THE 20th state conference of Manipur state committee of the CPI(M) was held in Imphal on November 15, 2024. The conference began with Ningthoujam Tomba, aged 101 years, freedom fighter and associate of the legendary leader and founder of Communist Party of Manipur Comrade Hijam Irawat Singh, hoisting the red flag amidst slogan shouting. All delegates paid respects to the martyrs who were killed by the class enemies, communal and fundamentalist forces. The conference was held in a hall named after Comrade Sitaram Yechury. Sarat Salam, secretariat member of the Party, placed the condolence resolution. The conference paid rich tributes to Comrades Sitaram Yechury, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, M M Lawrence, Pushpan, Abujam Yaima, and others who passed away or were killed by the communal, fundamentalist and armed gangs during the on-going ethnic violence in Manipur. Two minutes silence was observed in their memory.
A presidium consisting of Nongmaithem Thoiba Singh, Saikhom Jugol and Thounaojam Sharat was elected to conduct the proceedings of the conference. Thereafter, the steering committee, minutes committee and credentials committee were elected for the smooth functioning of the conference.
The delegate session was inaugurated by Vijoo Krishnan, central secretariat member of the Party. He dwelt at length on the growing attacks faced by the working people globally; the attack on Constitution, democracy, federalism and people's rights in India under the corporate-communal BJP led NDA government in India. Manipur has been burning for more than 18 months due to the divisive policies of the BJP led ‘double engine’ government and the prime minister who is making tall claims of solving international conflicts has not cared to visit Manipur even once since the violence erupted on May 3, 2023, he said.
It is notable that in the last few days there has been increase in violence in which many lives have been lost. A delegate from the ethnic violence-hit area narrated how the harvested paddy crop was set on fire by insurgents. The involvement of insurgent groups and fundamentalist groups from both the Kuki and Meitei communities has only worsened the situation. The abject failure of the BJP led union government and the Manipur state government in maintaining peace and tranquillity, law and order in Manipur has exposed the diabolic face of the BJP-RSS combine and their strategy of divide and rule. More than 300 people were killed and 60,000 were considered internally displaced persons, many of whom are still living in relief camps, outside their homes, in inhumane and precarious conditions.
Kshetrimayum Santa, state secretary of the Party placed the draft political- organisational report which brought out the nature of the problems faced by the people of Manipur. It pointed out that despite the difficult situation prevalent in the state as well as threats and intimidation by the religious fundamentalist forces, the Party intervened effectively to ensure defeat of the BJP in the parliamentary elections, increased the Party membership in the state by drawing in new members, including women and youth. The draft political-organisational report mentioned the need of a strong CPI(M) in Manipur for a united movement of Left, democratic, secular and progressive forces against the authoritarian and communal forces led by BJP-RSS combine in Manipur. The 11 delegates, including 3 women, who took part in the discussions, explained the ordeal faced by them due to the conflict situation in the state. The report was unanimously adopted by the conference. The youngest delegate was Alicia Saadiqa aged 20 years and oldest delegate was Ningthoujam Tomba aged 101 years.
Central Committee member and in-charge of Manipur, Suprakash Talukdar spoke about the tasks before the Party and prioritising areas of work. He noted that the CPI(M) delegation led by Comrade Sitaram Yechury in which he was also present could see first- hand the failure of governance in the state. The continuation of the Chief Minister Biren Singh who has failed on all counts to maintain law and order in the state is untenable. He has no right to continue in office and should be dismissed, he said.
After the election of two delegates and two alternate delegates to represent Manipur unit of the Party at the forthcoming 24th Congress to be held in April 2025 at Madurai, Tamilnadu, the Conference unanimously elected a 16 member state organising committee including 3 women. Kshetrimayum Santa has been re-elected as the secretary. 52 delegates of whom 11 were women attended the conference. Despite the tense situation prevalent in the state and efforts at intimidation, delegates participated with enthusiasm.
Twelve resolutions were passed condemning failure of BJP governments at centre and state to bring normalcy to the state, Rs 20,000 per month for each family of 4 of the internally displaced persons and compensation for crop loss suffered by farmers. A resolution opposing reintroduction of AFSPA in parts of Manipur was also passed. A charter of demands was also unanimously passed for future movement. The conference concluded with concluding remarks and congratulatory messages from the presidium.
