CPI(M) Central Committee met in New Delhi from October 29-31, 2022.  It has issued the following statement on November 1.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT IN MORBI, GUJARAT

The Central Committee expressed its deep condolences to the families of over 140 people who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the bridge in Morbi town in Gujarat. Many more are injured. The injured must be immediately provided with all required medical care and assistance.  

Reportedly, this bridge was opened after renovation without a safety audit being conducted. Further, the declared limit of the number of people permitted on the bridge at any point of time was breached grievously. Further, the renovation contract was given to a company that has no previous experience in this area. These aspects demand a high-level judicial investigation for fixing accountability.

UNBECOMING ACTS OF THE GOVERNOR

The Central Committee strongly denounced the steps being taken by the governor of Kerala to advance the political objectives of the ruling BJP to destabilise the LDF government. The manner in which he demanded the resignation of various vice chancellors of the universities in Kerala and later the resignation of the state finance minister have no sanction of the Indian Constitution. The governor in his capacity as the chancellor of the universities in the state has no authority given by the University Acts passed by the state legislature to initiate such actions.

These steps by the governor target Kerala’s secular, democratic and scientific higher education system to facilitate the promotion of the Hindutva ideological agenda. The BJP union government has been targeting central universities like JNU, Hyderabad and many others with a similar objective. People of Kerala will unitedly resist such brazen partisanship shown by the governor and defeat all efforts to destabilise the democratically elected LDF government.  

TAMILNADU

Leaders of the ruling DMK-led Secular Front government have accused the governor of expressing views reflecting the BJP’s opinion creating unnecessary controversies and confusion. The expression of conservative and poisonous ideas while being the governor is violative of the constitution.

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) appeals to all non-BJP secular democratic parties, particularly those heading governments in the states, to rally together against such undemocratic anti-constitutional acts of governors and unitedly rise in defence of the Indian Constitution.

UNDERMINING FEDERALISM

Growing efforts continue to undermine federalism, a fundamental feature of our constitution, and the rights of elected state governments. Law and Order is a state subject. Modi’s call for ‘One Country One Uniform’ for police violates this.

The efforts to destabilise elected state governments continue as seen in the BJP’s attempts to poach TRS MLAs in Telangana offering huge sums of money. 

INDIAN ECONOMY IN DEEP CRISIS

Modi government’s policies are plunging the economy into deeper crisis with growing recessionary trends. The World Bank slashed growth forecast for the third time from initial 8.7 per cent for FY 23 to 6.5 per cent. Likewise, RBI reduced it from 7.8 per cent to 7 per cent. Industrial growth registered an 18 month low and the eight core sectors grew a 9.8 per cent as against 19.4 per cent last year according to the ministry of statistics (October 12).

The rupee has crashed, foreign exchange reserves are plummeting and the trade deficit is widening to record levels.

INTOLERABLE BURDEN ON PEOPLE

This deepening economic crisis is imposing greater miseries on people’s livelihoods. Unemployment rate has shot up even in the festive season to 7.8 per cent. Despite, this, the Modi government refused to release funds for the MGNREGS and refused works to nearly 1.5 crore applicants between April 1 and October 21. In FY 2022, 1.73 crores were refused work and in FY 2021, 2.1 crores were refused. Poverty is growing and the Global Hunger Index ranks India 107/121, categorising the situation as ‘serious’.

On top of these woes comes the back breaking price rise with the consumer price index inflation breaching the RBI upper limit of 6 per cent for nine months in a row. Food inflation is at an all-time high. While basic survival diet of dal/atta/rice is going beyond the reach of the majority of the people, food stocks in central godowns are at a five year low. Dangers of food deficiency are mounting.

SHARPENING COMMUNAL POLARISATION

Ignoring these travails of the people and their miseries due to this economic ruin, Modi is personally leading campaigns to sharpen the communal divide amongst the people. Media space is overcrowded with Modi’s religious ceremonies in Badrinath and Ayodhya. Muslims are routinely targeted under some pretext or the other. Muslims are increasingly being subjected to grievous physical assaults. The spread of poisonous hate and violence campaigns are growing. The public flogging of the Muslim youth in Kheda in Gujarat by policemen in plainclothes is shocking.

The Central Committee reiterated the Party’s call for the broadest mobilisation of secular forces against such sharpening of communal polarisation.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Its more than three years since the special status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir were dissolved. The situation continues to impose curbs on people’s democratic rights and livelihood.

CPI(M) along with Left parties will take the initiative to start a consultative process with other secular parties on the situation in J&K.

FORTHCOMING ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

With the Election Commission delinking the announcement of election schedules of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the BJP has got the advantage of more time before the model code of conduct comes into effect in Gujarat. Modi is personally spearheading BJP’s electoral campaigns focusing mainly on sharpening communal polarisation and declaring new schemes and benefits for the people at the cost of the union exchequer. Some of these government schemes were described as his “personal Diwali gifts” to the people. Gujarat BJP state government has announced its intention for a uniform civil code.

In Himachal Pradesh the CPI(M) has fielded 11 candidates and is supporting CPI in one seat that it is contesting. On the rest of the seats the CPI(M) has called  for the defeat of the BJP candidates.

In Gujarat, as the schedule has not yet been announced, the CPI(M) is in talks with other secular forces to ensure the defeat of the BJP.

LEFT VICTORY IN BRAZIL

The Central Committee hailed the victory of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the president of Brazil in the keenly contested election. The defeat of the self-declared fascistic right-wing Jair Bolsonaro marks a further advance for the Left in Latin America. Apart from Socialist Cuba, Left oriented presidents were elected in Chile, Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, Honduras etc.

MV GOVINDAN ELECTED TO POLIT BUREAU

The Central Committee unanimously elected MV Govindan, secretary of the Kerala state committee of the CPI(M) to the Polit Bureau.    

CC CALLS

The Central Committee extended the Party’s support to a series of protest actions across the country called by the trade unions, kisan sabha and agricultural labour union on the miseries being imposed on the people and on their specific 14 point demand charter culminating in a march to parliament in April, 2023.

The CC called upon all the Party units to strengthen local struggles and protest actions against the growing burdens on people’s livelihoods, growing attacks on dalits, women and the marginalised people in defence of democracy and against attacks on democratic rights and civil liberties. These local struggles must focus on ensuring MGNREGS is properly implemented and wages paid on time and forcing the authorities to provide works as per demand.