People's DemocracyCPI(M) KARNATAKA 19TH STATE CONFERENCE CALL
Fight Back Anti-People Economic Policies!!
S Y Gurushanth
& Jaya
THE 19th state conference of the CPI(M) Karnataka state committee has decided to work in a priority manner to ensure the defeat of the BJP in the coming elections to state assembly. The BJP, which shared power in Karnataka for the first time, is making all out efforts to come back to power with full majority. The state conference opined that the growth of communal forces could be contained only through waging of wider struggles on people's issues and accordingly directed the Party units to carry out intensive struggles in the coming period.
The conference began with an impressive rally of thousands of people in the historical city of Mysore on January 21, which was addressed among others by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury.
The delegates' session began the next day on January 22 at Ambedkar Bhavan, renamed after Comrade M N Ugrappa, a senior leader of the state and the Mysore region. The dais was named after Comrade T S Mani, a senior leader of Kolar Gold Fields, state committee member and former MLA who expired during the period.
INAUGURAL SESSION
The proceedings of the conference got off to a start with senior leader and secretariat member of the Party K R Sriyan, hoisting the Red flag and it was followed by paying of homage to martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting for the cause of the people. Polit Bureau members S Ramachandran Pillai, and K Varadarajan were present on the occasion.
President of the reception committee Jayaram in his brief welcome speech unveiled the memories of the great history of working class movement in the Mysore region. State secretariat member Nithyananda Swamy placed the condolence resolution. Party's senior comrades Savari Das and P K Subramani were present on the dais as special invitees.
Inaugurating the conference Ramachandran Pillai, narrated the important political developments of the country and the world. He said that although US imperialism is seeking to establish its global hegemony, the world is moving towards multi-polarity in the backdrop of growing resistance from Russia, China, Latin America and other democratic forces all over the world against hegemonic attitude of US imperialism.
He castigated the UPA government for pursuing the same anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA regime. It was only due to the consistent pressure of the Left parties that pro-people measures such as NREGA, Tribals Forest Rights Act, RTI Act etc have been enacted. Pillai pointed out that in the last Lok Sabha election, the combined vote secured by both BJP and Congress was less than 50 per cent, whereas the regional parties have secured more than 50 per cent. Therefore the talk of single party or two party rule in the country is a past thing and the future would be of multi-party regimes, he said. In this context he spoke of efforts being made with other parties to build a third alternative on the basis of common policy on people's issues.
Pillai emphasised the need for rapidly expanding the Party as per the decision of the 18th Party congress and quality members to be brought into the Party. He called upon the delegates to properly understand the Marxist-Leninist principles in order to expand the Party and the mass organisations.
A five member presidium with state secretariat member B Madhava as convenor was elected to conduct the proceedings of the conference. A total of 256 delegates and 40 observers attended the state conference.
POL-ORG REPORT
Party state secretary G N Nagaraj placed the draft organisational report in the conference. The report included important points about Party's intervention in economic, political, and social spheres in the state during the last three years.
The onslaught of the Sangh Parivar-BJP and its manoeuvres to come to power in Karnataka through communal polarisation and spread of hatred has been particularly analysed in the report. The state and national leaders of the BJP have been openly threatening that Karnataka would be made into another Gujarat and the Bababudan giri, which was a centre for communal harmony, would be made into Ayodhya of south India. Its strategy has been to spread the Bababudan giri dispute throughout the state while concentrating communal violence locally. It has been celebrating viraat hindu samajotsav and distributing thrishuls as part of this. The coastal area is being targeted specifically as a laboratory for Hindutva. The use of different tactics for different regions, the use of administrative machinery, the huge spending of resources etc all point to the danger of BJP coming to power in the state, the report noted. The BJP, which was continuously rejected by the people in the past, captured power with the help of opportunistic JD(S). Now it is expecting to gain from the so called sympathy wave in the wake of it being denied the chance to govern after 20 months of supporting JD(S) chief minister. It is also banking on the failures of the previous Congress regime and the severe discontent among people. By making alliance with JD(U)-JD(S), which oppose the Congress, the BJP is making efforts to destroy its enemies and has succeeded to a certain extent in this. It is making efforts to attract leaders of different castes who are in other parties at present. By politically involving with mines' and land mafia, it is systematically carrying out corporate style of politics.
On the other hand the Congress has still not learnt the lessons from the defeat of S M Krishna's liberalisation policies by the people in the last elections. Consequently it pursued the same policies even during its alliance government with JD(S). Instead of facing communalism head on, it got absorbed in the mutual war-of-words JD(S), ulatimately leading to the opportunistic alliance of JD(S) and BJP for the sake of power. As a result of the policies pursued by these governments, the working class, dalits, minorities, women of Karnataka are suffering utmost with increased attacks on their livelihood. Karnataka is in the forefront of liberalisation drive in the country, it noted.
The report emphasised that although in the present political context ensuring the defeat of communal forces is the top priority, it is also most essential to defeat the anti-people noe-liberal economic policies. The relevance of a third secular front against both the Congress and BJP was underlined. It called for efforts in evolving such a alternative through strong campaign on the issues of working people as the Left democratic alternative alone would be the real alternative.
The state committee's response to all India Party calls has been noted in the report. The response of the working class and the people, specially for the two general strikes, was overwhelming. Along with this, owners of small industries and retailers have also responded positively to the Party's stand on various issues. The campaigns, jathas conducted on the issues relating to land, employment, and ration cards evoked very good response in the state. Our relentless struggle against communalism and active intervention during during Mangalore communal riots and baba budangiri issue was noted. Even in the assembly, Party's lone legislator consistently raised people's issues.
DISCUSSION
Participating in the discussion on the political organisational report, the delegates shared few important experiences and pattern of struggles waged in the state.
One of the important aspect of discussion was on CPI(M)'s efforts to foil the agenda of communal BJP and sangh parivar, In Gulbarga, the Party effectively foiled the efforts of sangh parivar to attract seers of veera shaiva community for hindu samajotsav and spread communal hatred in that region by rallying the various progressive forces. This experience has to be taken to entire state to isolate the communal forces, stressed the delegates.
As the BJP does not have base in Kolar, it tried hard by raising religious sentiments in the region. These efforts were resisted by the jatha organised by DYFI and SFI celebrating 150th year of 1857 and birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagath Singh. These occasions were effectively used for spreading communal harmony in the region. Other activities of the Party in Kolar touched and inspired wider section of the people. Party activities helped in bringing the situation to normalcy as communal harmony was vitiated by the sangh parivar through holding of viraat hindu samajotsav.
It was inspiring to hear the report on patriotic youth festivals organised by DYFI and SFI to take secular values and patriotic messages to the people in different villages. The programmes were well received by the people. The glimpses of struggles against communal violence in Udupi, violence in Kundapur, as narrated by comrades of Dakshin Kannada were also noteworthy.
The agitation against the anti-poor ration card policy of the government, the experience of militant struggle waged in Mandya against inadequate supply of rations, subsequent repression and police lathicharge faced by the assertive comrades were highlights of the discussion. On the same issue, the wide publicity campaign carried out by Gulbarga comrades, the statewide successful bandh against black APMC act which was organized by workers, farmers and agricultural labour in alliance with shopkeepers' association, the big movement against auctioning of government lands by demanding site for landless people in Bangalore, struggle against Greater Bangalore Municipal Palika's regularisation drive ‘akrama-sakrama' etc were examples of Party effectively taking up the local issues.
In Gulbarga, a successful struggle was waged resulting in distribution of 2000 house sites for the poor. Struggles were also launched on the issues of public health, drinking water etc.
A successful bandh was observed in Kolar demanding re-opening of Bharath Gold Mines in KGF, the struggle for Gowribidanur lake protection, the struggle for better facilities in the government hospital in Bijapur, organising devadasis and mobilising them for serious struggles in Uttara Karnataka, the struggle for effective implementation of NREGA, intervention for wage disbursement, and demanding implementation of employment guarantee scheme throughout the state were other significant struggles waged during the last three years. The Party gained different experience in the struggles for enforcing the rights of ‘bane' (a type of land holders' right), on the issues of coffee growers, the struggle against self-assessment tax in Kodagu district etc.
Another aspect that was reflected in the discussion was that the struggles waged by the Party against untouchability and caste oppression succeeded in drawing the attention of not only dalits but also wider section of the masses. Party's jatha campaign demanding re-enquiry in the case of burning nine dalits in Kambalapalli, the struggle against oppression on dalits of Chitta, Basava kalyan; the movement of temple entry, initiative against stripping cases of Bijapura's Kadakola and Arakera of Raichur were appreciated by the people.
Meanwhile, during the discussion it was found that certain demands were realised due to sustained struggles like for example on the issues of ICDS, beedi, panchayat employees, hamali, construction workers, contract workers and other issues affecting the people at large.
The delegates also discussed about Janashakthi, a multi-colored 16 pages weekly being brought out with a ‘mass character'. The Party's intervention on the issues of fee hike, educational facilities, electricity, women and other issues inspired the delegates. Formation of 100 SHGs groups among beedi workers in Belthangadi drew special attention. The conference noted that all these struggles have contributed in achieving the rise in membership of peasant, trade union, agricultural worker, unorganised workers student, youth, women and other mass organisations from 3.99 lakh to 5.53 lakh i.e. an increase of 38.5 per cent.
The conference also noted that the failure to provide ideological training to new members has led to non-renewal of significant number of Party members and as a result, though there is certain rise in the membership of mass organisations, overall progress in terms of Party membership could not be achieved.
The discussion also touched upon the issues of deficiency in independent functioning of the Party branches, lack of attention given by the local committees etc.
Party OrganiSation
The party organisational aspects, as given in the report are as follows:
Membership of the mass organisaions in the state has increased from 3,99,789 to 5,53,694. This membership is spread over 140 taluks out of the total 175 in the state. However, the urgent need is consolidation of this expansion into effective political organisation. Our mass activity in 140 taluks show the scope for building the Party.
Since the last state conference, membership of the Party has increased from 6626 to 6742, i.e. an increase of only 116 or 1.75 per cent. This is mainly because of largescale drop outs. Actually, during the past three years, enrolment of new membership was 1296 (18.56 per cent), 681 (11.31 per cent) and 725 (10.75 per cent) respectively. During these three years the drop out is 943 (14.23 per cent), 1045 (14.97 per cent), 594 (9.77 per cent) The drop out during the past three years is 2582 i.e. 38.29 per cent. This situation warrants serious attention to increasing the quality of membership. This awareness is gradually developing in all districts.
As for the composition of the membership, working class accounts for 2938 (44.4 per cent) agricultural workers 1336 (20.30 per cent) and poor peasants 1615 (24.41 per cent). To sum up membership from basic classes is satisfactory. The number of women members in the state is 1245 (18.4 per cent).
Age wise, 3552 members (53.82 per cent) are below 40 years. Even though this statistic is satisfactory, it underlines the need for greater effort in education and training of new members. 2886 (43.06 per cent) members have joined the Party after After 2002.
As for the social background of the members, 1307 (19.38 per cent) belong to scheduled castes, 637 (9.45 per cent) are from scheduled tribes. 595 (8.78 per cent) members in the state belong to the minority communities.
In 2004, the Party had 723 branches in the state which has now increased to 745 only.
The conference noted that the 90 per cent of the membership is concentrated in 20 taluks. The membership has spread to all the 29 administrative districts but Party has only 10 district committees and 10 district organising committees. The conference also reviewed the work in priority districts and areas.
A total of 192 wholetimers, including 18 women, are working in the state. Among them include 19 comrades working on monitoring the NREGA. It was noted that as compared to the earlier period, the state centre work has improved. The level of discussion has improved at the state committee level also. The conference also reviewed the implementation of rectification campaign, position of the Party finances, publications, etc.
Among the achievements in this period were the holding of CITU all India conference at Bangalore, completion of Comrade Suri Bhavan (CITU state office) and progress in the construction of EMS Bhavan.
The report concluded with future tasks to be carried out some of which are as follows: 1) Defeating BJP which is backed by RSS in the forthcoming elections 2) Taking up people's issues with militant struggles 3) Campaign for eradication of untouchability and special attention for the problems of dalits. 4) Consolidation and expansion of Party organisation 5) Enhancing political, ideological and organisational understanding of the membership 6) Formation as well as strengthening of district centres 7) increase of Janashakthi circulation etc.
A total of 78 delegates participated in the discussion on the political organisational report. The discussion was rich in its experience and strengthened the report. After the inclusion of suggestions, amendments by the steering committee and the reply of the state secretary to the discussion, the report was unanimously adopted by the conference.
New leadership
The conference elected a new 36 member state committee. V J K Nair was elected as state secretary and G N Nagaraj, K R Sriyan, Nithyananda Swamy, K Neela, Maruthi Manpade, G V Sriram Reddy, S Y Gurushanth, K Shankar, G C Baiyya Reddy, Prasanna Kumar and B Madhava, were re-elected to 12-member state secretariat.
The conference adopted 39 resolutions on various issues. An autobiography of senior comrade M N Ugrappa was also brought out in a book form on this occasion.
Concluding Session
Polit-Bureau member K Varadarajan, who is guiding Karnataka state committee, delivered the concluding speech in the conference. He said that having observed the deliberations of the conference for three days, and although the Party in the state has not grown as a strong force, it gave him confidence that it would surely grow to be a strong force in the coming period.
Varadarajan said that the Party was receiving good response from the people not only in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu where there is presence of strong movement, but also in weaker states such as Orissa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc.
After the peasant movement in Rajasthan and land struggle in Andhra Pradesh, many including a section of the media have stated that if this situation continues further, CPI(M) would become an alternative to the ruling classes in those states.
In 1991 when the liberalisation privatisation policies were implemented in a big way, it was propagated that these would do good to the people. After years of implementation, today the situation is that lakhs of peasants are committing suicide. These policies are seriously impacting the peoples' lives negatively. The people are ready to join us in the struggles against these policies. The Party has to seize the moment and grow by waging struggles on people's issues.
Varadarajan further said that our class enemies have targeted the Party in a big way as seen in the episodes of Nandigram, Taslima Nasreen etc in order to weaken our resolve to fight against neo-liberal policies and imperialism. He cited how it was widely publicised in the media that CBI has submitted a report on rape, loot, murder done by the CPI(M) cadres in Nandigram. Later on, the court clarified that CBI has not submitted any such report. Such hue and cry was made by publicising the copies of the report submitted to CBI by Trinmul Congress cadres alleging that rape, loot, murder has been committed by CPI(M)'s cadres. In this way our enemies are misguiding the people, he said.
Newly elected state secretary V J K Nair said that to build a strong Party and wider movement, we have to take up the fight against communal forces and our class enemies. He said that we have to learn from the experience of our neighbouring states.
The conference was concluded with revolutionary song of ‘victory is ours, for ever and ever" amidst slogans of "Inquilab zindabad", "CPI(M) zindabad", "let's build resistance to anti-people policies", "struggle for left democratic alternative" etc.
The conference whole heartedly thanked and appreciated the efforts of Mysore district unit and other cadres of mass organisations and sympathisers in organising the most successful conference in such a short time. The whole auditorium applauded while the volunteers were introduced amidst slogans of "Red salute to volunteer comrades".
