The elections to the 15th Lok Sabha are being held at a time when the country faces serious threat to its economic and political independence due to right-ward shift in economic policies under the garb of economic neo-liberalism and pro-imperialist tilt in the foreign policy.
This is under the dubious slogan of building strategic partnership with the USA. BJP has reverted to its core agenda of communalism while continuing unashamed defence of economic neo-liberalism and pro-US tilt in the name of fighting growing menace of terrorism.
To halt the ruling classes from pursuing this disastrous course, the CPI and Left is joining the electoral battle with the slogan of providing a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative that should carry forward the glorious tradition of anti-imperialism, secular polity and independent economic development ensuring economic and social justice to all.. We seek your support and vote for this sacred task.
The CPI was born and grew in the course of the Freedom struggle against British rule. Thousands of revolutionary fighters who spent several years in jails and concentration camps, and never hesitated to sacrifice their lives joined its ranks. Communists have been the initiators of the organized workers, kisans, khet mazdoors, women and students and youth movements from the pre-independence to the present day linking them up with the struggle against imperialism, feudal princes and monopolists. They were the organizers and heroes of the glorious Telengana, Tebhaga, Vayalar –Punnapara, Pepsu and other struggles.
Communists were in the fore front in the struggles against princely states and for integrated India. Continuing the heritage of the freedom struggle, Communists courageously initiated struggles for defence of secular polity, national integrity, for the rights of workers, for self independent economic development, dominance of public sector in the national economy, for land reforms, fair wages to agri-workers, gender justice, education to all, social security and health care for each and every citizen. They consistently stood up for the rights of the minorities, tribal, dalits and other deprived sections. They upheld the banner of parliamentary democracy that is constantly coming under threat in recent days.
In the wake of the communal fascist offensive launched by the Sangh Parivar, misusing the BJP led NDA regime, steps were taken to communalise the education, administration and culture. The CPI at its Thiruananthapuram Party Congress gave a clarion call of BJP HATAO-DESH BACHAO (Remove BJP, save the country) and conducted a nation-wide campaign.
That was later supported and adopted by other Left and Secular parties. To achieve the goal of BJP Hatao-Desh Bachao campaign, the CPI joined forces with other Left and secular parties during the elections to the 14th Lok Sabha. The people magnificently responded to the call and not only ousted BJP led NDA from power but also elected the largest number of Left MPs to the Lok Sabha.
A secular formation -UPAtook over power at the Centre with the outside support from Left. The basis of this outside support was the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which later the government adopted as its National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).
Initial achievements of the UPA govt, in response to the demand and pressure of the Left, the UPA government took certain measures to meet the promises made in the CMP. It banned the recruitment of mercenaries for US aggression in Iraq, for some time restored the policy of solidarity with the struggling Palestinian people and took certain initiatives to normalize relations with our neighbours. Within the country, certain positive steps were taken to ameliorate the miseries of the masses.
For the first time in the history of Independent India a law to provide hundred days employment to the rural poor (NREGA) was enacted.
Though it had several lacunas and shortcomings it was an important step. Similarly laws for right to information (RTI), tribal and other forest dwellers rights, law against domestic violence were enacted. Some measures were also taken to de-communalise the education.
But simultaneously it took steps to meet its class interests. Unscrupulous disinvestment of PSUs, unbridled entry of FDIs, particularly in the secondary market continued.
During the four and half years when the Left extended out side support to the UPA government, it had to submit more than a dozen notes to the UPA government-Left Coordination Committee to oppose the government moves that were in violation of the CMP.
The Left was able to restrain the UPA government on such major issues like disinvestment of profit making PSUs, unbridled FDIs in finance sector, entry of MNCs in retail sector so on and so forth. On the issue of disinvestment, the Left had even to resort to the boycott of the Coordination Committee.
The Congress leadership wanted to dilute government equity in banks, preparatory to their eventual privatisation. We prevented that.
The Congress leadership wanted to privatise the insurance sector. We opposed that.
The Congress leadership wanted to hand over the enormous accumulated funds in the Provident Fund and Pension Fund to the private sector for so-called ‘efficient management’. We did not allow that.
We thus saved the financial sector from the disastrous crisis that has overtaken it in the USA, UK and other capitalist countries.
Even the propagandists of economic neo-liberalism have to concede that if impact of global economic meltdown is not that harsh for India, the credit should go to the Left that opposed certain measures of the government, particularly the so-called reforms in the finance sector
But gradually it became obvious that, under the compulsions of its class interests, the UPA government, particularly its leader, the Congress, was resorting to the tactics of hoodwinking the people. It was taking all the measures under the pressure of World Bank-IMF that were possible through administrative measures.
It showed restrain only on the issues that required parliamentary sanction which meant support by Left in the Parliament. Right ward shift in the economic policies, its anti-people character was the real bone of contention between the Left and UPA government that the Left was supporting from out side.
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Where do we stand today:
Promise was to ensure hundred days employment all over the country under the Left Pressure. It was first restricted to 200 districts (0nly in rural areas) and only later extended to all districts (though only rural). Implementation is mired in corruption.
Promise to raise public health expenditure to 2-3 per cent of GDP, it is still below 1.5 per cent. CAG report indicted the government for not having any information on Rs. 51,000 crore transferred to NGO in this account.
Government announced a package of Rs. 70,000 cores to help indebted farmers; even then more than 5,000 farmers committed suicide after this.
CMP promised to raise public expenditure on education to 6 per cent of the GDP, today it stands at 2.84 per cent. Privatisation of higher education continues unbridled.
Full empowerment of women was promised but the law for providing 33 per cent reservations in parliament and assemblies remains unfulfilled.
Promised to strengthen Public Distribution System but it was curtailed by redefining BPL category and restriction on quota to states for this category.
On the plea of restricting fiscal deficit, social welfare measures drastically curtailed. Even so fiscal deficit has risen due to Government expenditure.
Average GDP growth has come down from o 7.5 in 2004 (It rose to 9.7 in between.) to lower than 5 in the last quarter.
IMPACT ON FOREIGN POLICY: The foreign policy of a country is an extension of its domestic, particularly the economic policies. The UPA government that gradually went ahead with its commitment to shamelessly pushing forward the policies of economic neo-liberalism dictated by International Finance Capital in the name of Globalisation, Liberalisation and Privatisation, its impact on foreign policy also became evident.
IN FOREIGN POLICY, the first visible sign was the shift in our middle –east policy when the UPA government, in place of continually extending solidarity with the Palestinian people, started talking about ending all forms of violence in that region equation Israeli aggression and repression with Palestinians resistance,, showing distance with G-21 in WTO discussions and lukewarm attitude towards the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project under open pressure from Bush administration. Even ministerial changes were affected to please USA on Iran issue. India twice voted against Iran in IAEA on the dictates of USA. It distanced itself from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation by lowering our representations in its summit.
The idea of building an axis of India-Israel-USA for fighting terrorism, initiated by the previous BJP led NDA regime was chewed by the UPA government as well. It enhanced its defence cooperation, not only with USA but its allies like Israel. It started bidding for so-called Indo-US strategic partnership. New deals with US like Defence cooperation, Cooperation in knowledge field including agriculture and defence purchase agreement with Israel. Today, Israel is the biggest defence equipment supplier of India. Within a year, India has purchased defence equipment worth a billion dollar from Israel. It helped Israel to launch its spy satellite from Indian soil.
UPA government allowed multi-nation naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal that was strongly opposed by the Left Most tragic is the fact that even our internal intelligence job has been outsourced to FBI of USA and Mossad of Israel, particularly after the tragic terrorist attack on Mumbai. Indo-US nuclear deal was a clear attempt to cement the strategic partnership with USA.
The rightward shift in economic policies and clear pro-US tilt in foreign policy coupled with the unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities forced the Left to review and sever it s relationship with the UPA Government. CPI had urged the withdrawal of support.
The UPA refused to heed the advice of the Left to ban future trading in essential goods including food grains and strengthen the Public Distribution system by providing enhanced quota to the states for BPL card holders. On the contrary it took steps to destroy the PDS. It insisted on signing the Indo-US nuclear deal that according to its own estimates was not going to solve the power crisis in the country.
Large number of nuclear scientists, power experts and foreign policy observers opposed the deal along with the Left. The latest Report of the CAG has indicted the UPA Government on this issue. What happened after that is well known. July 22, 2008 will always remain a black day in the history of Parliamentary Democracy in the country.
This episode also exposed the BJP, the main opposition in the 14th Lok Sabha. Though it opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal for record, the maximum number of MPs who violated the decision to oppose the deal belonged to it. Actually, BJP never reconciled to the fact that people of the country have rejected its unashamed pursuance of Economic Neo-Liberalism and pro-imperialist policies while attempting to communalise the education, administration and culture. For most of the time it adopted the tactics of disrupting the proceedings of parliament to avoid the discussion on concrete socio-economic and political issues. It tried to grapple in the dark to find some emotional issues but miserably failed.
Actually the Left had also to play the role of opposition in Parliament. The report issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat after the last session of 14th Lok Sabha on February 26, 2009, confirms that, it was the block of Left MPs which excelled in every matter, attending the session, raising issues through various motions and participating in the debate on important bills and legislations.
The five years of UPA rule has made two things vividly clear: first, as for as the country’s economic development is concerned it is the class perception that matters most. Both the UPA and NDA are committed to an economic course - pursuance of economic neo-liberalism--that only leads to disaster that we face today.
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Secondly, while pursuing the course of economic neo-liberalism the ruling dispensation has also to obey the dictates of imperialist forces in the matter of foreign policy. This course ultimately may lead to loss of economic and political sovereignty of the country. the threat from communal fascism has not dwindled. rather it has increased.
In such a situation, the country needs a government that defends the secular democratic fabric of the nation, pursue an independent foreign policy and adopts an economic course that ensures total detachment with economic neo-liberalism dictated by international finance capital and pursues pro-people economic policies For that we have to:
Defeat Communalism; defend secularism
Isolate pro-imperialist forces; Friendship with all, Subservience to none, No to strategic partnership with USA
Install a Secular democratic government in which Left has decisive say to ensures defence of secular democracy, anti-imperialist unity in foreign policy and implement pro-people economic policies that guarantee food, shelter, education, employment and social security and health care to all.
These goals cannot be achieved without enhancing the representation of Left, particularly the CPI in the 15th Lok Sabha.
CPI while committing itself to theses political objectives reiterates:
CPI STANDS FOR ALTERNATIVE PATH OF DEVELOPMENT
Even while extending outside support to the UPA government, the CPI joined forces with working class, peasants, agricultural workers, employees of PSUs and other units, government employees, youth and students and women who fought glorious battles against disastrous effects of the policies of liberalization, privatization and imperialist globalization. It was the first to warn against the effects of the global recession that has engulfed the entire world economy based on bogus concept of developing finance capital and Free Market economy. It is nothing but casino capitalism.
CPI pledges to continue this struggle and proposes an alternative path of development.
CPI, trade unions and other mass organisations have been putting forward alternate economic policies which are based on agricultural development, employment-oriented industrial growth, on building our social and physical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads and communication, which will ensure access to education and health for all our poor people. We have been fighting against price rise and for food to the poor. This will create millions of jobs.
CPI will strive for the development of our domestic market by putting money in the pockets of our workers and peasants and our youths looking for jobs. This will stimulate the economy, rather than all the bail-outs to the Corporates. The CPI will struggle for these policies, both outside and inside Parliament.
In struggling for an alternative path of development we do not suggest that India must shut itself from the rest of the world in matters of trade, technology and flow of capital. We mean adopting a set of priority policy measures which would pave the way for the country’s all-round development based firstly and primarily on mobilizing the internal resources of our great country.
Development should mean economic justice to all. The impact of economic recession can not be fought with bail-out packages for corporate sector but by enhancing investment in infrastructure and social sector to expand and strengthen the internal market.
CPI is totally opposed to acquisition of land by government for so-called SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (SEZ). SEZs are not inevitable for economic development.
Our Agricultural sector is perpetually in crisis. Public investment in this sector is continuously declining further compounding the agrarian crisis. Kisans continue to commit suicide. Land Reforms, which would distribute surplus and waste land to the landless, thus reverse the trend of growing landlessness and the attempts to do away the ceiling laws through lease and contract corporatisation, acquisition of huge quantum of land for “real estate business” under the garb of establishing the SEZ etc.
It should ensure minimum wages and social security to agricultural labours and poor peasants and free them from usury and indebtedness, through comprehensive legislation. It would rouse the potential of the basic rural mass and revitalize our rural scene, and strike a blow at the social, economic and ideological base of landlordism. It would create a basis for greater employment in rural areas.
Suitable steps for boosting our Agrarian production and productivity through application of our research and experience in use of seeds, bio-fertilisers, consolidation of holdings, giving preference to small and marginal farmers; increased investment and more budgetary provision for agriculture , greater irrigation facilities by utilising of water resources.
Development of agriculture has to be basis of general development of our national economy.
The objective should be to increase the purchasing power of our toiling peasantry, so as to reverse the trend of demand fall, which is affecting our industries and other sectors as well, and affecting their growth.
Urgent steps for universal elementary education as also scientific and technological education, secular in content and form without which it is foolish to think of a modern, developed India competing with other developed countries.
A comprehensive health and education programme, mobilizing tens of thousand of health workers and teachers for the job; measures to ensure potable drinking water facilities in every locality. No to privatization of health facilities.
Implementing a massive water management system, including linking of rivers, flood prevention cum irrigation cum hydel generation schemes, digging and disilting of ponds, harvesting of rain water, provision of drinking water in all villages etc.
The facilities and permission given to MNCs to take hold of our water resources and drinking water, which are commercializing for profits, should be forthwith terminated. No to privatisation and commercialisation of water resources in any form.
Introducing a system of subsidies where they are needed for encouraging production, reducing cost to the producers, and protecting the livelihood of the poor, especially those below the poverty line. We will vigorously oppose all attempts to cut such subsidies.
Providing protection to our Agriculture and Small scale sector by re-imposing Quantitative Restrictions on vital items connected with our people’s livelihood; judicious import restrictions and duties, imposing countervailing duties against dumping of foreign goods in our markets, where they ease out our production.
Qualitative and quantitative expansion of cooperatives in various fields.
Revival, consolidation modernization and reform of PSUs; professionalizing management and freeing them from bureaucratic control and political interference so as to improve performance and profitability. End to disinvestment in profit making PSUs.
No to handing over EPF to private managers.
Further development of IT sector.
Seek help of Private sector for real industrialization and development. Utilize all our unused capacities both in public and private sectors for job-oriented growth. Mobilise our own domestic resources, including black money, so-called non-performing assets of banks, Income Tax defaults and arrears.
State intervention in developing infrastructure including power, communication, people’s plan for development through panchayat raj, which would contribute substantially to development of infrastructure and also improve the quality of life at the grass-root level. End corruption and malpractice in implementation of NREGA and other schemes.
Inviting foreign capital and necessary high tech in spheres of our choice and need on mutually beneficial terms, and generally for fresh investments and not for acquiring control over existing undertakings; foreign capital should supplement our attempts to increase domestic savings and mobilization of our rich internal resources. No to dubious FII investment in share market.
Foreign policy should oppose all bids for imposing unipolar world order; join forces that are committed to multipolar world order, regional cooperation, reform and strengthening of UNO, unified stand in WTO fora on vital issues for developing countries, strengthening SAARC.
The indo-us nuclear deal not only entails heavy financial loss but is against national interest, both political and economic.
In pursuing such an alternative path, the CPI will specifically advocate and fight for the following issues and urgent demands of our working people in addition to what has already been outlined: (TAKE FROM D.RAJA)
INDUSTRY: SMALL SCALE SECTOR:
Strengthen and expand the public sector undertakings; no liquidation of government equities in public sector banking industry; no to further enhancement of FDI in insurance sector.
Special package for protection and development of Small Scale industries, cottage industries and craft of artisans.
To fight back the impact of world-wide recession, particularly on export base SSIs, defer recovery of loans for at least till recession ends, grant subsidy on already produced goods to help their marketing in internal market.
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AGRICULTURE:
Implement the land reforms comprehensively.
Implement the recommendation of the National Commission of Farmers
Double public investment in Agriculture
Provide agriculture credit at the rate 0f 4 per cent simple interest. Provide kisan card to all
Introduce Crop Insurance, treat village as unit for calculating crop loss
Package for development of live stock, fisheries and horticulture
Promote agro-industries and bio-technology
Kisan Vigyan Kendra in every block
No to acquisition of farmers’ land for non- farming purposes particularly real estate business.
Amend the SEZ Act and rules.
Ensure remunerative prices to farmers by fixing MRP and arranging timely procurement
Comprehensive legislation for Agricultural workers
Oppose FDI and big business houses entering into retail trades.
Organic farming which makes Indian farmers self-reliant, their farming viable and would sustain their productive resources will be given priority and will be actively promoted by CPI.
Review the Patents Act on urgent basis.
With regard to GM crops/foods, since there are many pending concerns with regard to health and environmental safety, IPRs, consumer choices etc., and given the pending need for a democratic, scientific, independent and transparent regulatory regime, CPI will take a precautionary approach and will demand a moratorium until all pending issues are resolved satisfactorily. Further, CPI will demand a review of the Indo-US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture (KIA).
ON WTO AND RELATED ISSUES
India should not agree to any further curtsy import tariff in ongoing WTO level talks. Government should do everything possible to protect our agriculture.
When the government has been pursuing Free Trade Agreements (FTA), party will demand complete transparency and democratic process in the negotiations, consultations with state governments and also consultations with all stake holders.
CPI will demand a white paper on this question and discussion in parliament.
EMPLOYMENT
1. Expansion of the scope of the Employment Guarantee Act (EGA): This includes
• Individual entitlements: Expansion of the work guarantee from “100 days per household per year” to “at least 100 days per adult per year”.
• Enactment of an Urban Employment Guarantee Act.
2. Expansion of the list of permissible works to include rural public services as well as construction and maintenance of rural infrastructure (within the mandatory 60:40 ratio).
3. Reverse the recent freeze on NREGA wages by the Central Government and ensure linking of minimum wages to the Consumer Price Index.
4. Protection of all organizers and activists involved in the implementation of NREGA, including social audits, and investigation of recent incidents of violence against them.
5. Putting in place effective grievance redressal mechanisms.
6. Strengthening of the operational framework for NREGA, including:
•Conversion of the Operational Guidelines into mandatory Rules.
•Establishment of PRIs where none exist (e.g. Jharkhand).
7. Increase in financial outlays to 2% of GDP, and raising of the allocation for administrative expenses from 4% to 6% of NREGA expenditure. This would help in ensuring “guaranteed minimum standards” for all mandatory worksite facilities (including crèche and drinking water and minimum transparency measures.
8. Reservation of 50% of all posts in the NREGA machinery (Pos, GRSs etc.) for women. Separate Job Cards for widows, separated women and other single women irrespective of their living arrangements.
SOCIAL SECTOR:
CPI will continue to demand 6 per cent of GDP to be spent on education and 3 per cent of GDP on health. Party will continue to strive for common school system and to ensure right to education. It will oppose increasing privatisation, commercialisation of education and healthcare in the country. It will strive to include children from the 0-6 age group in the right to education Bill.
SOCIAL SECURITY :
Party will demand universal Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure food security.
It will also demand housing to all by making right to housing as a fundamental rights.
Comprehensive coverage of Old Age pension scheme.
CPI supports the demand for same pension for same rank.
Party will also strive to universalise with quality Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
ISSUES OF WORKERS:
An ‘immediate package’ to be worked out to protect the workers who lost the jobs due to lay-offs, closures, retrenchments and other forms of suspension of operation’ due to the ‘meltdown’/financial crisis, in several sectors such as textiles/garments, construction and retail, tourism, gems & jewelleries, automobiles, manufacturing, etc.
The Unorganised Sector Workers Act to be reviewed amended and made more effective based on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Labour as well as the unanimous recommendations of the trade unions providing funding by the Government.
Need Based Minimum Wage, as was recommended by the 15th Indian Labour Conference, with Supreme Court decision on Reptocos Case.
There must be a National Minimum Wage below which nobody in any employment, organised or unorganised sector, shall be paid.
Child labour shall be abolished and all children must be given compulsory, quality free education besides nutritious food.
Equal wage for Equal work shall be the cardinal principle to be followed, which is flagrantly violated.
No contract or casual labour to be employed in any permanent and perennial nature of jobs and to that extent to the Contract Labour Abolition and Augmentation Act to be amended ensuring regulation. Anganwadi should be Institutionalized.
Bonded labour in any form shall not be allowed and all of those freed from bondage must be provided with alternative employment.
Strict implementation of all labour laws including social welfare legislations must be enforced.
Ban on recruitment in Central and State Governments as well in State and Central PSUs.
IT/BPO services employees, SEZs workers to be covered by all labour legislations and their working conditions regulated. Unfettered trade union rights to be ensured to all of them.
WOMEN AND GENDER JUSTICE
CPI will continue to fight for the enactment of women’s reservation Bill, law against sexual harassment, eradication of dowry and female foeticide and infanticide effective implementation of Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act and suitable amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. For stringent implementation of PC – PNDT Act to ensure healthy sex ratio.
All development budgets must have a focus on the direct benefit for women in a specified manner.
Crèche services must be mandatory for every institution that has a minimum specified number of employees.
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DALITS & ADIVASIS:
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2008 which is an anti-reservation bill passed by Congress-lead UPA, will be scrapped and a new bill with provisions for reservations in all educational institutions and in all classes of posts will be introduced.
Affirmative action in private sector will be introduced and all such private sector industry which does not adhere to affirmative action will be made ineligible for incentives, exemptions and tax concessions given by the government. All MNCs will have to fall in line with the affirmative action programme of the country.
Extend the policy of reservation to all Dalits irrespective of their religious obligations.
Ensure programs for social & economic development of Dalit which include their education, health, livelihood, poverty alleviation, housing and other basic amenities by implementing sub-plans for SC-ST in the planning process
MUSLIM MINORITY:
Comprehensive plan for Implementation of recommendation of Sachar Committee and Ranganath Commission report;
Legal Mechanism to end discrimination in the matter of job recruitment and disbursement of various economic schemes; Special consideration in granting bank loans.
Special plan to end educational backwardness of the Minority community, allocate 20 per cent SSA funds for opening schools in minority dominated blocks.
Provide all educational and other benefits to all Muslim professional communities that are available to their professional counterparts in majority community. Accordingly rectify OBC lists, both state-wise and central.
End discrimination on the basis of religion in recognizing SCs. Recognise Muslim and Christian Dalits for all benefits.
RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Implement the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 effectively giving adequate opportunities to build their capacities and also makes schools and other premises accessible to all.
There is an emerging need to combat HIV/AIDS/STD etc. and ensure medical care, human treatment and security to the victims.
JUDICIAL REFORMS:
CPI will continue to demand constitution of National Judicial Commission and also accountability of the judiciary. Party will demand that the process of appointment and transfer of Judges in the High Courts and the Supreme Court should be made more transparent and also that all Judges should be required by law to declare their assets at the time of joining and thereafter regularly every year.
Party will also demand the implementation of police reforms.
CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS
CPI will continue to strive for upholding the federal structure of our governance and polity. States must have adequate political and financial powers. States should get reasonable share from the Central funds.
No efforts will allowed which undermines the powers of the state governments. Party will demand the review of the Federal Investigation Act and the functions of the Federal Investigation Agency.
CULTURE
CPI will defend the composite culture of India. Right wing extremist organisations which try to impose a monolithic and medieval culture and disrupt the social harmony will not be tolerated.
All languages will have the equal recognisation and equal treatment. Urdu & Sindhi will be accorded for the official use under article 345 or 347 of the Constitution in states and areas where there is considerable population of the linguistic minorities.
CPI will work for the reservation heritage sites and monuments.
GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
While reducing emission in our own and global interest, India must not succumb to pressures to compensate for historical damages caused by others. CPI will resist schemes to escape responsibilities through monetary payoffs or speculative exercises like carbon trading. India should insists on global emissions cuts on the basis of equitable per-capita entitlements.
CPI will demand strengthening of Forest Conservation Act. It will also demand the withdrawal of costal management zone notification which fails to take in to account the interests and the concerns of the fishing community.
TERRORISM:
India has been facing the menace of terrorism including religion based extremism for decades. Extremism and terrorism in different parts of the country has various dimensions and reasons. It is futile to link challenges faced by our country with the imperialist concept of World war against terrorism or the bogus theory of clash of civilization.
While fighting against terrorism, politically, administratively and ideologically, CPI is committed to oppose all such oppressive laws that curb human and democratic rights.
DEFENCE OF SECULARISM AND OPPOSITION TO COMMUNALISM. RELGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
CPI will continue to its vigorous campaign against communalism of all shades, religious fundamentalism, linguistic and ethnic chauvinism.
CPI will leave no stone unturned to protect and strengthen secular democratic set-up of the country and champion the cause of religious and linguistic minorities.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR:
CPI stands full restoration of provisions of article 370 of the Constitution. It supports maximum autonomy for Jammu Kashmir and with it the autonomy for various regions.
CPI wants more and people to people contact between the divided Kashmir and more confidence building measures between India and Pakistan.
DEFENCE OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY:
CPI will continue to campaign to strengthen the parliamentary democracy and the functioning of parliament has a vibrant institutions which represents the will of the people. CPI will demand that Indian Parliament has minimum 100 day sittings in a year.
ELECTORAL REFORMS
CPI will continue to demand comprehensive electoral reforms to curb money power and muscle power. Party will also campaign for proportional representations system and state funding.
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