People's Democracy

Political Resolution: Serious Discussion

DISCUSSION on the draft political resolution, which continued in both sessions on March 30 and the forenoon session on March 31, saw the participation of the following delegates: Deepak Sarkar, Tarit Baran Toredar, Sudarshan Raychowdhury (West Bengal), E Karim, Ms Seema, Chandran Pillai (Kerala), Gautam Das, Ms Krishna Lakshmipura, Nagendra Jamatia (Tripura), Ms Chandra, Vikraman, Kannan (Tamilnadu), Anant Deka, Ishfaqur-Rahman (Assam), Mariam Dhawale, Krishna Khopkar (Maharashtra), Baburao, Ms Jyoti (Andhra Pradesh), Ms Jagmati (Haryana), B Sanyal (Chhattisgarh), Santosh Das (Orissa), D P Singh (Uttar Pradesh), Vijender Sharma (Delhi), Pramod Pradhan (Madhya Pradesh), Balram Adhikari (Sikkim), Shriram Reddy (Karnataka), Vijay Rawat (Uttarakhand), G N Malik (Jammu & Kashmir), K G Das (Andaman & Nicobar), Thalman Pareira (Goa), Sarvodaya Sharma (Bihar), Raghunath Singh (Punjab), Sudhir Das (Jharkhand), Sarat Salam (Manipur), Hetram Beniwal (Rajasthan), Tikender Singh Pawar (Himachal Pradesh), Pragjibhai Bhambi (Gujarat), Nazar Singh (UK), and Prabhat Patnaik, Tapan Sen and N K Shukla (CC units).

During the discussion, delegates underlined several aspects of implementation of the 18th congress political tactical line in the light of their own experiences. In his reply, Prakash Karat took up several issues of importance and gave necessary clarifications on several questions. Some delegates drew attention to the anti-China and anti-communist propaganda worldwide and in India on the excuse of Tibet. Some others emphasised the need of exploring the ways of forging cooperation between the South Asian countries and between the movements therein. Growing inequalities in China in the midst of a high growth rate were another area of concern. Some delegates wanted that we must evolve a full understanding about the Latin American developments.

Delegates from the North East drew attention to the area�s backwardness, the consequent ethnic conflicts, extremism and terrorism, and the need to develop the party as protector of the people�s interests in the region. There is need for the states bordering the region to extend cooperation to the party committees here. In the hilly areas, development is affected as large tracts of land here are declared as forest areas. People are being deprived of their rights on the forest produce, and getting displaced from their hearth and home for hydel generation, for which dams are being constructed without much insight. The discussion underlined that the affected people�s opinion is never sought in such matters.

Regarding the neo-liberal path of economic development, it was said that our country�s linkage to the world economy has intensified the agrarian crisis here. Grain prices have got linked with oil prices via the biofuel. This prevents food prices from coming down; we would soon be importing unemployment also. This has pushed up the rate of emigration from some areas. With the mines etc being privatised, there is danger of the natural resources being recklessly exploited. It is not enough to stop the export of exhaustible raw materials; their unregulated export after value addition cannot be allowed either. Erection of some units need be stopped in view of the limited natural resources. But we have to distinguish this stand from that opposing industry in itself. In case of the Left led states, delegates stressed that industrial progress is needed there after the land reforms and increased productivity of agriculture, which has raised the people�s income and employment. However, it cannot be an issue of the development of capitalism.

Several speakers drew attention to the growing anti-people and anti-democratic attitude of the judiciary and the Election Commission, and the need of reform in these bodies. Some speakers insisted on viewing the judiciary from class angle. Some drew attention to the growing imbalance in centre-state relations. While stressing the need of devolution of more powers to the local self-governing bodies, the discussion stressed that New Delhi wants to control everything with its lopsided emphasis on sub-state decentralisation. Another issue demanding attention was the game to involve the NGOs in programme implementation, bypassing even the local bodies.

Other issues highlighted were the need of struggles on the issues facing the women, minorities, Dalits and other deprived sections. We must be clear on the social issues and structures, more so in North India. Attention was drawn to the role of retrograde caste panchayats. In order to forge the social reforms here, we must not only support the progressive and democratic culture; rather it must be our own struggle. Growth of a movement for �Media for Social Change� was also urged. To spread awareness of the dangers of cultural imperialism, there is need of a document on cultural policy.

The discussion stressed the need of independent and constant struggles. Issues like price rise or PDS need our intervention. The so-called Maoists must be fought politically and ideologically, in a systematic way. Struggles are also needed for social control over educational institutions and for an identity of the minority institutions. Several other issues were also highlighted including Mukesh Ambani�s 35,000 acres SEZ in Raigarh (Maharashtra) and the displacement of 50,000 people for it; loss of the rural artisans� employment; growing attacks on the tribals� rights; the Pay Commission�s recommendation to kill 12 lakh central government jobs; the land acquisition amendment bill; rehabilitation policy; etc.

Some delegates pointed out the intimate linkages between communalism and imperialism/neo-liberalism. On the basis of their experiences, some delegates also pointed out that the Congress party is unable to fight communalism. Delegates from Kerala told how the RSS is targeting the CPI(M) cadre for their resistance to the communal attacks on minorities. Attacks are also being launched in various parts of the country against the marginalised migrant workers; communal forces are seeking to exploit this issue as well. Referring to the incidents in Nanded (Maharashtra) and some other places, some delegates pointed out how the RSS and its frontal outfits are adopting terrorist tactics. Some delegated pointed out how the caste based mobilisation has entered the stage of uniting the various caste based combinations.

(R S)