Below we publish the welcome address by BV Raghavulu, chairperson, reception committeeCOMRADES and Friends,Leaders of fraternal left parties, delegates, observers, guests, invitees, veterans, Friends from media and public,On behalf of the Reception Committee, I welcome you all to this inaugural session of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) which is being held in this historic, cosmopolitan city of Hyderabad. Earlier, the 17th Congress of the Party was held here in 2002.
Below we reproduce the speech of Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary, at the inaugural session of the 22nd CPI(M) Congress, Mohd. Amin Nagar, Hyderabad, April 18, 2018Dear Comrades and friends,I thank all of you for accepting our invitation and joining us at this inaugural session of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The 22nd Congress of CPI(M) expresses deep concern about the anti-federal and anti-democratic underpinnings of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the 15th Union Finance Commission (FC).
The 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) expresses its horror and anguish at the unending spate of rapes and murders, especially of children, that have been taking place in the last few months.A report released on the 18th April, 2018, by CRY, an NGO working on child rights, states that a sexual offence is committed against a child in India every 15 minutes.Two recent cases have stirred the conscience of millions. The first is the rape in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, of a 17 year old who has named a BJP MLA as the perpetrator, and the subsequent killing of her father.
The 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) salutes the people of Kerala, and commends the commitment of the Left Democratic Front Government led by the CPI(M) to defending the historical gains of the toiling people, and building a secular, democratic, Left alternative for social and economic development.The engine of economic change for which Kerala is justly famous in India and the world is the investment that it makes in its people. This effort was spearheaded by the first Communist Ministry of 1957 and continued by the Left Democratic Front Government today.
The 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the reign of terror led by the RSS-BJP-IPFT alliance against the CPI (M) and Left forces throughout the State of Tripura. The nature of attacks expose that they are centrally planned and fascistic in character.
AN impressive rally of Red Shirt volunteers was held on April 22, signaling the culmination of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The most significant aspect of the rally was it predominantly constituted of young comrades, who are below 25 years of age. More than thousand drummers matched the marching Red Shirt volunteers with their rhythmic beats. Together, they enthralled the citizens of Hyderabad, who had never before witnessed such a spectacle of Red Shirt volunteers march.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 25.THE CPI(M) welcomes the judgment holding Asaram and two others guilty of rape of a minor in August 2013. It is a case of a so-called godman exploiting the faith and belief of his followers to sexually exploit a minor and deserves the strongest punishment.This is a victory for justice in a case which saw the use of violence and intimidation against the victim and her family. Nine witnesses were attacked of which three died.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 26.THE collegium of the Supreme Court had forwarded the names of Justice K M Joseph and senior advocate Indu Malhotra to be elevated as judges to the Supreme Court.After considerable delay the appointment of Indu Malhotra has been cleared. However, the government has not cleared the appointment of Justice K M Joseph.
WEST Bengal witnessed brutal operation for murder of democracy, never seen after the dark days of seventies.Panchayat elections in West Bengal have utterly exposed the anti-democratic character of the TMC government. Opposition parties were debarred from submitting nominations in thousands of seats, intending candidates were attacked in large scale particularly outside block and sub-divisional offices. Kolkata High Court intervened and stayed the election process, directed State Election Commission to declare an extra date for submission of nomination.