Below is the text of the message of greetings sent by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to the Communist Party of Russian Federation on May 21, on the occasion of its 17th Congress.

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) extends its warm fraternal greetings to the 17th Congress of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF). We take this opportunity to greet the leadership and all the members of the Party and express our heartfelt solidarity.

Your Congress is taking place at a time when communists all over the world are commemorating the centenary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. This is a singular event that had permanently changed the course of world history by demonstrating the practicality of Marxist theory. The theoretical contributions of Lenin continue to arm all the communist and workers’ parties to analyse and understand the imperialist world order and lead the working class according to the concrete conditions. The contribution of socialist USSR subsequently to the advancement of humankind in all fields – economy, cultural, artistic, scientific, etc – is immense and it showcased the superiority of the socialist system over capitalism.

The validity of Marxism-Leninism and the necessity of transcending the present capitalist social order and the struggle for realising the goal of socialism have never been more relevant than today. The global economic scenario, in spite of the various attempts by the ruling classes, continues to remain bleak. They have failed to find effective means to put an end to the prolonged and systemic crisis of the capitalist system. They are trying to come out of the crisis by resorting to further militarisation – a process suitably called as ‘military Keynesianism’. Projecting their military might, they are attempting to gain control over the natural resources and markets of the world. They are utilising all the means at their disposal to ensure imperialist hegemony over the entire world and also ensure that the profit rate of capital does not fall. As a result, exploitation and oppression are on the rise.

The rising burdens on the people and increasing inequalities are forcing people on to the streets, protesting against the attack on their rights and livelihood. To ward off the imminent threat of the growing popular discontent, ruling classes are encouraging the growth of right-wing forces that are trying to divide the people’s unity by spreading xenophobia and racial hatred. In some countries, such ultra right-wing forces are even attaining State power, as can be seen in the election of Donald Trump as the president of the US. The contradictory nature of the present political and social developments must be understood from a class standpoint. The advance of the right-wing forces can be halted only when we communists take up the issue of economic exploitation that had created the conditions for the growth of such forces and intensify our class and mass struggles. It is upon us communists, to channelise the growing anger among the people in the struggle against the exploitative capitalist system and imperialist world order.

Comrades,

In India, for the last three years, we have a right-wing reactionary party in power. This government is aggressively pursuing neo-liberal policies by further opening up the economy for exploitation by foreign capital. Along with these exploitative policies, it is vigorously pursuing its attempts to spread communal-sectarian ideology in the society. It is trying to increase its foothold all over the country by spreading hatred and sowing divisions among people. Religious minorities are specifically targeted. The present conjuncture presages growing authoritarianism, with an attack on the democratic rights of all sections of the people, particularly the working class.

The CPI(M) is taking the lead in building unity of the working class and peasantry against the exploitative and divisive policies of the government. Attack on labour rights, agrarian crisis, attack on freedom of expression are some of the issues that are bringing together large sections of people in building a resistance movement. The CPI(M) believes that it is only through the strengthening of the class and mass struggles and the unity of all Left and democratic forces that a real alternative can be built.

Comrades,

The CPI(M) and the CPRF share a long tradition of friendship and fraternal relations. We applaud the initiative of the CPRF to organise the International Meeting of the Communist and Workers’ Parties this year in Moscow, which will also give us an opportunity to be amidst you in celebrating the centenary of the October Revolution.

We are confident that the discussions and decisions taken at this 17th Congress will further strengthen the Party and its struggle for the re-establishment of a socialist society in this country. We once again reiterate our solidarity in all your struggles against imperialism and exploitation.

Central Committee

Communist Party of India (Marxist)