The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met on December 07-08, 2024. It has issued the following statement on December 9, 2024

BANGLADESH SITUATION

The Polit Bureau reiterated its stand that the Bangladesh interim government and authorities must ensure the safety and full protection of religious minorities.  The administration seems to be ignoring the activities of the Islamist fundamentalist forces in this regard.  At the same time, the Polit Bureau decried the efforts of the BJP-RSS and Hindutva outfits in India, which are seeking to whip up passions by incendiary propaganda.  Such an approach will not help the interests of the minorities in Bangladesh. 

The Polit Bureau called upon secular and democratic forces in both countries to come out strongly against all forms of communalism which will harm the interests of the people on both sides of the border.

ENFORCE PLACES OF WORSHIP ACT

The Polit Bureau expressed its serious concern at the spate of law suits being filed and entertained in lower courts claiming that there were temples where centuries-old mosques exist today.  After Varanasi and Mathura, in Sambhal, a survey was ordered of a 16th century mosque by a lower court.  This resulted in violence in which four Muslim youth have been killed. Following this, a similar petition has been entertained in the civil court in Ajmer regarding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not intervened to put a stop to such litigation by upholding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, l991.  The 2019 five-member Bench judgment of the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya dispute had categorically upheld the validity of the law and its enforcement.  Given this direction, it is incumbent on the apex court to intervene to put a stop to legal proceedings, which are violative of the Act. 

PROVIDE IMMEDIATE FUNDS FOR WAYANAD RELIEF

The Polit Bureau sharply criticised the union government's callous indifference in denying Kerala the rightful assistance for the victims of the devastating landslide disaster in Wayanad. Despite the state's urgent plea for Rs 214.68 crore in immediate relief and Rs 2,319.1 crore for comprehensive recovery and reconstruction, the centre has failed to approve the funds even after four months. The refusal to classify the landslide as a "calamity of severe nature" and the unwillingness to waive loans for the affected families also reflect a deeply unjust and inhumane approach, undermining the principles of federal support in times of crisis.

The Polit Bureau called upon the union government to immediately release the funds claimed by the state government. 

SUPPORT TO NOIDA FARMERS' STRUGGLE

The CPI(M) condemns the police repression on the farmers of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Around 150 leaders and activists of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and other organisations have been jailed. The arrested farmers have started a hunger strike in jail. House arrests of many activists are going on. The attack on women who have been in the forefront of the struggle by the police is shocking.

The Greater Noida struggle by the farmers belonging to 45 villages concerns the lands which were acquired over a period of time for real estate projects.  The farmers are demanding a revision of the rate of compensation, allotment of plots to the farmers as per the agreement in 1997 and implementing a mandatory employment policy among other demands.

The CPI(M) fully supports this struggle, demands that repression must be stopped forthwith and the government must accept and implement the just demands of the struggle.

PARTY CONGRESS PREPARATIONS

The Polit Bureau discussed a Draft of the Political Resolution to be taken up at the 24th Congress to be held in the first week of April 2025.  On the basis of the discussion in Polit Bureau, the draft will be placed for adoption in the next meeting of the Central Committee to be held on January 17-19, 2025 at Kolkata.