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Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India - Marxist has decided to launch a countrywide agitation between September 20 and 30 on six major issues.
The issues include the demand for probing corruption cases, immediate drought relief, President's rule in Gujarat, protection of Jammu and Kashmir's 'composite character' and opposing RSS' trifurcation demand, holding free and fair election in J&K, providing adequate security forces to Tripura and opposing the US plans to attack Iraq.
The CPI-M would also observe 'Drought Relief Day' on September 20 and 'Tripura Solidarity Day' on September 30, party general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said.
The Central Committee also appreciated the decision of the Election Commission not to hold early election in Gujarat. "The Commission has arrived at this decision based on the situation in the state where no free and fair election was possible, especially when a substantial section of the minorities were in no position to exercise their franchise," it said.
It noted that the Presidential reference on the Election Commission order was a move to 'undermine' the Commission's authority.
Denouncing Narendra Modi's 'vicious attack' on the Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh, the CC said, "It was the same Narendra Modi who is set to take out a Gujarat Gaurav Yatra, which would further aggravate the situation in the state.".
The CC also condemned the RSS demand for the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, saying it conforms to the designs of the United States, which wanted the partition of J&K, so that the Kashmir valley can be detached and given an independent status.
Stressing the importance of holding the Jammu & Kashmir election in a peaceful and democratic atmosphere, the CC felt that it was incumbent upon the central government and the state machinery to ensure conditions for a free and fair poll and prevent rigging.
Touching upon the issue of drought relief, the CC said the central government's policies, which led to the public distribution system being dismantled and food for work programmes redundant, were making the provision of quick relief difficult.
Referring to the developments in Tripura the CC strongly condemned the 'heinous attacks' by the National Liberation Front of Tripura and other extremist groups.
With reference to West Bengal, the CC members noted that certain groups like the People's War and the Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation were conducting activities, which cannot, by any definition be called political activities.
Discussing the issue of US threat of war on Iraq, the CC members said, "The post-September 11 period has seen the US adopt the dangerous doctrine of using military force wherever it serves its interests. The war on Iraq will be a blatant violation of international laws and the national sovereignty of the country. Iraq is a friendly country with which India has close ties. The war in the gulf region will harm India's interests and lead to an exodus of Indians from the region. The foreign policy of the Vajpayee government is completely within the orbit of the US strategic interests. This is clearly illustrated by its low-profile stance on the threat of US aggression on Iraq. The Central Committee demands that the Vajpayee take a categorical position opposing the US plans. The prime minister must send a strong message to the Bush administration that India is opposed to any military attack on Iraq."
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