[Marxistindia] Central Committee Communique

[news from the cpi(m)]

Press Communiqué


The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in
Kolkata on August 6 & 7, 2011. It has issued the following statement:

The Central Committee discussed the international and national political
situation.

Global Economic Crisis

The Central Committee noted that the global economy is yet to recover from
the economic crisis which started in 2008. The recent debt ceiling crisis
in the US and the continuing sovereign debt problem in some of the
European Union countries show how the neo-liberal policies have reached a
dead end. After bailing out the bankers and private financial
institutions, the governments in Europe and the United States are imposing
austerity measures which have to be borne by the people. The spending cuts
imposed in the United States will weaken the welfare programmes and worsen
the economic slowdown. High unemployment and cuts in pensions and welfare
benefits are leading to widespread protests by the workers, students and
youth in different countries of Europe.

The UPA government in India is not learning any lessons from this
financial and economic crisis and continues to adhere to neo-liberal
policies which are worsening the conditions of the people with relentless
prices rise, lack of employment opportunities and rampant corruption.

Engulfed by Corruption

The UPA government has become synonymous with high level corruption. Fresh
corruption scandals involving the higher echelons of the government are
coming out every day. Apart from the 2G spectrum case there has been
massive corruption involved in the KG Basin gas contract, as per the draft
report submitted by the CAG. In the Commonwealth Games corruption, the
involvement of the Delhi government and other Central Government agencies
in corrupt practices has been uncovered in the CAG report submitted to
parliament.

Whether it be the 2G Spectrum affair or the KG Basic gas contract issue or
the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as the Chairman of the CWG Organising
Committee, the role of the Prime Minister is questionable. In both the 2G
and KG basinmatters, the Prime Minister was fully aware of the
developments but did not stop the wrong doings. The Prime Minister has to
own up responsibility for presiding over this corrupt regime.

The Central Committees wishes to underline that it is the neo-liberal
policies pursued which has made the UPA government act as the facilitator
and handmaiden of the loot of public resources by big business and
corporates. High level corruption stems directly from this economic
regime.

The loot of natural resources is graphically illustrated by the rampant
illegal mining which is taking place. The Lokayukta report in Karnataka
has documented how largescale iron ore mining was taking place illegally
with the connivance of the BJP state government. Acting on the Lokayukta’s
report, prosecution must be launched against the corrupt practices of the
former Chief Minister Yedyurappa, the others named in the report and the
companies involved in this loot.

Lokpal Bill

The CPI(M) has already spelt out what type of legislation is required in
order to constitute an effective Lokpal. The government’s draft of the
Lokpal Bill is weak and ineffective. It does not bring the Prime Minister
under the purview of the Lokpal. Nor does it arm the Lokpal with effective
powers to take action against high level corruption by making it an
independent body. In this connection, the Central Committee decided to
conduct a campaign for an effective Lokpal and to mobilize public opinion
for it. The CPI(M) has also demanded a set of measures to curb high-level
corruption which includes the setting up of a national judicial commission
to check corruption in the higher judiciary, electoral reforms to curb use
of money power in elections and steps to unearth black money and bring
back the illegal money stashed abroad.


Price Rise & Inflation

The Central Committee condemned the government’s successive increase in
the prices of petroleum products including the latest increase in the
prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas. The inflation rate is ranging
between 9 to 10 per cent and the food inflation rate continues to be high.
The recent debate in the Lok Sabha on price rise shows the unwillingness
of the government to take effective and necessary measures to curb price
rise.

The Central Committee noted that the Central Government and the BJP came
to an agreed text and voted for the resolution which does not ascribe the
responsibility on the government for its failure to check price rise nor
does it demand withdrawal of the increase in the prices of the petroleum
products. The Left parties and some of the secular opposition parties
pressed for an amendment on the resolution and walked out in protest. The
Central Committee called upon all the Party units to continue the struggle
against price rise and to demand changes in the tax structure of petroleum
products.

Food Security Bill

The Government has finalized the Food Security Bill. It has rejected the
demand for a universal public distribution system and continued the
targeted system with only a change in the nomenclature of BPL and APL. The
Bill legalizes the present objectionable linkages between the Planning
Commission’s poverty estimates with the Statewise caps on those who may be
officially recognized as poor. This is capped at 46 per cent of the
population in rural areas and 28 per cent in urban areas. Thus a vast
section of the poor will continue to be excluded. At present the national
average of those benefiting from BPL schemes through State Government
subsidies is over 56 per cent. Secondly the price of rice, which is two
rupees in many States, has been kept at three rupees. Thirdly the BPL
allocation amount is 7 kg per individual while for APL it will be only 3
kg. The number of APL card holders may also be cut since 25 per cent of
the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population are to be
excluded by law. APL sections have been discriminated against also on the
question of prices, as the price of APL rice will not be a fixed price but
50 per cent of the minimum support price for foodgrains. Thus the seeds of
a conflict of interest have been sown between the farmer and the consumer.
In a objectionable move, the Bill makes it mandatory for State Governments
to accept a central scheme for introduction of cash transfers instead of
foodgrains. This will adversely impact on food security and also impact on
procurement and on protection for farmers.

The CPI(M) demands a comprehensive Food Security law which provides for a
universal public distribution system.

Land Acquisition

The Central Committee discussed the Party’s approach to land acquisition.
It reiterated the need for a composite Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation
& Resettlement Act to replace the existing 1894 Land Acquisition Act.

FDI In Retail

The Central Committee strongly opposed the proposed move to open retail
further to FDI by allowing it in the multi-brand sector. The UPA
government is serving the interests of the big US multinationals like
Walmart and giving the specious plea that bringing foreign investment in
retail trade will help check price rise.

The Central Committee warned the government not to proceed with the FDI in
retail. It called upon all forces who want to protect the interests of the
lakhs of shopkeepers and traders to unitedly build a movement against the
entry of multinationals in retail.

Terrorist Violence

The Central Committee noted with concern that terrorist violence continues
to occur. The three blasts in Mumbai city in July is the latest instance.
It is a matter of concern that those responsible for the Mumbai blasts and
other recent blasts like the German Bakery in Pune have not been
identified or apprehended. This shows the continuing failure of the
intelligence set up and the lack of coordination among various security
agencies.

Telengana Agitation

Though seven months have passed since the submission of the Sri Krishna
Committee report, the Central Government has not taken any decision on the
issue of Telengana and the future of Andhra Pradesh. The delay in taking a
decision is aggravating the situation in the state. Divisons among the
people on regional lines are growing. The Central Committee demanded that
the Central Government take a decision without any more delay.

West Bengal Situation

The Central Committee condemned the continuous attacks and violence
directed against the CPI(M) and the Left Front in West Bengal. Since the
election results 30 members and supporters of the CPI(M) have been killed,
hundreds of Party offices have been attacked or occupied, panchayat
members are being intimidated and prevented from doing their work, there
are still thousands of people who have left their homes and are not able
to return.

Under the new regime, attacks are taking place on the rights of bargadars,
pattadars and agricultural workers in many places. An effort is being made
to do away with the gains made by the peasantry and the rural poor in the
past three decades. The TMC led government has not taken any steps to stop
these attacks and to take action against those responsible.

The CPI(M) and the Left has been conducting a campaign all over the
country against the violence in West Bengal and for the defence of
democracy. The persisting attacks and violence in West Bengal is an
assault on the democratic rights and will be harmful for democracy in the
country.

Sri Lanka Tamils Issue

The Central Committee noted that though two years have passed since the
end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has not
taken any worthwhile steps to reach a political settlement on the Tamil
question. Though President Rajapakse had promised that after the war a
political settlement would be found, no progress has been made. It is
essential that specific measures are taken for the devolution of autonomy
to the Tamil-speaking areas of the Northern and Eastern regions so that
the Tamil people can live a life of dignity and as equal citizens within a
united Sri Lanka.

Along with this the Sri Lankan government should step up efforts to
rehabilitate all the displaced persons affected due to the conflict. The
serious allegations of atrocities and human rights violation by the armed
forces should be enquired into by a high level independent enquiry.  The
government of India should make all necessary efforts to ensure that a
political settlement is arrived at without any further delay.


Party Congress

The Central Committee decided to hold the 20th Congress of the Party at
Kozhikode in Kerala. The Congress will be held from 4 to 9 April, 2012.
The Central Committee decided on the state-wise number of delegates to be
elected to attend the Congress.


Future Programmes

The Central Committee decided to conduct the following actions and
programmes in the coming days:

(i)	The Party and the Left demands an effective Lokpal law and other
anti-corruption measures. For this, the Left parties will hold a
demonstration outside parliament on September 2.
(ii)	The Party will continue the campaign to stop the violence against the
CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal, all over the country. The Left Front
of West Bengal will hold a protest dharna in Delhi on August 25. On that
day, in all the state capitals, protest meetings will be held and
memorandums handed over to the Governors.
(iii)	The Party will conduct a campaign for an effective food security law
which includes a universal public distribution system. The Party will work
to see that the enrolment of the people under the BPL category is done by
including all sections of the poor.
(iv)	The Party will mobilize people to oppose FDI in retail along with the
trade unions and traders organizations.
(v)	The Party will extend its full support to the untied trade union
actions and the strike struggles of workers belonging to various sectors.
The Party will conduct movements against price rise and join the struggle
against land grab by corporates and in defence of farmers rights.