CPI(M) Greets the 25th Congress of the CPI
Below we publish the full text of the message of greetings delivered by M A Baby, CPI(M) General Secretary, at the 25th Congress of the CPI held in Chandigarh from September 21-25.
Dear Comrades and Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to be among you at the inaugural session of the 25th Congress of the Communist Party of India. On behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), I warmly greet you all and wish your Congress great success.
Comrades,
Your Congress meets in Punjab, the land of heroic revolutionaries. In the 1920s, Lahore was a hub of revolutionary activity. The Urdu monthly Inquilab, the Ghadar Party mobilised workers, students, and youth, spreading communist ideas and strengthening the working-class movement. Institutions like the National College were centres for revolutionary activities. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, instead of instilling fear, gave birth to revolutionaries like Udham Singh and Bhagat Singh. This rich tradition of organising resistance against British colonial exploitation runs through the veins of Punjab. Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna and Harkishan Singh Surjeet carried forward this proud communist legacy. We inherit this anti-imperialist tradition, guiding us in the struggle for a society free from exploitation – socialism.
Today in India, we are governed by a party that had no role in the freedom struggle. The RSS, which guides the BJP, now marks its centenary without any claim to fighting colonial or feudal oppression. On the contrary, it actively collaborated with oppressors and tried to prevent people from joining liberation struggles. Its claims of ‘nation-building’ are historical falsehoods designed to distort our past.
The RSS and BJP promote a colonial view of history, claiming foreign rule lasted over a thousand years, and asserting that India only achieved true freedom under their tenure. This divisive narrative seeks to fracture the country along religious lines, aligning perfectly with their communal agenda. Our task, as Communists, is to expose these lies, remind the people of the true history of our freedom struggle, and uphold the enduring legacy of the Left.
Comrades,
Today, our country is facing enormous challenges. The economy is in a severe crisis. The government is readily succumbing to US imperialist pressures and opening up all sectors of our economy to the exploitation of foreign capital. It refuses to stand up for the interests of Indian farmers, workers, and MSME entrepreneurs. This is clearly visible in the way it bends over backwards, pleading with the US to withdraw the unjust tariffs imposed on our country. The government must not be allowed to compromise our sovereignty and economic interests.
FDI flows freely into insurance, defence, and mining. Large tracts of land are handed over to private and foreign corporations, violating constitutional safeguards. The Land Monetisation Pipeline and National Monetisation Pipeline are tools to sell public assets, benefiting cronies like Adani and Ambani.
Agriculture is under attack too. The US, EU, and Indian corporates seek to exploit this sector, which led to the enactment of the three draconian farm laws. Let us salute the farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, whose struggle forced their repeal. Yet the threat persists: the government now tries to reintroduce these laws through the back door. We must not allow our basic productive sector, agriculture to be sold to private or foreign capital.
Attacks on education, employment and youth are mounting. The BJP’s agenda is centralisation, communalisation, and commercialisation of education. Jobs are vanishing; permanent recruitment has stalled. Even the Army has been forced to recruit youth on a contractual basis through the Agniveer scheme. We now hear countless stories of Agniveers left to fend for themselves after being injured while performing their duties as soldiers defending our country.
Women, Dalits, and Adivasis are among the worst sufferers under the BJP government. Guided by the Manusmriti, which openly advocates treating women, Dalits, and Adivasis as second-class citizens. The BJP protects its leaders, ministers, and cadres who indulge in attacks against them. The horrific incidents exposed in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, where we have been struggling for justice for years, are one such example carried out with the support of these forces. Similarly, hardly a day passes without reports of attacks on Dalits or Adivasis. In states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, they are subjected to the most inhuman forms of violence. The shocking incident of a BJP leader urinating on an Adivasi man in Madhya Pradesh still remains fresh in our memory, an appalling example of their mindset and commitment to Manuvadi ideology.
Minorities are another section being systematically targeted. It is not only Muslims, but Christians too who are under attack. Their houses are bulldozed, livelihoods destroyed, and lands illegally seized. Without a shred of evidence, Muslims – particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims – are branded as ‘infiltrators’, arrested, tortured, and even pushed back into Bangladesh or into detention centres. From the Prime Minister and Home Minister to various BJP Chief Ministers, not to mention countless smaller leaders, all engage in speeches that denigrate and insult Muslims, spreading communal poison across the country.
Recently, the RSS Sarsanghchalak, Mohan Bhagwat, in a three-day speech in Delhi, demanded that Muslims ‘give away’ mosques in Mathura and Kashi as a precondition for ‘brotherhood’. This clearly reveals the RSS’s intent: to establish a Hindu Rashtra and dismantle the secular state guaranteed by our Constitution.
To achieve its agenda, the RSS is using State power to infiltrate all institutions, including the Army and judiciary. The Election Commission, consistently siding with the BJP, has now become complicit in advancing the RSS/Sangh Parivar agenda through measures like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Bihar was just the beginning; the plan is to roll it out nationwide. We must resist all attempts to disenfranchise genuine voters.
The office of the Governor is another glaring example of the misuse of constitutional authority. Governors are acting as agents of the RSS-BJP and are openly disregarding the Constitution of our country. The Kerala Governor displays an RSS-promoted map, not the constitutional one. Tamilnadu and other opposition-ruled states face constant obstruction, undermining federal principles and preventing elected governments from functioning.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt. Governor bars the elected Chief Minister from public security discussions and even allowed him to be manhandled by police while paying tribute to martyrs. The RSS-BJP’s historical support for the Maharaja and opposition to the liberation struggle guides these actions. We must demand the restoration of statehood and full autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.
Using Governors, the BJP is attempting to influence the outcomes of legislative assembly elections in various opposition-ruled states. Elections in Kerala, where the LDF government is currently in power, are scheduled for April/May next year. We must gear up to defeat these nefarious plans. Despite the financial constraints imposed by the Union government’s policies, the LDF government in Kerala is doing its utmost to implement alternative, pro-people measures. It is leading the resistance not only against communal and divisive forces but also against neoliberal economic policies. The Congress-led UDF has shown little seriousness in countering communal forces, and its commitment to neoliberal policies is well known. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to defeat both the UDF and the BJP in the upcoming elections and ensure the victory of the LDF in Kerala.
Under the BJP, Parliament is also under attack. Issues vital to the people are not being allowed for discussion, standing committees are rendered toothless. The executive is functioning as if it is not accountable to the legislature. The bulldozing of the three farm laws exposed the erosion of democracy. The principal opposition party must also rise to defend the proper functioning of Parliament.
Because of these attacks carried out by the RSS-BJP on the Indian State, the 24th Congress of our Party, held in April this year, concluded that neo-fascist tendencies are on the rise. It is upon us to act together and build strong resistance to prevent the country from sliding towards neo-fascism. This task can be accomplished only through the joint actions of the Left. Around the unity of the Left parties, we must mobilise other democratic-minded parties and broad sections of society. The joint struggles of class organisations – trade unions and kisan organisations – will form the foundation on which such unity can be built. We firmly believe that it is only through a Left and Democratic Front that we can resist and push back the offensive of fascistic and far-right forces in our country. The LDF will be the core around which we must mobilise all other parties, forces, and sections of society that are ready to join our struggle in defence of democracy and secularism.
Across the world, far-right forces are on the rise. The horrors of their power are starkly visible in Israel, where a US-backed government moves towards the destruction of Gaza City and the occupation of the West Bank. These are among the most barbaric acts of this century. Arab states, aligned with the US, have largely failed to defend the Palestinian people. Israel acts as a rogue State, threatening peace and global security.
The BJP government’s stance is equally condemnable. By siding with Israel and supplying arms, it betrays India’s historic support for Palestine. We must intensify efforts to stop this genocidal aggression and stand firmly in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Imperialism faces multiple crises. Despite repeated attempts, the ruling classes have failed to overcome this crisis. The capitalist system leaves unemployment, hunger, and poverty rising worldwide. Far-right forces exploit these crises to advance divisive agendas – from the UK and Germany to Italy, Argentina, and beyond. Even in our neighbourhood, the threat grows.
In Bangladesh, religious fundamentalist groups are exploiting the popular protests that toppled the Awami government to push forward their reactionary agenda. Minorities, as well as progressive and secular forces, are being targeted. They are even seeking to rewrite the Constitution, which was a hard-won product of the Liberation Struggle. In Nepal, too, we are witnessing similar attempts. Pro-monarchy and royalist forces, along with organisations linked to the RSS, are trying to exploit recent Gen Z-led protests to undermine the democratic, secular, and republican Constitution. Their aim is to reverse all the gains of the anti-monarchy struggle.
All these developments in our immediate neighbourhood warn us of the dangers posed by far-right and divisive forces.
Even in this bleak world, there are rays of hope. In Sri Lanka, the Marxist-Leninist JVP has come to power. In Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, progressive Left-wing governments lead. Across the globe, working-class struggles are rising. In the US, Labour Day saw workers take to the streets against the Trump administration. Ordinary people are forcing governments to condemn Israel and recognise Palestine. In Spain, the government has refused to allow its ports or territory for supplying arms to Israel. These struggles show: when people mobilise around a just cause, change is possible.
Socialist countries resisting US imperialism remain an inspiration. Cuba heroically resists the blockade. We can humbly state that the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba was able to contribute its small share by mobilising over 3.5 crore rupees for Cuba. China stands firm against US containment, joining Russia as a rallying point for the Global South. Other socialist nations contribute too. Today, socialism is once again capturing the imagination of youth worldwide, seen as a real alternative to capitalism. This gives us hope and strengthens our fight for a just future.
Comrades,
Here in India, we also find inspiration in our own history. This year marks the centenary of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, founded by Bhagat Singh, in this very land. He called for the unity of all the exploited, denounced communal forces, and fought for socialism. His message rings true today. In sharp contrast, the RSS, also marking its centenary this year, stands for division, hatred, and submission to imperialism. We must seize this moment to campaign among the people, to expose the RSS and its divisive ideology.
Comrades, this is the historic task before us. It is our responsibility, as Communists, to rise to the occasion. I am confident that your Congress will deliberate deeply on the challenges we face and chart the course for the struggles ahead.
So let us march forward with clarity and conviction.
Let us strengthen class struggles.
Let us strengthen the unity of the Left.
Let us build the Left and Democratic Front.
Let us defeat the neo-fascist forces.
And let us safeguard the unity, integrity, and future of our great country.
Once again, I extend my warmest wishes for the success of your Congress.
Lal Salaam! Thank you.
MA Baby
General Secretary
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
