Below we reproduce the text of the speech delivered by Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary at the ‘Marx 200: International Conference’, organised by Marx Memorial Library in London on May 5, on the bicentenary of Marx’s birth.WE have reached the conclusion of this remarkable gathering of Marxists, other intellectuals from various corners of the world and the working people in this city of London to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx.
ASHOK Mitra who passed away on May 1, 2018, was the doyen among Left intellectuals in the country, held in the highest esteem by one and all for his absolute integrity, his outstanding intellect and his commitment to the cause of the working people.Born on April 10, 1928, in the eastern part of undivided Bengal, he was a brilliant student who was drawn to the Communist movement and became an activist of the Student Federation.
AS we observe the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx, one cannot but be struck by the innumerable times Marxism was declared dead or irrelevant after he had left the scene a hundred and thirty five years ago. However, Marx and his thought, kept bouncing back to public attention. This is because the ideas of Marx, concern social and historical change and that is something which cannot become anachronistic at any period of time. Karl Marx was born 200 years ago on May 5, 1818. He died on March 14, 1883 at the age of 65.
Below we publish the concluding address by Manik Sarkar, chairman of inaugural sessionAT the outset I would like to thank and express our gratitude to the people of Telangana who have extended their whole hearted support to organize our Party Congress in this historic city of Hyderabad.It is the constitutional mandate of our Party that after every three years we have to organize our Party Congress.
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.