The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday endorsed the thrust on a Left and democratic alternative and backed the decisions to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance-1 government and subsequent attempt to build an electoral alternative to the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalitions.
With the 20 Party Congress adopting an amended political resolution and political review with near-unanimity — 2 of the 804 delegates and observers voting against — party general secretary Prakash Karat told the assembly that the amendments were aimed at elaborating and strengthening the basic framework of the resolution.
Briefing journalists on the deliberations, Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said participation of the delegates and the amendments reflected the strong unity of the CPI(M) around the political assessments, review and future direction it was to take.
Referring to periodic media reports over “differences, divisions and disunity” within the party since the July 2008 withdrawal of support to the Manmohan Singh-led government and subsequent electoral debacles, she said: “This Party Congress puts to rest all speculation [by adopting the political resolution] following endorsement at the extended Central Committee meeting at Vijayawada in 2010.”
Asked whether a Left and democratic alternative would be ready by 2014 general elections, she said while the CPI(M) would focus on building such an alternative to take up fundamental issues against the policies of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, it was not be viewed in the context of elections or electoral tactics.
“Do not equate Left and democratic alliance to alternative alliance or a front. As elections come and depending on situations, the party will decide coordination among political forces at that time,” Ms. Karat said.
Ready for challenges
Replying to the debate over the political resolution and amendments, a CPI(M) release said Mr. Karat expressed the resolve of the entire party to face the challenges before it and to mobilise people against the “cruel onslaughts” of the policies of the Central government.
He reiterated that the BJP was no different as far as the economic policies were concerned and its continuing communal agenda had to be fought back and resisted. Besides the political resolution, the party adopted three other documents including one on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes' rights; the Central government's mineral policies and for tribal rights; and violence against women.
Through the last resolution, the party expressed deep concern at escalation in crimes against women. It was alarmed by the “barbarity and savagery of the atrocities” being committed on women. It protested against the anti-women and “utterly insensitive” statements by some political leaders who blame the victim of rape and question the veracity of the victim's complaint.
Demanding a sound, effective legal intervention to enforce time-bound punishment of the guilty, the party reiterated its commitment to fight against increasing violence against women and for stringent punishment to the criminals in all such cases.
