THE Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from August 21 to 23, 2015. It has issued the following statement on August 24, 2015 THE Central Committee expressed serious concern at the rapidly deteriorating conditions of the people’s livelihood that are a direct result of the more aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies by the BJP-led Modi government. RELENTLESS ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE The prices of essential commodities continue to rise relentlessly, with the prices of onions soaring to Rs 90 per kg. The public distribution system is in the doldrums, denying people even meagre relief. There is no tangible turnaround in the manufacturing and industrial sector. Consequently, the levels of unemployment continue to rise inexorably. Agrarian distress continues to deepen, with peasant suicides due to indebtedness showing a constant rise. The MSP announced for many crops is even below their actual cost of production and the Modi regime’s pre-election promise of giving 50 percent more than the cost of production has been thrown to the winds. The MGNREGA is being starved, leading to a sharp rise in rural unemployment. INTENSIFY LOCAL STRUGGLES In this background, the Central Committee decided to intensify local popular protests all across the country to highlight the people’s plight and to demand immediate government intervention to reverse the growing burdens on the people. From August 1 to 14, the CPI(M) led an impressive nationwide campaign highlighting deepening agrarian distress and against the anti-people, pro-corporate, corrupt and communal policies of the Modi regime, in which lakhs of people participated throughout the country. The highlights of this campaign were the historic human chains in Kerala and Tripura, the massive mobilisation in West Bengal and in many other states. SUPPORT TO SEPTEMBER 2 ALL INDIA STRIKE The Central Committee extended its full and active support to the September 2 all India strike call given by the central trade unions. All the Left parties have already declared their support to this nationwide action. REFUSAL TO ACT ON CORRUPTION The entire monsoon session of parliament was a washout thanks to the obduracy of the Modi regime and its refusal to recognise and take action against corruption in high places. Within a year of its existence, the emergence of such grave charges of corruption exposes the sham of the BJP’s election slogan of fighting corruption. INSTIGATING COMMUNAL POLARISATION During this period, various incidents of communal riots and tension continue to be reported. The real agenda of this government – to sharpen communal polarisation for its electoral and political advantage, continues to unfold. There are growing reports that in the run up to the state assembly elections in Bihar, particularly, such tensions are intensifying. While mounting the attack against the minorities, particularly the Muslims, and seeking to blame the entire community for terrorist attacks, the BJP government is markedly softening its stand on investigated cases of Hindutva terror. All terrorist activity, irrespective of who perpetrates it, must be severely dealt with to uphold the unity and integrity of our country. The government’s approach to fight terrorism is coloured with its blinkered communal ideology. INDO-PAK DIALOGUE The calling-off of the NSA level talks between India and Pakistan at the last minute is unfortunate. Earlier the foreign secretary level talks were also called off. Whipping up jingoism will only strengthen fundamentalist forces on both sides of the border, which will be harmful to the interests of the peoples of both countries and will have serious implications in Jammu & Kashmir. The Central Committee reiterates that it is only through the process of a composite dialogue encompassing all issues and disputes between the two countries, that the current growing tensions can be deescalated. BIHAR ELECTIONS The Central Committee approved the decision taken by the Left parties to unitedly contest the elections to the Bihar assembly under the banner of the united independent Left bloc comprising the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, RSP, AIFB, SUCI and other Bihar-level Left parties. The Party will go to the electorate with the slogan of defeating the communal BJP; opposing the casteist forces and strengthening Left representation in the assembly. A joint convention of Left parties will be held on September 7 at Patna to announce the programme of the Left parties. DETERIORATING CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS Centre-State relations continued to deteriorate during this period. The chief minister of Delhi has announced to invite non-BJP chief ministers from across the country for a meeting on the issue of undermining federalism. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Tripura chief minister, Manik Sarkar, will attend this meeting and will place the considered opinion of the Party, on which it has been campaigning for many decades. SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT The Central Committee reiterated the demand of the 21st Party Congress to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the plight of dalits in our country. This session will be a meaningful observation of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. ORGANISATIONAL PLENUM The Central Committee decided to hold the plenum on organisation, as mandated by the CPI(M)’s 21st Congress, from December 27 to 30, 2015 at Kolkata. In preparation for the Plenum, the Central Committee will meet again from November 2 to 5, 2015, after which extended meetings of the state committees will be held to discuss the Central Committee’s document for the Plenum.