Expedite CMP Implementation

Polit Bureau Demands UPA Govt

The CPI(M) has called upon the UPA government to recognise the reality of the rural distress in the country and take urgent steps – as promised in the Common Minimum Programme – to mitigate the problems of the poor.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi after the two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau concluded on December 18, Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the recent struggle waged by the peasantry in Rajasthan underscored this reality.

The PB communiqué released to the press, detailed the Party’s dissatisfaction at the dilution of Employment Guarantee bill, proposed to be introduced in the parliament shortly. As per reports, the dilution was by way of limiting the coverage, both in terms of geographical coverage and by income groupings. The CPI(M) called upon the government to rectify these defects through parliamentary discussions and come up with an effective bill.

Asked what are the areas the Left wanted the government to deal with on a priority, Yechury listed employment guarantee, expansion of food-for-work, mid-day meal schemes, rural credit and rural infrastructure etc.

On the right to strike, he announced that the Party would take up with the government the imperative of safeguarding this inalienable right of the working class through legislation.

On EPF interest rate, he said the Party wanted the government to make an announcement early in this regard and reiterated the Party’s demand that the interest rate should not be less than 9.5 per cent.

On the coming assembly elections, Yechury said that the main objective of isolating and defeating the communal forces remains but the actual mode of alliances and tie-ups would be sorted out after first discussing with other Left parties. Asked which was more important for the CPI(M), development or communalism, particularly in the context of Bihar election scene, Yechury asserted that both are important. But as on today there is no other alternative secular force to Laloo in Bihar which is in a position to offer better development, he pointed out.

Regarding the third front, Yechury said the Party was had always advocated for an alternative to the Congress and the BJP in the long term and that it will work towards this end. However at the present juncture it was not on the agenda.

Asked to comment on reports that the prime minister has expressed his desire to step down in view of pressure from the Left parties, Yechury dismissed the reports as unfounded and said that the PM did not convey that impression to him when they met during a dinner two days ago.

Following is the text of statement issued by the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which met on December 17 and 18, 2004 at New Delhi:

PROTECT RIGHT TO STRIKE

The Polit Bureau expressed serious concern about various pronouncements by the higher judiciary seeking to suppress the right to strike and other forms of protest. Last year a bench of the Supreme Court had decreed that government employees have no constitutional, legal or moral right to strike. Subsequently, various high courts have given judgements on the matter, the latest being the Kolkata High Court. The import of these verdicts is to deny the right to strike which is the basic right of the working class and the citizens of the country.

Neither the working class nor the trade union movement can agree to the abrogation of this right. The Polit Bureau decided to approach the UPA government to see that suitable legislative provision is made to protect the right to strike.

EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT

The bill to enact a rural employment guarantee Act is to be introduced in parliament. This is to fulfill a commitment made in the Common Minimum Programme. However, it is unfortunate that the present bill represents a dilution of the provision made in the CMP. Instead of providing for a hundred days minimum work for one adult in every rural household, the bill seeks to target “poor households” whereby only those who are below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries can avail of the scheme. There is no provision for payment of the statutory minimum wage decreed by the state governments. Nor is there any time period prescribed for extending the coverage of the Act to the whole country. There is no provision for ensuring employment of women in the scheme either through the nature of the work specified or by providing that 40 per cent of the jobs should go to women.

There is also no provision for the centre providing hundred per cent of the funding and the states have to bear a share of the burden.  All these defects need to be removed if the National Employment Guarantee Act has to serve the needs of minimum employment for a vast section of the people in the rural areas.

The Polit Bureau expects the UPA government to rectify these defects in the process of the parliamentary discussions so that a more comprehensive and effective legislation can be adopted.

EPF RATE OF INTEREST

The Polit Bureau reiterated the demand of the Left parties that the cut in the Employees Provident Fund rate of interest to 8.5 per cent be rescinded and the earlier rate of 9.5 per cent restored. When the rate of inflation is above 7 percent, there is no justification whatsoever in eroding the savings of the workers and employees.

RAJASTHAN KISAN STRUGGLE

The Polit Bureau congratulated the farmers and the people of North Western Rajasthan which conducted a protracted struggle for adequate supply of water for their farming. Six persons died during the course of the struggle. Many hundreds were injured in lathicharges and use of tear gas shells. The Rajasthan state government finally conceded the demands made by the movement and has also released the leaders who were arrested under the National Security Act. The movement has succeeded due to the determination of the peasantry and the united platform which carried on the struggle.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

The Polit Bureau discussed the tactics to be adopted in the Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana assembly elections. It was decided that the Party will discuss with other Left and secular parties to arrive at an electoral understanding to fight the elections.

DRAFT POLITICAL RESOLUTION

The Polit Bureau discussed the draft political resolution for the 18th Congress of the Party to be held in April 2005. The Polit Bureau has prepared a draft to be presented to the central committee in January for finalisation. After the central committee finalises the draft political resolution, it will be released for discussion in the Party. (INN)