People's Democracy

UTTAR PRADESH

State Conference Resolves To Forge Party Ahead

JANUARY 29 marked the conclusion of the 19th Uttar Pradesh state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The three-day event had begun in Najibabad, on January 27, with flag hoisting by Devikrishna Mshra, a veteran freedom fighter and party leader in the state. It was followed by floral tributes to the martyrs by general secretary Prakash Karat, S R Pillai, Suneet Chopra, Subhashini Ali, S Kashyap and the delegates to the conference.

The conference venue was named Comrade Ramswaroop Singh Nagar after the departed party leader in the district.

Inaugurating the conference proceedings in the Muskan Marriage Hall in Najibabad city, Prakash Karat detailed the way the party implemented the political-tactical line that its 18th national congress had decided in April 2005, and the political campaigns that were run in this period. He said the partys independent activities have contributed to its growth while its pressure upon the UPA government has slowed down the pace of implementation of the disastrous LPG policies. While the disinvestment of profit making public sector concerns and the entry of FDI in the retail trade have been prevented, the CPI(M) and the Left compelled the government to pass the employment guarantee act, tribal act and the right to information act. While extending support to the UPA government on the issue of fighting the communal forces and preventing them from coming to power, the CPI(M) has constantly opposing its anti-people policies. It was for this very purpose that the CPI(M) decided not to join the government and play its independent role vis-à-vis the UPA regime.

Referring to the Congress partys defeat in Punjab, Himachal and Uttarakhand, Karat said it was because of the wrong economic policies of the Congress governments but the party is yet to learn a lesson from these defeats. He also reiterated the CPI(M)s opposition to the central governments striving to make India an adjutant to US imperialists. He also lambasted the recent launch of an Israeli satellite from an Indian base.

Karat said the party has to multiply its independent activities to forge ahead. Referring to the Nandigram issue, he said it is being used as a pretext to attack the CPI(M). It is the imperialist powers that are egging the anti-Left forces for such attacks as these powers are incensed by the CPI(M)s steadfast opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal. But we have told the UPA government in plain terms that the Left would withdraw its support in case the government went ahead with the deal.

State CPI(M) secretary S P Kashyap presented a report on the partys activities in the state during the last three years. These years have witnessed significant changes in the state where both the Congress and the BJP, main parties at the national level, have got relegated to the margins. It is the BSP and SP that are playing the main role in Uttar Pradesh today. Belying all the poll predictions, the BSP got a majority on its own in the last assembly elections but its government has taken several anti-democratic steps like abolishing posts in the democratic bodies, reducing the tenure of cooperative bodies and banning the student union elections. It is resorting to repressing against the people expressing their protest in a democratic manner and adopting a vindictive attitude vis-à-vis its political opponents.

In the last three years, communal forces tried o ncite communal riots in Gorakhpur, Mau, Lucknow, Aligarh, Basti, Siddharth Nagar and Kushinagar districts, but the people at large did not support them. However, the threat of communalism remains even though the BJP has got weakened. This necessitates a continuous struggle against communalism. Caste appeal has intensified in UP, and this too is hampering the growth of a fighting unity of the toiling masses. Terrorist threat has also grown and there were terrorist attacks in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, claiming several innocent lives. The BSP, RLD and Congress are also fanning the demands for a division of the state for the sake of partisan gains. The report said the CPI(M) has to take up the dalit cause in a big way.

About the organisation, there is stagnation in party membership in the state, mainly because of stagnation in mass organisations activities. There was a drop in membership in the last three years because of the stringency adopted in the rules regarding renewal and recruitment. Branch functioning needs to be streamlined. The report also referred to the achievements and weaknesses seen in the priority districts. Circulation of party papers and party literature, cadre policy, fund, fraction committees in mass organisations etc were some other issues that the secretarys report highlighted.

A total of 57 delegates, representing their district units, took part in the discussion. The conference unanimously adopted the report after the secretary replied to the points raised during the discussion.

The conference adopted resolutions on the intensifying agrarian crisis, implementation of Sachar recommendations, oppression of women, privatisation policy of the UP government, and effective implementation of the employment guarantee scheme.

The conference elected a 33-member state committee with two vacancies to be filled up later. New members are Ram Asre (Mirzapur), Ravi Mishra (Allahabad), Bharat Singh (Agra), Malti Devi (Gorakhpur) and Saeed Naqvi (Kanpur). In its first meeting, in turn, the new state committee re-elected S P Kashyap as its secretary, to be assisted by a 12-member state secretariat.

The conference also elected 10 delegates to the national congress of the party, with Baburam Yadav and Brijlal Bharti elected as alternate delegates.

The conference concluded with the valedictory address by Prakash Karat. K N Bhatt thanked, on behalf of the presidium, the reception committee and volunteers for the successful conduct of the state conference.