People's Democracy

CPI(M) Holds Uttarakhand State Conference

THE CPI(M) organised its fourth state conference in Uttarakhand at Tehri, from December 16 to 18, at a venue that was rechristened as Comrade M K Pandhe Nagar. The conference began with a procession of people on the opening day, and a number of rural people took part in the procession that began from Suman Park in New Tehri, moved through the town and culminated in a mass rally at Baurari Park. The participation of women was especially noticeable.

CPI(M) Central Committee member Tapan Sen was the chief speaker at the rally. He criticised both the Congress and the BJP for callously ignoring the problems facing the people and imposing ever new burdens on the people. He said the CPI(M) is the only party that has consistently raised the people’s issues, and stressed that strengthening the CPI(M) is necessary in order to evolve an alternative to the two ruling parties. Sen expressed the hope that the fourth conference proceedings would help the CPI(M) to emerge as a credible alternative in the state.

Veteran party leader and freedom fighter Satya Prakash hoisted the party’s flag at the conference venue, after which delegates and others paid floral tributes at the martyrs column. Various arches erected in the city on this occasion were named after Dev Suman, Bholu Nardari and Rawai Kand who courted martyrdom while fighting against the autocratic princely regime in Tehri.

Inaugurating the delegates session, Tapan Sen expressed the hope that the party would learn from its shortcomings in the state, overcome its weaknesses and strive to come to the centre of politics in Uttarakhand.

CPI(M) state secretary Vijay Rawat presented a political organisational report, which delegates discussed for two days before it was adopted with some amendments.

Anti-women violence, rising prices, violation of labour laws, forest act, closure of some projects, privatisation of education, problems arising out of growing urbanisation, and problems in getting caste certificates were some of the issues on which the conference adopted resolutions.

A presidium based on Bachchi Ram Kanswal, Gangadhar Nautiyal and Indu Nautiyal conducted the proceedings while Vijay Rawat, Surendra Singh Sajwan and Rajendra Negi formed the steering committee. A minutes committee and a credentials committee were also elected.

The new, 25 member state committee has two vacancies while two comrades are invitees to its meetings. The state committee elected a seven member state secretariat with Vijay Rawat as state secretary, and also elected Vijay Rawat, Bhagwan Singh Rana and Rajendra Negi as delegates to the party congress.

In his valedictory address, Bachchi Ram Kanwal, expressed the hope that the party in Uttarakhand would realise the targets set by the fourth state conference and move for ward.