People's Democracy

AFTER the formation of the Jharkhand state, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) held its first state conference at Bhurkunda in Hazaribagh district, from January 19 to 21. The conference chalked out a four-point agenda of action for the party in the state. The agenda was unanimously approved by 218 delegates who debated each of the issues in special sessions. These were --- tribal issues; issues of land reforms, peasants and agricultural workers; in defence of public sector units and building up a united working class movement; and uniting the youth and students on the question of jobs and education.

The resolution on tribals demanded immediate restoration of the tribal lands, protection to the identity of tribals, their languages and cultures, and education in tribal languages immediately in primary schools. It demanded that tribals be given priority in jobs, developmental activities and in provision of relief in the scheduled areas in the state.

In another resolution, the conference noted that 60 per cent of the 2.69 crore people of the state, including workers, peasants, traders and others, are dependent on the economic activities of the large number of central public sector units (PSUs) situated in the state, including mines and factories. One third of the revenue collection of the state comes from these PSUs. The entire economy of the state depends mainly on the working of these PSUs. The central government’s policy to dismantle the PSUs has led to disastrous consequences for the people and the state economy. Defence of public sector units in the state has thus become an urgent political issue in the state. The trade union movement has to join its activities with other democratic sectors accordingly, the resolution pointed out. Uniting the working class and raising its political and ideological level has become the urgent task before the party and its functionaries in the working class movement.

Apart from the question of restoration of tribal land, there is burning issue of unfulfilled land reform measures. The peasants in the state are facing acute problems. There is hardly any job opportunities for the agricultural workers. Labour migration from rural Jharkhand has been increasing.

The issue of an estimated 15 lakh persons, displaced due to mining and developmental activities, has led to alienation of the people in general from industrial and developmental activities in the state. There is little participation of the people in such developmental activities and their rehabilitation and job opportunities remain unfulfilled.

The conference decided to organise state-level and district-level conventions on these issues and to follow them up with block-level, district-level and state-level demonstrations.

The BJP-led government and the ruling parties have been attempting to divide the students and youth on caste lines. They are diverting their attention from the main issue of job opportunities which is rapidly shrinking in the state due to dismantling of the public sector, closures of industries and due to central and state governments’ policies. Uniting the youth and students on the issues of education and jobs and their further unity with other democratic sections have become urgent tasks.

The conference adopted a resolution demanding immediate resignation of the Babulal Marandi government for its anti-people and repressive policies and for its failure on all fronts. The CPI(M) demanded that the government immediately dissolve the assembly and seek a fresh mandate from the people. The party also demanded immediate panchayat polls and more powers for the panchayat and other local bodies. On these issues, the conference resolved to intensify the mass contact campaign through padyatras and village meetings in the period till March 31.

After adopting the report and resolutions, the conference unanimously elected a 30-member state committee and a 3-member state control commission with Mohd Iqbal as chairman. The state committee elected J S Majumdar as secretary and also a 9-member secretariat with one permanent invitee.

Earlier, on January 19, the conference began with the hoisting of the party’s flag by Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury. After paying floral tributes at the martyrs column, an impressive and colourful procession began from local Thana Maidan in which a large number of party members and supporters joined. They had come from adjoining districts like Bokaro, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Latehar and Garhwa. The public meeting at Mayur Stadium, held on this occasion, was addressed by Yechury as the main speaker. Others to address the meeting included Central Committee member Subodh Roy, state secretary J S Majumdar, CITU’s all-India secretary S K Bakshi, CPI state secretary Bhubneswar P D Mehta, reception committee chairman A P Singh and its general secretary R P S Chandel.

On the occasion of the conference, Bhurkunda, a small township mainly of coal workers, nearby towns Patratu and Ramgarh and the entire area were decorated with 30 arches, banners, festoons, flags and wall writings, etc. A large number of volunteers worked day and night under the leadership of Trilochan Singh and other DYFI activists. The workers and the people of the entire area extended their full support.

The conference was inaugurated by Sukomal Sen, Central Committee member. Bhubneswar Prasad (CPI) also greeted the delegates and expressed confidence about building a united Left movement in the state to prepare the ground for an alternative to replace the NDA government.

The conference especially honoured one of the senior most party comrades, Sukra Munda who has been fighting against the landlords at Daladilly for the last 45 years and snatched for the tribals large areas of land from his illegal possession. Munda’s son and two other family members were martyred last year in this land struggle, on the eve of the formation of Jharkhand. Now the third generation in his family has started working as party wholetimers and is carrying forward the land movement. Sitaram Yechury honoured Sukra Munda with a shawl. The reception committee also honoured him separately. The conference also honoured another veteran communist of the area, Budhanlal Munda, who has devoted most of his life to the party’s struggles and is a wholetimer.

This was the first conference of the party in the new state, and has created new enthusiasm and determination in the entire party here.