[Marxistindia] Press Communique

[news from the cpi(m)]

February 9, 2019

 

Press Communique

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met on February
8-9, 2019 at New Delhi. It has issued the following statement:

 

Rising People's Protests

 

The Polit Bureau salutes the people of Kerala and West Bengal on the manner
in which they responded to the calls given by the CPI(M) and the Left
parties in their respective states.  

 

Women's Wall in Kerala:  More than 55 lakh women held a human chain linking
the northern tip of Kerala to its southern tip to uphold equal rights for
women and for carrying forward the renaissance movement in Kerala.  

 

West Bengal Rally:  West Bengal saw probably one of the largest gathering of
people in response to the Left Front's call at the historic Brigade Parade
Ground in Kolkata under the slogan `Oust Modi Government, Save India; Oust
TMC Government, Save Bengal'. 

 

Tripura: The people and the CPI(M) rank and file continue to resist the
fascistic attacks mounted by the BJP and its state government.

 

General Election Preparations

 

The Polit Bureau discussed the state-wise reports on the electoral tactics
the Party would pursue in order to achieve the following tasks:

 

.        Defeat the BJP alliance

.        Increase the strength of the CPI(M) and the Left in the Lok Sabha 

.        Ensure an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre.

 

The Central Committee meeting scheduled to be held on March 3-4, 2019 will
finalise the details.

 

Rafale Scam

 

Ever since the Rafale deal was renegotiated by the Modi government, there
have been a flood of reports that alleged that the price being paid for the
planes in question is much higher than what had been decided in the initial
agreement. The BJP-led NDA government has been making vain attempts to
defend the deal on one pretext or the other and has been unsuccessfully
seeking to brush off allegations of favouritism, corruption and crony
capitalism of the worst kind.

 

The Modi government has consistently undermined the capability of the air
force and the authority of the Defence Ministry in its attempt to defend the
corruption involved in the Rafale deal. This has cost the public exchequer
heavily and caused damage to national security. 

 

The Polit Bureau reiterates that a Joint Parliamentary Committee must be
established to go into the entire scam and identify those responsible for
such high level corruption, crony capitalism and undermining India's defence
interests.  The Modi government's obdurate refusal to do so is tantamount to
"admission of guilt". 

 

Increasing Unemployment

 

The BJP had promised to generate two crore new jobs every year. But
according to data of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), that is
being prevented from publication by Modi government, unemployment rate in
India is at a 45-year-high of 6.1% in 2017-18. 

 

As against the promised ten crore new jobs, crores of employed persons have
lost their jobs and joined the ranks of the unemployed. According to
reports, the NSSO Survey says that unemployment for rural male youth (aged
15-29) went up from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 17.4 per cent in 2017-18. The
corresponding figures for rural women in the same age group, was 13.6 per
cent, up from 4.8 per cent.

 

The Polit Bureau calls upon all its units and the Indian youth to mount
popular pressure through struggles against the Modi government's policies
that is depriving our youth the possibility of realizing their potential.

 

 

 

Withdraw NSA

 

The Polit Bureau condemned the Madhya Pradesh Congress state government's
decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against five persons
arrested on allegations of cow slaughter.  This stringent legislation was
meant to be used against anti-national terrorists. Instead, it's invocation
over such allegations displays an effort to appease the communal elements.  

 

The Polit Bureau demands the revocation of the NSA.  The existing provisions
of law would be sufficient to deal with any such allegations.  

 

Attacks on Education

 

The Polit Bureau expressed serious concern over the severe onslaught mounted
by the BJP government on public funded education at all levels, particularly
on institutions of higher learning and research. Slashing of funds,
undermining autonomy and principles of social justice, together with
deepening communal orientation through the promotion of mythology as a
substitute for objective scientific learning and history have become the
order of the day. The Polit Bureau extends its support to the united protest
march of teachers of all categories, students and non-teaching employees on
February 19 in New Delhi. 

 

 

 

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

 

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