People's Democracy

18TH STATE CONFERENCE OF THE ASSAM CPI(M)

Biggest Rally In 25 Years Marks The Successful Conclusion

Isfaqur Rahman

THE eighteenth state conference of the CPI(M) Assam state committee concluded with a huge rally on February 3 at the sprawling field of the Mini Stadium, Sorbhog in Barpeta district. Most of the highly circulated local dailies termed the mass-rally as a ‘sea of humanity’. This was undoubtedly the biggest ever rally organised by the CPI(M) in the state since the AASU-sponsored separatist agitation in the 80s during which the CPI(M) was the main target of attack.

The 30,000 strong rally mirrored the unity and struggle of the multi-national, multi-religious, multi-ethnic people of Assam. Wide cross sections of the people -peasants, agricultural labourers, white collar employees, small traders, men and women - came in thousands carrying red flags and festoons. The area reverberated with slogans like 'Long Live CPI(M)', 'Long Live Revolution', 'Long Live Workers-Peasants' Unity'. Enthusiastic villagers from Greater Barnagar (Sorbhog) area took out huge, disciplined and colourful processions from different directions, paraded through the rural roads and finally converged on the rally ground. The biggest procession came from the Kamargaon-Kharija area which covered a distance of more than 10 km. The massive participation of Hindus and Muslims, tribals and non-tribals, Konch Rajbanshis, Bodos, linguistic minorities etc. was a fitting response to those who sow seeds of tension and division.

INAUGURAL SESSION

The three-day state conference of the CPI(M) began on February 1 at 10 am with the hoisting of red-flag at Comrade Nandeswar Talukdar bhawan (Gandhi bhawan) at Sorbhog town, 140 km from Guwahati by veteran state secretariat member of the CPI(M) and trade union leader Amal Ghose Dostidar. It may be mentioned that Comrade Nandeswar Talukdar, was one of the pioneers of the communist movement in Assam and a former CPI(M) state secretary who passed away in June 2003.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau members, Biman Basu and S Ramchandran Pillai and central committee member Mohammed Salim, MP were present as central observers.

The flag-hoisting ceremony was marked by the exuberant presence of large number of local people and members of the reception committee. It was also marked by gaiety and presentation of traditional Kherai dance of Bodo folk-culture with gusto and robust enthusiasm. A three-hundred strong volunteers contingent was present. The flag-hoisting was followed by placing of wreaths of flowers in the martyrs’ column by Biman Basu, S R Pillai, delegates and others.

A five member  presidium comprising Nurul Huda, Mahodar Pathak, Satyabati Bhuyan, Deba Das and Purno Bodo was elected to conduct the conference proceedings.

At the outset condolence resolution was moved expressing grief at the deaths of Tsunami victims and paying homage to the departed leaders, including CPI(M) leaders and members.

Inaugurating the eighteenth state conference, Polit Bureau member Biman Basu explained the national and international situation and thundered against US imperialism for its hegemonistic military intervention and illegal occupation in Iraq and Afganisthan. He also pinpointed the loot and plunder of third world countries in the name of globalisation. Referring to the recent “elections” in Iraq, Basu came down heavily on the US administration and termed the elections as farcical and ridiculous. The global “war against terrorism” was nothing but a but a cover for the hegemonistic designs of US imperialism, which actually fathers and sponsors terrorism across the world.

Dealing with the national situation, Basu said that supporting the UPA government at the centre did not mean supporting the anti-people economic policies of liberalisation being pursued by the Manmohan Singh government. “We are extending support to the UPA government from outside under certain compulsions to keep away  the brazenly communal and fascistic BJP from power. But under no circumstances can we support the misdeeds and misrule of the Congress government in Assam”, asserted Basu.

Exhorting the delegates to build up stronger and independent class and mass struggles in Assam too, Basu explained the necessity to expand the democratic movement in a state where problems of economic backwardness, centre’s discrimination, ethnic distrust and division, appalling unemployment, extremism and terrorism are causing concern.

DRAFT REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

Altogether 267 delegates, including 41 women, attended the conference.

Party state secretary Hemen Das placed the draft political report. The report reviews the past activities since the 17th conference, analyses the present political situation, notes the socio-economic changes in the state and formulates the major tasks in the coming days for the Party. The report extensively deals with the problems of peasants and agriculture, industrial sickness and backwardness, growing unemployment, the growing crises in the field of education, public heath, problems of extremism and terrorism, ethnic conflict etc. and underlines the failures, misdeeds and misrule of the Tarun Gogoi ministry in Assam.

A total of 33 delegates took part in the discussion on the draft political report and it was adopted unanimously with minor additions and amendments.

The draft organisational report was placed by senior state secretariat member Uddhab Barman. The organisational report throws light on the class and social composition of the Party membership and their political-ideological level. A total of 10,901 members were enrolled for the year 2004-05. The problems of stagnation in the membership were discussed in detail and the functioning of the party committees from the branch to the state level was critically reviewed.

A total of 31 comrades participated in the discussion on the organisational report and finally it was adopted with 266-1 votes with minor amendments.

The conference adopted resolutions demanding speedy development in the state; recognition of the problems of floods and erosion in Assam as a national problem; solutions to the problems of the extremism and terrorism through peaceful dialogue; democratic solutions to the problems of various ethnic groups, including socio-economic development of the tribes involved in tea production; immediate scrapping of the MoU signed between the state government and the centre; and lifting of ban on employment etc.

The conference also adopted resolutions against communalism, atrocities on women, unbundling of state electricity board, etc.

Addressing the session, central committee member Mohammed Salim expressed confidence that the Party in Assam will grow despite the seeds of division being sown in the state by the black-forces of reaction and evil.

NEW LEADERSHIP

The conference unanimously elected a 48 member new state committee with the provision to co-opt three members at a later stage. The newly elected 45 members, in its first meeting, unanimously elected Uddhab Barman as the new secretary. Of the 45 members, 8 are the new entrants to the state committee.

The conference also elected a three-member state control commission with Tarun Nath as the chairman.

The conference elected 15 delegates and 2 observers for the upcoming 18th Party Congress to be held in New Delhi.

In his concluding speech, Polit Bureau member S R Pillai complimented the Party for growing unity in the political-organisational aspects. He stressed the need for developing mass and class struggles and to address the aspirations of various ethnic groups in order to bring them onto a common united platform of democratic movement.

Referring to the recent heroic struggles and achievements of the peasants in Rajasthan, Pillai said that timely intervention on people's issue will help in the growth of the Party and no force can crush the popular discontent of the masses.

Cultural shows AND seminars

Attractive cultural shows were also organised on the evening of February 1-2 in connection with the conference at 'Upen Nath Memorial Stage'. On February 1, the artists of IPTA branches of Sorbhog, Bongaigaon and Kalgachia, Safdar Hasmi Music College, Sayapatri of Kharija-Bijni etc. performed folk cultures, Jikir, Polly-sangeet, Bhawali, Nepali folk dance etc. Thousands of people enjoyed the shows. On the same day, 'Mahajagnya', a full-fledged drama by playwright and director Dr Sitanath Lahkar, was staged by 'Samahar Natya Gusthi' and stole the show.

On February 1, Biman Basu and Mohammed Salim spoke on the topic ‘Globalisation and its Impact in India’ at an well-attended seminar chaired by Dr Bijan Kundu. More than a thousand people participated and heard the speakers with rapt attention.

Public Meeting

The massive public meeting was presided over by the newly elected state secretary Uddhab Barman. At the outset, a condolence resolution was adopted in the open session to pay homage to the tragic deaths of the tens of thousands of people during the recent tsunami in the South-West Asia.

Addressing the rally, S R Pillai said the CPI(M) has been unrelenting in its struggles for a change in correlation of class forces and for a radical change in our country. "In the last Lok Sabha elections, we achieved success in ousting the communal NDA regime from power, in forming a secular government at the centre and in strengthening the Left forces. We are now extending support to the UPA government from outside under compulsion to keep at bay the communal forces. However, we are unleashing movements and struggles against the disastrous economic policies of liberalisation", said Pillai.

Referring to the necessity of a third front at the present political juncture, Pillai reiterated that the CPI(M) had always advocated a third front and will continue to work for a viable non-Congress, non-BJP/communal combination as a political alternative. He clarified that such a front will have to be forged on the basis of people's sustained struggles and movements. These movements must have to be built around the issues confronting the people - firm opposition to communalism and against the anti-people economic  policies.

The former state secretary Hemen Das, in his speech, came down heavily on the Congress (I) government in Assam for its misdeeds and misrule. He also called upon the extremist and terrorist outfits to shun violence and come to the negotiating table. He asserted that Assam is an integral part of India and it cannot be seceded. Das also condemned the vicious activities of the saffron-brigade in Assam.

Addressing the gathering, Biman Basu narrated the heinous crime being perpetrated by US imperialism in Iraq, Afganisthan and its acts of sabotage and economic blockade in Cuba. Explaining the Indian situation, Basu said, there were no differences in economic policies between the Congress (I) and the BJP. However, the BJP represents the most right-reactionary forces and the Congress often compromises with communal and fundamentaist forces for narrow political gain.

Basu also referred to the specific problems of Assam and the North East and demanded speedy development in the region. While referring to the terrorist-secessionist activities in the region, Basu reminded the people of American conspiracy to destablise the country and pointed to the 'Operation Project Brahmaputra' of the CIA.

Presentation of folk cultures - Bihu, Kherai dance of the Bodos, folk songs of the riverine people added colour and vigour to the massive rally.

Earlier, a cheque amount of Rs 1,96,119 collected by various district committees in aid of the tsunami hit people, was handed over to S R Pillai by Hemen Das towards the central relief fund organised by the CPI(M).

The president of the reception committee, Monoranjan Talukdar, addressed the huge gathering and thanked the people for their support and co-operation in holding the conference with massive success despite the malicious campaign unleashed by the communal forces.