Monday, August 24, 2015

Central Committee Communique

Press Communiqué



The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New
Delhi from August 21 to 23, 2015. It has issued the following statement:



The Central Committee expressed serious concern at the rapidly deteriorating
conditions of the people's livelihood that are a direct result of the more
aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies by the BJP-led Modi
government.



Relentless Attacks on the People



The prices of essential commodities continue to rise relentlessly, with the
prices of onions soaring to Rs. 90 per kg. The public distribution system is
in the doldrums, denying people even meagre relief.



There is no tangible turnaround in the manufacturing and industrial sector.
Consequently, the levels of unemployment continue to rise inexorably.



Agrarian distress continues to deepen, with peasant suicides due to
indebtedness showing a constant rise. The MSP announced for many crops is
even below their actual cost of production and the Modi regime's
pre-election promise of giving 50 per cent more than the cost of production
has been thrown to the winds. The MGNREGA is being starved, leading to a
sharp rise in rural unemployment.



Intensify Local Struggles



In this background, the Central Committee decided to intensify local popular
protests all across the country to highlight the people's plight and to
demand immediate government intervention to reverse the growing burdens on
the people.



From August 1 to 14, the CPI(M) led an impressive nationwide campaign
highlighting deepening agrarian distress and against the anti-people,
pro-corporate, corrupt and communal policies of the Modi regime, in which
lakhs of people participated throughout the country. The highlights of this
campaign were the historic human chains in Kerala and Tripura, the massive
mobilisation in West Bengal and in many other states.



Support to September 2 All India Strike



The Central Committee extended its full and active support to the September
2 all India strike call given by the central trade unions. All the Left
parties have already declared their support to this nationwide action.



Refusal to Act on Corruption



The entire monsoon session of parliament was a washout thanks to the
obduracy of the Modi regime and its refusal to recognize and take action
against corruption in high places. Within a year of its existence, the
emergence of such grave charges of corruption exposes the sham of the BJP's
election slogan of fighting corruption.



Instigating Communal Polarisation



During this period, various incidents of communal riots and tension continue
to be reported. The real agenda of this government -- to sharpen communal
polarisation for its electoral and political advantage, continues to unfold.
There are growing reports that in the run up to the state assembly elections
in Bihar, particularly, such tensions are intensifying.



While mounting the attack against the minorities, particularly the Muslims,
and seeking to blame the entire community for terrorist attacks, the BJP
government is markedly softening its stand on investigated cases of Hindutva
terror. All terrorist activity, irrespective of who perpetrates it, must be
severely dealt with to uphold the unity and integrity of our country. The
government's approach to fight terrorism is coloured with its blinkered
communal ideology.



Indo-Pak Dialogue



The calling-off of the NSA level talks between India and Pakistan at the
last minute is unfortunate. Earlier the foreign secretary level talks were
also called off. Whipping up jingoism will only strengthen fundamentalist
forces on both sides of the border, which will be harmful to the interests
of the peoples of both countries and will have serious implications in Jammu
& Kashmir.



The Central Committee reiterates that it is only through the process of a
composite dialogue encompassing all issues and disputes between the two
countries, that the current growing tensions can be deescalated.



Bihar Elections



The Central Committee approved the decision taken by the Left parties to
unitedly contest the elections to the Bihar assembly under the banner of the
united independent Left bloc comprising the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation,
RSP, AIFB, SUCI and other Bihar-level Left parties.



The Party will go to the electorate with the slogan of defeating the
communal BJP; opposing the casteist forces and strengthening Left
representation in the assembly. A joint convention of Left parties will be
held on September 7 at Patna to announce the programme of the Left parties.



Deteriorating Centre-State Relations



Centre-State relations continued to deteriorate during this period. The
Chief Minister of Delhi has announced to invite non-BJP Chief Ministers from
across the country for a meeting on the issue of undermining federalism.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar, will
attend this meeting and will place the considered opinion of the Party, on
which it has been campaigning for many decades.



Special Session of Parliament



The Central Committee reiterated the demand of the 21st Party Congress to
convene a special session of parliament to discuss the plight of dalits in
our country. This session will be a meaningful observation of the 125th
birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.



Organisational Plenum



The Central Committee decided to hold the plenum on organisation, as
mandated by the CPI(M)'s 21st Congress, from December 27 to 30, 2015 at
Kolkata. In preparation for the Plenum, the Central Committee will meet
again from November 2 to 5, 2015, after which extended meetings of the state
committees will be held to discuss the Central Committee's document for the
Plenum.


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