People's Democracy

Comrade delegates, observers and representatives of Communist Parties from abroad please accept my very best wishes.

This Congress is being held three and a half years since the 16^th Congress of our Party. At this Congress we will discuss the changes that have come about in the international and national developments during the intervening period. On this basis we will work out our tactics for the future period. The Congress will discuss a whole range of issues concerning the working class, the peasantry, middle class and the other toiling sections of our country.

We are meeting at Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh. I recollect the glorious days of the Communist movement and my long association with Comrades P. Sundarayya, M. Basavapunniah, M. Hanumantha Rao and all others. All that I can say is that we miss them very much.

The events since the last Congress have vindicated the correctness of the analysis and understanding that we made at the Kolkata Congress. The dangers that we had pointed out then -- imposition of the policies of liberalization and privatization and acceptance of IMF-World Bank prescriptions and their ruinous effect on the masses and the rise of communalism which endangers national unity – have sharpened imposing greater miseries on the people on the one hand and undermining the secular democratic foundations of the Indian republic on the other.

The right reactionary policies pursued by the BJP-led government at the Centre is also reflected in its foreign policy. India, which was once at the head of the Non-Aligned Movement, is today, craving to become US imperialism’s ally. It is extending support to the US’s efforts to impose its hegemony over the world

The recent heightening of tension on the Ayodhya issue and the killings indulged in Gujarat in the name of religion are a pointer to the path on which the rightist forces intend to take the country. The massive killings indulged in Gujarat has even forced some of its other allies in the NDA to demarcate in order to keep their mass base intact. But they do not yet realize how India’s unity is being jeopardized.

In the recent state assembly elections, the people have voted against the BJP. Earlier, within three years, BJP lost in 14 out of 18 assembly elections. In Uttar Pradesh, a constituent of the People’s Front, the Samajwadi Party, supported by constituents of the People’s Front, has emerged as the single largest party, leaving the BJP far behind. The Congress party was also unable to secure more than 25 seats. While it was incumbent to have invited the single largest party to form the government, as per earlier precedents both at the Centre and in some states and also as per the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Bommai case, the BJP government prevented such a possibility and resorted to the use of Article 356 to impose President’s rule, with the help of the Governor, a member of the BJP.

Had the Samajwadi Party government been in office in Lucknow, the low level drama at Ayodhya could have been prevented. Thanks to the Supreme Court, a grave tragedy was availed. Strangely, the Congress with all its promises to fight against communalism, refused to extend support to the Samajwadi Party in its efforts to form the government.

The election results only indicate that the people are impatient for a change. They now need guidance and leadership.

The 17^th Congress, while taking this urge of the people into consideration will formulate slogans that will inspire the masses to fight against this reactionary government led by the BJP by initiating mass struggles. The CPI(M), while working for our ultimate objective of People’s Democracy, will make all efforts to forge the third alternative of Left, democratic and secular forces in the immediate context. We, the People’s Front, will contribute our best to this endeavour.

Thank you.