People's Democracy

CPI(M) Delegate At CPN(UML) Rally

 Below we reproduce the text of the speech Benoy Konar gave at the open rally held at Janakpur on February 1, in connection with the 7th national congress on the CP Nepal (UML). Konar attended the CPI(UML) congress as a fraternal delegate, on behalf of the CPI(M).

RESPECTED Comrade President, Comrade General Secretary and leaders of the party, respected foreign delegates and scores of thousands of fighting mothers, sisters and brothers coming from far flung areas of Nepal, please accept our fraternal greetings, love and best wishes on behalf of myself, my colleagues, the fighting people of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Nepal is a beautiful country in the Himalayas, but is unfortunately one of the poorest in the world. That Nepal is poor is not due to the curse of the so-called God but due to the curse of an outdated feudal system. Nepalese people are known as industrious, simple minded and trustworthy. Because of this, the Britishers once used them to protect their empire. Still now thousands of energetic Nepalese youth are forced by circumstances to go abroad and engage themselves as security guards for protecting the wealth and lives of others at the exchange of a little money, while their own lives remain unsecured forever.

My country, though a bit better than Nepal, is also a poor country. India, though more industrialised than Nepal, still remains a semi-feudal country. Excepting three states where the Left forces ruled or are ruling, nowhere land reforms of any kind have been effected, though capitalist production relations are getting superimposed upon feudal land ownership.

Now we are living in a strange world. Deprivation and surplus production shamelessly coexist. The capitalist world is facing a serious crisis of overproduction. Science and technology have advanced to an unprecedented height, effecting a revolutionary upsurge in the productive capacity of mankind. But science and technology, though cumulative products of mankind, are now a property of capital that utilises them not for uplifting the living standard of people but for making profits for a few. And this thing is increasing disparities and deprivation leading to a crisis and a severe war for markets. The stronger capitalist countries, in the service of multinationals, are forcing upon the weaker countries WTO-dictated policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation to get rid of their crisis. Agriculture, industry and service sector, all are in danger in the developing countries. Both India and Nepal are victims of that policy.

Not only in economic sphere; US imperialism and some of its allies are now also out to impose their militaristic hegemony all over the world. They dictate what type of government the people of a country should have. In disregard of world public opinion, they are out to attack Iraq. It is time for the Left, progressive and patriotic forces all over the world to unite and act.

In order to disrupt the unity and fighting ability of the exploited people, communalist, fundamentalist, terrorist and disruptive forces are very much active in many countries. In India, the communal fascistic forces are posing a very serious danger. We, in India, are trying our level best to unite all possible forces against these dangers.

The Nepalese people had earlier launched a vigorous struggle for democracy and were successful in confining the monarchy within the limits of a democratic constitution. But now the monarchy is violating the constitution and trying to become absolute. The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) stands as the vanguard of the forces fighting for democracy and against feudalism, imperialism and other reactionary forces and for advancing Nepal towards prosperity.

May the 7th congress of your party achieve a grand success in further uniting the people and strengthening your fighting ability!

Long live the unity of CPN(UML) and CPI(M)!

Long live the unity of the toiling and progressive forces of Nepal and India!

 Long live the world forces against imperialism!

 Long live the Communist Party of Nepal (UML)!