CPM cuts out 11 tasks for recovery

TAG

* 11-KARAT GOAL

GRAPHIC

TASKS BEFORE THE CPM

1. Fight the whole gamut of neo-liberal policies
2. Fight at two levels: all-India and in the states
3. Fight Hindutva activities and minority communalism
4. Oppose Indo-US strategic alliance and rally patriotic, democratic sections
against it
5. Oppose Congress-led UPA, prime mover of neo-liberal policies
6. Isolate BJP, which also advocates neo-liberal policies, by rallying secular forces
7. Forge electoral understanding with non-Congress secular parties
8. Struggle against Maoists' disruptive activities
9. Defend CPM and the Left in West Bengal
10. Draw the masses, peasants, farm workers, artisans into a united struggle
11. Champion the rights of dalits, tribals, minorities, women and other oppressed
sections

The CPM has cut out the tasks for its rank and file to regain the ground it has ceded in recent years. On the first-day of the party's extended central committee meeting today, which was attended by around 350 delegates including top brass of the party, the party drafted a political resolution sketching an 11-point plan by which it hopes to emerge as an alternative secular force in the country.
The resolution stresses the need to expand the party base beyond West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where its strongholds are located. ``In the present situation where the strongest base of the party, West Bengal, is under attack, it becomes all the more necessary to expand its influence in other state,'' the resolution states.
While the party thinks it imperative to work with non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties, it decided to project itself as the left and democratic alternative by giving a thrust to Left unity.
Significantly, the resolution highlighted the need to fight both majority and minority communalism. ``The new feature which has emerged in the last three years is Hindutva extremist elements resorting to terrorist violence. Muslim extremist groups are also continuing to resort to extremist methods. Terrorism by both Muslim and Hindu extremists has to be fought and the campaign against them should be taken to the people,'' the resolution says.
The party also feels the need to pay urgent attention to work in the tribal areas and build mass organisations against the violence of Maoists. ``The Maoists represent a degenerated form of ultra-Left adventurism. They serve the interests of the ruling class by targeting the CPM,'' the resolution states.
On the Jammu & Kashmir situation, the CPM feels that the resumption of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue will help in creating an atmosphere to carry forward the political process. ``Without provision of maximum autonomy for the state and regional autonomy for the three regions within the state, there can be no progress towards a political solution,'' the resolution notes.
To achieve these goals, the CPM leadership underscored the steps to be taken within the party, including streamlining the organisation along the principles of democratic centralism. It also noted the need to enhance the political-ideological awareness of party members and adopt a correct approach to mass organisations.