People's Democracy

Another Surrender On Nuclear Deal

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on September 6-7, 2008. It has issued the following statement on September 7, 2008.

THE waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for India represents another surrender by the Manmohan Singh government in its journey to operationalise the India-US nuclear deal. The NSG waiver is neither clean nor unconditional. As in the case of the 123 Agreement and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement, the waiver by the NSG, organised by the United States, will bind India to all the conditions set out in the Hyde Act. All these steps have gone against the prime minister's assurances to parliament in August 2006.

The voluntary moratorium on testing has now become part of a multilateral commitment. Restrictions on transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology will continue. India has become part of the non-proliferation regime which it always held to be discriminatory. The NSG waiver is in alignment with the 123 Agreement and India will not get any better terms from other countries supplying fuel or reactors.

The country is being subjected to an orchestrated barrage of propaganda terming the NSG waiver as a `historical' one. The reality has been mercilessly exposed by the US State Department's interpretation of the 123 Agreement which was sought to be kept secret. The people of India will see through the veil of propaganda and recognise the truth that the Manmohan Singh government has compromised India's national interests.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) will rally all the democratic and patriotic forces to fight back this strategic alliance with the United States and the surrender the nuclear deal entails. (see page 2 for detailed statement issued separately by the Polit Bureau)

TATA PROJECT AT SINGUR

The Polit Bureau heard a report on the situation in Singur consequent to the disruption caused by the Trinamool Congress-led agitation at the site of the Tata motor plant. Talks are being held through the governor and the issue should be resolved, so that the Tata motor project goes ahead and measures taken for the rehabilitation of those affected.

PRICE-RISE

The Inflation rate (WPI) continues to remain over 12 per cent with food prices rising. The relentless price-rise exposes the failure of the central government to take the corrective measures required to bring some relief for the people. The easing of international oil prices have had no effect on domestic inflation because of the high indirect taxes on petroleum products, which the UPA government has stubbornly refused to reduce. The CPI(M) reiterates its demand to rescind the recent price hikes of diesel, petrol and cooking gas. The CPI(M) also demands a reversal of the cuts in foodgrains allocations to the states and restoration of their quotas, in view of the better foodgrain procurement by public agencies this year.

The Planning Commission had constituted an Expert Committee under Professor Tendulkar to review the flawed poverty estimates, which currently form the basis of the Targeted PDS. This committee has failed to complete the review process so far and the inordinate delay is perpetuating the use of flawed poverty estimates for the PDS, leading to the exclusion of a large section of the poor from the PDS net at a time of high inflation. The CPI(M) reiterates its demand for universalising the PDS and delink all schemes for employment, health and education from the flawed poverty estimates.

ORISSA VIOLENCE

The savage violence on the Christian community in Orissa by the RSS-led sangh parivar, specifically the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, is a national shame. The perpetrators of the violence have been provided patronage by the BJP as a coalition partner in the Orissa government. It has added a black page in the shameful record of State connivance in violence against minority communities where the BJP has been in power. For over a fortnight, Christians have been attacked, many of them brutally killed, thousands of homes burnt, churches and prayer halls reduced to ashes and yet the perpetrators of these crimes are free to roam around even today threatening the Christian community of further violence unless they renounce their faith. The central government has failed to act within the constitutional framework to direct the state government to provide security to the community. It has remained virtually a mute spectator. The CPI(M) demands steps to halt the violence in Orissa, full compensation and security to the affected community.

STRONG ACTION AGAINST BAJRANG DAL

Earlier the Bajrang Dal has been indicted by official agencies including the Anti-Terrorist Squad in Maharashtra of making bombs in a plan to incite communal violence. In Kanpur also recently two Bajrang Dal activists were killed in an explosion while making bombs. The CPI(M) demands that the central government end its soft approach to the terrorist like activities of this organisation and in the light of further evidence from Orissa, take stringent action against them.

WTO TALKS

There are reports that in the last WTO mini-ministerial conference, out of the 20 issues 17 were resolved. These include issues affecting our national interests relating to the steep farm subsidies in the USA, regulating the green box subsidies and customs duties on imports. Only on three issues there was no agreement, related to the Special Safeguards Mechanism (SSM) on agricultural imports,cotton subsidies by USA and intellectual property.

The country should know the status of the issues that have been decided and those that are yet to be resolved. The Polit Bureau therefore demands that the government issue a white paper on this matter.

CALL PARLIAMENT SESSION

The Polit Bureau expressed its strong disapproval of the way in which the UPA government has done away with the monsoon session of parliament which should have begun on August 11. The government has now decided to hold a truncated session from October 17 and to do away with the winter session altogether. It is apparent that the government is afraid to face parliament after the dubious way in which it got the trust vote.

The Polit Bureau demanded the immediate convening of the monsoon session. It should be followed by the holding of the regular winter session.

The president of India should advise the government not to abrogate parliament's rights and functions in this brazen fashion.

BIHAR FLOODS

The Polit Bureau expressed grave concern at the devastating floods in Bihar, the worst in its history, due to the Kosi river changing its course. It criticised the central government for its delayed response in tackling the disaster, given its enormous magnitude. Deployment of the army on a large scale is required.

The Polit Bureau approved plans for sending relief and medical teams to camps to be run by the Party in Bihar. The Polit Bureau exhorted all Party units to collect funds for the relief work.

NEXT CC MEETING

The next meeting of the Central Committee will be held on October 12, 13 and 14, 2008 at Kolkata.