CPI(M) for multi-pronged approach to counter BJP, RSS

The party resolves to strengthen its organisational base across different parts of the country; to mobilise like-minded forces to intensify struggles

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Subhashini Ali, and others at the 22nd national congress of the party in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to adopt multi-pronged approach to counter the threat posed by the “communal BJP and RSS combine” to the country.

The party has, accordingly, resolved to strengthen its organisational base across different parts of the country and would simultaneously work for broadening the unity among the Left parties. Efforts would be made to take together all the Left, democratic and secular forces through mass struggles to ensure that the ruling BJP government was brought down.

The party had decided to mobilise like-minded forces to intensify struggles against financial exploitation and social oppression besides taking to people alternative policies that would help alleviate the sufferings of the working class, farmers and workers, in particular.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was elected to the post for the second term on Sunday, outlined the priorities of the party in the coming days at an impressive public meeting held here to mark the culmination of the party’s 22nd national congress. Several polit bureau members and senior leaders of the party addressed the gathering, which was preceded by a more than 5-km march by the party’s red shirt volunteers.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Tripura former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and others who addressed the meeting explained to the participants the ill-effects of the “communal policies” of the Narendra Modi Government which ensured accelerated implementation of the neo-liberal policies that were helping the corporates at the expense of the poor.

Mr. Yechury recalled how the government’s policies ensured that 73 per cent of the additional wealth generated in the country was concentrated in the hands of 1% population at a time when the country was witnessing starvation deaths and spree of suicides by farmers. The government was trying to consolidate the Hindutva vote bank through its communal policies as could be seen from the way it was dictating people how to live and whom to befriend.

He explained the party’s resolve on taking together Left and democratic forces and said electoral alliances would alone not suffice to defeat the communal forces. This called for building mass struggles on the basis of which the party could take its alternative policies with social justice as the basis.

Mr. Vijayan said the CPI (M) had become the target of imperialist forces as the party had been consistent in its opposition to communalisation and neo-liberal policies vigorously pursued by the successive governments. The impact of the neo liberal policies could be seen from the fact that inequalities were on the rise in the country in spite of socialism being part of the preamble of the Constitution.

The CPI (M) had warned that the neo-liberal policies would lead to impoverishment of the working class and questions to be raised about the economic sovereignty of the country during the party’s 20th and 21st congresses and the same was coming true now. Sccessive UPA and NDS governments had, however, dealt the working class struggles with an iron hand. “Ache din have become synonymous with sky-rocketing prices, rampant unemployment, raising of FDI limits and attacks on workers. Permanent jobs are becoming an illusion,” he said.

Mr. Manik Sarkar and others also spoke.