CALL FROM
CPI(M) WEST BENGAL
KOLKATA: THE two-day
extended meeting of CPI(M) West Bengal state committee, which took
place during September 15-16, 2012 in Kolkata, called for more organised
movement on the burning issues of the people. After extensive discussion, the
meeting noted that there are discernible signs of peoples’ discontent against
the state government which has to be translated into concrete movement. The
extended meeting reviewed the political situation in the state and the
condition of Party organisation at different levels.
CPI(M) general secretary
Prakash Karat in his inaugural speech spoke against the anti-people policies of
the central government and said that the latest neo-liberal offensive launched
by Manmohan Singh government will only add to the sorrow of the working people.
The hike in the price of diesel will have cascading impact on prices of all
commodities and will further hit the common people. The worst hit would be the
farmers who are already reeling under the impact of rising costs of production.
He added that FDI in retail sector will have a direct adverse impact on the
employment of a huge chunk of the population who are engaged in small and
unorganised retail trade. He also criticised the UPA government for its faulty
natural resource allocation policy where precious natural resources were being
allocated at throw away prices.
Karat also warned about
the worsening communal situation in the country and the role of different
communal and fundamentalist forces, particularly after the events
in Assam. He emphasised that the independent activities of the
Party must be strengthened so as to build Left unity and move towards a Left
and democratic alternative. To achieve this, the fight against liberalisation
must get priority in the coming days, he underlined.
CPI(M) state secretary
Biman Basu, moving the agenda for the meeting, outlined the attack on democracy
and democratic institutions, the mounting burdens on the people and ever
increasing crimes against women. The movement, through mobilising the people,
has to be broadened in this perspective. That calls for strengthening the Party
organisation, uplifting the political and ideological level of the
Party, more active role of Party members and improvement of
functioning of Party committees. Basu emphasised the need for intensive work
among the toiling people and particularly among the urban and rural poor. He
has also stressed upon the need to mobilise younger sections and women.
A total of 33 comrades
from different districts and mass fronts deliberated on the report. While
summing up on the second day, Biman Basu said that only mass struggles can
change the situation. What is needed is a patient effort of the Party among the
masses.
One of the major content
of discussion was the panchayat elections due to be held in the coming months.
Biman Basu urged to treat this election as a mass struggle and move forward
with courage and determination, even in the face of attacks from TMC and other
forces. Decentralisation and exercise of peoples’ rights have come under severe
attack. This has to be exposed among people through intensive campaign. The
meeting passed a resolution protesting these attacks and decided to fight the
elections facing all odds. Though there is an apprehension that TMC will try to
prevent opposition from contesting in many areas and will force bloodshed, the
CPI(M) has decided to combat these attacks and an all out preparation to
mobilise people would start immediately. Polit Bureau member Suryakanta Misra
explained the situation in the rural areas and outlined the main tasks in this
very important political battle.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee,
addressing the meeting, said there are perceptible positive changes in the
state. We could see the positive impact of Party’s efforts in many areas.
However, the balance of forces are still tilted towards the anti-Left forces.
The people who left us have not returned entirely. A degree of alienation is
still there. Our priority is to win over those sections of the people. We have
to concentrate among the toiling people and the poorer sections. The impact of
centre’s fresh reform initiatives and misrule of TMC government in the state
would bring a large scope of building movements. But to respond to the
situation we need more developed and cleaner Party organisation.
The extended meeting decided
the following tasks before the Party: to build up powerful movement against
neo-liberal attacks on people; take up the issue of food security
and mobilise poor people; take up issues of demands and social security of the
unorganised sections of workers at local level; build up movement
against deteriorating public services; mobilise people against anarchy in
educational institutions; mobilise democratic opinion against deterioration in
law and order situation and particularly against growing attacks on women;
massive campaign in villages against attack on panchayats.
The meeting also called
for a widespread mass movement against the latest anti-people measures of hike
in price of diesel, the cut back of subsidy on cooking gas, ushering in 51 per
cent FDI in the retail sector and disinvestment of profit making PSUs. It
called upon to make the general strike in West Bengal on September
20, called by Left Front a success.
The meeting also adopted
a resolution extending support to nationwide strike on February 20th and 21st,
2013, called by central trade unions.
It has been decided that
a mass collection will be organised on September 23 to collect money for the
distressed and homeless people of Assam.
Apart from Party’s
general secretary, Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and S Ramachandran
Pillai also attended the meeting. Polit Bureau member Nirupam Sen presided
over the two day session.
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