People's Democracy

HELD at the state guest house in Imphal on November 24-25, the two-day Manipur state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was attended by 42 delegates including two women. Starting with the flag hoisting by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and chairman of the West Bengal Left Front, Biman Basu, the conference elected a presidium comprising L Kunjo, M Gulamjat and S Bihari to conduct the conference. Professor Y Mahendra, former director of College Development Council and chairman of the reception committee, delivered the welcome address. Biman Basu then formally inaugurated the conference.

11 delegates took part in the discussion on the draft report placed by M Shamu, state CPI(M) secretary. Nural Huda, Central Committee member of the CPI(M), also addressed the delegates.

The conference resolved to build a strong mass movement against the anti-people, anti-poor economic policies of the NDA government. It called upon the people to prepare for an intensive grass-roots level campaign and struggles against the ongoing onslaughts on people as a part of the policy of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. The conference demanded immediate holding of assembly elections; lifting of the ban on employment; immediate appointment of MPSC-recommended college lecturers; unity, integrity and peace through development; a political solution to the insurgency problem; protection of national highways; withdrawal of draconian laws including POTO; and immediate settlement with the striking state government employees.

The conference elected a 17-member state organising committee with M Shamu as state secretary. Two vacancies will be filled later. The conference also elected two delegates for the 17th party congress to be held in Hyderabad in coming March. (INN)