[Marxistindia] Press Communique

[news from the cpi(m)]

March 4, 2019

 

Press Communique

 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met at New
Delhi on March 4-5, 2019. It has issued the following statement:

 

Pulwama Terrorist Attack and Aftermath

 

Post-Pulwama air strike by the Indian Air Force inside Pakistan territory,
the retaliation by Pakistan the next day and the subsequent release of Wing
Commander Abhinandan must lead India to step up its diplomatic efforts to
exercise international pressure on Pakistan to purge terror outfits and
cross-border terrorist activities.  

 

A united India rose against terrorism. Instead of strengthening this, the
post-Pulwama developments are seeing an orchestrated effort by the BJP and
Sangh Parivar outfits to rouse jingoistic nationalism.  The targeting of
Kashmiris in various parts of the country, the calls for abrogation of
Articles 370 and 35A are all turning this battle of Indians against
terrorism into battles against Kashmiris and Muslims to further deepen the
communal polarization.  

 

The CPI(M) denounces these efforts to disrupt the united fight of India
against terrorism by the BJP and leaders of its government.

 

Failure of Modi's Jammu & Kashmir Policy

 

During the course of this Modi government, the number of terrorist incidents
saw a rise of 176 per cent.  The number of security personnel and civilians
killed in such terrorist attacks has grown.  The number of security
personnel killed saw a rise of 93 per cent. On an average, eleven terrorists
infiltrated every month between 2014 and 2018.

 

More dangerous trend has been the sharp rise in local Kashmiri youth joining
terrorist groups from 16 in 2013 to 164 in 2018.  This deepening alienation
of Kashmiri youth is a consequence of the Modi government reneging on its
promises to initiate a political process of dialogue with all the
stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir and the implementation of confidence
building measures.  Clearly, the terrorist strikes continued and intensified
even after the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force after
the terrorist attack on army units in Uri in September 2016.

 

It is Prime Minister Modi and BJP leaders who are politicizing this issue
and disrupting the united fight of Indians against terrorism for their
partisan electoral benefit.  

 

Deepening Economic Crisis

 

Even by the changed methodology adopted by the Modi government for GDP
calculations, 2018-19 GDP growth at 7 per cent is the lowest  in the last
five years.  2018 last quarter growth rate was even lower at 6.6 per cent.
This means that the economy is loosing further steam leading to a sharper
growth in unemployment and a further deterioration in the living conditions
of the vast majority of our people.

 

Agricultural distress is deepening further.  The gross value added saw a
massive drop of 46 per cent between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

 

Crony Capitalism

 

Privatisation of Airports: On the eve of the elections, the Modi government
has handed over five major public airports to the Adani group.  With revenue
per passenger as the only reference point for tenders, the Modi government
bypassed the consideration of experience in managing airports  and handed
over to the Adani group which has no experience in managing airports. This
is similar to the Rafale offset deals going to the Anil Ambani with no prior
experience in the field of defence production. 

 

Private Players to Use Aadhar Data Base:  The Union Cabinet cleared an
ordinance on February 28,  which allows private corporates to use the Aadhar
data base for profits in the absence of a data protection law.  Such a law
was assured by the government but never saw the light of the day. This  is a
Constitutional outrage as the Rajya Sabha has not passed this legislation
and the Lok Sabha is scheduled to not meet again till after the general
elections.  

 

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) calls upon the President of India not to
sanction this ordinance.  

 

 

 

 

Assault on Social Justice

 

The Modi government's notification to introduce a new roster system for
reservations in teachers appointments, in public-funded universities and
colleges is leading to further disempowerment of the socially and
educationally backward classes.  This undermines the Constitutional
directive of ensuring social justice and equal opportunities.

 

The CPI(M) demands the promulgation of a Central  ordinance to restore
status quo ante.  To mark the anniversary of this betrayal of SC, ST, OBC
rights in academic jobs, many organisations have given a call for protest
struggles on March 5, 2019.  

 

The CPI(M) extends its full support to these actions.

 

Rights of Adivasis 

 

The Modi government betrayed the rights of the adivasis by its deliberate
absence in the Supreme Court hearing of the case challenging the Forest
Rights Act.  Though the order has been put in abeyance in July 2019, the
threat of depriving 23 lakh tribals from their right to land continues.

 

Lok Sabha Elections

 

The Central Committee reiterated its earlier decision that the electoral
tactics adopted by the Party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections will be
based on the following:

 

a) Defeat the BJP alliance

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

c) Ensure that an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre.

 

In order to ensure the maximum pooling of anti-BJP votes, state level
electoral tactics are being worked out. In states where the direct contest
is between the Congress and BJP, the CPI(M) will contest one or two seats
and campaign generally for the defeat of the BJP. 

 

In Tamilnadu, discussions are on for seat sharing with the DMK.  

 

In Maharashtra, discussions are on with the NCP for contesting Dindori or
Palghar seats where the CPI(M) independently polls around a lakh of vote
each.  

 

In Bihar, talks are being held with the RJD for contesting Ujiarpur seat in
Samastipur district.

 

In Odisha, where simultaneous elections will be held, the CPI(M) will
contest the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha and a few Assembly seats including its
sitting seat Bonnai.  It calls upon the people of Odisha to defeat the BJP.
The CPI(M), along with other Left forces, will be working out the details
particularly in the background  of various struggles it has launched against
the state government.

 

In West Bengal, the Central Committee had earlier decided that the CPI(M)
will adopt suitable tactics to ensure the maximization of the pooling of
anti-BJP, anti-TMC votes.  In accordance with this, the CPI(M) proposes no
mutual contest in the present six sitting Lok Sabha seats, currently held by
Congress and the Left Front.

 

The Left Front is meeting on March 8 to finalise the other seats.

 

Modi Ridicules the Disabled

The Central Committee deplores the ridiculing of people with dyslexia by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with students at the
Smart India Hackathon 2019 on March 2. In an attempt to portray his
political rivals in poor light, the PM displayed his regressive mindset.
Coming from a high office, such insensitive behavior is unacceptable.

Disciplinary Action

 

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) decided to suspend CC member and its
Maharashtra secretary, Comrade Narasayya Adam, from the Central Committee
for three months.  This is a consequence of his speech at a public event in
Solapur in the presence of the Prime Minister and state Chief Minister which
hurt the Party's image.  

 

 

 

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

 

 

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