People's Democracy

Reception Committee Formed For The 19th Party Congress

CPI(M) Tamilnadu state secretary N Varadarajan addressing the meeting in Coimbatore

N Srinivasan

IT was an excellent beginning for the successful conduct of the 19th Party Congress of the CPI(M), scheduled to be held in Coimbatore in March 2008. The occasion was the function organised to form the Reception committee for the Party Congress. The venue, the Town hall at RS Puram, Coimbatore - the biggest auditorium there - was not only full but also a large number of people were standing in the pathways and in the lawns.

N Varadarajan, state secretary presided over the function. When he announced the decision of the Party central committee to hold the 19th Party Congress at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, ovation rent the air. He explained the historical background of the struggles waged by the Communist Party including the struggle for independence wherein many were hanged, shot to death and imprisoned for several years. Even now, he added, we are fighting against the American imperialism that is trying to enslave the country through the Indo-US nuclear deal. On this issue, the whole country is rallying behind us and we will never allow the 123 agreement to be implemented, he said. Communal violence continues in the country and the problem of untouchability also remains unsolved. Economic miseries of the people are increasing day by day and the Party Congress will discuss all these and decide the way to go forward, he said.

T K Rengarajan, central committee member explained how a Party Congress held in every three years showed that the CPI(M), the Party of the working class, will declare everything in public with nothing to hide, and its decisions are taken most democratically. All the three Left-led governments are showing an alternative path to the whole country. Our influence is growing among the masses and our struggles for land, food and jobs are gaining momentum throughout the country. None can neglect the Left forces in the country now, he asserted. He emphasised the importance of anti-imperialist struggle which is as important as the struggle for democracy.

He cited the example of Uttar Pradesh where Congress Party and other UPA allies, the BJP and Mayavati were all united to topple the Mulayam Singh government by using the Article 356 before the last assembly elections. It was only the CPI(M) that opposed this move and succeeded in averting it and thus saved democracy in the country. CPI(M)’s uncompromising struggle against communalism has protected the national interests in a big way. Autocratic regime of AIADMK in Tamilnadu was thrown out of power by our continuous struggles against it, he reminded the audience.
Pappa Umanath, central committee member recalled the massive growth of the Party in recent times and said the Party Congress will pave the way for a faster growth. Our policies to defend the national sovereignty are viewed as ‘valuable and very patriotic’ by the people of this country, she said.

N Sankaraiah, chairman, Central Control Commission of the Party recalled the struggles for independence by Congress and communist leaders. Anti-imperialist struggles that we wage today will lead to socialism and the future is only for socialism, he declared. He reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by communists even during British rule in facing many conspiracy cases including Kanpur, Chennai and Nellai etc. He ridiculed the Congress party for saying that it is going to safeguard democracy throughout the world by joining with USA which has been destroying democratic rights everywhere, including in Iraq and lran. He added that during the Bangladesh war, USA sent its navy - Seventh Fleet - to Bay of Bengal in order to threaten and attack us. When the then USSR declared that it will send its navy to Bay of Bengal, US withdrew the Seventh Fleet from there. Congress party should make up its mind immediately whether it is going to safeguard our national interest or serve the interests of US imperialism, he declared. Communists have only the interest of the nation at heart and are not after any ministerial berths or gaining governmental power by hook or crook, he said.

When R Umanath, Polit Bureau member recalled that Coimbatore was the base of working class struggles, the entire audience responded very enthusiastically. He said that Bush and his party, the Republican party, will face certain defeat in the coming US presidential elections. He warned the UPA government not to go ahead with 123 agreement with USA. He criticised the UPA government for allowing joint naval exercises in Bay of Bengal along with USA, and said it is against our national interest and defence. Through these defence and 123 agreements, efforts are on to facilitate large-scale intrusion of US companies into our economy. The entry of companies like Wal-Mart will affect us badly in future. He added our Party has grown through struggles and the decisions of 19th Party Congress will make it grow faster.

A sum of Rs 4.51 lakhs was given to the leaders by various organisations and individuals as first instalment of donations for hosting the Party Congress.

The Reception Committee was formed with R Umanath as president, N Varadarajan as secretary, P R Natarajan as treasurer along with 11 vice presidents and 10 joint secretaries. The committee consists of a total number 569 members. At the end C Padmanabhan, zonal chairman, Coimbatore Corporation proposed the vote of thanks.

The whole function was indeed a prelude to the successful conduct of the 19th Party Congress.