People's Democracy

         CPI(M) Proposals For CMP

In response to the draft common minimum programme sent by the Congress party for discussion and inputs, the CPI(M) has sent its proposals on May 26 to the Congress. The proposed CMP, which will be the basis of governance for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, is slated for release on May 27. The CPI(M) proposals were finalised after a thorough six and half hour discussion in the Polit Bureau meeting at Kolkata on May 25.

The Left parties – CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc – met on May 26th morning at the CPI(M) headquarters and discussed the issue of CMP. Though the Left parties had sent their proposals and suggestions individually, they found them to be in a similar direction. The parties also decided that if the UPA agrees and incorporates the Left parties proposals, they would then endorse the CMP. If such endorsement is given, the Left intends to suggest that some coordinating mechanism between the UPA and the Left parties be put in place for overseeing the implementation of the CMP as the support of the Left parties to the UPA government would be based on this CMP.

After discussions with the Congress, the Left parties are confident that there would be a CMP which will be endorsed by the Left parties and which will largely help in correcting the disastrous approach of the Vajpayee government on various important issues.

Following is the text of the CPI(M) proposals on the draft CMP sent to the Congress on May 26, 2004

Note From CPI(M) On The Draft CMP

I

The CMP has to be viewed from six broad perspectives:

1.     Reversing the communalisation process: Steps to remove the infiltration and communalisation of the State and its institutions, education, research bodies, cultural institutions etc -- all related to strengthening the secular fabric.

2.     Economic policies that make a break with some of the most harmful policies of the Vajpayee government in areas like agriculture, import policies, public sector, small scale industries, infrastructure, fiscal policies etc. Policy prescriptions must keep the concerns of the farmers, workers, the rural poor while striving for growth.

3.     Basic needs and social issues:  Strengthening the public distribution system to provide food security for the people; employment generation of an urgent and big scale; reservation for women in legislatures; education, health etc need major and new interventions.

4.     Centre-state relations:  It is  vital for the state governments that concrete measures are taken to restructure Centre-state relations.  Relief has to be provided to the states from the fiscal tyranny of the previous government.

5.     Foreign policy:  Break with BJP government policy.  Correction to make it an independent foreign policy detached from the strategic plans of the USA and promoting multipolarity.

6.     Democratic rights :  Reverse steps which curb or infringe on democratic rights of  citizens and right to protest of working people.

II

Viewed from the above perspective, the draft needs further strengthening and modifications. The CPI(M) wishes to point out the following:

1. Strengthening secularism: At the beginning, there has to be a separate section on this subject which should include: Restore and strengthen secular character by weeding out communal influence in the institutions of the State, the educational system, research and cultural bodies.

The sections on Places of Worship Act and Ayodhya can be brought here. There should be a commitment of the central government to be vigilant and to intervene to stop communal propaganda designed to heighten tensions and disturb communal harmony.

2. In the sphere of economic policies: a) Land reforms should find a prominent place, promise to initiate steps from Centre to get states to implement land ceiling laws, plug loopholes and ensure distribution of surplus land to landless and rural poor. b) There should be a clear commitment not to privatize profitable public sector units and those in the core sector, apart from the navaratnas. The reference to public-private partnerships in infrastructure etc. need not be there.

3. Employment:  Till the employment guarantee act is put into place, immediately provision for `food for work' programme must be there. 

4. To strengthen the Public Distribution System, there should be a universal PDS on the lines of the recommendations of the Committee on Long-Term Grain Policy.  Till then, the steps suggested in the draft can be taken.

5. Alongwith the commitment for passage of the women's reservation bill, the legislation on domestic violence should also be taken up.

6. Centre-state relations are of crucial importance.  All the states are facing financial crisis.   Instead of lumping the issue under regional development, there has to be a separate section.  The promise of another type of Sarkaria Commission on Centre-state relations does not address the urgent problems.  Here, the following steps should be considered:

1. Substantial debt relief including debt write-off and debt swap measures;

2. Lowering of the interest rates on loans to states;

3. Increase the share of central taxes to the states to 33 per cent as an immediate step;

7. Fiscal policy :  In the context of major tax reforms, it should be added  that innovative new taxes should be introduced.  There should also be a mention of steps to unearth black money and utilise it for productive  purposes.

8. On panchayati raj, while taking all measures to strengthen the panchayati raj institution, the CPI(M) cannot support any allocation of funds directly to the panchayat bodies bypassing the state governments.  Here, extending the panchayati raj system to  areas covered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution should also find a place.

9. In page 11, in the section on the regional development in the last para, steps to check the erosion in the Ganga-Padma area should be mentioned.

10. Protection of  rights of workers involves no automatic hire and fire.  Reference to flexibility for employers should be deleted. Instead, any changes in labour laws should be made after consultations with the trade unions.

11. Privatisation of public services, including distribution of power, should not be encouraged as this has a deleterious effect on the people.  Provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 should be revised in consultation with the states. 

12. While welcoming foreign direct investment to promote new technology and augmenting productive resources, is to be stated.  "Encouraging FIIS" need not be there. 

13. For adivasis, there has to be an assurance about their right to access to forest and legalisation of their lands traditionally held in forest areas.

14. In democratic rights, alongwith the scrapping of POTA, protecting the right to strike as a legitimate form must be there. 

15. WTO: Instead of stating that all agreements on WTO made earlier should be adhered to. The emphasis should be on renegotiating the terms to correct the imbalances to ensure national interests, Indian agriculture and industry are protected. In this context, the platform of developing countries which  emerged in Cancun will be carried forward. 

16. Foreign policy:  The  foreign policy direction does not conform even to the formulations made in the Congress manifesto.  The singling out of the USA for strategic engagement is not acceptable and contradicts the later part of the  sentence about an independent foreign policy.  This section should assert :

1. India will pursue an independent foreign policy based on its non-aligned traditions;

2. The foreign policy will seek to promote multipolarity and will be against  unilateralist attempts at imposing hegemony and  aggression as it happened in Iraq;

3. In the context of multipolarity, a commitment to forge close ties with Russia, Europe and China apart from the USA.  There has to be a specific mention of forging a close alliance with major developing countries like Brazil and South Africa;

4. There has to be a correction in the policy towards West Asia  and reiteration of India's traditional ties with the Arab countries and support to the Palestinian cause.

Finally, regarding the formation of new  states, the CPI(M)'s basic stand is that linguistic states formed after a long struggle beginning before the independence reflected the democratic aspirations of the people.  Such states should not be divided.   Therefore, the CPI(M) cannot accept any proposal for the  formation of new states by breaking up the existing states formed on the  linguistic principle.