[Marxistindia] PB communique

[news from the cpi(m)]

August 4, 2018

Press Communique 

 

A meeting of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was
held on August 3 & 4, 2018 at New Delhi. It has issued the following
statement:

 

Support to Kisan-Mazdoor Agitations

 

The Polit Bureau reiterated the CPI(M)'s support to the kisan-mazdoor jail
bharo on August 9, 2018. Among other issues the peasant organisations are
demanding a complete liberation from all kinds of debts for the toiling
farmers and agricultural workers; legal guarantee of minimum support price
of one-and-half times of cost of production for all agricultural products;
immediate vesting of land in the name of tillers and implementation of the
Forest Rights Act; minimum pension of Rs 5,000 per month to all agricultural
workers, poor and middle peasants as also for a comprehensive crop insurance
scheme.

 

The Polit Bureau also extended its support to the big mobilization of
peasants, workers and agricultural labourers that will take place in New
Delhi on September 5, 2018. This protest in Delhi will highlight the issues
of crores of workers, peasants, agricultural workers, artisans and other
toiling people, to demand enhanced employment generation, better working
conditions, better lives and better future for their children.

 

Reverse SC Judgment on PoA Act

 

The Polit Bureau noted the belated decision taken by the Union Cabinet to
clear a Bill to reverse the judgment of the Supreme Court that diluted the
provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, under pressure from
large-scale protest actions. However, this is not enough.

 

It is essential that in order to safeguard the provisions of the Act from
any future misinterpretation and prevent its dilution, the Act should be
brought within the ambit of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

 

The Polit Bureau extended its wholehearted support to the demands raised by
various organisations on this issue as also the demand for the release of
all those under detention in connection with the April 2 bandh. Perpetrators
of violence against Dalits on that day must be punished.

 

Don't Deny Citizenship to any Indian

 

The Polit Bureau took stock of the situation consequent to the publication
of the draft NRC rolls in Assam. It condemned the misleading statement made
by the BJP President with regard to the exclusion of 40 lakh people
declaring them as "illegal migrants". Such irresponsible statements only add
to the fear and anxiety of an already harassed people.

 

It is evident that a large number of women have been left out despite
producing panchayat certificate as well as ration cards and other supporting
documents. Strangely, in a single family, some members are included while
others are excluded.  

 

The Polit Bureau reiterates its demand that all the complaints regarding
non-inclusion must be thoroughly and seriously examined and corrected.  The
time limit for claims on inclusion of names must be extended to allow people
to file their complaints. Only then the final NRC should be published.  It
has to be ensured that no single Indian should be denied citizenship.

 

Carry Out Electoral Reforms Urgently

 

The Polit Bureau, while emphasizing on the urgency of electoral reforms,
rejected the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state
assemblies being mooted by the BJP government as inherently anti-democratic.


 

Such far-reaching electoral reforms should be all comprehensive and should
address concerns about electoral funding, corruption, corporate control,
proportional representation, non-partisan and independent nature of the
election agencies, role of media etc. These far reaching measures need to be
put in place before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

 

In this context, the Polit Bureau demands the rollback of the scheme for
electoral bonds; the amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
made through the Finance Bill that paved the way for Indian subsidiaries of
foreign companies to contribute to political parties as also the amendment
to the Companies Act to remove the ceiling on political donations.  

 

The CPI(M) in consultation with all stakeholders will convene a meeting of
such parties at the national and state levels in pursuance of this agenda.

 

Draft HECI Bill: Regressive

 

The Polit Bureau called upon educationists, intellectuals, teaching
fraternity, students and all other concerned individuals and organisations
to build a broad resistance to the proposed Higher Education Commission of
India.

 

The NDA-II Government has repeatedly targeted Public-funded Higher Education
and Research in the last four years. It has been asking public-funded Higher
Educational institutions to generate a part of their costs through internal
resources and loans, drastically reducing seats and fellowships for M.Phil.
and Ph.D. research programmes, further curtailing SC/ST reservations, and
promoting short-term contractual employment of faculty and administrative
staff instead of permanent recruitment. 

 

Higher Educational Reform under the NDA-II Government is guided by twin
concerns of privatisation and social exclusion that threaten to destroy the
foundations of Higher Education in independent India and impede the salutary
role it has played, over decades, in empowering the common people with
learning, jobs and social confidence. Both of these are strongly reflected
in the Draft of the HECI (Repeal of UGC Act, 1956) Bill, 2018. 

 

Don't Introduce NMC Bill

 

The proposed National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill by the Modi government
is a systematic attack on whatever little achievement we have   made in the
realm of   medical education, science, research and health care system.
Instead of reforming and strengthening the Medical Council of India (MCI),
what is sought to be put in place is a bureaucratic organisation negating
the federal structure of our Constitution. In its attempt to appease the
giant MNCs, corporatisation of health system and suppressing dissenting
voices, the all-important 'patient' is criminally ignored. Both medical
education and health care system will be costlier and beyond the reach of
the poor, backward and marginalised sections of our population. 

 

The Polit Bureau expresses its solidarity with the medical fraternity who
are already up in arms against this damaging move of the government and
calls upon every section of   our society to oppose this draconian Bill.

 

Attacks in Bengal & Tripura Continue

 

The Polit Bureau condemned the continuing attacks against the Party and the
Left in Tripura & West Bengal. In Tripura, the targetting of Party offices
and cadres by the RSS/BJP continues unabated. In West Bengal also there has
been no respite in the attacks by the Trinamul Congress goons and the state
administration.

 

Mob Lynching

 

The Polit Bureau noted with concern the increasing instances of mob lynching
that have been reported from some states. The Supreme Court observations  on
mob lynching have held up a mirror to the Prime Minister and the BJP Central
Government under whose watch such crimes are being committed and vigilante
groups are allowed to rule the roost.  Many BJP leaders have come out openly
in support of such criminals. The very fact that the culprits, even when
identified, go unpunished speaks volumes of the patronization provided by
RSS/BJP to them.

 

The Polit Bureau reiterates its demand for the enactment of a comprehensive
law in the current session of Parliament to meet the apex court directions. 

 

Attacks on Independence of Media

 

The Polit Bureau expresses its grave concern over the increasing
intimidation of the media. During the course of the last four years of the
BJP rule most of the mainstream media have been coerced into submission. All
those who dare to speak critically of the government or expose its various
misdeeds have been coerced into silence. There are reports of television
programmes critical of the government being blocked. Such intolerance for
criticism and open threats to the media broods ill for democracy.

 

Failed Attack on Pinarayi Vijayan

 

The Polit Bureau condemns the attempt to attack Polit Bureau member and
Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan within the premises of the Kerala
House in New Delhi. How such an incident could occur needs to be probed.

 

Talks with Pakistan

 

In the background of the Prime Minister designate of Pakistan expressing his
desire for holding talks with India including on the Kashmir issue, the
Polit Bureau demands that the government of India should come out with its
response.

 

 

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