermining of parliamentary institutions and constitutional authorities.

Reducing India to the status of a junior strategic ally of the USA is undermining both our country’s sovereignty and India’s standing as a country championing the rights of the developing countries with an independent foreign policy.

In this background the Central Committee reiterated the understanding arrived at in the CPI(M)’s 22nd Congress that the main task before the CPI(M) and the Left and democratic forces in the forthcoming 17th Lok Sabha elections and in the assembly elections, is to defeat the BJP and its allies. Accordingly, the Central Committee has decided that the main task is to accomplish the following:

a) To defeat the BJP alliance
b) To increase the strength of the CPI(M) and the Left in the Lok Sabha; and
c) To ensure that an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre.

Assembly Elections: In the assembly elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the CPI(M) will contest some seats aiming to strengthen its assembly representation and will campaign for the defeat of the BJP in the rest of the seats.

In Telangana, the CPI(M) will work for the defeat of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the BJP. In order to achieve this the Bahujan Left Front (BLF) of which the CPI(M) is an important part will contest in many constituencies. Consultations are currently on with the constituents of the BLF. The CPI(M) on its election symbol has announced the first list of 12 candidates and shortly would be announcing another list.

CC Calls

Noting the significant mobilsation by the workers, peasants and agricultural workers as reflected in the August 9 jail bharo and in the September 5 march to parliament action, the Central Committee decided to extend its support to the November 28 to 30 kisan long march; the November 3 call of the youth to march to Delhi demanding from the Modi government “where is my job”; the calls of the jan ekta jan adhikar aandolan on pressing people’s issues; and the all India strike call given by the central trade unions on January 8 & 9, 2019.

As part of the campaign to expose the corruption and crony capitalism of the Modi government, the CPI(M) along with the Left parties will conduct a nationwide campaign. This campaign will highlight the Rafale scam and the corporate loan defaults and how such scamsters are being patronized by the Modi government.

Along with the Left parties, the CPI(M) shall observe the second anniversary of the demonetization in November through protest actions all over the country.

The CPI(M) will strengthen further the campaigns against communalism along with the Left, democratic and secular forces.