[Marxistindia] Polit Bureau communique

[news from the cpi(m)]

January 12, 2020
 
Press Communique
 
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met at New Delhi
from January 11-12, 2020. It has issued the following statement:
 
Movement against CAA-NPR-NRC
 
The Polit Bureau hailed the countrywide protests against the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA) and the growing movement to protect the Constitution and
secularism.  The CAA undermines the secular concept of citizenship enshrined
in the  Constitution by introducing a religious criteria.  
 
The mass movement against the CAA-NPR-NRC consists of students, youth and
ordinary citizens who are able to clearly see the threat posed to the
Constitution and its democratic-secular values.  For the past one month,
protests had taken place every day in all parts of the country.
 
The Polit Bureau strongly condemns the brutal repression unleashed on the
peaceful protests and the police atrocities inside the Jamia Millia and
Aligarh Muslim University campuses.  The government must withdraw all the
false cases foisted on people and release all those arrested and in jail.  
 
The most brutal repression has been unleashed in Uttar Pradesh against
peaceful protestors, in particular those belonging to the Muslim community.
20 people have died due to police firing, hundreds of homes ransacked and
fines imposed.  All this is being done at the direct instigation of Chief
Minister Adityanath.
 
The CAA and the NRC are to be seen in tandem.  As per the Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules 2003,
a National Population Register (NPR) is to be compiled which will be the
basis for the NRC.  The government had notified that the NPR process will
take place from April 1 to September 30, 2020.  The NPR-NRC process will
affect millions of poor people and those belonging to marginalized
communities and target the minority community.  The Polit Bureau reiterates
its call for the withdrawal of the CAA. It demands that the Modi government
not proceed with the NPR as notified.
 
The Polit Bureau appeals to all the Chief Ministers who have announced that
they will not accept the NRC to put on hold the NPR process in their states.
It is by doing so that they can stop the implementation of the NRC.
 
The Polit Bureau meeting discussed the ways and means for sustaining and
advancing the peaceful protest movement against the CAA-NPR-NRC all over the
country.  It called for the unity of all secular and democratic forces to
carry forward the movement.  
 
Remove Curbs in Jammu & Kashmir
 
Five months after the abrogation of Article 370 and the dismantling of the
state of Jammu & Kashmir, the people of Kashmir continue to be deprived of
various rights and liberties.  Hundreds of leaders and activists are under
detention, right to assemble denied and internet shutdown.  
 
The Polit Bureau demands that the government restore internet service in
keeping with the spirit of the Supreme Court judgment.  All other curbs
should be lifted and detention of political leaders revoked.
 
Attack on JNU
 
The Polit Bureau condemned the violence unleashed by the ABVP-RSS goons in
JNU campus on January 5 which injured 29 students and teachers including the
JNUSU President, Aishe Ghosh.  It was a shocking spectacle to see the Delhi
police standing by, allowing the goons to run riot and later facilitating
their exit from the campus.
 
The Delhi police investigations are biased and mostly targeting the student
activists belonging to the Students Union and not the actual culprits.  The
HRD Ministry should intervene to see that the steep fee hikes are rescinded.
The Vice Chancellor who is responsible for destroying the character of the
university must be removed.  
 
January 8 Strike
 
The Polit Bureau congratulated the working class, employees, peasants,
agricultural workers, students and other sections of the working people who
made the general strike call on January 8 a big success.  The strike took
place across industries, public sector enterprises, financial and
unorganized sectors.  Across the country, tens of thousands of peasants and
agricultural workers participated in the road and rail rokos.  School,
college and university teachers participated widely.  The strike was a
warning to the Modi government not to pursue anti-working class and
anti-people policies.
 
Halt Price Rise
 
The Polit Bureau expressed serious concern at rising inflation rate  and the
price rise of food items and essential commodities.  This is compounded by
the increase in the price of petrol and diesel.  The government should take
immediate steps to check the price rise and reduce the excise duties on
petrol and diesel.  
 
Discrimination against Kerala
 
The Central government is adopting a discriminatory and negative attitude to
Kerala's fiscal requirements. Kerala is entitled to Rs. 24,915 crores as
public borrowing for the year 2019-20.  This has been unilaterally reduced
by the Centre to Rs. 16,602 crores in the name of neutralizing the alleged
increase in public account debt in 2016-17.  
 
The GST compensation of Rs. 1,600 crore due in December has not been paid.
The arrears on account of MGNREGS is Rs. 1,215 crore and for payment for
paddy procurement is Rs. 1,035 crore.  Kerala has been denied any allocation
for natural calamity relief despite submitting a claim for Rs. 2,100 crore.

 
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands an end to this discriminatory
approach by the Centre.  The Kerala government should get the funds due
under the various accounts.  The Central government should also provide
allocation under the natural calamity relief fund to the state which had
suffered from serious floods in 2019.  
 
Killing of Iranian General
 
The Polit Bureau reiterated its strong condemnation of the assassination of
the Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani, by the United States in Baghdad.
This was an act of impunity and in violation of all international norms.  
 
Central Committee Meeting
 
The Polit Bureau discussed the Draft Report on Political Developments to be
placed before the forthcoming meeting of the Central Committee to be held at
Thiruvananthapuram between January 17-19, 2020.  
 
 
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