The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) salutes the 104 martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives in the period since the last Party Congress. It extends its warm greetings to the courageous fighters in West Bengal who have defended the red flag and the Left Front and Left movement in the face of unprecedented and multiple forms of violence unleashed by the Trinamool Congress with the backing of the State police and under the patronage of its top leaders, including the Chief Minister in league with reactionary forces.

On the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the 21st Congress of the CPI(M) demands that the Government hold a special session of Parliament to discuss issues connected with the status of Scheduled Caste communities in India.

The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) dips its red banner in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives fighting for the cause of the working class and democratic movement during the past three years since the 20th Congress.

The 21st Congress pays glorious tributes to the 99 members and supporters of the Party and mass organisations who were killed by the TMC goons and other reactionary forces in West Bengal. Two members of the RSP also laid down their lives.

WITH Bay of Bengal to their side, a vast sea of humanity, consisting of workers, peasants and other toiling people, marched on the adjacent beach road of Visakhapatnam, braving the hot sun to participate in the huge public meeting, marking the culmination of the 21st Congress of the CPI(M).Women, children, youngsters, tribals, dalits joined the multitudes who have come from far off places to hear the leaders speak and learn from them about the decisions of the 21st Congress, for whose success all of them had contributed to the best of their abilities.

The following is the speech delivered by P Madhu, chairman of the Reception Committee at the inaugural session of the Party Congress on April 14.