Post-Pulwama air strike by the Indian Air Force inside Pakistan territory, the retaliation by Pakistan the next day and the subsequent release of Wing Commander Abhinandan must lead India to step up its diplomatic efforts to exercise international pressure on Pakistan to purge terror outfits and cross-border terrorist activities.  

 

A united India rose against terrorism. Instead of strengthening this, the post-Pulwama developments are seeing an orchestrated effort by the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits to rouse jingoistic nationalism. The targeting of Kashmiris in various parts of the country, the calls for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A are all turning this battle of Indians against terrorism into battles against Kashmiris and Muslims to further deepen the communal polarisation.  

 

The CPI(M) denounces these efforts to disrupt the united fight of India against terrorism by the BJP and leaders of its government.

 

FAILURE OF MODI’S JAMMU & KASHMIR POLICY

 

During the course of this Modi government, the number of terrorist incidents saw a rise of 176 per cent.  The number of security personnel and civilians killed in such terrorist attacks has grown. The number of security personnel killed saw a rise of 93 per cent. On an average, eleven terrorists infiltrated every month between 2014 and 2018.

 

More dangerous trend has been the sharp rise in local Kashmiri youth joining terrorist groups from 16 in 2013 to 164 in 2018. This deepening alienation of Kashmiri youth is a consequence of the Modi government reneging on its promises to initiate a political process of dialogue with all the stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of confidence building measures.  Clearly, the terrorist strikes continued and intensified even after the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force after the terrorist attack on army units in Uri in September 2016.

 

It is Prime Minister Modi and BJP leaders who are politicising this issue and disrupting the united fight of Indians against terrorism for their partisan electoral benefit.  

 

DEEPENING ECONOMIC CRISIS

 

Even by the changed methodology adopted by the Modi government for GDP calculations, 2018-19 GDP growth at 7 per cent is the lowest in the last five years.  2018 last quarter growth rate was even lower at 6.6 per cent.  This means that the economy is losing further steam leading to a sharper growth in unemployment and a further deterioration in the living conditions of the vast majority of our people.

 

Agricultural distress is deepening further. The gross value added saw a massive drop of 46 per cent between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

 

CRONY CAPITALISM

 

Privatisation of Airports: On the eve of the elections, the Modi government has handed over five major public airports to the Adani group.  With revenue per passenger as the only reference point for tenders, the Modi government bypassed the consideration of experience in managing airports and handed over to the Adani group which has no experience in managing airports. This is similar to the Rafale offset deals going to Anil Ambani with no prior experience in the field of defence production. 

 

Private Players to Use Aadhaar Data Base:  The union cabinet cleared an ordinance on February 28, which allows private corporates to use the Aadhaar data base for profits in the absence of a data protection law. Such a law was assured by the government but never saw the light of the day. This is a constitutional outrage as the Rajya Sabha has not passed this legislation and the Lok Sabha is scheduled to not meet again till after the general elections.  

 

ASSAULT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

 

The Modi government’s notification to introduce a new roster system for reservations in teachers appointments, in public-funded universities and colleges is leading to further disempowerment of the socially and educationally backward classes.  This undermines the constitutional directive of ensuring social justice and equal opportunities.

 

The CPI(M) demands the promulgation of a central  ordinance to restore status quo ante. To mark the anniversary of this betrayal of SC, ST, OBC rights in academic jobs, many organisations have given a call for protest struggles on March 5, 2019.  

 

The CPI(M) extends its full support to these actions.

 

RIGHTS OF ADIVASIS 

 

The Modi government betrayed the rights of the adivasis by its deliberate absence in the Supreme Court hearing of the case challenging the Forest Rights Act.  Though the order has been put in abeyance till July 2019, the threat of depriving 23 lakh tribals from their right to land continues.

 

LOK SABHA ELECTIONS

 

The Central Committee reiterated its earlier decision that the electoral tactics adopted by the Party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections will be based on the following:

 

a) Defeat the BJP alliance

b) Increase the strength of the CPI(M) and the Left in the Lok Sabha; and

c) Ensure that an alternative secular government is formed at the centre.

 

In order to ensure the maximum pooling of anti-BJP votes, state level electoral tactics are being worked out. In states where the direct contest is between the Congress and BJP, the CPI(M) will contest one or two seats and campaign generally for the defeat of the BJP. 

 

In Tamilnadu, discussions are on for seat sharing with the DMK.  

 

In Maharashtra, discussions are on with the NCP for contesting Dindori or Palghar seats where the CPI(M) independently polls around a lakh of vote each.  

 

In Bihar, talks are being held with the RJD for contesting Ujiarpur seat in Samastipur district.

 

In Odisha, where simultaneous elections will be held, the CPI(M) will contest the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha and a few assembly seats including its sitting seat Bonnai.  It calls upon the people of Odisha to defeat the BJP.  The CPI(M), along with other Left forces, will be working out the details particularly in the background  of various struggles it has launched against the state government.

 

In West Bengal, the Central Committee had earlier decided that the CPI(M) will adopt suitable tactics to ensure the maximisation of the pooling of  anti-BJP, anti-TMC votes.  In accordance with this, the CPI(M) proposes no mutual contest in the present six sitting Lok Sabha seats, currently held by Congress and the Left Front.

 

The Left Front is meeting on March 8 to finalise the other seats.

 

MODI RIDICULES THE DISABLED

The Central Committee deplores the ridiculing of people with dyslexia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with students at the Smart India Hackathon 2019 on March 2. In an attempt to portray his political rivals in poor light, the PM displayed his regressive mindset. Coming from a high office, such insensitive behavior is unacceptable.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

 

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) decided to suspend CC member and its Maharashtra secretary, Narasayya Adam, from the Central Committee for three months. This is a consequence of his speech at a public event in Solapur in the presence of the prime minister and state chief minister which hurt the Party’s image.