CPI(M) has welcomed the appointment of Draupadi Murmu as the Governor of Jharkhand. Murmu is the first tribal woman to hold the post. Greeting Murmu on her appointment, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said the state’s tribal population will be looking forward to the crucial role of the new Governor with great expectations at a time when the Modi government at the Centre is introducing a series of draconian laws including the Land Acquisition Bill and the Mining Act, unleashing a ruthless attack on the rights of tribal people. The Governor has the constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of tribals in respect to land, language and culture, Karat said at a press meet at the CPI(M) Jharkhand State Committee office in Ranchi on May 20.

The press conference was held at the conclusion of the three-day long session of Secretariat, State Committee and state-level GB meetings. On the May 19 GB meeting, Karat explained to the participants the three documents -- Review of Political-Tactical Line, Political Resolution and Political-Organisational Report – adopted by the 21st Party Congress held in Vishakhapatnam. She also outlined the specific and concrete conditions prevailing in the state of Jharkhand and called the Party activists to expand and strengthen independent base of the Party to augment the path of building a Left and democratic front. As many as 224 leading comrades from different districts participated in the GB meeting.

At its meeting, the State Committee has decided to complete the task of reporting on the 21st Party Congress by June 30 in all districts. A state-level convention on socio-economic problems of Dalits will be held at Garhwa on June 23. Birth centenary year of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet will be commemorated in all districts. A state-level programme will be organised in Ranchi on the occasion.

To tide over the fund crunch, the State Committee has decided to hold a week-long state-wide special campaign from June 1 to 7 to raise funds. Programme for extensive party education at all levels will also be conducted. The State Committee called upon Party workers to launch block and district level mass campaign through demonstrations, padyatras, street-corner meetings, and leaflet distributions etc., in the month of June against the state-patronised communalism, the Land Acquisition Ordinance, and on issues related to forest land rights and food security, worsening electricity and water supplies, and poor law and order.

The State Committee gave a call to all Party units to actively support the state-wide ‘Protest Day’ call on June 30, given by CITU against the anti-people policies of the central government.