Opposing Free Market Economy for Two Decades, CPIM Opts for Free Market Economy!After its recent poll debacle in West Bengal and Kerala, the Communist Party of India-Marxist is getting ready for an image makeover. In an effort to reach out to the com

Opposing Free Market Economy for Two Decades, CPIM Opts for Free Market Economy!After its recent poll debacle in West Bengal and Kerala, the Communist Party of India-Marxist is getting ready for an image makeover. In an effort to reach out to the common man, the party will invite public opinion — for the first time — in deciding an ideological issue, and that too, using new media.Had the Marxist with their Trade Union Monopoly Resisted Neo Liberal Policies and Economic Reforms, there was NO chance for LPG Mafia to Rule India for Mass Destruction!

Need of the hour to expand CPI(M) base in other states: Prakash Karat

Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and

Time - SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY SIX

Palash Biswas

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Opposing Free Market Economy for Two Decades, CPIM Opts for Free Market Economy!After its recent poll debacle in West Bengal and Kerala, the Communist Party of India-Marxist is getting ready for an image makeover. In an effort to reach out to the common man, the party will invite public opinion — for the first time — in deciding an ideological issue, and that too, using new media.

My father Late Pulin Babu , the refugee leader who fought for the Mulnivasi Bahujan lifelong, had been a Marxist and would warn me everytime, NEVER To Believe the Marxists! As they are so habitual to BETRAY! I never did agree! But ironically, we all realise the Truth.

Had the Marxist with their Trade Union Monopoly Resisted Neo Liberal Policies and Economic Reforms, there was NO chance for LPG Mafia to Rule India for Mass Destruction!

The party, after an ongoing four-day meeting of its central committee, is likely to come out with a final draft of its political and ideological resolutions by January 20. It may deal with issues like the kind of ideological model that should be pursued among countries practising Communism, including China and several Latin American countries. While the apex body, the politburo, met today, the central committee will hold a full session for the next three days at the state headquarters.

The CPM has finally bid farewell to its third front dream, two years after its experiment failed, leading to an intense internal churning. The focus will now be on forging a "Left and democratic" front, but interestingly that long-term goal would not stop the party from cooperating with regional parties on specific policy and other issues, and entering into state-level electoral understandings.

The ambitious idea of forging a third front — the party prefers to call it a third alternative — has been a feature of its political line for many years. The setback in the 2009 general elections, however, came as an eye-opener. The CPM had in the past also talked about a Left and democratic alternative but its attention was on forging a third front which has now been officially dumped.

The draft political resolution — to be adopted at the CPM's 20th Party Congress in April — says the party should "develop and maintain relations" with regional parties which are not with the Congress and the BJP, cooperate with them on an issue-to-issue basis, launch joint actions and forge "electoral understandings" with them as and when required.

But the "only real alternative to the bourgeois-landlord order" which is in place after two decades of economic liberalisation is the Left and democratic programme for which it has identified 12 "policies and demands". CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said the party would take the initiative to draw Left-minded groups to a broader Left platform. Besides, it would strive to bring about a greater Left unity.

According to the party, the public can also comment and participate in the discussion on the draft, as it would be uploaded on its website.

"This is for the first time that we are doing like this," says Mohammed Salim, a party politburo member from West Bengal. "Earlier, when we adopted such ideological resolutions in 1968 and for the last time in 1992 during the Chennai congress, only opinion from party members were invited. But in the changing phase, we are now open to concepts from the common man and net-savvy youth."

The draft resolutions would be tabled at the 20th party congress to be held at Kozhikode, Kerala from April 4-9. The draft would cover recent developments, including the poor show at elections in West Bengal and Kerala and the possibility of reviving third front.

More important, it will shape the CPM's ideological thinking in the coming days.

"Considering the recent economic and political developments across the world, an ideological change is needed," Salim said. After the central committee clearance, the draft resolutions would be circulated among all members and introduced in the party congress with amendments. While CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat was batting for following the neo-liberal thinking of countries like China and some Latin American countries, some leaders were against the move.

The CPI(M) political resolution says the third front experiment in 2009 general elections was a big fiasco and misadventure. Instead of being part of a third front, the party now wants to keep its option open for mobilising different non Congress and non BJP secular parties on common issues.

"There will be no intermediary layer like third alternative or third front. Many of the parties in the so-called Third Front have the same neo liberal vision as that of the Congress and BJP and it's not right for us to be part of such a front,'' said a senior leader.

The party feels that the third alternative could only evolve through common struggles and convergence of ideas on issues.

The party is for issue based struggle, understanding and floor coordination in the Parliament with non Congress and non BJP secular parties on common issues.

Karat's decision to forge a Left-led alternative during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls has been described as a "Parliamentary Opportunism," in the draft political resolution. The draft resolution will be adopted at the forthcoming Party Congress of CPI(M) to be held in Kozhikode in April. During the last CC meeting, held this month, sources said Mr Karat had deftly tried to push for a left led alternative to Congress and BJP.

The CPI-M today said the electoral reverses in West Bengal and Kerala have made it imperative to expand its influence in other parts of the country, focus on building Left unity and project a Left and democratic alternative to counter the Congress and the BJP.

"In the current situation when the Left has suffered serious electoral reverses, and when West Bengal, the strongest base of the party is under attack, it is of utmost importance to expand the influence and the base of the party in other states," CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference here.

Releasing the draft political resolution for debate within the party two months ahead of the 20th Congress in April, he said the "central focus" now would be on strengthening the party and stepping up its independent role and activities.

Karat said the fact that CPI-M was contesting the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab independently pointed towards this political understanding the party has adopted now.

On the question of unity within the Left parties, Karat acknowledged differences between the CPI-M and the CPI on issues like Telangana or the problems of the erstwhile Left Front government in West Bengal.

While the CPI supports the formation of Telangana, the CPI-M does not. The CPI has been critical of the CPI-M in the running of the Left Front and its defeat at the hustings.

However, Karat made it clear that these have to be addressed in "a critical and fraternal manner so that it does not weaken the Left Front. The ferocious attack on the Left should be met with a collective resolve and by going to the people in a united way".

Asked about CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan's recent public criticism of CPI-M in the context of the Left defeat in West Bengal, he said, "There must be a balanced understanding. The Left Front ruled for 34 years, won seven consecutive assembly elections and achieved so much.

"That must be seen in perspective. There may be different views. We should discuss this in a constructive and fraternal manner within the Left Front."

Maintaining that there has to be greater emphasis on Left unity, he said there were a number of Left-minded groups and individuals outside Left parties "who should be brought together on issues which the Left advocates."

Noting that CPI(M) would "politically fight" the Congress and BJP which represented "the big bourgeois-landlord order that perpetuates class exploitation", Karat said the party would put forth a Left and democratic alternative through struggles on people's issues and projecting alternatives to the 'neo-liberal' policies pursued by the UPA-II government.

In this process, it could become necessary to "rally those non-Congress, non-BJP forces which can play a role in defence of democracy, national sovereignty, secularism, federalism and defence of the people's livelihood and rights," Karat said quoting the draft resolution.

The draft resolution, which would now be debated within all ranks of the CPI-M, deals in depth with the international developments.

On national developments, it deals with issues ranging from policies of liberalisation, price situation, corruption, land acquisition and agrarian situation to foreign policy, Maoist violence, communal and terrorist threats and the situation in Kashmir and the Northeast.

The draft would be finally adopted at the party congress to be held in Kozhikode from April 4-9.

Agartala: The Communist movement in India will not fall back despite attacks and conspiracies. Its fight against the social exploitation of Dalits, tribals, the poor and others would make it stronger, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here Sunday.

"During the freedom struggle, Communists had shown the way to the entire country. Over 450 Left partymen were killed, thousands made homeless, hundreds of party offices were destroyed in a few years in Bengal. But the Communists would not run away," Karat said.

The CPI-M general secretary while addressing a mammoth gathering here said: "Due to economic liberalism, crores of youths have remained jobless and unemployment is increasing everyday."

He said there are 55 men in India whose assets valued are over Rs.50,000 crores and 20 years ago, the number of such wealthy men was only nine.

"Since 1995, over 256,000 farmers have committed suicide. After the Left governance in Bengal and Kerala, farmers's suicides have again begun in these two states," Karat said.

In his 35-minute speech, the Communist leader said that the UPA government had been trying to grab the rights of the poor, depriving them of jobs and food.

Tripura chief minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar, the party's central committee members Bijon Dhar and Aghore Debbarma also spoke at the gathering that was organised ahead of the CPI-M's four-day state conference which began Sunday.

Besides Karat, CPI-M politburo members Sitaram Yechury, Manik Sarkar and Brinda Karat are among the top Marxist leaders who would address the internal sessions of the conference which aims to make the party more pro-people and strong and to make the party cadres ideologically skilled.

'ভারতীয়' পথে এগোতে নতুন দলিল সিপিএমের

জয়ন্ত ঘোষাল • নয়াদিল্লি

এ বার 'পরিবর্তন' সিপিএম-এ। এপ্রিলে পার্টি কংগ্রেসের মুখে একবিংশ শতাব্দীর দল হিসাবে নিজেদের মতাদর্শগত অবস্থানে অনেকটাই বদল আনতে চলেছেন সিপিএম শীর্ষ নেতৃত্ব। চলতি সময়ের সঙ্গে খাপ খাইয়ে একটি মতাদর্শগত দলিল তৈরি করছে সিপিএম। এমনকী সর্বস্তরের মতামত সংগ্রহের জন্য সেটির খসড়া সাধারণ মানুষের কাছেও প্রকাশ করে দেওয়া হবে। রাশিয়া-চিনের মডেল ছেড়ে সম্পূর্ণ ভারতীয় পথে সমাজতন্ত্রে উত্তরণের রাস্তা খোঁজা হয়েছে এই নতুন দলিলে। আর তা নিয়েই এখন দলের মধ্যে ঝড় উঠেছে। এ বারের দলিলে মতাদর্শগত প্রশ্নে বেশ কিছু বড় মাপের পরিবর্তন আনছে সিপিএম। প্রথমত, প্রায় এক যুগ আগে মতাদর্শগত দলিলে বলা হয়েছিল, বহুদলীয় গণতান্ত্রিক ব্যবস্থার মধ্যেই সমাজতন্ত্রের বিকাশের পথে এগোতে হবে। নতুন দলিলে সেই 'এগোনো'র কাজকে দ্রুত রূপ দেওয়াই আশু লক্ষ্য হিসেবে বেছেছেন সিপিএম নেতৃত্ব। দ্বিতীয়ত আগে দলের লক্ষ্য ছিল, জনগণতান্ত্রিক বিপ্লবের মাধ্যমে শ্রমিক শ্রেণির একনায়কতন্ত্রকে কায়েম করা। সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়নে সমাজতন্ত্রের বিপর্যয়ের পর 'একনায়কতন্ত্র' শব্দটি দল বাদ দিয়েছিল। এ বার আরও স্পষ্ট ভাবে সাবেক রুশ এবং চিন দু'টি মডেলকেই বাতিল করে দিয়ে বলা হচ্ছে, 'গণতন্ত্র প্রতিষ্ঠা করাই সবথেকে বেশি জরুরি। সমাজতন্ত্রের সঙ্গে গণতন্ত্রের কোনও বিরোধ নেই'। 'সর্বহারার একনায়কতন্ত্রে' শুধু মাত্র 'সর্বহারা শ্রেণি'র হাতেই ক্ষমতার কথা বলা হয়। কিন্তু সিপিএম নেতৃত্বের বক্তব্য, ভারতের বাস্তব পরিস্থিতি সম্পূর্ণ আলাদা। এখানে একটা শ্রেণি নয়, নানা শ্রেণির মধ্যে সমন্বয় রক্ষা করে পুঁজিবাদী ব্যবস্থায় রাষ্ট্র পরিচালনা করতে হয়। তাই 'সর্বহারার একনায়কতন্ত্রে'র বিষয়টাকেই আপাতত মতাদর্শগত পথনির্দেশিকা থেকে বাদ দেওয়ার পথে এগোচ্ছেন সিপিএম নেতৃত্ব।

বাতিল হচ্ছে রাশিয়া-চিনের তত্ত্ব * তিন পরিবর্তন • একদলীয় সমাজতান্ত্রিক ব্যবস্থার পরিবর্তে বহুদলীয় গণতান্ত্রিক ব্যবস্থায় সমাজতন্ত্রকে রূপ দেওয়া। • 'সর্বহারার একনায়কতন্ত্র' বাদ দিয়ে গণতন্ত্র প্রতিষ্ঠায় জোর। • বাজার অর্থনীতিকে গ্রহণ করা, যেখানে সরকারি ও বেসরকারি যৌথ উদ্যোগে কাজ হবে।

তৃতীয়ত, বাজার অর্থনীতিকে গ্রহণ করা। সমাজতন্ত্রে রাষ্ট্রীয় নিয়ন্ত্রণের কথাই বলা হয়। এখন সিপিএম বলছে, খোলাবাজার অর্থনীতির মধ্যেই যে হেতু দল কাজ করতে বাধ্য, তাই বাজারকে স্বীকার করে যৌথ উদ্যোগে এগোতে হবে। অর্থাৎ সরকারি-বেসরকারি যৌথ উদ্যোগে কাজ করতে হবে। বলশেভিক বিপ্লবের পর সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়নে ব্যক্তিগত সম্পত্তির বিলোপ করে রাষ্ট্রীয় নিয়ন্ত্রণ আনা হয়েছিল। কিন্তু তাতেও এক নতুন ধরনের অভিজাত আমলাতন্ত্র গড়ে উঠেছিল। শ্রেণি বৈষম্য তো ঘোচেইনি, উল্টে সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়নই তাসের ঘরের মতো ভেঙে পড়েছিল। ১৯৬৪ সালে সিপিএম গঠনের সময় মতাদর্শগত বিতর্ক হয়েছিল বিশ্ব সমাজতন্ত্র নিয়ে। তখন চিন ও সোভিয়েত মডেল নিয়ে বিরাট বিতর্ক হয়। 'নতুন যুগে'র কথা ঘোষণা করে সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়ন ষাট সালের বিবৃতিতে বলেছিল যে, নভেম্বর বিপ্লবের মাধ্যমে 'ধনতন্ত্র থেকে সমাজতন্ত্রে শান্তিপূর্ণ উত্তরণ সম্ভব হচ্ছে'। কিন্তু চিনা কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি সোভিয়েতের এই তত্ত্ব মানতে রাজি ছিল না। এ নিয়ে দু'দেশের মধ্যে মতাদর্শগত বিরোধ তীব্র হয়। ভারতীয় কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির মধ্যেও একাংশ সোভিয়েতের তত্ত্ব মানতে রাজি ছিল না। আর চিন-সোভিয়েত সেই বিরোধের প্রেক্ষাপটেই ভারতেও কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি দু'টুকরো হয়। এ বারের নয়া দলিল নিয়ে দলের মধ্যেই বিতর্ক শুরু হয়েছে। প্রশ্ন উঠেছে, সে দিন ক্রুশ্চেভের 'শান্তিপূর্ণ ভাবে সমাজতন্ত্রে উত্তরণের' পথকে সংশোধনবাদ বলা হয়েছিল। আর আজ নতুন মতাদর্শগত দলিলে যা বলা হচ্ছে, সেটার সঙ্গে ক্রুশ্চেভের সংশোধনবাদের ফারাক কোথায়? প্রশ্ন উঠেছে, সে দিন তোগলিয়াত্তির 'ইউরো কমিউনিজমকে' প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল তত্ত্ব বলা হলেও আজ যে সমাজতন্ত্রের মডেল তুলে ধরা হচ্ছে, সেটার সঙ্গে ইউরো কমিউনিজমের পার্থক্য কোথায়? সিপিএম রুশ এবং চিন মডেল বাতিল করলেও সাম্প্রতিক কালে লাতিন আমেরিকার বিভিন্ন দেশের সমাজতান্ত্রিক সাফল্যকে অনুসরণ করতে আগ্রহী। কিন্তু ই এম এস নাম্বুদিরিপাদ ১৯৭৩ সালে কলকাতায় এক সেমিনারে বলেছিলেন, চিলি আর ভারতের সমাজতান্ত্রিক বিপ্লব এক রকম হতে পারে না। কারণ সামরিক পথে নয়, ভারতে এগোতে হবে গণতান্ত্রিক পথে। সিপিএম সূত্র বলছে, সম্প্রতি চিনের দলীয় মহাঅধিবেশনে হু জিনতাও বারবার বলেছেন, চিন মার্ক্সবাদ অনুসরণ করতে চায়, কিন্তু চিনা বৈশিষ্ট্য নিয়ে। সিপিএমের মধ্যেও এ বার প্রবল ভাবে দাবি উঠেছে যে, আর আন্তর্জাতিক মডেল নয়, ভারতীয় বৈশিষ্টের ওপর দাঁড়িয়েই সমাজতান্ত্রিক পথে এগোনো দরকার। আর তাই কমিন্টার্নের শাখা 'ভারতের কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি' থেকে এ বার 'ভারতীয় কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি' হয়ে ওঠার সময় এসেছে। কিন্তু এ নিয়েও দলের একাংশের মধ্যে সংশয় তৈরি হয়েছে। চিনা কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি যে ভাবে বলতে পারে, 'চিনা বৈশিষ্ট্য সহকারে মার্ক্সবাদ', ভারতে কি তা সম্ভব? কারণ ভারতে কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির নেতৃত্বের বিরুদ্ধে আগাগোড়াই অভিযোগ যে, তাঁরা কোনও দিন সে ভাবে ভারতীয় মননকে গুরুত্ব দেননি। এ কথা মাথায় রেখেই এখন ভারতীয় ভাবধারাকে আরও বেশি গুরুত্ব দেওয়ার পথে এগোচ্ছে দল। তাই এ বারের দলিলে শুধু শ্রেণি চেতনা নয়, অনেক বেশি গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হয়েছে প্রান্তিক সত্তার প্রশ্নটিকে। বিশ্বনাথ প্রতাপ সিংহ যখন 'মণ্ডল আন্দোলন' করেছিলেন, তখনও জাত নয়, শ্রেণি দৃষ্টিভঙ্গিকেই মূলধন করে এগোতে চেয়েছিল সিপিএম। কিন্তু এখন দলীয় নেতৃত্ব বুঝতে পারছেন, প্রান্তিক সত্তা বিষয়টি শুধু ব্যবহারিক ক্ষেত্রে নয়, মতাদর্শগত ক্ষেত্রেও বিশেষ ভাবে আলোচনার সময় এসেছে। দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির প্রশ্নে এই বিপুল পরিবর্তন কি মতাদর্শগত ক্ষেত্রে একশো আশি ডিগ্রি ঘুরে যাওয়া? সিপিএম নেতৃত্ব বলছেন, এটা মার্ক্সবাদের সংশোধন নয়, সময়ের সঙ্গে খাপ খাইয়ে নেওয়া। কিন্তু সর্বহারার একনায়কতন্ত্র-সহ নানা প্রশ্নে যে ভাবে একটি কমিউনিস্ট দলের তাত্ত্বিক সৌধকেই ভেঙে দেওয়া হচ্ছে, তাতে কি সম্পূর্ণ নতুন এক কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির জন্ম হয় না!

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Draft Political Resolution

Date:

28 January 2012

The resolution underlines the fact that the Left and democratic alternative is the only real alternative to the current bourgeois-landlord policies. In order to rally the different sections of the working people in support of the Left and democratic platform, the resolution sets out some of the major demands and policies of the Left and democratic platform.

Main Points of the

Draft Political Resolution of the 20th Congress of the CPI(M)

International Situation

The Draft Political Resolution points out that the global capitalist crisis which began in 2007-08 is continuing. This prolonged crisis indicates the unsustainability of finance capital-driven globalisation.  After spending billions of dollars to bail out the banks and financial institutions which were responsible for perpetuating the crisis, the governments in the United States and Europe have pursued austerity measures and cutbacks in public spending to shift the burden on to the people. The Eurozone countries are in the throes of a debt crisis with Greece at the epicenter.

The impact of the crisis has led to high rates of unemployment, growing inequalities and severe cutbacks in social welfare benefits.

The United States and its NATO allies have embarked on a number of aggressive interventions in order to prop up its hegemony in the face of the continuing economic crisis. The aggression on Libya, the threats of invasion in Syria and the ratcheting up of tensions with Iran are all part of this. The United States and Nato are unable to subdue the Taliban in Afghanistan and their Afpak strategy is in disarray.

The people in all the advanced capitalist countries have been protesting and conducting struggles against the austerity measures and the cuts in social welfare. The Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States, the big strike struggle by workers, students and youth in Europe are noteworthy.

The popular uprising in Tunisia and Egypt toppled the despotic governments there. The United States and the western powers have intervened to hijack and divert these uprisings. Israel continues with its occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. But the Palestinian movement is more united today.

The struggles and movements of the people in Europe can bring about a substantial change only when a strong political alternative in the form of the Left forces is built up.

In Latin America, the Left has maintained its advance. A number of countries with Left governments have rejected the neo-liberal model and are implementing policies which are an alternative to neo-liberalism.

The Party expresses its solidarity with the democratic and progressive forces in South Asia and will strive to increase the cooperation between the Left, democratic and secular forces in the region.

The current capitalist crisis has ended talk of the triumph of capitalism. Increasingly it is becoming clear that the only alternative to the exploitative neo-liberal capitalism is socialism.

National Situation

The UPA-II government has been pursuing the same neo-liberal policies that it adopted in the first term. The three-year period of the UPA government has been marked by:

(i)                           Relentless price rise of essential commodities

(ii)                        Massive high level corruption which began in the UPA-I term

(iii)                      Continuance of the pro-US foreign policy and strategic alliance with the U.S.

(iv)                      The working class, peasantry and other sections of the working people continue to suffer from intense exploitation and deprivation.

Neo-Liberal Agenda

The UPA-II government has sought to push forward the neo-liberal agenda with the disinvestment of public sector enterprises; privatization of oil, gas and ,mining sectors; seeking to increase FDI in the financial sector and opening it up further; allowing the pharmaceutical sector to be dominated by the MNCs and seeking to open up retail trade to multinational companies.

The UPA government has refused to take the steps necessary to check price rise like ending futures trading in essential commodities; revising the taxation structure of petroleum products and introduction of a universal public distribution system.

The global economic slowdown and the neo-liberal policies pursued domestically have led to a slowdown of the economy. Employment growth has drastically reduced.

The agrarian crisis is resulting once again in suicides by farmers across the country. Inadequate public investment and cuts in subsidies have meant rising costs for agricultural inputs. With non-remunerative prices, farming is becoming unviable for many farmers.

The condition of agricultural workers has steadily deteriorated. Migration by the rural poor is increasing. The UPA government's policy is for the takeover of Indian agriculture by foreign and domestic big corporates. This has to be fought back.

Land acquisition for SEZs, for corporates and mining has gong up on a large scale. This has led to protests against land acquisition in different parts of the country.

The two decades of liberalisation have benefited the big business and the urban elite and caused deprivation for the majority of the working people. The number of dollar billionaires have increased from 13 in 2003 to 55 in March 2011. On the other hand the exploitation of the workers has increased. And the share of profits in the net value added went up from 20 per cent in the 1980s to 60 per cent by 2008. The share of wages has fallen drastically. Contract and casual work has become the dominant form of employment.

Corruption

The UPA government has become synonymous with high-level corruption. The resolution notes the series of high-level corruption scandals like the 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games, Adarsh housing, KG basin and the Antrix-Dewas contract for S band spectrum. The illicit financial flows abroad increased after deregulation and liberalisation. The government continues to drag its feet on unearthing black money and the funds illegally stashed abroad.

The resolution sets out the measures required to combat high-level corruption in various spheres. These include apart from the Lokpal, separate legislation for the judiciary, electoral reforms and scrapping those policies which facilitate corporate loot and foster corruption through the big business-ruling politician-bureaucrat nexus.

Political System

The Political Resolution condemns the growing nexus between big business and politics and the flow of big money into the electoral system. Parliamentary democracy is getting corroded by the use of money power. The restrictions on democratic rights are increasing. The Party will conduct a broad-based campaign against money power in politics and for major electoral reforms.

The resolution sets out the need to restructure Centre-state relations; the political solution to the problem in Jammu & Kashmir by provision of maximum autonomy and the need to end ethnic conflicts and extremism in the North-East region.

Communalism & Terrorism

The resolution notes the BJP's efforts to take up the Hindutva agenda after the defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections. The resolution deals with the continuing efforts to create communal tensions and stoke violence in different parts of the country. There have been continuing attacks on the minorities both Muslim and Christian in the BJP ruled states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The role of certain Hindutva extremist elements in terrorist attacks have unfolded in the last three years. The terrorist activities of both Hindu and Muslim extremists have to be fought and countered. The resolution stresses the importance of combating the extremist communal ideology which spawns terrorist violence.

On Social Oppression

The Political resolution spells out the pernicious impact of the neo-liberal policies on the status and working conditions of women, the problems faced by the dalits, tribals and minorities. It sets out a platform of demands for social justice and ending the oppression of these sections.

Foreign Policy

The foreign policy pursued by the UPA government in the past eight years has been a pro-US foreign policy and a departure from the independent foreign policy. Its strategic alliance with the United States is having a direct bearing on the domestic policies and the lives of the people, whether it is FDI in retail or the free trade agreements which have an adverse effect on farmers and small producers. The CPI(M) will continue its struggle and campaign among the people for an independent foreign policy.

Political Situation

Noting the big change that has occurred since the 19th Congress after the CPI(M) and the Left suffered electoral reverses, the resolution makes the independent role and the strengthening of the Party at the national level as the central focus. The resolution states: "In the current situation, when the Left has suffered serious electoral reverses, and when West Bengal, the strongest base of the Party is under attack, it is of the utmost importance to expand the influence and the base of the Party in other states." In order to do this, the resolution sets out the priorities in the work of the Party.

Political Line

The resolution gives the direction for the political-tactical line of the Party in the coming days as follows:

"The CPI(M) has to politically fight the Congress and the BJP. Both are parties which represent the big bourgeois landlord order which perpetuates class exploitation and is responsible for the social oppression of various sections of the people. They pursue neo-liberal policies and advocate a pro-US foreign policy. Defeating the Congress and the UPA government is imperative given the crushing burden of price rise, unemployment, suffering of the farmers and workers on the one hand and the brazen corruption and big sops to big business and the wealthy sections. Isolating the BJP and countering its communal and rightwing agenda is necessary and important for the advance of the Left, democratic and secular forces.

"As against the Congress and the BJP, the CPI(M) puts forth the Left and democratic alternative. Only a Left and democratic platform can be the alternative to bourgeois-landlord rule. This alternative needs to be built up through a process of movements and struggles and the emergence of a political alliance of the Left and democratic forces. In the course of these efforts, it may be necessary to rally those non-Congress, non-BJP forces which can play a role in defence of democracy, national sovereignty, secularism, federalism and defence of the people's livelihood and rights. The emergence of such joint platforms should help the process of building the alliance of the Left and democratic forces."

"In the present situation we should strive for joint actions with the non-Congress secular parties on issues so that the movements can be widened. On specific policy matters and people's issues, there can be cooperation in parliament with these parties. As and when required, there can be electoral understandings with some of these parties."

Left Unity

According the highest priority to strengthening the independent role of the Party, the resolution also stresses the necessity to strengthen Left unity. There are a number of Left minded groups and individuals outside the Left parties who should be brought together on issues which the Left advocates.

Left & Democratic Alternative

The resolution underlines the fact that the Left and democratic alternative is the only real alternative to the current bourgeois-landlord policies. In order to rally the different sections of the working people in support of the Left and democratic platform, the resolution sets out some of the major demands and policies of the Left and democratic platform.

The resolution exhorts the Party to lead to fight against the neo-liberal policies which are harming the interests of the working people. We have to conduct the struggles for land, food, employment and social justice. The CPI(M) has to counter the forces of communalism and divisiveness and defend secularism. We have to combat the imperialist pressures in all spheres. We will defend the Party and the Left against the attacks & violation of democratic rights in West Bengal.

The resolution concludes with the call to build a powerful communist party throughout the country and with the pledge to continue the struggle to end class exploitation and social oppression of the Indian people so that we can go forward towards a new alternative path – towards people's democracy and socialism.

Click here for Full Text of the Draft Political Resolution

http://cpim.org/content/draft-political-resolution

C.C. Communique

Date:

20 January 2012

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in Kolkata from January 17 to 20, 2012. It has issued the following statement:

Lokpal Bill

The Central Committee condemned the UPA government for its failure to bring an effective Lokpal Bill and get it adopted in parliament. Even the weak legislation was not adopted in the Rajya Sabha because the government feared that some amendments moved by the opposition would be carried.

The Central Committee demanded that the government bring the Lokpal legislation with suitable amendments in the next session of parliament.

FDI In Retail

The Central Committee opposed the decision of the government to increase FDI in single brand retail to 100 per cent. This is a prelude to bringing in the FDI in multi-brand retail which has already met with widespread opposition.

The Central Committee decided to conduct a sustained campaign among the people to stop the entry of FDI in general retail trade.

West Bengal

The Central Committee expressed its serious concern at the growing number of farmers suicides in West Bengal. By now there are reports of twenty four farmers having committed suicide. This reflects not only on the policies of the Central Government which have resulted in the agrarian crisis but also a gross failure on the part of the West Bengal government to put in place a procurement machinery to purchase crops from the farmers. The procurement machinery set by the Left Front government has been dismantled. The TMC led government has failed to curb black-marketting of fertilizers.

People are suffering under the misrule of the TMC-led government. There have been nine starvation deaths of a closed tea garden. This is due to the callous attitude of the government which discontinued the scheme of giving Rs. 1500 per month introduced by the Left Front government for workers of closed factories and tea gardens. The performance of MNREGS has become the worst. The public distribution system, theAnnapoorna and Aantayodaya schemes have become irregular. The panchayat bodies which used to implement many of these schemes have become virtually defunct. All this is causing distress and suffering for the people.

The TMC-led government is exhibiting an extremely intolerant attitude to any criticism made about its performance. The general attack on democratic rights continues. So far fifty five persons who are workers or supporters of the CPI(M) and the Left Front have been killed since the assembly election results. The CPI(M) calls for an immediate halt to such attacks and the full restoration of democratic rights.

February 28 Strike

The Central Committee extended its full support to the call of the central trade unions for a one-day general strike on February 28, 2012. This united action by all the trade unions has raised demands, which are not only in the interests of the working class but concern the people of the country as a whole. The Central Committee directed all its Party units to work wholeheartedly to make the strike a total success.

Draft Political Resolution

The Central Committee adopted the draft Political Resolution to be placed before the 20th Congress of the Party to be held in April 2012 at Kozhikkode.  The Political Resolution has called for fighting the neo-liberal policies of the UPA government and mobilizing various sections of the working people who are affected by these policies adversely.  This is a central task.  The Resolution calls for continuing the struggle to isolate the communal forces and to thwart the designs of the Hindutva brigade.  The Party will work to defeat the Congress and the BJP.

The Resolution calls for paying the utmost priority to developing the independent role of the Party and to strengthen the Party as an all India force.  The Party will work to build the Left and democratic alternative against the existing order. It will seek the cooperation of other non-Congress, secular and democratic forces to take up people's issues, defend secularism, national sovereignty and the federal principle.   

Draft Ideological Resolution

The Central Committee discussed and adopted the draft `Resolution on Some Ideological Issues'.  This Resolution addresses the current and prolonged crisis of global capitalism and its impact on both the developed capitalist countries and the developing countries. It takes stock of the moves of imperialism and international finance capital and the ideological constructs that they use to maintain their dominance.  The Resolution deals with the growing resistance to imperialist globalization and the ideological tasks to be undertaken to ensure an effective and united resistance by the working class and other allied forces worldwide.  The Resolution discusses the developments in the socialist countries and the necessity to build a renewed socialist alternative which is relevant to the 21st century.  The Resolution also pinpoints the ideological challenges faced by the Communists in Indian society and puts forth an alternative ideological worldview which can counter the bourgeois, feudal and other retrograde ideologies.

http://cpim.org/content/cc-communique-11

Need of the hour to expand CPI(M) base in other states: Prakash Karat

The CPI(M) today said the electoral reverses in West Bengal and Keralahave made it imperative to expand its influence in other parts of the country, focus on building Left unity and project a Left and democratic alternative to counter the Congress and the BJP.

"In the current situation when the Left has suffered serious electoral reverses, and when West Bengal, the strongest base of the party is under attack, it is of utmost importance to expand the influence and the base of the party in other states," CPI(M) General Secretary PrakashKarat told a press conference here.

Releasing the draft political resolution for debate within the party two months ahead of the 20th Congress in April, he said the "central focus" now would be on strengthening the party and stepping up its independent role and activities.

Karat said the fact that CPI(M) was contesting the assembly polls in UttarPradesh and Punjab independently pointed towards this political understanding the party has adopted now.

On the question of unity within the Left parties, Karat acknowledged differences between the CPI(M) and the CPI on issues like Telangana or the problems of the erstwhile Left Front government in West Bengal.
While the CPI supports the formation of Telangana, the CPI(M) does not. The CPI has been critical of the CPI(M) in the running of the Left Front and its defeat at the hustings.

However, Karat made it clear that these have to be addressed in "a critical and fraternal manner so that it does not weaken the Left Front. The ferocious attack on the Left should be met with a collective resolve and by going to the people in a united way".

Post Bengal drubbing, CPM revival plan looks to grassroots

SATURDAY, 28 JANUARY 2012 23:14
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | NEW DELHI
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With its popularity on the wane, the CPI (M) is going in for a "tactical" shift. It has shelved its ambitious dream of creating a Third Front to challenge the Congress and the BJP, and has instead decided to focus on expanding its own base in States where it has little influence.
In its political draft resolution released on Saturday, it has blamed the "opportunistic attitude" of the regional parties for its decision to junk its Third Front agenda. Nevertheless, intriguingly, the major Left party has itself 'resolved' to go in for "tactical" electoral alliances depending on the political situation of each State. It termed the diluted version of the creation of such fronts as "building the alliance of the Left and democratic forces".
Also, unlike earlier when it termed the BJP and the RSS as its main political enemies, the party now says "defeating the Congress and UPA Government is imperative" and "isolating BJP and countering its communal and rightwing agenda is necessary".
Releasing the draft political resolution for debate within the party at all levels two months ahead of the 20th Congress in April, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the "central focus" now would be on strengthening the party and stepping up its independent role and activities.
"In the current situation when the Left has suffered serious electoral reverses, and when West Bengal, the strongest base of the party is under attack, it is of utmost importance to expand the influence and the base of the party in other States," Karat said, while addressing media with politburo members Sitaram Yechury and K Varadarajan.
Karat stressed that the party would continue its fight against the policies and corruption in the UPA Government "inside and outside" the Parliament with "secular parties".
Asked about CPI general secretary A B Bardhan's recent public criticism of CPI(M) in the context of the Left defeat in West Bengal, Karat said, "There must be a balanced understanding. The Left Front ruled for 34 years, won seven consecutive Assembly elections and achieved so much.
"That must be seen in perspective. There may be different views. We should discuss this in a constructive and fraternal manner within the Left Front." Maintaining that there has to be greater emphasis on Left unity, he said there were a number of Left-minded groups and individuals outside Left parties "who should be brought together on issues which the Left advocates."
However Karat did not answer specifically to the questions on the "opportunism" of regional parties, Jayalalithaa's shift towards BJP and LK Advani terming her AIADMK as a natural ally.
The draft resolution would be finally adopted at the party congress to be held in Kozhikode in Kerala from April 4-9.

CPI(M) to adopt two-pronged strategy to take on Congress, BJP

K. V. PRASAD
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CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat along with Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury (left) and N. Varadarajan showing draft political resolution for the 20th Congress at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) plans to work on a twin-pronged political strategy to take on the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party at the national level. The accent would be on carving out an independent role to strengthen the party and pursue a Left and democratic alternative.
Noting the big change that has occurred since the 19 congress after the CPI(M) and the Left suffered electoral reverses, the (draft political) resolution (for the April 4-9, 20 party congress in Kozhikode, Kerala) makes the independent role and strengthening of the party at the national level the central focus.
Releasing the draft resolution here, general secretary Prakash Karat emphasised that if the task before the last general elections was to have a third alternative to fight the Congress and the BJP-led alliances, the stress now would be on a Left and democratic alternative.
"Only a Left and democratic platform can be the alternative to the bourgeois-landlord rule. This alternative needs to be built up through a process of movements and struggles and the emergence of a political alliance of the Left and democratic forces. In the course of these efforts, it may be necessary to rally those non-Congress, non-BJP forces which can play a role in defence of democracy, national sovereignty, secularism, federalism and defence of the people's livelihood and rights. The emergence of such joint platforms should help the process of building the alliance of the Left and democratic forces," the draft resolution said.
The need to expand its influence and base through an independent role and for projecting the Left and democratic alternative is in line with the resolution adopted by the Extended Central Committee Meeting at Vijayawada during August 2010.
However, on Left unity, the resolution goes on to elaborate from the Vijayawada position on working to reforge links with 'Left-minded sections which have moved away from us' to bring together on a platform a number of Left-minded groups and individuals outside the Left parties on issues which the Left advocates, and suggesting that the CPI(M) take the initiative in this regard.
The subtle expansion is based on the realisation that while a number of people and intellectuals moved away from the CPI(M) and the Left ahead of the West Bengal elections, the party now seeks to cast the net wider and bring together a number of them, outside an organised platform, onto it. This does not have a bearing on the oft-repeated talk ahead of the party Congress of unification or merge of the CPI and the CPI(M).
Keywords: CPI(M), CPI, Left unity
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2840122.ece

CPI(M) to counter 'no alternative' argument

K. V. PRASAD
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Four-day extended session of party's Central Committee starts in Kolkata today
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will go into a key session of its Central Committee to set the agenda for the future, including the ideological course and political position.
The four-day extended session starting at Kolkata on Tuesday is the final stage before the party releases draft documents articulating its position on these fundamental issues that would be put through extensive intra-party discussions ahead of the 20th Party Congress at Kozhikode in Kerala in April this year.
The Kozhikode meet would be held four years after the last Coimbatore Congress and the intervening period has seen the CPI (M) and the other Left parties suffer severe electoral debacles, first in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and then last year when it lost power in its citadel of West Bengal in the Assembly elections.

MANY CHANGES

"There have been many changes in the political situation during the last four years. We will take stock of the current situation, the party's attack against neo-liberal economic policies, which have led to price rise, unemployment, agrarian distress, and how to continue the fight," CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat told The Hindu here on Monday.
He said the Central Committee would discuss the draft political resolution prepared in the wake of the electoral setback in the Lok Sabha polls and in West Bengal and steps needed to carve an independent role for the Left in general and the party in particular.
"Emphasis would be on how to overcome the setback, regain ground and emerge stronger in Kerala and West Bengal and at the national level," Mr. Karat said, adding that the draft resolution would also determine the party's stand with regard to other non-Congress secular parties.

REVERSES

While the CPI (M) effort to rally parties in the non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party fold did not find acceptance with the electorate in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance ejected the CPI (M)-led Left Front from office after three decades of uninterrupted rule in West Bengal.
Besides this, the Central Committee would also take up the draft ideological resolution. The Coimbatore Congress decided to adopt a resolution on ideological issues and Mr. Karat said this would be done taking into account major changes in the world and explore the scope to present an option to the 'there is no alternative to capitalism' argument.
Mr. Karat said one of the major issues was the global economic crisis which presented an opportunity to go in for an alternative to neoliberal capitalism and counter the campaign going on since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
Keywords: Central Committee meeting, CPI (M), Left
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2806212.ece

CPM aims to 'fight' Congress and 'isolate' BJP

By POORNIMA JOSHI
Last updated at 12:25 AM on 29th January 2012

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The legendary B.T. Ranadive once said that there was nothing more self-destructive than a communist party that lost its way.
The present general secretary of the CPM, Prakash Karat, has certainly followed Ranadive, but from the wrong side of history.
Ranadive's prophecy was reflected in the party's political resolution released by Karat on Saturday, two months before the 20th party congress.
The wrong side of history: General Secretary Prakash Karat
The line defined in the resolution is a perfect recipe for further political isolation of the CPM, asserting as it does in identifying the Congress as enemy number one and pledging to ensure its political demise.
The resolution equates the Congress with the BJP and says the CPM has to first finish off the Congress before it talks about 'isolating' the BJP.
'The CPM has to politically fight the Congress and the BJP. Both are parties which represent the big bourgeois landlord order which perpetuates class exploitation and is responsible for the social oppression of various sections of the people,' the resolution stated.
This is a departure from the CPM's earlier line, which used to make a clear distinction between the Congress and the BJP by identifying the Congress as a 'secular bourgeois' political force.
The earlier resolution, adopted in the 19th congress in 2008, had stated the party would not align with the Congress but did not press on the UPA's defeat as its priority.
In fact, the Left party had said it was imperative to "isolate and defeat" the BJP.
But now the CPM has pledged to 'defeat' the Congress and 'isolate' the BJP.
Which political force is going to assist the Left party in this novel endeavour given that on its own, the declining numbers in Parliament and shrinking presence in state assemblies fly in the face of such assertions?
According to Karat, the CPM will align with 'non-Congress', 'non-BJP' parties and strengthen Left unity to achieve the target.
When asked about the sheer opportunism and ideological vacuum among the parties the Left has aligned with - the AIADMK that is inching close to the BJP or the BSP that too is open to alliance with the saffron party - Karat said: 'Our alignment is issue based.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2093298/CPM-aims-fight-Congress-isolate-BJP.html#ixzz1koePpl7U

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Palash Biswas
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