Speech of Comrade D. Raja, General Secretary, CPI

At the 24th Congress of CPI(M), held from April 2 to 6, 2025 at Madurai

Comrades, leaders from fraternal parties present here, I extend revolutionary greetings to all of you on behalf of the Communist Party of India. I would like to warmly acknowledge the CPI(M) for holding this important Party Congress here in Madurai — a city where, in the past, the undivided Communist Party of India held one of its most decisive congresses, drawing strength from the militant tradition of Tamil Nadu's working people, peasants and socially oppressed sections. We stand today in the land of comrades who laid down their lives, not only for freedom from colonialism, but also for freedom from feudalism, caste tyranny and exploitation.

The International Situation

Comrades, the world capitalist system is engulfed in a deep and chronic crisis. The neoliberal offensive has neither brought prosperity nor stability to the vast majority. Inequality is obscene on a global scale. The combined wealth of a handful of billionaires exceeds the combined wealth of entire nations. The World Bank and IMF continue to push the very policies that have brought misery to workers and peasants across continents. As Marx correctly observed, “Capital comes dripping from head to toe, from every pore, with blood and dirt.”

We are also witnessing the sharpening of inter-imperialist contradictions. NATO’s provocative expansion and the war in Ukraine have deepened global instability, with working people paying the price in blood. The genocide in Gaza, backed by imperialist powers, has exposed the hypocrisy of Western regimes that preach “human rights” while aiding and abetting war crimes. Lenin had forewarned us, “Imperialism is war.” Today, imperialism’s character is naked for all to see.

Alongside this, the climate crisis, driven by capitalist plunder of nature, threatens the very survival of humanity. Yet, the ruling classes are busy building fortresses for the rich, leaving the masses to perish. Adding fuel to the fire, the rise and consolidation of the obscurantist international right-wing forces serve only to divide, confuse, and immobilize the working people from their real task: overthrowing the system of exploitation.

The National Situation: India under Crisis

Comrades, it is our own land that cries out most urgently for revolutionary intervention. Centuries back, in this very land of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvalluvar said “Pirappokkum ella uyirkkum!” (All are equal by birth). Contrary to this universal and timeless assertion, we see that Inequality is systematic in India. It is this structural and evolving system of exploitation and discrimination that we have to fight.

Comrades, India today stands at a breaking point. The structural oppressions of class, caste, and patriarchy have become brutal under the BJP-RSS regime, which is nothing but the political tool of the most reactionary sections of the bourgeoisie and landlords.

Let us speak plainly: India is not merely suffering from bad governance; India is suffocating under a system designed to exploit. The gap between the rich and the poor has never been this shameful. The top 1% of this country now owns more than 40% of the national wealth, while half the population struggles for two meals a day.

“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles,” wrote Marx and Engels. In India, this class struggle is intertwined with the caste system — the oldest and most vicious system of social oppression. Caste and class oppression are not parallel — they are fused. Land ownership patterns, wage structures, access to education, and even basic human dignity are still denied to Dalits, Adivasis, and the most marginalized sections. Dr. Ambedkar had warned, “Caste is not merely a division of labour; it is a division of labourers.” Today, the ruling classes, hand in glove with the Hindutva forces, seek to revive Manu’s order while parading in the garb of nationalism. Patriarchy, too, is thriving under this regime. Violence against women, discrimination, and denial of autonomy are institutionalized. The ruling classes are only too happy to use patriarchy to divide and dictate the working people.

Unemployment is pushing the youth into hopelessness. Agrarian distress is driving farmers to suicide. The public education and health sectors are being systematically destroyed. The working people’s rights — to organize, to dissent, to dream — are under relentless attack. Trade unions are demonized. Universities are turned into RSS laboratories. Journalism is criminalized. The secular-democratic fabric of the Indian republic is being torn apart, thread by thread.

Above all, the RSS-BJP combine is openly targeting the very Constitution of India. It is seeking to dismantle its fundamental pillars — socialism, secularism, federalism, and social justice. Their assault on our Republic is systematic and ideological. RSS as an organisation follows a deeply divisive, communal and fascist ideology. It is inspired from Mussolini and Hitler and follows their organisational principles. BJP is the political arm of the RSS and along with several other organisations, known as the Sangh Parivar. The Sangh Parivar shares the Fascist contempt for democracy and believes in making representative institutions like the Parliament redundant, just as Hitler did. Together, the Sangh Parivar dreams of a theocratic, corporate-ruled India where majoritarianism, caste and capital will dominate without restraint.

Bhagat Singh had said, “Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright.” He raised this slogan fighting the British Raj. The time has come to follow his words and reclaim our freedom from the RSS-BJP Raj.

The Tasks Before Communists

Comrades, the present situation demands that we, as Communists, rise to the occasion. All Communists and Left forces must forge principled unity to mount a decisive resistance against this corporate-communal assault. We must be the voice of the voiceless, the organizers of the unorganized, the hope of the hopeless.

We must lead struggles on the streets, in factories, in villages, in universities — not only against economic exploitation but also against the deep-rooted structures of caste and patriarchy. We must make sure that the slogans of “Jai Bhim,” “Inquilab Zindabad,” and “Lal Salaam” are not mere words but rallying cries for a transformative movement. This is not a choice anymore, comrades — it is our revolutionary duty.

The defense of public education, public health, employment, food security, and social security must be placed at the heart of our program. These are not “welfare demands” — they are instruments of social justice and human dignity.

Importantly, we must also wage a battle for scientific temper, as enshrined in the Constitution. The Communist movement must boldly take up the challenge of using science and technology — including digital tools and AI — in the service of the people. We must fight for universal access to knowledge, technological equity, and against the commodification of science. It was Lenin, after all, who told us, “Communism is Soviet power plus electricity.” Today, it must be Communist strength plus democratized technology.

The Road Ahead

Comrades, the time is not for hesitation but for action. The situation is grave, but it is also pregnant with possibilities. As Marxists, we understand that the greatest crises can open the greatest opportunities — provided we are ready to lead by example.

Let us intensify mass struggles. Let us mobilize the workers, peasants, youth, women, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities — all who are oppressed — under the red banner. Let us confront not only the RSS-BJP, but the very system that breeds exploitation, inequality, and injustice.

We must reinstall Marxism-Leninism at the center of political discourse — proving, through practice, that it alone provides the key to liberation. Lenin reminded us, “Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.” But this theory must walk on the feet of millions of toiling people.

The people are ready to rise. Let us be worthy of their trust. Let us hold high the Red Flag — the symbol of hope, of resistance, of the future.

The only path forward is to Unite and Fight!

I wish your Party Congress a success.

Lal Salaam!                                                                                           

Red Salutes!  

Communist Party of India

Central Office 

New Delhi

Tele: 011 23235546

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