CPI(M) CC deals with violence and economic conditions

Communist Party of India (Marxist) made a statement on a number of issues including the intensification of right-wing violence and the worsening of economic conditions.

ICP, 20 October 2017

The Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met last week at New Delhi. The CC issued a statement on the recent provocations of BJP in Kerala, the neglect of the Modi government towards corruption, the legitimisation of the use of private arms against minorities, the worsening of the economic situation in agriculture and the service sector. The statement also underlined the growing struggle of the people against these conditions and the preparations for the 22nd Congress of the CPI(M).

The statement is as follows:

BJP's Flop Yatra

The Central Committee commends the people of Kerala for foiling the conspiracy of the BJP to escalate violence in the state, despite severe provocations. The lukewarm response that the yatra received in the initial stages itself forced the BJP President to abandon it midway and return to Delhi. The people of Kerala know that it is the saffron terror of the RSS/BJP that is responsible for the recurring political violence in Kerala. The violence in fact was begun by the RSS four and half decades back. These attacks escalate whenever there is a LDF government in office. All these have been well documented. 

That the fortnight long yatra had a negative impact is borne by the results of the by-elections to the Vengara assembly constituency where the BJP vote fell sharply and it was pushed to the fourth position. Even in Delhi the BJP demonstrated before the CPI(M) headquarters for 14 days with central ministers leading it. The BJP's scant respect for democracy and the lumpen politics that it pursues was very much evident in the decision of the ruling party at the Centre to hold demonstrations in front of the headquarters of a recognised national party for a prolonged 14-day period, disturbing the traffic, markets and schools in the neighbourhood. 

Under the guise of protests BJP-RSS hoodlums have attacked CPI(M) offices in Bhubaneshwar, Vishakapattanam, Dehradun and other places. The Central Committee observed that this all-out campaign against the Left and the CPI(M) in particular has been intensified because of the consistent struggle that the Party and the Left have been waging against their communal politics; neo-liberal economic reforms; subverting parliamentary democracy and educational and cultural institutions and their abject surrender to US imperialism. The plummeting popularity of the BJP and the NDA that it heads is forcing the BJP to mount such attacks on the Left, the Central Committee concluded.  

The Central Committee resolved that the CPI(M) will not be cowed down by such attacks and it decided to intensify the campaign against this government's anti-people and anti-national policies. 

Institute Probe Against Jay Amit Shah 

The Central Committee noted that despite its high decibel campaign during the 2014 elections to not tolerate corruption, there is not a single instance in which the BJP government has taken action in any of the corruption scandals that have come to the fore during its tenure at both the Centre and in the states ruled by it. In the latest scam involving Jay Shah, son of BJP President Amit Shah, Union Cabinet Ministers have been fielded to come out in his defence. None of the spokespersons however have contested the facts that were made public by the expose. 

It would have been farfetched to expect that the Modi government would have handed over investigations to the CBI, ED and the Income Tax department, like in the case of some businessmen and opposition politicians on corruption and money laundering charges. Even in the other cases like the Vyapam scam, Bihar land scam, Panama Papers, Sahara-Birla diaries, Lalit Modi case etc, the government has deliberately refused to initiate any proceedings. 

The Central Committee demands that the Modi government should launch proceedings in all these cases.  

Legitimising Illegal Private Armies

The Central Committee noted with concern that instead of dealing sternly with private armies masquerading as Gau Rakshaks who are targeting dalits and members of the minority community, indulging in loot, arson and killings, the actions of the BJP governments in various states are, in fact, providing legitimacy to such hooligans. The latest is the case of the honouring of the killers of Mohd. Akhlaq. While the body of the main accused who died in jail some time back was draped in the national flag, his wife has been promised a job in a primary school by the Uttar Pradesh government. The other accused have been offered jobs in the National Thermal Power Corporation.

Such rewards being doled out to criminals will only bolster their courage and encourage more such armies to indulge in such attacks, is borne out by the fact that only two days back in Faridabad five Muslims were attacked on the allegation that they were carrying beef.

The Central Committee demands that there should be a central ban on all such RSS-inspired private armies. 

Worsening Economic Situation 

Increasing Burdens on the People 

The Central Committee noted with concern the worsening health of the economy as well as the increasing miseries of the people. The fiasco of demonetisation and the GST are coming home to roost. Growing distress suicides by farmers reflecting the deepening agrarian crisis, the virtual ruination of the MSME sector have resulted in large scale job loss. The drastic cuts in allocations to schemes like the MNREGA have further squeezed the job opportunities in the rural areas.

The services sector is also showing a contraction and consequent job loss. The overall picture of the economy is gloomy. The Modi government seems to have no clue and is indulging in jugglery. Despite this being festival season there is gloom in the retail markets, with sales still being unable to pick up though just a couple of days are left for Deepawali. 

The Central Committee condemned the writing off of Non-Performing Assets (unpaid loans) of the big corporates amounting to more than Rs. 2 lakh crores (roughly one-fifth of the total of 11.5 lakh crores including interest), instead of initiating recovery proceedings. In sharp contrast, when small farmers and those with small amounts of loans are unable to pay back, their properties are confiscated. 

Growing People's Struggles 

The Central Committee congratulated the kisans of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh etc for launching big struggles for the implementation of the election promise made by the BJP of announcing a Minimum Support Price of one and a half times the production cost, as also a loan waiver. The Central Committee reiterated the CPI(M)'s demand for enacting a Central legislation whereby the government shall compulsorily buy the produce of the kisans at the above Minimum Support Price. 

The Central Committee also noted the preparations being made by various sections of the people for big struggles against the disastrous economic policies. The Central Committee while extending its support to these initiatives called upon the people who are suffering due to the devastating effects of the economic policies of this Modi government to join the protests being planned by the trade unions, peasants, students-youths, and other sections of the people. 

22nd Congress Preparations 

The Central Committee decided to hold the 22nd Congress of the Party from April 18 to 22, 2018. A total of 765 elected delegates will participate in the Congress to be held at Hyderabad.  The Central Committee authorized the Polit Bureau to prepare the Draft Political Resolution for the 22nd Congress on the basis of the Polit Bureau outline and the discussions in the Central Committee.