WEST BENGAL

CPI(M) Resolves To Strengthen Organisation In Hill Areas

B Prasant

THE one-day session of the Bengal unit of the CPI(M) has discussed the situation in the hill areas of the Darjeeling district.  The meeting also focussed attention on organisation of programmes to mark the 60th anniversary of the triumph against fascism. It has taken into cognisance the issue of civic polls as well.  The Bengal CPI(M) has also looked at matters related to organisation.

Presided over by Biman Basu and attended among others by Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the meeting of the state committee saw the state secretary, Anil Biswas place the report on the political situation in the state, on issues of organisation, and on the work of the state secretariat.

Discussing the Darjeeling issue, the state committee of the Bengal CPI(M) clearly perceived how the crass incompetence of the GNLF in the working of the hill council had infuriated the hill people, increasing their feelings of frustration and anger. The CPI(M), leading an alliance of opposition parties in the hills, has taken up a stand of unity to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the hill people, raising the slogan of ‘peace, democracy, and development.’

Dwelling on the Darjeeling issue, the Bengal unit of the CPI(M) concluded that the GNLF supremo, Subhas Ghising was never interested in the process of holding elections to the hill council and he had subsequently raised a series of demands to stall the polls if he could.  

The Bengal Left Front government has in the meanwhile made its position quite clear in the tripartite meeting held between the union government, the LF government, and the GNLF.  The state LF government’s stand is in keeping with its desire to allow peace to flourish in the hill areas of the Darjeeling district. 

The CPI(M) has taken up a drive to organise the hill people and May 1 saw a big rally of the five-party alliance that includes the CPI(M). Programmes of movement to be taken up and implemented in the hills in the next few months have been finalised.  The Party organisation in the hills would be further strengthened. 

On the issue of the civic polls, the state committee noted that after a proper distribution of seats among the Left Front constituents, the work of campaign has been going on very well.  Kolkata Municipal Corporation goes to the polls on June 19.

The state committee has decided that throughout Bengal, the 60th anniversary of the historic triumph over fascism would be observed on May 9 with processions taken out in all the districts.  Educational discussions on the significance of the anti-fascist triumph would be held for two weeks in the form of conventions.  Two booklets on the topic of anti-fascist victory’s 60th year, written by Anil Biswas and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would be released.

The state committee meeting took up some aspects of the work of the Bengal Left Front government for discussion. In health matters, the issue of medical education was focussed on. The state committee held that the allowance that a non-practicing doctor received should be increased. 

The state committee decided that the evaluation of a Party member would be done on a six-monthly basis and that the evaluation for this year would be held in July and December.  Dwelling on organisational matters, the state unit believed that the different units of the Bengal CPI(M) must take up initiative to ensure a success for the universal education drive.  Each district unit of the CPI(M) must remain alert that the MP funds were put to use to help the poorest of the poor to develop.