By Binoy Viswam

The greed of the capital along with its market-controlled path of development is making the lives of people more and more miserable. The people are being denied even their basic rights of safe air, water, and landmass. The capitalistic rulers everywhere are doing only lip service to the safety of the people. Their policies one after another are breaking all the fundamental structures of a decent life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. The more they preach, the less they act as it can be seen from the Modi government policies evidently moving in this direction.

The first chapter of Communist Manifesto has discussed about this nature of capitalist greed and the ethos of its governance. Marx and Engels in that context even characterised the bourgeoise government as the “executive committee for managing the general affairs of the capitalists.” That statement remains true in the era of . RSS controlled BJP Government which has made a lot of sermons on environment protection.

In their Manifesto for 2014 Elections, they stated that, “The present generation has to make this world a better place to live. A better place not only for us, but for our future generations as well. We have to nurture the environment, institutions, people, resources and amenities… We will take Climate Change mitigation initiatives with all seriousness and work with the global community and institutions in this regard. We will: (do) Ecological Audit of projects. Pollution indexing of cities and townships will be done on scientific basis. Pollution control mechanisms will be set up on priority basis.”

Once in power they never looked back to it. Let the country have a look at the amendments made by the Modi Government in the forest and environment related legislations. They were all meant for the destruction of forests and environment, not for their protection. The Greater Nicobar development project was a great assault on the richness of biodiversity abundance of the islands with disastrous impact on the air, water and environment conditions of India.

The much-boasted Central Vista project of BJP government caused unimaginable damage to the air safety of the Capital city. The 20,000-crore project brutally ate down tens of thousands of trees in the Lutyens’s Delhi. For achieving the Central Vista Project, the government just disregarded the existing laws in the country and found shelter in outdated Government Building Act of 1899! Pollution from the indiscriminate demolitions, recently 80,000 tonnes in NOIDA only and carbon dioxide emissions from evergrowing number of vehicles, 3.38 million private cars in 2021, these are the data taken from government sources.

Instead, their air pollution discussions always revolve around stubble burning and farmers only! Tortured breath undertaken by millions of citizens in Indian cities is the aftermath of this profit motivated development. Air pollution looming over the big cities cause seven million premature deaths annually. Cancer, lung disease and strokes are ever on increase, affecting the life expectancy by nine years at present stage. While the IQ Air – the World Air Quality Report 2020 ranked Delhi as the 4th most polluted city in the world, the National Clean Air Programme was launched in 2019. It was supposed to cover the 131 most polluted cities in the country. But due to the utter negligence of the government, the programme ended as a non-starter.

When the G-20 was hosted by India with great fanfare, the Narendra Modi government was preaching that, India, the ‘Vishwaguru’, was standing ahead on every developmental yardstick. But the reality that stares on us reveals the pathetic living conditions of our people. The adapted safety standards of WHO set 5mcg/mc as the safe concentration of PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 per cubic metre of air, India could reach nowhere near that goal. The existing alarming situation of air pollution in the country warrants urgent proactive action plan to protect the life expectancy of the people of India

The government should understand that the people and their lives are of paramount importance, not the profits of their cronies. If the government is serious in this matter, the government should find time to discuss the crisis caused by air pollution in the forthcoming winter session of the parliament. There are various worthy practices like “wind path forests” carried out by different countries. This is the time to act, to give hope to people. The Prime Minister should convene an all party meeting urgently to set the ground for India’s fight for safe air and environment. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

The Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, Mr. Mohan Bhagwat expressed in clear terms their ideological bitterness towards Marxism, the other day during his vijayadashmi address. There was nothing new in his statement because that hatred of the Hindutva forces towards the Marxists was clearly spelt by Golwalkar in his early writings itself. In every sphere of activity, the Parivar was adamant in being revengeful towards leftward thinking. The political forces committed to the Left ideology were regarded as the number one enemy by the right reactionary forces led by the RSS

Their ideology and politics are indebted to ideas of racial supremacy and greed of big capital. Whenever they got the opportunity to handle political power in India, the RSS tried to attack the Left and governments with Left participation. This tendency was visible since the 1970s, when the Janata government came into power with two leading RSS men — A B Vajpayee and L K Advani — as ministers. When the RSS became more powerful with dominant control over political power at Centre, they became more aggressive against the Left. The Left Front governments in Bengal, Tripura and Kerala were targeted because of political vengeance.

At present, there exists only one Left-led government in India — the LDF government in Kerala. That government of the LDF successfully completed its first tenure from 2016 to 2021. Because of its pro-people governance, the voters of Kerala elected the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan back to power for a consecutive second term. After the C Achutha Menon government in the 1970s, this was the first time that people of Kerala voted to continue the government.

This repeated victory of the Left in the southern-most state of India surprised the Sangh Parivar and sharpened their anger to the Left. By defeating the lone BJP member in the previous assembly, the people of Kerala closed the BJP’s account in the State. The only Left government in the country naturally makes its impact on the national politics with its pro-poor, pro-peasant, pro-worker policies. Many of the projects undertaken by the LDF government in the fields of housing, health, education, agriculture, civil supplies and social welfare provide an impetus to the people all over the country.

The Kerala model of development is the people’s alternative to the Modi model of development, driven by Adani and others of the same lot. Handling political power in the state under a federal Constitution, Kerala attempts to realise the goals of a welfare state. The progressive democratic forces all over the country look up to Kerala with great expectations and regard this state as a land of hope. Sangh Parivar with its proclaimed anti-Marxist stance is hell-bent to hinder the onward march of Kerala to new frontiers of progress. The Union government led by Narendra Modi is acting as an instrument in the hands of the Parivar forces.

Kerala is grappling with an unprecedented fiscal crisis, aggravated by adverse policies from the Central government that threatens to withhold Rs 57,400 crore in transfers and loan approvals this fiscal year. The state faces reduced borrowing limits, a diminished revenue deficit grant, and the absence of GST compensation, placing a substantial financial burden on its ability to fund essential projects and meet growing expenditures. With the left-ruled state forced to rely on its own revenues for up to 80 per cent of expenses, financial strain is exacerbated by arrears exceeding Rs 50,000 crore, impacting critical areas such as welfare pensions, local self-government funds, government employee dues, construction work contracts, etc. As per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission Report, Kerala is entitled for unconditional loans of Rs 32,442 crores. But the Union finance ministry unilaterally reduced the borrowing limit of the state, suggesting flimsy reasons.

For paddy procurement, the Kerala government is yet to receive Rs 792 crores and Rs 61 crores share as part of the Food Security Act. Rs 137 crores are due in health sector grants and Rs 51.5 crores are due in municipalities grants. To financially choke the LDF government further, entitled revenue subsidy and GST compensations are stopped. Along with this, the anti-farmer stance of nationalised banks and agencies like CIBIL scores creates burdens for the agricultural sector. The Modi government’s promise of the MSP still remains on paper.

The nationalised banks, while writing off lakhs of crores for the big business, have no concerns for the peasants and their difficulties. Kerala’s demand for raising the loan limit fell on the deaf ears of the Union government. The Union government has adopted a financial policy aimed at strangling the state of Kerala. Their political strategy is to undermine all the achievements of the Left government and to minimise the importance of the Left alternative. The anti-Left ideology and politics of the BJP have to be fought with people’s support and political clarity.

The LDF in Kerala has planned a massive campaign in this direction. As part of it, the chief minister and the ministers will go to all the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala together. They would tell the masses about the LDF concept of building a new Kerala, facing onslaughts from the BJP rulers at the Centre. As culmination of this mass-awareness programme, the LDF chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, the MLAs and MPs from Kerala would stage a massive dharna in the national capital in mid-January demanding the due financial share of Kerala from the Union government. The Left has trust in the people and the people believe the Left. With this confidence, LDF will march forward. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

After a very long wait, the Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed by the Parliament. Everyone who knows about the history of the struggle for the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill would think about Comrade Geeta Mukherjee at this moment of victory. She was the unforgettable communist leader and a consistent fighter for women’s rights who took the passing of the women’s bill as a life mission. She was a true communist who believed that the tasks of the Indian revolution could not be fulfilled without the liberation of the women of the country. Thirty-three per cent participation of women in the Parliament and state legislatures is only the first step in that direction. Even for that first step to be accomplished, the democratic forces of the country had to wage consistent battles for decades. Passing the bill would be an impetus for the future struggles of women’s organisations and other democratic forces.

The BJP government is trying to capture the scene as the champion of women empowerment in the country. All their propaganda measures are tuned accordingly and they propagate that Narendra Modi is the crusader of women’s rights. Contrary to the hype being built, the fact is that Narendra Modi and his party are not at all sincere in the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill. They are ideologically and politically not in favour of women empowerment. Theirs is a male chauvinistic organisation controlled by the RSS in which women are denied even primary membership. Their ideology is guided by Manu Smriti, that preaches ‘Na sthree swathanthryam arhati’ (women do not deserve freedom)”. All of a sudden, their government became advocates of nari shakthi and wanted to crown it with this bill. Electoral compulsions were overpowering ideological convictions inside the BJP. Otherwise, how can they justify the long lapse of nine years, from 2014 to 2023, for initiating this bill?

The content of the Women’s Reservation Bill was shaped by the United Front government in 1996, in which the Communist Party of India also held important positions. It could not be passed then because of differences regarding reservations for the OBCs. A Joint Parliamentary Committee led by Geeta Mukherjee was formed on this behalf. Though it presented its report in record time, the move could not go forward as the bill had lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. During the period of the Vajpayee government, there was no considerable progress in the matter. The UPA-I, in which the left parties played a significant role, took the matter seriously and the Women’s Reservation Bill found an important place in the Common Minimum Programme. During this government led by Dr Manmohan Singh, the bill was introduced on May 6, 2008. After Standing Committee scrutiny, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill on March 9, 2010. From that point, due to political uncertainties, there were no serious developments on the matter.

The Communist Party of India and the left forces have always been strongly committed to the Women’s Reservation Bill and continued its struggle along with the progressive women’s movement in the country. The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) took this struggle to the Supreme Court in 2021 in the form of a Public Interest Litigation. In the course of hearings in this important matter, the apex court also took a firm stand and cautioned the government of serious repercussions if the enactment of the bill is further delayed. Along with the 2024 elections, various factors compelled the BJP government to come forward with the legislation. Though this is a historical turning point in the direction of women’s empowerment, the BJP is not at all sincere in its implementation. In the name of the forthcoming census and delimitation of constituencies, the government attempts to delay its implementation for any further period of time. That should be resisted. The democratic forces of the country urged the government to implement the Women’s Reservation Bill without any further delay after the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha itself.

The experience with the reservation for women from one-third (33 per cent) to one-half (50 per cent) of the total seats in panchayats and local urban bodies has shown us how giving reservation to women in governance could bring in a positive change in our political landscape. This should be the fuel for furthering the objectives of gender-inclusive politics. The scope of the present Act should be extended to the Rajya Sabha, the state legislative councils as well as the assemblies of all Union Territories. Reservations for OBCs and minorities in the law-making bodies are vital for a meaningful representative democracy.

The Geeta Mukherjee committee report has also mentioned this aspect. The stage managers of the BJP, who now boast about the Act, have never applied their minds to such important questions till this moment. Their only concern is the capture of power in the name of nari shakthi. Sharing power with women and respect for social justice do not feature on their political and ideological agenda. They should be exposed before the people. From this first point of victory, the struggle for women’s empowerment has to go forward. The communists will hold their hands together with women and all other democratic forces in their struggle for justice and emancipation. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

The year-long ‘celebrations’ that the Modi government built up around the G-20 Summit have ended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, due to electoral ambitions chose to design it more like a festival than with socio-political and diplomatic content. G-20, because of its very nature and proclaimed objectives, was expected to focus on socio-economic and political challenges before the world. Though there were marginal references on such issues intermittently, Narendra Modi’s emphasis was to create a larger-than-life image of himself aiming at 2024 elections. For this purpose, the G-20 presidency was cunningly utilised. It is generally known that G-20 presidency  comes to member nations through mere rotation, but Modi and his storm-troopers tried to create an impression that it was because of Modi’s ‘Vishwaguru’  image, other member countries bestowed on him this responsibility.

The G-20 Summit was planned in such a way that prior to it, 100 events were organised in almost all the major cities of the country. A total of 12,300 participants were invited for various deliberations. The outcome of this large-scale mobilisation drill is not completely known to the people, but it is roughly stated by concerned sources that Rs 4,100 crores were spent only for the logistics of the great event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again proved his affinity for catchy slogans and colourful campaigns.

The watchword of the Summit was ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.’ No doubt, for a casual onlooker these words may have a peripheral appeal, but the political, economic and ideological outcome of the summit was not true to the watchword. It is interesting to analyse the evolutionary trajectory of G-20, from the original foundations of G-7 which was initiated in 1975 soon after the oil crisis.

The major economies of the world were trying to find their own way to minimise the damages of the crisis on their economic stability. When geopolitical developments put forth the aspirations of the developing countries before the international agenda, it was necessary for G-7 to expand into G-20.The birth of G-20 was not a wholehearted initiative, but it happened as a tide of compulsions. On every single issue deliberated by G-20 there exists a clash of interests between the developed few and the developing many. The Delhi Summit was no exception to this.

A close watch of the deliberations in the summit and the Delhi Declaration itself would reveal the pressure from the G-7, which tried to mark its shadow on the character of G-20, supposedly a more inclusive group of nations. While the G-20 primarily aims at major issues related to the global economy, financial stability, climate change and sustainable development, the focus of debate was not on any of these. The war in Ukraine was the hot-topic as diplomats debated the ways in which the issue was to be included in the G-20 Leaders’ Declaration.

Agreements on crucial issues like climate change, global warming and migration received only scanty attention, both in deliberations and in the media. Indian people are still waiting for an understanding as to how the G-20 Summit is going to make an impact on livelihoods in India as rampant legalised loot of forest and natural resources by a few corporate houses continues unhindered under BJP rule. Prime Minister also wanted to create hype around another of his pet project, the Bio-fuel Alliance. What shape and execution it will take is to be seen as Modi has a record of promising pompous things but failing in delivery. Another ambitious announcement by him, the Solar Alliance, could not take off.

Opacity and lack of transparency are characteristics of the Modi rule. This international summit for which the Indian taxpayer paid also lacked accountability completely. While the Prime Minister was busy posing for candid pictures with leaders from around the world, none of them could speak to the press freely. Reports have surfaced that US President Joe Biden wanted to interact with the press, as is the convention, but this request was declined. Biden had to brief the press from Vietnam the next morning where he said what Modi wanted to avoid the most in Delhi. He said that “as I always do, I raised the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role that civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with Modi.” We know the abysmal human rights record of the US. Still, these concerns in light of gross human rights violations, most recently in Manipur, selective targeting of civil society groups and a virtual gag on criticism from the press assume significance. However, Modi and his lackeys are aggressively peddling the ‘Vishwaguru’ narrative, omitting how the ‘Vishwaguru’ is being seen by others.

The New Delhi G-20 Leaders’ Declaration remained an attempt to reconcile and appease the positions taken by leaders from the western world and those from Russia and China. It is full of generic solutions for saving the world, with little follow-up as rivalries and fractures run deep in the group. Still a part of the declaration has grabbed attention. Para 78 of the declaration urges all parties to “promote respect for religious and cultural diversity, dialogue and tolerance.” People in India have recent recollections of these words and how RSS-BJP leadership, who controls the prime minister, has routinely demonised diversity, dialogue and tolerance.

These words from the G-20 Summit hosted by the ‘Vishwaguru’ are the litmus test on which Modi and Company should walk the talk. We all know who targeted minorities and said rioters can be recognised by their clothes. Modi government has actively curtailed all forms of dialogue, including in the Parliament by taking punitive measures against those critical of the government. Intolerance is being systematically bred in the society for continuation in power. Modi’s inflated ‘Vishwaguru’ portrayal should be measured by the yardstick of practical action. In that case, the 56-inch chest will deflate by a lot. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

The month of August calls upon every Indian to recall the unfading saga of great struggles and heroic sacrifices. This is the month that brought the long-awaited freedom to our people. Our long-drawn freedom struggle was an unparalleled one where various streams of struggles, from Satyagraha to Armed Revolt, flowed together and merged to liberate us from colonial clutches. The struggle was against the mighty British Empire over which the sun never used to set. The protagonists of colonial oppression believed that the aim of Indian people to attain freedom was unachievable. But the people’s desire for independence from colonial yoke was so intense and zealous that, they united and achieved what was seemingly impossible.

Thus, the day, 15th of August, became the most luminous day in the history of India. To mark that day, our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru outlined our ‘tryst with destiny’ in his historic speech. The very next day, on 16th of August 1947, he declared from the ramparts of Red Fort that “the free flag of India is the symbol of freedom and democracy not only for India but for the whole world.”All the Prime Ministers in our history tried to follow that glorious legacy to make Independence Day speeches contentful, inspiring and introspective. However, ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, Independence Day speeches began to become hollow and sometimes, even meaningless. His speech on the 77thIndependence Day was no different, to quote Shakespeare ““full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.

While delivering his speech from Red Fort, Narendra Modi completely forgets that he is the Prime Minister of the biggest democracy in the world. He seldom considers the fact that his words have to represent 140 crores of Indians and their aspirations of a bright future. Prime Minister Modi, bringing disgrace to the high office he holds, has made this solemn occasion to deliver his typical political speeches, which could be made by any spokesperson of the ruling party. It was much ado about nothing.

In the latest edition of his Independence Day address, the anxiety and panic of the PM was evidently visible. Independence Day was being used as the occasion for political forecasting when he claimed that he will deliver the next year’s speech also. People could see how frightened he is regarding the 2024 elections. The Prime Minister seems to be utterly unsure that he is trying to hide his agonies and uncertainties with high sounding words and rhetorical techniques. The PM was covering his colossal failures in all walks of life by saying that India will become the world’s third largest economy. Such unfounded claims could only urge the people to make a comparison between his earlier promises and the ground reality.

It was not accidental that the Prime minister did not spend much time to discuss about the legacy of our freedom movement, on the very day we attained freedom. In his heart of heart, even Narendra Modi knows that the political stream that he represents had no role, even as a spectator in India’s eventful and diverse battle against imperialism. Hence, he concentrated on his usual style of rhetoric. In world history one can find certain leaders of the same feather who resorted to empty words unrelated to deeds.

The Prime Minister wanted make himself believe India has produced wonders under and due to his rule. He was eager to make others to think in those terms as well. The reality of the country compel the people of India not to fall prey to this kind of propaganda gimmicks. When the prime minister was boasting about ‘Viswa Mitra and Viswa Guru’ the citizens of his country are passing through very testing times. The whole of North-East is under turmoil with Manipur being its epicentre. Narendra Modi owes an explanation to the nation for his conspicuous silence for months together when Manipur was burning. The women of Manipur who were forced to parade naked will remain a question mark before all his claims of developed India. In the Human Development Index, our country stands at 132nd place. Prime Minister was boasting about one IMF report in the Parliament. According to the same IMF, India’s ranking on per capita nominal GDP is 139. In infant mortality rate, countries from the sub-Saharan region fare better than India.

The promise of two crore jobs per year is a proven lie and our young generation is staring at a bleak future. Price rise has destabilized the living conditions of all sections of people. Still, our rulers do over time job to depict an India with five trillion-dollar economy before the world. Their promises like ‘Sab Ka Saath and Sab Ka Vikas’ are lying in the dustbin of aborted assurances. The political speech delivered by the Prime Minister on the august occasion of the Independence Day was a pitiable show by a failed politician to garb his colossal failures. It once again reminded the people the urgency of coming together and fight for a new India. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

People used to call Manipur the Jewel of India. Later, the government also borrowed that word to decorate their advertisement hoardings. The history, culture and arts of Manipur were evolved through periods of time in which the people played their due role. Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas form the population of the beautiful territory. Meiteis are in large numbers followed by Kukis and Nagas. Facing the odds of life, they were living in peace and harmony.

It doesn’t mean that there were no disputes and clashes in the past. Whenever such incidents occurred, political initiatives and their own wisdom helped them to settle the differences amicably and move forward. Whenever the people of Manipur brought colours to their socio-cultural life it was this feeling of commonness that paved the path for them. That Manipur no more exists today. Everything the people achieved collectively have been shattered to pieces by the divisive polices of the BJP.

The BJP government in Manipur and Centre has totally failed the people of Manipur and their right to have a peaceful prosperous life. It began with the master plan of the RSS who established their control over the strategically important North-East of India. After bringing the state of Assam under its hold, the BJP leadership in Delhi earned Manipur with their strategy of hook and crook. In the election of 2017, the BJP tried and failed to win the majority in the assembly. But with a political aid from Delhi and the support of huge moneybags they could purchase MLAs and could cook up an artificial majority through which they ruled for five years.

In 2022 elections, the BJP put their hands on the shoulders of the Meiteis and Kukis and used all their usual practices to manage the comfortable numbers. Both the Meiteis and Kukis could not understand their long-term strategy of divide and rule. Once the RSS-BJP began their operations the people of Manipur had to pay heavy prices for it. Under the BJP rule the crisis was worsening in Manipur as it happened elsewhere. Issues of unemployment, price rise, land and development were hounding the population of Manipur also. Following the RSS ideology, the BJP government was cunningly telling both the Meiteis and Kukis that the ‘others’ are responsible for their hardships and they are the enemies. The question of tribal status and tribal rights were engineered in such a way that led to the distrust between both the communities. All those happenings on May 3 were the explosion of this discontentment.

That was only the beginning. Following the clashes, arson and firing on May 3, the situation worsened all over the state. After Imphal in the valley, Churachandpur and the hills became the epicentre of the unending conflicts. Violence spread to Bishnupur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Moreh etc. Extremist elements from both the Meiteis and Kukis were in the forefront of killings and arson which is the norm of riots. The poor, the innocent and the weak are the victims of the violence unleashed according to the game plan of the ruling circles with the blessings of the RSS-BJP. We, the delegation of left MPs, could feel the suffering of the innocent people in all the relief camps.

Both in the camps of Meiteis or Kukis, the sorrows are the same. Women and men, old and young —they are there in thousands (according to government sources 50,648 people are lodged in 349 relief camps but the real numbers are much more).They may be getting food for hunger there. But their basic essentials like healthcare, sanitation, sanitary pads, proper nutrition for kids among others, are lacking. The education system has completely collapsed as most of the children are in the camps and many of their schools burnt. The government call them as ‘relief camps’, but one gets the feeling that it is for the refugees. People are forced to live as refugees in their own country. We could see number of churches and temples and houses that have been burnt to ashes and the people at the surroundings looking at us with burning anxiety in their eyes. All these scenes are testimony to the level of mutual distrust and rage which is the natural outcome of racial hatred that rulers have succeeded in fanning upto any levels.

Seeing the painful plight of Manipur today, the people of India naturally ask ‘where are the state and the Central governments?’ In Manipur, people can only see a zero government. The slogan of maximum governance and minimum government was a big lie. The leader with 52-inch chest and long tongue was behaving like a ‘mouni baba’ throughout these days. He did not utter a single word about the wide spread crisis in the border state passing through an explosive situation for about two and a half months. All branches of government both in the Centre and also in the state are totally paralysed as the natural result of this colossal political inaction. Manipur speaks voluminously about the failure of the government for which the people are paying the price through miseries and uncertainty. For the Manipur crisis, if there is a primary culprit, that will be the governments led by the BJP.

How can a government respond in such a naive manner to a very serious socio-ethnic-political violence luring over its territory? It would be difficult even for the BJP cadres to answer this question. Then came the statement from Eric Garcetti, who is the US ambassador to India, he was extending US support for India to ‘resolve’ the Manipur conflict. It urges the people of India to associate government inaction in India and the US offer for support. All over the world wherever US has intervened, they have only complicated the situation. Palestine and Afghanistan are the closest examples before our eyes. The CPI and the Left are categorically clear in the matter that Manipur should not be further complicated through any sort of US involvement. The ‘atmanirbhar government’ of Narendra Modi should have the courage to prevent any sort of foreign attempts, from near or far, to convert Manipur as their playing field.

In Manipur during our visit the Left MPs could interact with people from all segments of life — intellectuals, civil society organisations, priests of Hindus, Christians, places of worship, who belonged to both Meiteis and Kukis. They had differences in understanding the situation. But they echoed in one voice their feeling that the government has failed. They all demand the resignation of Biren Singh from chief ministership. A study of Manipur crisis would tell us that it is closely interlinked to the land and the wealth beneath it. The hills of Manipur are immensely rich with the presence of various natural resources. That region is generally protected by the Tribal right laws.

Mostly the Kukis live there since time immemorial with their tribal customs and practices. It is true that in the valley due to growing population there is scarcity of Land. Those common Meitei masses who demand tribal status might only be dreaming for a piece of land. But there are political forces and their cronies in the corporate world, who have a nefarious plan to loot the forests and the mineral wealth there. When a party committed to their greed runs the government in Delhi and Imphal, its ‘corporate cousins’ think that their time has come. Behind the divide and rule policy, all those forces of darkness join together and make Manipur a boiling pot. Only a concerted political initiative with people’s participation can save Manipur. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Even in the early months of 2023, many political analysts were sceptical about the possibility of a broad opposition unity. The BJP was almost sure that this exercise would end up as a non-starter. Some of its leaders went to the extent of ridiculing the very idea of such a unity. Even the people who support the necessity of a political change were disappointed by the slow pace of the whole process. But one party in the country, unhindered by all the negative currents around, was consistently campaigning for the realisation of this great idea. That party was the Communist Party of India.

Ever since the RSS controlled BJP government began to strangle the secular-democratic existence of India, the party was clear in its strategy and tactics to fight it out by all means. The CPI’s clarion call in this regard was given, looking at the threat to the country, immediately after the RSS regime started consolidating itself. CPI’s Puducherry Congress in 2015 itself, resolved to make “efforts for building a broad Left-Democratic unity based on principles of secularism, democracy and pro-people economic policies.”

CPI consistently worked for the broadest possible unity of all secular, democratic, Left forces. Ifs and buts were raised from various corners but the CPI had no doubt that communal-fascism represented by RSS-BJP was the main enemy of the people. Marxist understanding of the reality helped the CPI to steadfastly play its due role for the broad unity of forces to fight the main enemy. It is with that feeling of pride the CPI participates in the historic Patna meeting.

The RSS-BJP captured power at the centre with a vote percentage of 31 in 2014Lok Sabha elections. In the next general elections, using everything they have, they came back to power with a vote share of 37.4 per cent. Majority of the Indian people have not supported the RSS-BJP and have voted against them. The BJP victory and its fanfare were always built up on the disunity among opposition forces and on the first-past-the-post norm of the faulty electoral system. BJP and the forces behind it had the ability to ensure that the opposition votes are divided and the BJP road to victory is safeguarded. The people of India had to pay heavy prices, as BJP rule brought them only hardships and havocs.

Now the wind of change has begun to blow. Most of the parties in the opposition have understood the urgent necessity to unseat the BJP, led by the fascist ideology of the RSS. The meeting of opposition parties in Patna becomes historic in this background. It is a significant attempt from the opposition parties to respond to the call of our times. After a lot of soul searching at different levels, they have come to this point of far-reaching importance. The meeting in Patna is significant as it indicates a major change in India’s polity. Those with democratic mindset look at this meeting with great expectations.

These are days of turmoil and strife in various parts of India. Lives of the common people have no value or dignity. Manipur is a testimony to it. After the train accident in Odisha, we saw how the dead bodies of humans were treated by the authorities. For a government crazy for the luxury trains of the rich, the rights of the common people are matters of least importance. Their trains, bogeys, rail lines and signal system all are neglected. The rulers show their expertise in hiding their colossal failures by propaganda skills everywhere. Big structures are being built up in the name of gods and national leaders.

The new Parliament building and the way in which it was inaugurated reveal how the democratic principles and secular values are thrown to the winds. The prime minister had no time to utter a single word to pacify the anguishes of women wrestlers who upheld the Indian flag in the international arena and the plight of the people of Manipur. Parties, big and small, old or new, regional or national, all have to address these emerging challenges the country is facing. The government’s only concern is elections. So much so that they even designed the timing and conduct of G20 in a way to make it possible for PM Modi to canvass for the crucial 2024 elections in the garb of international conclave. Such is RSS-BJP’s obsession with elections.

The meeting of opposition parties in Patna is sure to upset the communal camp. They are trying to belittle the political significance of this unity process by pointing at the differences between various participating political parties. It is true and natural that the participants in Patna meeting are holding multiple views on several issues. Their class approaches and ideological, political positions also vary. In a large and diverse country like India the reasons for the same are well-known. The political parties who have come forward to share such a broad platform are quite aware of the socio-political realities of the country. While coming to Patna they are realistic enough not to fall prey to any illusions.

It is a perfect example of unity in diversity. These parties do have differences on various national issues, some of them fight each other in the states, but they also get united in the face of biggest challenge country is facing today. It is the attack on the unity of the country unleashed by the forces of hatred and nurtured by the ideology of racial supremacy. The foundations of the Constitution that are secularism, democracy, federalism and allegiance to socialist goals are aggressively threatened by the philosophy of the RSS. Parties attending the Patna meeting are aware that the main enemy of the country today is the communal fascism of the RSS and they are uniting to fight that.

The participants in the Patna meeting know that this is not the time to dig out the differences and get engaged in hair-splitting arguments but to highlight commonalities and create the possibility of united action against forces who are sowing the seeds of hatred among the masses. In pursuance of this patriotic task of saving the country from RSS-BJP’s clutches, Patna meeting is only the beginning. Numerous suggestions and ideas are liable to emerge from the meeting and the parties would understand the positions of each other from this exercise.

Many observers of various shades ask questions about the common minimum programme and the leadership. On such questions, answers will be evolved but not in the Patna session. As it has been proven earlier, several questions find their answers only in the post-poll scenario. The political preparedness that brought these parties to Patna would remain as the guiding spirit in finding solutions and answers for every possible question that may arise in the political discourse. It may need several rounds of discussions and many more editions of such meetings.

As the time for the decisive battle in 2024 is closing down, each party has to move responsibly as they are ultimately accountable to the people and their democratic aspirations. This is not the time to sit on fence, the situation calls on everyone concerned about the country’s future to unite. Those who breach this unity will be questioned by the people. The lines of revolutionary Guatemalan poet Otto Ren Castillo are worth remembering in the present political conditions of India. He wrote “One day/the apolitical intellectuals/of our land/will be interrogated/by the poorest of people. They will be asked what they did/while their country/was extinguished…” The parties coming to Patna are quite positive in understanding this fact. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Manipur was like trump card for the BJP. Since their first ascendance to power in 2017, with the calculated plan of a conquest they treated Manipur as their spring board for North East. BJP’s gaining of power in the state itself was through crooked ways. It had only 21 MLAs in the 60 member Assembly, where as the Congress had 28 members. Purchasing MLAs and manipulation of Governor’s office helped BJP to manage their foot hold in Manipur. From there they extended the tentacles of hatred politics to nearby states one after another.

A new narrative was cooked up in their factory of lies that the religious minorities and tribal population have become devout supporters of BJP. North to South, East to West that manufactured story was propagated by the storm troopers. Now it is this story that has shattered into pieces. The real face of the BJP in connection with the minorities, tribals and other sections of the society stands exposed and the state was thrown into turmoil. During the most challenging days for the people in the North East, India witnessed the prime minister of the country ploughing for votes in the southern state of Karnataka.

The trigger for the orgy of violence engulfing the entire state of Manipur was a high court order which directed the state government to submit a recommendation for the inclusion of Meities in the ST list. This was protested by the tribal population of the state and soon, violent clashes, arson and rage enveloped the entire state. The high court may have triggered the violence but it’s clear that BJP’s policy of dividing people under several labels and pitting one against the other is responsible for the turmoil in the state. BJP’s tendency to centralise power and not to maintain dialogue with stakeholders has pushed the state into this abyss of violence, which has claimed more than 60 lives and rendered thousands homeless.

Dividing people paid handsome dividends to the BJP electorally but the disastrous consequences of divisions in the society are long-term and the BJP must be held responsible. Their hunger for capturing power has disfigured not only Manipur, but the entire North East. Learning nothing from this unrest, when people of Manipur were in tears, the entire BJP leadership was hovering over Karnataka doing what they do; dividing the people. The seeds of hatred and division BJP is sowing are poisonous for our soil which is rich with sacrifices from all sections of society.

Restoration of normalcy and lasting peace in Manipur is the foremost task before the country and the government today. However, BJP’s narrow understanding of the issues concerned is resulting in an understanding that this is a mere law-and-order issue. Heavy deployment of armed forces will not address the matters at the core of violence. Deep seated frustration with the government is resulting in violence and it should be addressed politically and societally. All stake-holders, their representative organisations and political parties should be consulted and taken into confidence and the CPI had demanded this from the Union Government.

Though Union Home Minister Amit Shah agreed to discuss the high court order recommending ST status to Meities, the scope remains narrow to the order itself. Consultations should go beyond the immediate trigger point and must address issues of long-term societal stability. How and why hatred has found a breeding ground in Manipur should be investigated and forces responsible for this should be exposed. Immediate and human rehabilitation of those who were displaced should be prioritised. Generous compensation for those who lost their lives and injured in the spiral of violence must be ensured.

It is becoming increasingly visible to the country that the BJP-RSS, by their ideological disposition itself, are unfit to rule the country. BJP-RSS create fractures in the society for electoral gains and this is disastrous for the society. A diverse country like India cannot be governed without dialogue, especially in critical areas like Kashmir and the North East, but the BJP-RSS are ideologically in favour of heavily centralised and unidimensional flow of power. This ideological design is resulting in a calamity for peace and harmony in the country. Dissatisfaction is all pervasive in the BJP rule and those responsible are in a perpetually election mode with little time or patience to attend to the demands of the people.

After the abject failure of BJP’s Kashmir policy, now we are seeing the episode being repeated in the North East. Before situation escalates further, peace building will have to be prioritised and bonds between people will have to be strengthened through united efforts. People have to be reached and sensitized with the secular ethos of our Constitution and inclusive heritage of our freedom movement. RSS-BJP rule is based on the hatred created between our countrymen. This hatred must be defeated and replaced with love, compassion and sympathy to herald our country into an era of peace, progress and prosperity. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Day in and day out, the RSS-led parivar excels themselves in the fascist skills of propaganda. Learning lessons from Mussolini and Hitler, updating those lessons for the changing time and place, they sometimes outsmart even their masters. In 1937, inaugurating a movie production unit, Benito Mussolini gave the motto: “Cinema is the most powerful weapon.” Following his steps, Adolf Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels have also attempted to persuade film makers to manufacture cinema of their taste and tune. From the initial days of RSS-BJP rule, India has been witnessing concerted moves to utilize the possibilities of art and literature to achieve their political goals.

The happenings in the FTII, Pune, showed the country that how adamant and calculated they are to pollute the horizons of culture. Following a long series of communally motivated acts to contaminate art and culture came the drama Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy. The purpose behind all this was never the promotion of arts or aesthetics but to sow the seeds of strife and hatred. The venomous narrative in The Kashmir Files was part of this warfare to conquer the peoples’ minds through the medium of cinema. After graduating through such adventures, now they have come out with The Kerala Story, the most poisonous one in the series.

Their Kerala Story is not the real story of Kerala. The real Kerala Story is woven with love and respect, which the people of Kerala, belonging to various faiths have imbibed through generations. The real Kerala Story has elevated the state to top ranking positions in all human development indices. The people of Kerala, who are the makers of the real Kerala Story, have always maintained harmonious interrelations irrespective of religion and caste. Those great people have always kept forces of religious extremism, whether Hindu, Muslim or Christian, away from their day to day lives. Those people have never provided even the minimum space for their political parties. That is why the RSS-BJP orchestrated the Kerala Story to depict an unreal Kerala with vengeance towards its people.

The Kerala Story movie is based on completely baseless claims, fake news and Islamophobic propaganda with the intent to malign the image of real Kerala and divide people on religious fanatical ground. The makers of the film first claimed to unearth the story of 32,000 Muslim women who went missing in Kerala, purportedly after forced or lured conversions and later joined the ISIS. When the people and lovers of truth came out to question their ridiculously exaggerated number, they had no hesitation in simply cool down the number from 32,000 to a mere three. That itself shows the hollowness of the RSS brand of Kerala Story.

The trailer deliberately misquotes and misinterprets statements by two former chief ministers of Kerala. The statement made by V S Achutanandan has been incorrectly translated from Malayalam and then used to malign the Muslim community. Also, Oommen Chandy never mentioned any annual figures of conversions nor he mentioned women joining ISIS or forced conversions. It is evident that the film is misrepresenting statements by both the CMs to gain some credibility and mislead the people. Several media and YouTube channels on RSS payroll have also started a similar tirade against Kerala. People of Kerala in general have opposed this politically motivated attempt to slander the state in a united voice.

The movie is trying to use the so-called ‘love Jihad’ as a means to convert these women to Islam. However, ‘Love Jihad’ remains a baseless Islamophobic conspiracy theory aimed at polarization and those who raise this bogey have never been able to back it even with a shred of evidence. The Union home ministry led by Amit Shah told the Parliament that no cases of ‘love jihad’ have been reported through MoS G Kishan Reddy on February 5, 2020. Despite rejection of this theory by the BJP government itself in Parliament, the lie factory of RSS is working overtime to make people believe in this discredited theory. Similarly, the number of Indians joining the ISIS as fighters is not more than 200, according to government and strategic sources. It’s apparent that the narrative being propelled by ‘The Kerala Story’ is, clearly based on lies and twisting facts and aims at fuelling hatred. It is dangerously harmful for communal harmony in Kerala in particular and the country in general.

Here comes the crucial question of responsibility. Who should be responsible if fiction is presented as fact? Who should be responsible if fallacy, masquerading as truth, results in discord and riots? It is true that the current government controlled by the RSS has no regard for our Constitution and the values enshrined in it. Moreover, they have no moral concern for truth. Still, a government in a democratic polity has a critical role to play in educating people on the secular ethos of our Constitution and it is also responsible for creating awareness so that fake news and hateful propaganda should not be taken as the truth. If the BJP government is shirking from this responsibility, then it is evident that its loyalty remains with the RSS ideology and not with the Constitution of India. Crisis of our country is that the government has turned solely into the BJP election machinery for which The Kerala Story is another plank to polarize people before the Karnataka elections. This is a dangerous situation for the country. The captain is relentless on sinking the ship.

What should we do when the State is escaping from its constitutional mandate? Then it comes to us that people must be sensitized on these subjects through facts and spirit of scientific inquiry. Many people have understandably demanded a ban on the movie considering the sinister design it represents. However, various segments of people have opined that a ban may not be the appropriate step in this matter at this juncture. The parivar forces may utilise it as an opportunity to raise hue and cry about freedom of speech and expression. People should be reached with facts and must be educated to differentiate between political propaganda and truth. The bonds between people must be strengthened so that no volume of propaganda and malevolent fiction can create a wedge between them. Education and solidarity are the most effective weapons against the lie factory of RSS. People will have to rise unitedly, if truth is to triumph. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Tripura is once again thrown into the pool of disarray. The innocent people of the north-eastern state are experiencing what the BJP has in store for them, once back in power. For a short span of time during the election campaign the people there hoped to breathe peacefully. They expected the BJP to bid at least a temporary farewell to the politics of violence, as part of their electoral strategy. Along with their pseudo claims of achievements, BJP leaders promised peace for Tripura. It was only to hoodwink the people. Vandalism was the BJP hallmark all along the poll process. Once the results are out, RSS-BJP unleashed unprecedented violence on the people with a vengeance.

Their heavy weights led by Modi-Shah combine initiated a second innings with imposing majority. Muscle and money power were lavishly spent only with that goal in mind. Central ministers were roaming across the state. Still, they could garner only a narrow victory with a wafer thin majority. BJP lost 10 percent of vote share and their opportunistic alliance lost 11 seats in the sixty member assembly. The RSS philosophy at such occasions has tutored their cadre to jump up on the people to punish them. In constituencies where they lost, RSS-BJP combine attacks the people to teach them a lesson. In places wherever they won people are at the receiving end. For a party trained in the fascist ideology, democracy and its proclaimed values are always targets of attack. The democratic forces in Tripura today are passing through that experience.

The BJP approached the north-east election as a dress rehearsal for the decisive battle in 2024. All their arms and ammunitions, ruthlessness and cunningness were applied in abundance. Their one and only agenda was to capture power. In Meghalaya where BJP won only two seats, what Modi did shows the real face of that party. Conrad K Sangma, the man who was termed as the embodiment of corruption, became their alliance leader overnight and Modi himself flew down to Shillong to solemnize his swearing in.

The story in Nagaland was also not different. The BJP’s greed for even the smallest power share is unmasked everywhere. For them power is not for the wellbeing of the people. It is for supporting the loot of Adanis that they are so keen to capture power by hook or crook. To pave that path clear RSS-BJP suppresses the people and strangles their democratic right to live peacefully. Tripura is going through that turmoil. This is the time for all secular democratic forces in the country to stand united with the sisters and brothers of Tripura. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Stating that there are nearly 400 days left for the 2024 elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi masked himself by exhorting the BJP cadres to keep aside electoral aims and work for all sections of people. He was addressing the recently concluded national executive meeting of the BJP.

It is one example of how the RSS-BJP and their cadres have been tempered by the fascist ideology. The two-day conclave was devoted totally towards elections and all its deliberations were focused on the electoral victory of the BJP.  In fact, the RSS spearheading the BJP has begun the election work since last year itself. Setting up a target of one lakh new shakhas for the RSS, their goal was to activise the BJP work in all the polling booths of the country.  While many other political forces were engaged in various other important and unimportant activities, RSS was silently doing their work concentrating only on elections. It shows the political sharpness of the fascist ideology.

Once the National Executive meeting is over, the electoral plank of the BJP is clear before the people. They are going to face the elections based on the same subjects that helped the BJP to reap rich dividends in the past. There is nothing new in the ideological or political storage of the Party, which is committed to represent the class interests of the super-rich and extreme right. They follow the footsteps of fascism in Germany, moulded by Adolf Hitler during second World War. With all fervor, RSS-BJP has put into practice the racial pride which serves as the founding principle of their cultural nationalism.

The national executive convincingly revealed that BJP is going to hide all their failures under the glorious carpet of consorted propaganda. Ram temple is going to be the highlight of their campaign.  Lord Ram is again drawn into the realm of power politics. This may be unthinkable for the God-fearing doctrines of real faith.  But for the power mongering faith of RSS-BJP, it has become their habit. To give their campaign a political shade, the Presidency of G20 is going to be widely utilized.  From the very beginning, BJP was depicting the G20 Presidency as a special honour bestowed on Modi’s India by the rest of the world.  But the simple fact is that it is only a routine rotation that made India the President of G20.

The next and the most important point of the campaign would be the welfare of the poor, as the poor constitute the major chunk among the voters. The quintessence of the resolutions and statements discussed by the National Executive was to win over the common people to gain one more innings. It is not without any purpose that the finance minister, during recent times, talked too much about the middle class. RSS-BJP strategists have understood the significance of wooing the middle class as they are the crucial opinion makers in urban and rural areas. The facts of life have proved that the BJP rule since 2014 has only betrayed the large segments of the population right from the lower middle class down to the lower strata that include Dalits, Adivasis and the underprivileged.

As part of their election strategy, the BJP leadership has intensified a political offensive against all its opponents.  In fact the BJP is scared about its future. It can not ignore the growing discontent among all sections of the society. Everyone is expressing anger in various forms throughout the country. All the promises given to them are thrown to the wind, even the BMS and Swadeshi Jagran Manch are critical about the economic policies of the government. Ideological framework of cultural nationalism and religious slogans like Ram temple are used and reused to pacify those elements of resentment.

In this background, the inequality report, 2023 published by Oxfam has aggravated their worries for the future. The Oxfam report throws light to the real living conditions of India. “It shows that the impact of inequality is especially stark at the margins of the Indian society, with some communities such as the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Caste (SCs) suffering from physical remoteness and systematic exclusion from the means to achieve vertical mobility. It reveals some stark findings proving that the gap between the rich and the poor is indeed widening.

Following the pandemic in 2019, the bottom 50 per cent of the population have continued to see their wealth chipped away. By 2020, their income share was estimated to have fallen to only 13 per cent of the national income and have less than three percent of the total wealth. Its impact has been exceptionally poor diets, increase in debt and deaths. This is in stark contrast to the top 30 per cent who own more than 90 percent of the total wealth. Among them, the top 10 per cent own more than 80 per cent of the concentrated wealth.

The wealthiest 10 per cent own more than 72 per cent of the total wealth, the top 5 per cent own nearly 62 per cent of the total wealth, and the top 1 percent own nearly 40.6 per cent of the total wealth in India. The country still has the world’s highest number of poor at 228.9 million. On the other hand, the total number of billionaires in India increased from 102 in 2020 to 166 billionaires in 2022.  The combined wealth of India’s 100 richest has touched INR 54.12 lakh crore. The wealth of the top 10 richest stands at INR 27.52 lakh crore – a 32.8 per cent rise from 2021”.

When these facts and figures stare at India, the   leaders of the BJP spend their energy to propagate the greatness of ‘Modinomics’, which is full of hollow rhetoric. While using aggressive language against the opposition, the BJP spokespersons were consciously silent about their taxation policies.  The report further mentions, “Before the pandemic, in 2019, the Central Government reduced the corporate tax slabs from 30 per cent to 22 per cent, with newly incorporated companies paying a lower percentage (15 percent). This new taxation policy resulted in a total loss of INR 1.84 lakh crore and had a significant role in the 10 per cent downward revision of tax revenue estimates in 2019-20. To increase revenue, the Union Government adopted a policy of hiking the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and excise duties on diesel and petrol while simultaneously cutting down on exemptions. The indirect nature of both the GST and fuel taxes make them regressive, which invariably burdens the most marginalized”

Even at the national executive the BJP was silent about the proportion of a wealth tax. BJPs economic policy is to transfer the burden of crisis on the poor and marginalized and safeguard the unending greed of the super-rich.  In that frenzied move, swadeshi RSS-BJP has become the faithful followers of FDI. They owe an explanation to their own followers, the reasons for the boundless subservience to the foreign and domestic capital. They should explain the reasons for skipping away from the promise of legal guarantee of MSP to the farmers. They should also tell the marginalized the reasons for diminishing layout for projects like MNREGA and other social security measures.

The BJP national executive was desperate in its statement, that it has to win all the nine state elections scheduled to take place in 2023. It is evident that the party of the extreme right led by the fascist ideology would use all the weapons in their armoury to come back to power. Such a situation is dreadful for the secular democratic foundations of India. BJP’S victory was always possible due to the divide among the opposition votes. The same would be their approach in the coming elections- to divide the opposition votes and rule the country once again.  It is high time for all those forces in positions who are committed to the constitutional philosophy of secular democracy to understand the gravity of the situation and work out their strategy for the coming elections.  This is a life and death moment not only for the BJP but also for the opposition.  The Communist Party with all its clarity has tried to tell the nation the urgency of a broad unity of secular, democratic, left forces to fight and defeat the fascist threat looming over the country’s future. The time has come to unite the masses and to wage the battle. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ of RSS-BJP mould has decided to open its doors before foreign universities to “come, see and conquer” India.  The University Grants Commission (UGC) has published the ‘proposed regulations for establishing and running campuses of foreign higher education institutions’ in the country.  Now any foreign university ranked within 500 in the world or any foreign higher education institution with good standing in home country may apply to the UGC for their entry to India. The regulation notifies that there will be a clearance process of 90 days. After that such universities/ institutions can start their campuses in India.  They will have the freedom to decide the content and structure of the education in their campuses. The fee structure, curriculum, syllabus, examinations and awarding of degrees will all be under the control of those foreign institutions.

Conspicuously, the social justice aspect of Indian education system is completely neglected by the UGC and their political masters. There is no single word of reference to reservation. That concept itself is alien to those foreign universities. The UGC respectfully decided to follow their suits even though reservation, an essential component of social justice is vital for Indian conditions. From this instance itself, the real intention of ‘ foreignisation’ of Indian higher education is convincingly unveiled. The government is setting the ground ready for the commercialization of higher education. The idea of foreign investment in Indian education is having far reaching ramifications. The philosophy of FDI based on greed for profit would undermine the basic structure of Indian education. That would be the case with fee structure and curriculum where ‘ Atmanirbhartha’ of India is thrown to foreign whims. Still, the loyalists of RSS-BJP claim that this foreign intrusion is a feather in the crown of ‘viswaguru’.

In order to justify their surrender before the foreign universities, many of them have begun to propagate the backwardness of India in the field of education. It is interesting to see that the very same people who were preaching the glory of India in every field including education and knowledge have suddenly taken a U-turn to spread red carpet for foreign universities. Now they narrate the gradation reports of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) which is said to be the quality analyst in higher education. Once they were boasting about the ancient universities of Nalanda and Thakshasila. Now they lament that in the ranking list of 150 global universities none from India could find a place. IIT Mumbai stands at 177, IIT Delhi 185, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 186. Of course, it is a matter of concern for all those who love India. The reasons for this academic backwardness should be thoroughly explored and rectification measures taken urgently. But the Modi government’s contention that foreign universities are the only panacea is deplorable.

Accumulating knowledge from any part of the globe and imparting education on a wider range are necessary and welcome. But surrendering before foreign greed and foreign universities will not be the solution. Those advocates have to explain that how love for foreign universities would improve the standards of our IITs in Mumbai or Delhi. Collaboration with foreign universities and exchange of ideas, knowledge and human power has to take place in modern times.  No country can live in isolation. While paving the way for broad engagement with foreign universities and other establishments, the primary concern should be India’s interests. Any collaboration with foreign countries would be beneficial for both sides. The RSS-BJP government intoxicated by the fascination of FDI always forgets India’s interests as they surrender before foreign capital. Thus, affinity towards foreign universities is nothing new. The idea was mooted in the National Education Policy, 2020.

The adventurous experiment taking place in the field of higher education is an inevitable part of RSS-BJP’s concept of growth. They want it to be driven by foreign investment.  Their tall claim of national pride is only a myth when it comes to the question of foreign capital. The RSS-BJP government has become the shameless disciple of the neo-liberal concept of knowledge industry. In that industry, market and profits are the motivating factor. The question before India on the 76th year of Independence is whether to surrender our national goals of sovereignty and self-reliance at the feet of foreign capital. Every policy decision in all walks of life including education should be based on Indian conditions and priorities. When it comes to questions related to areas like education, a national debate is a must. In this case, the UGC has come out with its regulations even without a name-sake discussion in the Parliament.

It is quite natural that the teachers and student organizations have come out questioning the policy orientations of the government. They should be heard and properly consulted. In a democracy the people’s voice and the Parliament are considered to be supreme. RSS-BJP government has no right to bypass the people’s voice. Universities are to be the centers of inquisitive wisdom and source of guidance for the future. They should not be allowed to be controlled by foreign universities and foreign capital. (IPA Service)

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By Dr. Gyan Pathak

Two things have clearly emerged during four-days 42nd session of AITUC held during December 16-20 in Alappuzha. First, India is plagued by decent work deficit and dismal status of unorganized sector, and the second, the unity of trade unions, the only tool that can counter the onslaughts on the rights of the workforce in the fast-changing world of work. The common thread in between the two was the concern voiced in all the 60 seminars that relates to the onslaught unleased by the Modi government against the workforce in the country.

Though it was an AITUC event, what has emerged cannot be seen as the product of only one Centre Trade Union deliberations, since it reflects the observations of several other national and international trade unions and other labour organisations that participated. Every on pointed how the rights of the workers are being attacked and their welfare compromised in favour of the corporate, that too by the Union Government of India that is supposed to protect the workforce of the country against any exploitation. The People and the workforce have been divided by the divisive Modi led BJP government that is wedded to a fascist divisive ideology opposed to that of the working class, the most of the speakers pointed out.

In a rare gesture of expressing unity in of the trade union fraternity, the national secretary Radhakrishna of BMS, that has RSS-BJP affiliation, also participated and greeted the open session, in which all in unison synchronised in one voice that the trade union unity is the most essential tool to confront the onslaught on workers’ rights and welfare.

In the open session, Deputy Director DWT (ILO) India, Satashi Sasoki, shared the concerns of the ILO about the increasingly dismal status of unorganised sector workers and the explicit deficit of decent work in India.

Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nyugen Thanh Hai, addressing the session said that there is no alternative to united workers movements to establish a just and socialist society.

The open session on December 17, began with hoisting of the national flag by AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur and the AITUC flag was hoisted by the Working President H Mahadevan. Leaders from other Central Trade Unions participated in the event included Nation Vice-President of INTUC R Chandra Sekaran, CITU President Hemalatha, HMS Secretary Thampan Thomas, AIUTUC President K Radhakrishna, World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) General Secretary V Shankar, Pambis Kyritsis, V B Vinodh Kumar, member of the executive committee, LPF and A AAzeez, President, Central Committee, UTUC.

Pambis Kyritsis, General Secretary of the WFTU shared the deep concerns about the attacks of the barbaric capitalist system and insisted that there is dire need to strengthen the trade unions, cement the trade union unity and politicize the workers.

AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur in her report on the political and economic developments said that the capitalist system tightening its grips over the economies. There is growing obnoxious nexus between the capitalist and the ruling class with the overt and covert blessings of the WB-IMF-WTO trio, which is throwing a huge challenge to the working class of the world.

‘The situation in India has gone from bad to worse,‘ says the report emphatically, dwelling deeply upon and reflecting the intense anguish on the corporate converting of the Covid pandemic into a money spinning moment like a vulture eating into the corpse. The report carried in essence the greed of the capitalists playing havoc in the lives of the working class. The report narrates the communal agenda of the RSS-BJP combine and dissects as to how the communal and caste discrimination should essentially be fought by the workers of India to remain united to protect the Constitution and the rights enshrined in there.

On the convention of all Central Trade Unions to be held on January 30, 2023, the report said, will chalk out an intense path for concrete struggles to be taken unitedly in India. ‘Way forward’ is very crucial. The report places the challenges of strengthening and expanding, and bringing in more number of women and youth.

Issues relating to Public sector enterprises and government sector, attack on the labour rights and codification of labour laws, attacks on unorganized sector workers’ welfare and challenged for the trade unions, and organisational issues were discussed on December 19. It should be a revelation to know, as it was revealed, that 97 per cent of the workforce in India are presently in unorganized sector contributing 60 per cent to the GDP.

Twenty-five resolutions on the crucial issues such as condemning and resolving to fight the divisive communal agenda of BJP, to fight against its policies of privatisation, demanding to stop attacks on banking, insurance and financial sector, to repeal the four labour codes, to universalise maternity benefits to all women workers were unanimously adopted.

The Conference elected a new General Council – Comrade Amarjeet Kaur as the General Secretary, Com Ramender Kumar as President and Com Binoy Viswam MP as the Working President. There was a massive rally in the evening of 20th December and a public meeting.

The AITUC session has also given a call to defeat the BJP in the 2024 general election alleging that the Modi government has unleashed the communal and divisive forces of RSS-BJP combine and following the nefarious designs of the pro-corporate anti-people anti-worker agenda. (IPA Service)

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By Dr. Gyan Pathak

A joint forum of ten central trade unions — including, INTUC, AITUC, TUCC, SEWA, HMS, CITU, AICCTU, LPF, AIUTUC and UTUC —has decided to boycott the virtual pre-budget consultation with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on November 28, demanding a physical meeting with reasonable time to speak. Pre-budget consultation is an annual exercise under which representatives of different sectors give suggestions and raise demands to be addressed through the Budget.

In a letter dated November 25, the forum stated: “Now your email dated November 25, 2022 under reference, makes it explicit that each central trade union will be allowed to speak for three minutes. This is a joke and we refuse to be part of such a cheap joke. We will not participate in the proposed video conference on November 28, 2022.” Earlier, the forum had jointly protested against a restricted video conference for pre-budget consultations.“We are constrained to express our disappointment for calling this meeting on virtual mode despite complete easing of Covid restrictions, and that to for 75 minutes only for consultation involving more than 12 central trade unions, may be more as indicated by the invitation letter.

As per the labour ministry’s physical verification, there are 12 central trade unions in our country. That means less than five minutes or even less for each organisation, if time for customary opening remarks is taken into account,” they forum had stated. The forum also urged the finance ministry “to seriously reconsider convening of a physical meeting with reasonable time-allotment for effective consultations in the pre-budget meeting with the trade unions.”

The entire episode is indicative of the more troublesome time ahead and also the strained relationship between the Mogi government and the workers of the country, the former hell bent on implementing the four controversial labour code, and the latter fighting back tooth and nail to stall those legislations. Former spending years to convince the workers that the codes are for their benefit, and the latter who find those anti-worker were not even given a reasonable time to voice their concerns. It is also indicative of a budget 2023-24, which will not have the workers concerns included, but will have all sorts of things that would push through the government agenda which the agitating CTUs label pro-corporate.

Trade Unions had initially expressed happiness at invitation to the Trade Unions on behalf of the Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman to participate in the consultations, even though their suggestions given in earlier consultations of 2020 and 2021, had actually fallen on deaf ears. The invitation was welcomed though CTUs told in a letter to Sitharaman that such previous consultations amounted to not having any consultations at all.

Happiness over the consultation invitations should be sympathetically understood, since the four controversial labour codes were passed in 2019 and 2020 absolutely without consultation with trade unions or with the highest tripartite body in the country called Indian Labour Conference (ILC), disregarding all objections raised by the opposition in the Parliament of India, and without thorough discussions on the likely impact on industrial relations in India and on workers.

Happy CTUs over invitation should have been taken as opportunity by the Modi government to smoothen the much strained industrial relations in the country at a time when there are large scale job cuts in every sector of the economy, and workers have been restive over three years on a range of issues which included privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings, banks, insurance etc and the four labour codes against which the county had to witness several all India strike actions.

But the Union government has something else in their mind. They actually don’t want to listen to the workers representative CTUs for more than a couple of minutes each, which is nothing but manifestation of their arrogance in pursuing their own agenda against which CTUs have been agitating. That is why they allotted 75 minutes for 12 CTUs, giving even less than 5 minutes time each if routine opening remarks included. Union government knew it very well that it was too little a time for any “meaningful discussion” with trade unions in the backdrop of a recent discussions with the Union Minister of Labour, Bhupender Yadav that ended without arriving at a consensus on any of the trade union demands.

Partiality was obvious, since only a few days ago the representatives of business and industries like CII, FICCI, PHD chamber of commerce etc, were given enough time to suggest ways and means to overcome the hurdles before the business and industries. The CPI MP Binoy Viswam has rightly called this maltreatment towards the trade unions deplorable, who even wrote a letter to Nirmala Sitharaman in protest to vehemently oppose the absurd decision of the Finance Ministry … that too in virtual mode which he found arbitrary even after easing of all COVID restrictions. He even tweeted “FM’s Pre Budget discussion with Labour unions-Govt.has made it an online joke!3 minutes to each union! what can they tell in this 3 minutes? With FICCI and CII will the FM do this? Workers are the wealth creators. They should be properly heard with reasonable time in physical meeting.”

The Trade Unions have been demanding convening of ILC, which has not been called by Modi government after 2015. In fact, it is mandatory for the Labour Ministry to call the ILC, under ILO Convention 144, which has clearly been violated. It their letter, the CTUs gave another example of negation of any consultation with them and cited the case of the so-called “National Labour Conference” in which no CTU was invited to participate.

Even in this backdrop, the CTUs have suggested several steps for the Union Budget 2023-24, which included taking policy decisions that could boost demand to invigorate sagging economy. It would require putting money in the hands of the toiling people by increasing the budget allocation for MGNREGA, giving scheme workers a status of government employees, paying them minimum wages, filling vacant government posts, giving up plans to sell public sector enterprises, shelving the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, not to privatise government hospitals, reducing GST burden on common people, particularly in fuel and essential commodities and increasing taxes on the corporates along with introduction of Wealth Tax.

The joint letter by 10 CTUs – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC – also reiterated all their outstanding demands, including withdrawal of the four controversial labour codes and called for an open public debate regarding them and the policies adopted by the government. They said that instead of these zoom meetings, which do not provide for scope for interaction nor the time for placing our views, Union Ministry of Finance should agreeing to an open debate on the outstanding issues. (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

Ideology is the foundation on which political thoughts and actions have taken shape. At the core of every socio-political battle, it acts as the decisive factor. All the political parties represent certain ideological traits attributed to their class character. In the history of Congress, it was Nehru, who struggled hard to pave an ideological understanding for its political course. In a broad manner he was influenced by the ideals of democracy and secularism oriented to socialism.

His understanding of socialism was often criticized by many as not being scientific. Remaining friendly to Soviet Union in his own way, Nehru tried to maintain a sort of love and hate relationship with the ideology of the Left. Because of this, he mobilised friends and foes inside his own party. The history of Congress in pre- and post-independent India is a testimony to this fact.

In the era of globalisation, after the fall of Soviet Union, the ideological eco system of the world witnessed drastic changes. Many parties were thrown open to the ideological influence of neo-liberal economy and Congress was not an exception. The people who stood at the helm of the Congress affairs began to distance themselves from Nehru and even Gandhi. Naturally, the secular democratic space occupied by Congress got weakened.

As expected the traditional support base of the Congress got eroded.  The downtrodden section lost their trust in the Congress, and the secular forces began to doubt the Congress credentials. This is a process that took shape during the course of the last three decades. Presiding over the debacle of the party, the Congress leadership never attempted to make any serious introspection into the crisis faced by the party.

In the existing political conditions, when the fascist ideology of the RSS-BJP moves to engulf the country’s secular democratic ethos, the Left wishes the Congress to remember its own Gandhi-Nehru legacy and its past. We urge the Congress to self-critically analyse its economic and political positions during the period of globalisation. That was and still remains the crux of the Left critique of the Congress. The Even during ‘Bharat Jodo’ yatra, considered to be an attempt to revitalize the party, this aspect was not seriously touched upon. Left never expects the Congress to follow the left ideology or to become left in its political perceptions.

Many in the Congress have utterly failed to understand the reason, why the reactionary forces are keen to unleash their tirade against Nehru. Their newly invented love of the RSS towards Sardar Patel stems out from their bitter hatred towards Nehru. Surprisingly the Congress leadership remained miserably indifferent to the ideological warfare which was aimed at hitting at the Gandhi-Nehru foundation of the party. Now this indifference has entered a new stage. Then responsible leaders of the Congress party began to recall their affinity towards RSS. No less a person than the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president stands in this pro-RSS advocacy. Not being satisfied by this, he went to the extent of painting Nehru as an ideological companion of communal fascism.

The all India leadership of the Congress due to its own reasons remains silent on this very serious issue. With this kind of ideological neutrality, the Congress will not be able to come out of the deep crisis they have fallen into. This is a moment of decision-making for the Congress. They need to categorically tell the country about their ideology and politics. Let them have no doubt Jawaharlal Nehru is going to be the fundamental factor in their search for ideological and political clarity. To be or not to be with Nehru is the question before them! (IPA Service)

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By Binoy Viswam

The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India will be marked as the Congress of confidence and rejuvenated spirit. The Party Congress held in the historic city of Vijayawada gave new impetus to the Party to march forward. Each moment of the Congress from October 14 to 18 was full of content as 872 delegates along with alternate delegates, observers and invitees devoted their experience and energy to strengthen the Party and chart a new path for the future.

Communists are duty bound to understand the objective and subjective conditions in which they have to fight and win the battles of utmost importance. In fact the Party Congress is the penultimate forum to take stock of the past activities. The discussions and sessions of the 24th Congress of CPI are important not only for the communists of the country. Its appeal for unity and struggle has great relevance for the secular, democratic and the other left forces of the country.  People view the CPI as the party of dedicated struggles for the realization of a new India.  The rally to mark the beginning of the party Congress on October 14 was massive and inspiring. Tens of thousands of men and women joined together making the streets of Vijayawada a roaring ocean of the Red. It was the declaration of the CPI to gain more strength to play a convincing role in moulding the future of the country.

Communists, based on their scientific ideology of Marxism are duty bound to undertake the task of clear analysis of the existing realities before them. The 24th Congress could successfully accomplish this task and prepare for its future course of action in unambiguous terms. In fact, it could rightly be called as ‘historic’. Experience and maturity of the seniors intertwined with the dynamism and vitality of the young contributed to the resounding success of the Congress. The credential report of the 24th Congress throws light on this fact: 51.2 percent of the delegates were less than 60 years. Some of them were even in their twenties. Many of the delegates were the leaders of mass struggles and movements for the rights of workers, peasants, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, women, youth, and students. Three delegates from Lakshadweep including the secretary of the state unit could not attend the congress as they were imprisoned by the administration for raising their voice for the people’s rights. In that way, it can be called as the Congress of united will and unflinching optimism upheld by generations of communists.

The ‘communist specialists’ in right wing media did their over time job this time also to discover organizational and political differences within the CPI. They propagated that the guideline regarding the age limit will be nullified by the Congress. They further campaigned that on political line also serious differences exist inside the party. To their utter disappointment, nothing of that sort occurred in the 24th Congress. Of course, there were serious and in-depth discussions on organizational and political matters in the Congress. In fact, such discussions with criticism and self-criticism are the soul of the Communist Party Congress. The party find the way for its onward voyage through this democratic process only. This culture and discipline are unthinkable in any party of the right wing. In most cases, their leaders are appointed. In rare situations, when there is election, contestants and their party leaders take extra care for not uttering a single word about policies! That cannot be the communist way!

The patriotic fervour of the communists is distinctly different from the pseudo nationalism of the right extremists. The communists are committed to their land and their people in unequivocal terms. At the same time, they uphold the banner of internationalism through which their fraternity with the toiling masses from all over the world is expressed. As a symbol of this fraternity the 24th Congress had the honour to receive 17 fraternal delegations from 16 countries. Their presence in the CPI Congress is a gentle reply to the vindictive campaign unleashed by Imperialist propaganda machinery that everywhere communism is dead!

All the documents related to the Party Congress were adopted unanimously, after thorough discussions. Apart from state delegations, they were debated in separate commissions too. The commissions were categorised as 1) Political resolutions, 2) Political review report, 3) Organizational report, 4) Program and constitution. Each one dealt with the amendments to each document. The political resolution, after analysis of the political economic developments in the country, gave the call for a broad coalition of secular democratic and left forces. The country needs a change.  RSS-BJP rule has ruined the foundations of our great country.

The government with its anti-people stance, controlled by fascist RSS, needs to be thrown out. The CPI is absolutely clear about the main enemy in the ongoing fight in defence of secularism, democracy and socialist goal which forms the foundation of our Constitution.  The RSS-BJP led right reactionary forces could be defeated only through the coming together of secular, democratic forces. The composition and character of such a united move may not be of uniform nature all over the country.  It may vary from state to state. The people have conveyed their intention to move along with such forces wherever they felt that it was a reliable alternative to RSS-BJP.  The Left has to play an important political role in the given complex situation. The CPI is always aware of this task and stands for the purposeful unity of the left forces. In the inaugural session of the 24th Party Congress leaders of CPI(M), CPI (ML), Forward Block were present and reiterated their positions on left unity. RSP, not present due to their organizational preoccupations shared the same understanding of fighting together.

The Party Congress underlined the necessity of building a much stronger CPI. The comrades who took part in the discussions called for consistent plan of action in this regard.  Three years away from now the CPI is to celebrate its 100th anniversary.  Its proud history of struggle and sacrifice speaks voluminously about the role of the Communists in achieving and safeguarding freedom and social progress. Anchoring upon that great heritage, the party has to undertake that challenging task of today. In an important resolution, the party decided to increase the membership to 10 lakhs by the Centenary year and document its history in all the states and districts. In order to equip the Communist Party with ideological, political and organizational preparedness, the party has miles to go. It cannot sleep or rest without accomplishing those bounden tasks. The 24th Party Congress, its debates and discussions is the clarion call to march forward in this direction, under the inspiring values of the Red flag! (IPA Service)

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By P. Sreekumaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cassandras have ended up with egg on their faces. The prophets of doom have been embarrassed beyond mention. Belying all dire predictions, Kanam Rajendran has been re-elected unanimously as the Communist Party of India (CPI)’s Kerala   state secretary for a third term.

The most positive upshot of the State conference of the CPI has been a resonant message of unity. The anti-Left press, rubbing its hands as it were in malicious glee, has been administered a stinging snub by the party leaders and cadres who, once again, laid accent on left unity in the State.  The positive outcome of the conference will impart a new energy and strength to the battle against the forces of communalism led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the negative politics of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

The conference also witnessed a generational shift with the exit of party veterans K E Ismail and C. Divakaran from the State Council.  Ismail will, however, continue to be a member of the National Council until the 24th party congress from October 14 to 18.. Senior assistant secretary K Prakash Babu, has retained his state council membership. CPI leader from Idukki E S Bijimol, who had voiced her reservation on some issues in a Facebook post, has not made it to the council.

The new 101-member Council sports a younger image. As many as 33 members were dropped from the existing 96-member council. Among those who have not made it to the council are Central Control Commission chairman Pannian Ravindran and Central Secretariat member Binoy Viswam.  There are 13 women among the 38 new faces in the Council.  The anti-left press had forecast a fierce controversy over the party’s decision to make mandatory the age cap of 75 years for leaders in the State council and executive members. The prediction was that the decision was meant to oust senior leaders Ismail and Divakaran.  But that has been proved to be nothing but mere conjecture as it was Ismail who proposed Kanam’s name as the state secretary.

As for Divakaran, the stalwart himself said he would abide by the party decision on the age cap. It may be mentioned that the CPI National Council had taken a decision to bring in the upper age limit to ensure greater representation of youngsters in leadership positions. Since it was the decision of the National Council, it could not be interpreted as being against the party constitution. The party’s mass base has expanded with the membership having gone up from a mere 34,600 in 1971 to 1,77,600.The branch committees have gone up from 8,500 to over 11,000.  Of course, there is scope for further improvement. It was after the Malappuram conference that the party saw a surge in membership.

In his acceptance, speech, Kanam dismissed rumours of factionalism in the party. That is the product of the not so fertile imagination of the left-hostile media. “The party has no group. Communists stand as one. Comrades have the right to voice their opinion in their respective party forums. It is not an era of slavery.  However, the party’s decision-making is always consensual and concordant in the tradition of democratic centralism,” affirmed Kanam.

An important feature of the conference was that despite the party’s reservations and apprehensions, criticism of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), especially the Home department under the control of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been softened in the party reports presented to the state conference. The major criticism was against the Kerala Government’s use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against student leaders Thaha and Allen for possessing Maoist brochures besides the killing of Maoists at Attappady in November 2010. In both these incidents, the CPI said the LDF Government had deviated from the known stand of the left parties. The state government’s resort to the draconian law, the CPI felt, would considerably weaken the Left parties’ stand obnoxious pieces of legislation such as UAPA.  The Conference also called for frequent consultations within the LDF and evolving a consensus in the functioning of the LDF Government.

The political report voiced the CPI’s reservations on the SilverLine project.  The CPI has all along been of the firm view that such mega projects should be implemented only after taking the people into confidence. The report also referred to the ongoing protest against the Vizhinjam port project.  The conference stressed the importance of drawing up coastal conservation plans.

Significantly, Kanam has become the fourth leader from the party to secure three terms as state secretary. The other leaders have enjoyed three terms are NE Balaram, P K Vasudevan Nair and Veliyam Bhargavan. Strengthening the party at the grassroots level is the major challenging Kanam is facing. True, the party has recorded growth. But as a party leader said, much more remains to be done. For instance, the CPI has party units in all panchayats and majority of the wards. The immediate task is to ensure the party’s presence in all wards.  No less important is the need to keep the CPI’s identity intact in the LDF.  (IPA Service)

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By P. Sreekumaran

Will Kanam Rajendran get a third term as the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI)?  That is the question doing the rounds in political corridors of Kerala.

The four-day CPI State conference is being held in Thiruvananthapuram from September 30. CPI general secretary D Raja will inaugurate the delegates’ session at Tagore Theatre in the Kerala capital on Friday, September 30. As many as 563 delegates will attend the conference which will conclude on October 3 when a new State Council and Secretary will be elected.

A seminar on “Federalism and Centre-State relations” will be held on Saturday. The seminar will be attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin. Eminent environmentalist Vandana Shiva  will inaugurate a seminar on “Gandhiji and Today’s India” at Ayyankali Hall on Sunday. Senior CPI leader Pannian Ravindran will  hoist the flag at Putharikandam at 4 p.m. on Friday. A public meeting to be held subsequently will be addressed by State secretary Kanam Rajendran. The meeting will be presided over by minister G R Anil. Pannian Ravindran, central secretariat member Binoy Viswam central executive member K E Ismail, ministers K Rajan, P. Prasad, J Chinchurani and   Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar is also expected to speak on the occasion.

Saturday’s function includes flag-hoisting by veteran party leader C Divakaran. The delegates’ session will be attended, besides general secretary D Raja, by senior leaders Atul Kumar Anjan, Binoy Viswam, Pannian Ravindran and K E Ismail.

Kanam, who addressed the press, did not rule out the possibility of his getting a third term as secretary. As per the Party norms, the state secretary can have up to three terms. Rajendran also rejected speculation about factionalism in the party. The party is not concerned or worried about possible elections in the State conference. The CPI, Kanam asserted, has always favoured inner-party democracy. True, certain district conferences witnessed contests. That does not mean there is factionalism in the party, said Kanam. “The CPI stands as one group. Rest is media speculation,” he opined.

At the same time, a few complaints received from delegates who attended district conferences will come up for discussion at the conference, admitted Kanam. The State secretary also claimed that the party was able to ensure 15 per cent representation for women in all committees.

The conference may also see a lively discussion on the age cap of 75 years for leaders in the State Council and Executive members. Reports have it that the proposal came in for criticism at the State Council meeting held the other day. If implemented, the proposal will see the exit of senior leaders like K E Ismail and C Divakaran from the official bodies.  A section in the party holds the view that the age criterion goes against the party’s constitution, which is silent on any such criterion.

However, State assistant secretary K Prakash Babu, who presented the organisational report, said since the decision was taken by the National Council, it will be implemented. He said the National Council took the decision on age cap to ensure greater representation for youth in party leadership.  Prakash Babu further said that since it is a National Council decision, it is not against the party’s constitution.

Be that as it may, there are indications that Kanam is all set to secure a third term as the state secretary. Reports say there is a lot going for Kanam, whose term as the party secretary saw the CPI growing from strength to strength.  The party has been able to increase its membership from 1.2 lakh in 2016 to 1.77 lakh now. As many as 57,000 new members have joined the party since Kanam took over as state secretary. This includes members from other parties, including the CPI(M). The party branches have gone up from 8,500 to 11,500.  There is another section which believes that though the party’s mass base has increased, its growth has not been what it should have been.  This being the ground reality, the urgent task before the new leadership will be the strengthening of the party organisation. The party needs to, among other things, set up units at booth level and in panchayat wards. No less important is the need to expand its base in north Kerala.

The political resolution to be adopted at the conference is likely to lay accent on the paramount need for opposition unity to counter the BJP at the national level. The conference will, in all probability, see the reiteration of the “Chandrappan Line” on the issue. Late state secretary of the party C K Chandrappan favoured understanding with all democratic and like-minded opposition parties including the Congress to achieve the goal of unseating the BJP from power at the Centre. (IPA Service)

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