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Decisions of the Polit-Bureau


Reproduced here are the more important political decisions taken by the
Polit Bureau of CPI(ML) in its meeting held on 19-20 August 1998

National

1. The Party will organise an "Oust Saffron and Save India" national campaign from 25 August to 25 November throughout the country. Issues of Pokhran tests, skyrocketing prices, Sri Krishna commission report, growing unemployment, communalising the education syllabus and hefty hike in fees, atrocities on dalits, black acts, betrayal on women’s reservation bill, refusal to present agricultural workers bill and attempts to reverse land reform laws, growing belligerence of VHP hoodlums against minorities etc. are to be highlighted during this campaign. The Central Committee will soon come out with a folder and party organisations everywhere should undertake this campaign vigorously at the grassroots. Various agitation programs already decided by party and mass organisations in this period should be taken as the part and parcel of this campaign with the common central slogan refereed to above.

2. The PB is firmly of the view that, in the broadest sense of the term, party must identify itself with the anti- BJP camp and this must reflect itself in the voting in the parliament too.

3. In the PB’s view with the collapse of UF and serious differences in the social-democratic camp in going the whole hog with the Congress (I) the situation is conducive for pursuing the slogan of the left confederation once again. The Party’s sixth congress did visualise this situation and already in states other than LF ruled states our relations with them are showing some kind of improvement. The PMO too has been activised of late. The PB has decided to send a letter to the other left parties underlining the need of cooperation and working for independent left assertion vis-a-vis both the BJP and the Congress-led camps.

4. We have responded positively to the letter sent by the SUCI and do welcome all joint initiatives by the left forces of all hues.

 

States

In Bihar our party, in contrast to JD and Social- democrats, has firmly held anti-BJP position and refused to do anything with the Samata as long as it is in alliance with the BJP. Ironically, those who criticized us for political alliance with Samata when it had nothing to do with the BJP are dishing out all kinds of false theories to justify their hobnobbing with Samata when it has emerged as a trusted lieutenant of the BJP. The PB, however, felt that any message of our softness towards the RJD would prove counterproductive. At present Laloo is only a shadow of his former self and his base is essentially restricted among Yadavs. A good section of lumpens and criminals from among neo-rich sections of Yadavs has emerged and their activities are antagonizing dalits, other backwards and even Muslims. In this social context the image of softness towards Laloo will alienate us from broad sections of the masses. Therefore while continuing our principled opposition to the BJP we must launch popular movements against the RJD government. In particular, we should strive for building a powerful movement against the growing police high handedness as witnessed in Sitamarhi in cooperation with all the other left and democratic forces.

Home > Liberation Main Page > Index September 1998 > ARTICLE