People's Democracy

CC COMMUNIQUE

The central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from September 24 to 26, 2006. It issued the following statement on September 26, 2006

Special Economic Zones

The central committee discussed the Special Economic Zones which are now being set up in large numbers around the country. The Act and the Rules for the Special Economic Zones provides large tracts of land to be acquired and handed over to promoter companies. This is going to lead to large-scale displacement of farmers, meagre compensation and no alternative means of livelihood. On the other hand, promoters are getting land cheaply and they are going to make their fortunes out of real estate development and speculation. Indiscriminate approvals for SEZs have serious implications for agriculture, food security, the interests of farmers and economic sovereignty.

Urgent changes are required in the SEZ Act and Rules. There has to be a cap on the amount of land to be allotted. Secondly, the stipulation of land to be used in a SEZ for industry must be increased to at least 50 per cent and 25 per cent for related infrastructure. Thirdly, tax exemption proposals must be reviewed and exemption from taxes must be drastically pruned. Adequate steps to compensate and rehabilitate the displaced people must be taken. The Land Acquisition Act has to be amended suitably for this. Apart from farmers, agricultural workers should also be covered. SEZs should be set up only with the approval of the state governments. 

The central committee authorised the Polit Bureau to prepare a comprehensive stand on the issue and mobilise support from other political parties for amendments and changes in the Acts and Rules. 

Conversion Laws in BJP States

The central committee expressed its serious concern at the amendments made by the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh in the laws concerning religious conversion. The amendments made to the Freedom of Religion law goes against the constitutional right which grants citizens the right to propagate and practice any religion of their choice. In Gujarat, the amendments clubs Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu faith leading to strong protests from representatives of these communities. Conversion within these “branches” will not invite government action. But if any Hindu wants to convert to Islam or Christianity, they will first have to take permission from the District Magistrate. Various objectionable clauses are there in the legislations adopted in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. 

These legislations will provide a legal licence to harass and intimidate minorities which have become the hallmark of the BJP rule in these states. The CPI(M) demands that these amendments should be withdrawn and the legislation should not get assent for being enforced as laws. 

Bababudangiri Shrine

The central committee demanded that Karnataka government maintain the status quo position at the Bababudangiri shrine in Chikmagalur district. As in the previous year, no “shobha yatra” by the RSS outfits should be permitted which will disturb communal amity and peace. 

Price Rise

The central committee reiterated its demand that futures trading in foodgrains and other essential commodities be stopped as they are helping speculative trading and cornering of stocks. The central committee demanded the immediate strengthening of the public distribution system. The BPL criteria has become an instrument for the exclusion of large number of poor people from the PDS. The Central government should adopt a proper criteria for identifying people below the poverty line and issuance of cards to all of them. 

Wheat Imports

The central committee noted that the government has decided to import 35 lakh tonnes of wheat on its own account. This was subsequently increased to 55 lakh tonnes. The private sector was allowed to import 30 lakh tonnes. India’s entry into the wheat market has led to international prices shooting up. The latest round of wheat imports have been at the rate of 1300 per quintal. The overall policies in agriculture and food will endanger the food security, bring about dependence on food imports and increase prices of foodgrains for the people. 

The central committee demanded immediate steps to boost up wheat production and for providing farmers with remunerative prices, so that full procurement takes place. 

Jharkhand

The central committee welcomed the fall of the BJP-led government in Jharkhand which was formed, at the outset, through encouraging defections. The new government can only be an interim phase. It is necessary that elections be held soon so that a fresh mandate can be sought from the people. 

Assembly Elections

The central committee discussed the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur.

As far as Uttar Pradesh elections are concerned, the UP state committee of the Party will meet in October to discuss the political situation and the line to be pursued. After that the Polit Bureau will take a final decision.

In Punjab, Akali Dal-BJP alliance, given its past record and its rank communal basis, has to be opposed. The CPI(M) will call for the defeat of the Akali Dal-BJP alliance. The record of the Congress government has been marked by policies of privatisation of public education and health sectors, handing over large tracts of land to big business to promote corporate agriculture and marred by large-scale corruption. The Party will expose the harmful policies of the Congress government and popularise the alternative pro-people policies. In the elections, the CPI(M) and the CPI will fight the elections jointly and rally some of the other secular forces around an alternative platform.

In Uttaranchal, the CPI(M) will arrive at an understanding with the CPI. As against the BJP and the Congress, the Left parties should work for an understanding with other democratic parties. 

In Manipur, the CPI(M) will contest a limited number of seats and utilise the election campaign to take the message of the Party on how the worsening situation in Manipur can be tackled. 

Legislation

The central committee demanded that the bill for one-third reservation for women in parliament and state legislatures be introduced in the forthcoming winter session of parliament, in keeping with the prime minister’s assurance on the matter.

The central committee reiterated that the Forest Tribal Bill be taken up in parliament incorporating the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Organisational Review

The central committee conducted a mid-term review on the implementation of the tasks set forth by the 18th Congress of the Party held in April 2005. The report on organisation notes the growing importance and role of the Party in the national political situation. The support to the UPA government and the intervention in all major political issues had drawn the support from different sections of the people. The present political situation offers a big opportunity for the expansion of the Party. The Party organisation must be geared up to go amongst these sections of the people and draw them to the Party. 

The review report on organisation evaluated the work done and noted that the Party had made progress in implementing the main tasks set out by the Congress – the Party Centre’s interventions in political and policy matters has been enhanced, there has been a growth in Party membership of 9 per cent since 2004 with the membership now being 9,45,486; there has been an increase in the membership of all mass organisations; more attention has been paid to the priority states and districts; more attention has been paid to Party education and Central schools have been held regularly; the circulation of People’s Democracy has increased to the highest ever level with new editions in Chennai, Agartala and Kochi; more publications of the Party have been brought out; more attention has been paid to work on the tribal front. 

The report pointed out some of the weaknesses in the organisational front and stressed the importance of taking up the tasks which had not been implemented yet. The report emphasised the importance of ensuring proper recruitment of members through auxiliary groups, recruitment of more wholetime cadres and provision of a minimum wage for them, strengthening of branch functioning, ensuring Party education for all members and taking up sustained struggles on local issues for advancement of the Party’s base. The thrust should be to expand the Party’s base in states where we are weak. 

The central committee decided that more efforts should be made to concentrate work in priority districts and areas. As per the Party Congress direction, a draft document on ideological issues must be prepared for discussion within six months time. The central committee also decided to prepare an updated rectification document for providing a fresh thrust to the rectification campaign. 

Future Programme

The central committee reviewed the August national political campaign conducted by the Party. It was a successful campaign which was able to take the Party’s message to wide sections of the people. On the basis of this response, the central committee decided that state units should take up issues such as the Public Distribution System, BPL cards, provision of house sites, implementation of REGA, displacement of farmers, issues of social oppression and problems of tribal people for initiating local struggles. 

The central committee decided to support the calls of countrywide jathas being organised separately by kisan, student and women organisations. The central committee decided to extend support to the call given by trade unions for all India general strike on December 14. 

The central committee called upon its Party units to observe the birth centenary of Shahid Bhagat Singh which begins on September 28, in an appropriate manner.