February 28, 2023

Press Communiqué

The following is the communiqué issued by Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja at the press conference on February 28 after the conclusion of the three-day National Council Meeting held at Puducherry on February 26, 27 and 28, 2023:

A meeting of the National Council of the Communist Party of India was held on 26, 27 and 28 February, 2023 at Puducherry.

The meeting was presided over jointly by Com. Vanaja, Member, National Executive, Com. Bant Singh Brar, Secretary, Punjab State Council and Com. A.M. Saleem, Secretary, Puducherry State Council of the Party.

Party General Secretary D. Raja placed the draft report on political, economic developments, proposals for future campaigns and on organizational tasks. In a strongly worded document the general secretary of the Party has exposed anti-people, anti-constitutional activities of the BJP government. The BJP government and Modi rule in his 9^th year serious damage to the secular, democratic fabric of India caste based atrocities have increased and so also the discrimination with minorities. He also exposed the anti-federal nature of the government and severely criticized the union budget presented for the 2023-24. In the period of Amrit Kal BJP made its priorities clear by reducing allotment for all social sector programmes. Allotment for critical schemes like MGNREGS have been slashed significantly, issues like unemployment, price rise are not addressed at all. He also made it clear the CPI stands for peaceful resolution of Ukraine and Russia conflict and warns that interference by European countries and US through NATO will escalate the war. After deliberations, the following decisions have been taken.

Party to conduct nation wise padyatras in all the states from April 14 (Ambedkar Jayanti) to May 15^th and to conduct a political campaign to defeat BJP and its misrule to protect the nation and the core values of the Constitution.

BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao will be the slogan of this campaign. Along with padyatras meetings also will be held to educate people about anti-people policies of the BJP government and to demand increased allocation for education, health, MGNREGA and other social sectors. The Party also demands formation of JPC to enquire about wrong doings of Adani group of companies and the role of government in helping them.

2024 general elections will be crucial for the future of our country and our people. RSS-BJP must be defeated politically and ideologically if our republic, as we have inherited from the freedom movement is to survive. The CPI has already given a clarion call for the unity of secular, democratic forces in the country through our 24^th Party Congress. It is important that this unity must take a progressive shape with constituents who are opposed to BJP-RSS ideology.

Resolutions demanding separate statehood for Puducherry was passed. Along with resolutions to support the 20^th March movement of SKMS (Kisan Morcha), to support the campaign of joint trade union action committee along with many other resolutions. Resolutions are:

1. Resolution to Support Our National Council to SKM Chalo Parliament March on 20th March

(Adopted by NC)

The National Council meeting being held in Puducherry on 26-28 February, 2023 has declared its active support to the call given by SKM. The Party condemns the betrayal of Narendra Modi government to honour the assurances signed with farmers organization which has been violated PM and his government.

The SKM has been demanding the following:

1. MSP for the agricultural products
2. Loan relief measures
3. Withdrawal of false case against farmers
4. Compensation to the Kisan martyrs
5. Central Budget cut down the allocation of agricultural sectors. It is very harmful for farmers.

For these demands SKM has given a call of ‘Chalo Parliament’. Our party and mass organizations fully support the farmers program ad appeal to all cadres to make it a success.

2. Resolution on Cantonment Boards Elections be held based on Universal Adult Franchise

(Adopted by NC)

Cantonment Boards are local bodies under the administrative control of Ministry of Defense. The elected representatives to the Cantonment Boards are elected once in five years. There are 62 Cantonment Boards in India. The elections are scheduled to be held on 30.4.2023 throughout India.

However this time voting rights of certain people dwelling on defence land have been withdrawn in the election citing a Supreme Court judgement. Several thousands of people who have been residing on defence lands area even before independence period are excluded from the voters list enumerated by the cantonment Boards. If anybody encroached defense lands there are sufficient provisions in the acts to deal with them. But denying their voting right is against the principles of Constitution. The freedom movement passed resolution of ' Universal Adult Franchise' in in the year 1931 in Karachi Congress. By negating the principles, the ministry is contemplating to hold election ignoring seizable section of downtrodden people who are the voters of Assemblies & Parliament. The workers who are employees of Cantonment Boards residing in cantonments for several decades are also excluded. The Cantonment election rule may be amended in tune with the spirit of Democracy and Constitution.

The Communist Party of India calls upon Govt of India to hold elections to Cantonment Boards based on Universal Adult Franchise.

3. Resolution on Biofuel Policy

(Adopted by NC)

National Council of the Communist Party of India in its meeting held in Puducherry expressed its views on Biofuel policy that the ethanol blended petrol policy promoted by GoI is not a solution for energy security. It is neither a solution for climate nor air pollution. It in fact increases carbon emissions as shown by reputed scientists. With the emphasis on promoting the automobile industry continuing with internal combustion engine-based cars, our oil import bills will only increase and not decrease. More realistic solution is to shift to electric vehicles at the earliest and end the outdated oil run automobiles before 2030 as was once announced by the government. Pressure to divert land from food to fuel harms farmers and people and does not benefit them. Basic democratic right of people to participate in developmental decision making accrued from Rio declaration has been taken away in favour of ethanol manufacturers resulting in conflicts for local resources of water and land. India having committed to net Zero carbon emissions by 2070, present promotion of ethanol blended petrol will make that goal out of reach. The ethanol promotion program generates about a crore tons of additional carbon dioxide emissions from the fermentation process which cannot be eliminated. National council demands end of the ethanol blended petrol”.

4. Resolution condemning the Mr RN Ravi, Govenor of Tamil Nadu for his derogatory statement on Marxist philosophy and demanding his removal from the post of TN governor

(Adopted by NC)

This National Council of Communist Party of India being held in Puducherry from 26 to 28 February 2023, in very strong terms condemns the unnecessary, uncalled for and derogatory remarks made by Mr R N Ravi on Marxist philosophy. The council very strongly urges upon the President of India to recall Mr Ravi from his position of the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

In a function to release the Tamil Translation of the works of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Mr Ravi said that Marxist ideology had damaged the growth of India. He went on to criticise Darwin’s theory of evolution as unscientific.

This Council of CPI takes a strong objection to such irrational, unscientific and unwarranted statement of Mr Ravi. The council is aware that these are deliberate propaganda materials orchestrated by RSS BJP combine to attack the communists and undermine scientific perception and advancement.

This council takes serious note of such unconstrained behaviour of Mr Ravi in disgrace of the gubernatorial position he holds. He has not been discharging his responsibility as a governor. There are 15 bills passed by the State assembly, still waiting to be sent for the assent of the President. Instead, his acts as nothing short of a RSS pracharak propagating Hindutva ideology. BJP consistently indulges in abuse of powers of governors to spread Hindutva ideology on the one side and misuse of powers to disturb the elected governments in the states. In this instance, particularly since Tamil Nadu State has very strong credentials of progressive Dravidian culture, BJP is desperate to sow it’s seeds of irrationality and obscurantism.

The council, while reiterating it’s resolute demand to abolish the posts of Governor, castigates the governor for his remarks on Marxism and urges upon the President to immediately remove him from the post of Governor of Tamil Nadu.

5. Resolution on Students Suicide in the Higher Education and Professional Institutions

(Adopted by NC)

Just two days ago Ms. Preethi a PG Medical student of Kakatiya Medical College in Telangana committed a suicide due to ragging.

The ragging has become a menace of harassment of the junior students by caste, regional, etc. types of discrimination also. Earlier Mr. Darshan Solanki 18 year old student of IIT, Mumbai has committed suicide because of ragging torture. Similar type of ragging cases are reported from some other educational and professional institutions also. This ragging happens because of the absence of no effective steps are being taken to stop illegal ragging.

The National Council of CPI is of the view that all efforts should be made to avoid such unfortunate incidents. The guilty must be punished and special courses to sensitise students about injustice must be held.

The CPI National Council also demands an immediate impartial high level enquiry against the culprits and deterrent punishments should be awarded to the suicide abettors of Ms. Preethi as well as Mr. Darshan Solanki. The CPI is of the opinion that effective counselling mechanism must be made mandatory in all the educational institutions to stop this unfortunate suicides.

6. Resolution Demanding Statehood for Puducherry

(Adopted by NC)

Demand for statehood for Puducherry was raised first by the Communist Party of India, in its Puducherry District Conference in the year 1972. This demand has now gained momentum with all political parties and social organisations are rallying together in realisation of the political and administrative necessity of statehood.

The Government of Union Territories Act says that there shall be a council of ministers with the Chief Minister as the head to aid and advice the administrator in the exercise of his/her functions. The Act also empowers legislative assembly of Union Territories to make laws. Yet the elected legislative assembly and the council of ministers are in a helpless state as the Lt Governor of Puducherry is wholly vested with all the powers in the capacity of administrator.

Between the years 1981 and 2021, sixteen resolutions demanding statehood have been passed in the legislative assembly and sent to the union government, but of no avail so far.

The recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Rajya Sabha headed by Sushma Swaraj presented on 02 06 2006 for providing statehood to Puducherry has been thrown to the cold storage.

Consequent to the shift in the financial management policy of the union government, Puducherry suffers a financial crisis due to opening of separate public account. The 90percent of expenditure of Puducherry granted by the Union Government was gradually reduced to 23 percent now.

After 70 years since it’s liberation, Puducherry is developed in multifarious spheres. It’s state revenue income has gone through several changes and development stages. But the democratically elected government has to wait for the approval of the Lt Governor and the Union Government to carry out and implement welfare schemes.

Even though Puducherry is the only UT with legislative assembly, it was not included in the 15th Finance Commission for not being a state (Jammu and Kashmir, recently declared as Union Territory is included in the Finance Commission). On the contrary, it is enlisted in the GST council sharing with other states, a status of a state.

This National Council of the Communist Party of India held from 26 to 28 of February 2023 in Puducherry demands the union government to honour the aspirations of the people of Puducherry and provide statehood to the UT of Puducherry. The meeting also exhorts to all political parties and all social organisations to extend support to the Communist Party of India in all its endeavours to accomplish this task in the interests of the rights of the people of Puducherry.

7. CPI Supports the Action Plan Adopted by Workers’ Convention in Delhi on 30^th Jan, 2023

(Adopted by NC)

The National Council meeting being held in Puducherry on 26-28 February, 2023 takes note of the Workers’ Convention held in Delhi on 30^th January, 2023 under the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and the action plan adopted there to ultimately dethrone the BJP government.

The sense of unity as expressed there by workers belonging to various central trade unions should serve as an example to democratic secular forces in India to work toward the common goal of dethroning the present BJP-RSS government at the centre.

The National Council directs all the Party members to take part in the actions planned by the Workers’ Convention to the best of their ability.

8. Resolution on Natural Disasters, Crop Insurance & COP27

(Adopted by NC)

There is a sharp rise in the natural disasters such as droughts & floods, Hailstorms, paste attack on grain and vegetables, earthquake etc. The corporate greed for profit is neglecting the sustainability and farmers and rural labours along with toiling masses are worst sufferers.

BJP-RSS lead Narendra Modi Govt with neoliberal agenda has advocated crop insurance scheme under PMFBY.  Before launching of PMFBY scheme Modi Government has amended Drought Manual and abolished Calamity Relief Fund. PMFBY is a 'outsourcing' of relief work. 13 Pvt and Multinational Insurance giants along with Govt has harnessed huge profits. Since 2017 under this PMFBY scheme these companies had turnover of 2.25 lakh crores resulting in net income of 1.25 lakh crores. The crores of farmers affected by disasters have received very little compensation and hence more suicides are seen.

The happenings at JoshiMath (Uttarakhand) is an example of unscientific and anti-people development pursued by Modi Govt for corporate greed.

Modi Government has weakened many environmental norms under the pretex of facilitating ease of business. It is to be noted that land acquisition act passed by the Parliament in 2013 is bypassed in many cases

The COP27 convention by United Nations has passed the resolution to sent the clear message that 'Polluter must pay.!' It is the principle accepted universally. Hence there is need to amend the policy about relief in natural disaster situation and cases.

Hence CPI National Council demands:

1. The Polluter must pay principal should be addressed and the norms of Environmental compensation should be changed accordingly.
2. A law has to be enacted to give rightful relief to farmers and other rural population.
3. Dismantle the anti-farmer PMFBY crop insurance scheme and use funds to reorganize a new scheme at State Govt level.
4. Despite many court orders the pending insurance claims to the farmers since 2017 are not paid that should be paid immediately.
5. A Judicial commission to be established for disbursement of penalty crop insurance claims of the farmers.
6. Govt of India should revisit the development schemes in echo-sensitive zones.

9. Resolution on Joint Parliamentary Committee

(Adopted by NC)

The National Council of the CPI in its meeting held in Puducherry from 26 to 28 February, 2023 calls upon to form Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe serious allegations made by Hinderburg report, against misdeeds of Adani group of companies.

Whole country and parliament was shaken by the serious allegations made by Hinderburg report released in US on 24^th January 2023 by Hinderburg company.

BJP government at the centre including PM and finance minister are silent on serious allegations made in the report and exposure of crony capitalism. It appears that huge investment made by the LIC and SBI and other public institutions from public money in Adani group is at risk and people are demanding answers. However, government is silent. On this background one is reminded that when merely an investment of Rs.1 crore made by LIC in a private company let to resignation of then finance minister T.T. Krishnamachari when the matter was exposed in the Parliament (Mundhra Scam).

Close relations with Adani and our Prime Minister who used Adani planes during elections is known to all. Hence one expects clarification about the allegation made in Hinderburg report.

Our party had organized all India protest day on 13^th February, 2023 all over India, demanding formation of JPC to probe the allegations.

This council demands that JPC be formed and appeals to the party cadre and people to intensify this agitation and expose the cozy and anti-people relationship of foreign and Indian monopoly capital with Modi government and also the anti-people functioning of tax havens and shell companies about which most media and government is silent.

10. Resolution Demanding Pension

(Adopted by NC)

Demand for pension is universal. The National Council in its meeting held in Puducherry from 26 to 28 February, 2023 notes that demand for pension is rightly becoming universal – those in Government sector are demanding scrapping of National Pension System (NPS) and to bring back Old Pension Scheme (OPS), those covered by EPS-95 are demanding revision of EPS-95 minimum pension to Rs.7,500 per month with D.A. linkage while Kisans are demanding pension too. The NPS or PM Shramyogi Mandhan Yojana, in effect takes money from the intended beneficiaries for the financial corporates to play with it in the share markets. Thus subjecting their old age pension to market risks.

The Government and PM argue that these demands if granted, will make the government bankrupt. This is baseless and devoid of any figures. The pension (OPS), as of now takes up about 5 per cent of the government kitty, while servicing the interest on the loan taken by the government takes up about 27 per cent of the government kitty. Further, OPS or any form of pension, in the hands of the beneficiaries, only goes back into market circulation, generating demand, which is badly needed to invigorate our sagging economy. Many non-BJP states have promised to bring back the old pension scheme for government employees. Hence, CPI appeals to all concerned to organize and agitate for these just demands.

Many state governments announced for OPS. But central government is not ready to return contribution made by employees in NPS. So National Council of CPI demands central government to return the contributions to state government for initiating OPS.

The National Council supports the demand for pension and demand that it be given universally by government. It is proposed that funds for the pension be generated by progressive taxation of the rich and corporates.