People's Democracy

CPI(M) HARYANA STATE CONFERENCE

Intensify Struggles, Strengthen Organisation for Advancement

Inderjit Singh

THE three-day 13th Haryana state conference of the CPI(M) at Bhiwani successfully concluded on January 31 with a resolute determination to intensify the struggles of the basic classes and to multiply the independent strength of the party and strengthen the Left and democratic movement in the state simultaneously. A total of 233 delegates and observers including 27 women, drawn from all the 21 districts, participated in the conference for which elaborate arrangements were made.

The conference was preceded by an impressive rally on January 31, at Comrade Jyoti Basu Manch which itself unfolded the political terrain and worked as a general tone-setter for the organisational task-setting for the delegates conference. The Ahwaan rally was actually a unique event in some respects like the number of women, or of the rural poor participating in it, apart from the audience’s responsive.

The rally was of a size not seen in Bhiwani in recent years. Toiling peasants and workers listened with rapt attention the views on the present situation placed by the speakers including party Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechuri who opened his address by greeting the participants assembled  there as a reflection of their struggles and a preparation for the future battles. While explaining the current global scenario, he referred to the unprecedented crisis of the developed capitalist world affecting all countries. Millions of people in the US and Europe were rendered jobless and homeless while large sections have lost their pensions and other social security support. Widespread anger was being continuously expressed in the streets in more than 115 big cities of the world. Yechury stressed that this crisis has yet again exposed that capitalism cannot go on without profit and crises. In this context, he recalled how, in the wake of decline of socialism in Soviet Union two decades ago, capitalism was described as the end of history and hollow claims were made that socialism was no alternative to capitalism,.

Highlighting the national situation, Yechury said it was the same crony capitalism that has given rise to two Indias here --- the one that was glorified as shining India with dollar millionaires numbering 55 while another, on the contrary, was the suffering India comprising those 80 crores who were made to survive on mere twenty rupees a day.

Yechury said it was mainly the neo-liberal path of development that was the fountainhead of rampant corruption as exposed in the 2G spectrum scam and a series of other infamous scandals. It was in this background that, when the Lokpal bill was being discussed in parliament, the CPI(M) proposed that the corporate sector must be brought within the Lokpal’s ambit. He urged the people to see through the game as to how the Congress and the BJP joined hands to oppose this crucial amendment.

CPI(M) state  secretary Inderjit Singh stated that the development and progress often glorified by the ruling parties of Haryana was actually a lopsided and distorted model of development which has led the state to widening disparities not only in economic but in social sphere as well. Agrarian sector is being totally ignored, industrialisation remains elusive, health and education are being fast commercialised, and crime is on the rise every passing day. But the state government has embarked on blind land acquisition and privatisation of public services in order to provide super benefits to the favoured neo-rich sections, he said.

Others who addressed the rally including CPI(M) Central Secretariat member Nilotpal Basu, AIKS leader Amra Ram MLA, state secretariat members Surender Singh and Jagmati, Ram Kumar, Satbir Singh and Phool Singh Sheokand.

The state conference began with flag hoisting by Parkash Chander at the well decorated venue named as Comrade Surjeet Nagar. Sitaram Yechury delivered the inaugural address in the Prithvi-Prabhat Hall after homage was paid to martyrs and departed leaders, through a condolence resolution moved by Jagmati Sangwan. The inaugural session was presided over by Balbir Dahiya.

Yechury said the CPI(M) was once again debating the ideological issues more deeply and thoroughly since its 14th congress held at Madras in 1992. He reminded that notwithstanding the reverses suffered in Soviet Union, the CPI(M) firmly believes in socialism as the only alternative for liberation of mankind. The subsequent developments over the two decades have validated the correctness of our understanding that was based on the science of Marxism-Leninism and a concrete analysis of the evolving situation. Yechury said though the objective conditions in India are very much conducive, the subjective factor, a necessary aspect for revolution, is still very weak. Therefore, the task before us is to work for strengthening of the subjective factor, i.e. revolutionary forces and the anti imperialist movement, he concluded.

After the election of a presidium and committees, CPI(M) state secretary placed a detailed report on behalf of the state committee. The report dealt with the socio-economic situation in Haryana as a result of the neo-liberal policies and its concrete impact on various sections of the people. The socially disadvantaged sections are getting more vulnerable to oppression as they are being thrown to the margins of economy. The report analysed the major activities undertaken during the past four years in terms of weaknesses and achievements. It pointed out that more importance should have been given to social issues. In its section on party organisation, the report dealt with the progress and drawbacks in the light of the decisions taken by the last state conference. It also underlined the irreparable loss suffered by the party due to untimely death of Comrade Prithvi Singh and Comrade Prabhat Singh.

There has been a modest increase in party membership, from 1881 to 2714, but it could have been more in view of the possibilities created through successful campaigns that were launched on a variety of issues including local problems, price rise, corruption and livelihood issues. The total membership of mass organisations has, however, recorded a better increase --- from 1 lakh 50 thousands at the time of the last conference to 3 lakh 25 thousands now. The number of district units with more than 200 membership has also increased from three to five. But lack of formation of primary units at the level of mass fronts and non-functioning of many party branches still continue to be the main organisational weaknesses as identified in the report.

A total 45 delegates participated in the discussion after two rounds of serious group discussions in their respective delegations and mass fronts. Many positive and creative suggestions were given and the report was unanimously adopted. The report concluded with a call to intensify the struggles and expand the independent strength of the party which was the most essential factor for any political advancement towards a Left and democratic alternative.

The conference adopted resolutions on various burning issues including  February 28 all-India strike, food security, against FDI in retail trade, on education and health, on social justice, on plight of women in Haryana, against the proposed nuclear power plant, on agrarian crisis etc.

The conference elected a 30 member state committee which, in turn, re-elected Inderjit Singh as secretary and a state secretariat. It also elected five members as permanent invitees and two more as special invitees to the state committee. A three member Control Commission and four delegates to the party congress were also elected.

According to the credentials committee’s report, 29 delegates were up to 30 years, 32 delegates between 31 and 40 years, 75 between 41 and 50, 62 between 51 and 60, and 30 were above 60 years of age. The literacy status showed only 2 delegates as illiterate, while 9  were mere literate, 10 were educated up to primary, 20 were below matrics, 20 up to senior secondary, 44 graduates, 2 PhDs, one surgeon and one BE.

According to the period of joining the party, 12 had joined it before 1977, 132 joined between 1977-97, and 83 after 1998. Front-wise break up showed 67 from trade unions, 23 from agriculture workers, 41 from kisans, 22 from the women’s front, 12 youth, 6 student, 22 cultural and 30 service sector. Of the delegates, 71 were wholetimers, 3 were elected Zilla Parishad members and 1 was a Municipal Councillor.

Nilotpal Basu delivered the concluding address, emphasising the urgency to remove the gaps in the existing strength of the party and utilise the possibilities that are visible in Haryana. He pointed out that we have not been able to intervene according to scope, not consolidated our organisation according to our intervention and not built up the party in accordance with mass fronts’ expansion.

Basu congratulated the comrades for successful organisation of the state conference. He stressed the need to implement in practice the principle of collective work with individual responsibility in our functioning.