Volume 6, No. 6, June 2005

The 18th Congress of the CPM for the first time came out more openly in support of Globalistion. The exigencies of being a ruling party in some states and now even at the Centre, the CPM could not carry on with its subterfuge for much longer. Tied to the globalization chariot wheel it sought to build up an atmosphere to get the cadres to accept it counter-revolutionary policies. Knowing that such outright endorsement of globalisation may create a back-lash from amongst its cadres the leadership first created the necessary atmosphere before the Congress; then it introduced its ideas during the Congress without any conclusion. The task of concluding the discussion on just this one specific issue was conveniently passed on to the new CC. In fact the document on "economic policy" was the only document not to be finalized at the Congress. What the Congress did now was nothing but giving the rubber-stamp on what it has been implementing for years in the States it rules.

Well before the Congress the atmosphere for the acceptance of globalization was set by the intellectual hacks of the party. With the CPM being part of the Central power many seek to bask in the glory of the new-found power. One of them, Prabhat Patnaik, publicly advocated the need for a "practical rethin-king on ‘left’ positions on private enter-prise, capitalist production and inflow of FDI by accepting the realities of multi-party Indian parliamentary democracy". Patnaik began to mobilise a campaign from within the party circles by presenting his new thesis in a CPM-backed publication at the directions of the leadership.

So, not surprisingly the document "On Certain Policy Matters" made it clear that "the struggle for an alternative socialist order has to be based on the revolutionary transformation of the existing order" and that this requires "an engagement of the revolutionary forces with existing world realities with the sole objective of changing the co-relation of forces in favour of socialism". After outlining the methods of the World Bank, IMF, WTO, etc, what the document visualizes is not an outright rejection of these maneuvers of neo-liberal economic interests, but a tactical engagement with them. "Engagement" means nothing but collaboration as has been going on in West Bengal and the other States it rules. Imperialism is such a force that it demands complete subservience to it. To talk of engagement with it amounts to its acceptance — i.e. dealing and negotiating with it. It is nothing but demagogy to say that socialism can come through such engagement.

Also this document goes so far as to welcome foreign capital, putting three stipulations — that it must augment existing production, upgrade the economy technologically and lead to employment generation. All three points are ridiculous. Existing production is of course augmented in luxury items as cars, etc. All foreign technology does use high-level technology even if it is the BPO sweatshops of Call Centres, etc. And any new investment will generate jobs, but how many small scale industries close down as a result is conveniently ignored.

So, in effect the Congress has given the green signal to all foreign capital to enter the country. That is exactly what has been going on under the present UPA dispensation, with a speed that would embarrass even the BJP. Not only that the CPM was silent on even the labour reforms introduced and now the rulers plan a drastic reform of all labour laws. No doubt it will make the customary noises and allow such changes. Increase in foreign capital in banks, telecom, aviation, mines, construction and real estate, opening up of retail, pension fund management courier services, etc are all the gifts of the UPA government with the CPM as faithful follower. Not only that, the CPM went so far as to vote for the New Patent Act.

Even on the question of the foreign-funded NGO the Congress has taken a back-door method of acceptance saying that "the party units must follow the guidelines and take appropriate decisions accordingly". Ironic indeed as the first extensive booklet against the foreign–funded NGOs was written in 1984 by none other than the new secretary general elected at this Congress, Prakash Karat. CPM turns full circle.

Jyoti Basu was not just senile when he said "China is running its government based on Marxism-Leninism. They are bringing in socialism very fast". Not even a child believes that China is socialist today; it is so crudely adopting all capitalist policies. No doubt Jyoti Basu has a similar China dream for West Bengal and may hope to emulate the fast pace of capitalist growth in China.

The reality is that the party in the States where they wield power are thoroughly bourgeoisfied. This has taken place with total consent of the central leadership notwithstanding the media hard-line/soft-line images created. So, for example the Buddadhev regime of West Bengal has been pushing for foreign capital, for economic reconstruction packages and many capitalist tools. They have been resorting to closing down or selling off many ‘unproductive’ units and also indulging in contract employment in some sectors. If the capitalism in West Bengal is subtle that of Kerala is blatant and crude.

The recent CPM State Conference re-elected the same leadership by rejecting the opposition from the hardliners led by V.S.-Achuthanandan and the CITU. It was clear that the winners had the backing of the top leadership as these elements have been ridi-culed as the "materialist boys" and have been charged with pursing a "revisionist course", compromises with foreign capital and "corrupt and bourgeois life-styles".

In Kerala the CPM now functions like a business empire with the Pinarayi faction having ousted the old guard. It is estimated that the CPM’s extended parivar is worth Rs.4,000 crores and growing. Party leaders squabble over foreign junkets and plum posts. The empire stretches from Amusement Parks, to super-specialty hospitals, mega-supermarkets, IT parks, to TV Channels and foreign-funded rubber cooperatives. No party in Kerala owns as much property and land as the CPM.

What has shocked many is the party’s forays into the promotion of imperialist culture through the setting up of amusement parks and the floating of the new outfit The Malabar Pleasures Private Limited. Funds for these outfits have been even mobilized from liquor barons and bootleggers. One Chennai based liquor baron bought Rs.25 lakhs of shares in the TV channel and so has the bootlegger Manichan, who is now in jail responsible for the death of 36 for the hooch supplied by him. It is the general secretary of the party, Pinarayi Vijayan, who pushed this Kairali TV Channel five years ago!!

The ‘party of the working class’ will soon add another feather in its cap of business achievements — a water theme park. The amusement park at Parassinikad-avu in Kannur district, being developed by the Chennai-based Real Fun Consultants, will cost Rs 25 crore. The business venture is promoted by Malabar Pleasures Private Limited, a company fully owned by Malabar Tourism Development Co-Operative Ltd, the society formed by the CPM when EK Nayanar was the chief minister.

It was E.Narayanan who first set up the rubber cooperative in 1997 which now has annual sales of over Rs.450 crores. In a plan of massive expansion the coop. is seeking Rs.1,300 crores, mostly from foreign financial institutions. The CPM has also floated the Tellicherry Medical Foundation which has set up a network of hospitals and is now planning a super-specialty hospital. They are also planning a mega-super-market, along the lines of what exists in the West. So successful has been its business empire that it now plans to set up IT Parks in all districts of Kerala.

No doubt with the full possibilities of it coming to power in the coming year it predicts vast expansion of its business empire. Already the bulk of the enormous factional fights in the Kerala CPM is over the spoils of office; now to this is being added the battles for control of these vast funds. For much of the rhetoric at the party Congress CPM bosses are more involved into big business and the high flying alliances are part of the games of the ruling classes.

Said old time CPM member, Berlin Kunjanandan Nair "Pinarayi Vijayan, the present party secretary, is a son of a poor toddy (local liquor) tapper. After reaching the top post, he became an adopted son of the corporate mafias. The party secretary post has been reduced to that of a CEO of a private company".

All this has gone on with the full backing of the central leadership. What then can be expected from such a party? All those intellectuals that consider the CPM as progressive need to think again, unless of course they hope to get in return some gains in their professions and climb the ladder in the academic world.

The Congress document while opposing POTA is totally silent on the new legislation brought in its place. It merely condemns the BJP but is silent on all the repressive measures taken by the present regime. It does not cal for a repeal of any of the existing fascist laws and legislations.

It adopts its standard rhetoric against the Maoists while sending feelers to the revisionist Liberation. The Political Resolution says "The naxalites have a disruptive stance which targets all the bourgeois parties and the Left parties without any distinction while covering up their ideological bankruptcy with revolutionary phraseology. Their activities include suppression of democratic rights of people and extortion and appropriation of funds meant for rural development. Their anarchic-terrorist violence provides the State the excuse to act against all democratic movements and for the police to step up their repression of the people………As for those naxalite groups which have taken to mass political work and abandoned the adventurist armed struggle tactics, such as the CPI(ML) Liberation, the Party is prepared to work with them in united platforms in the fight against communalism, imperialism and on working class issues."

This is self-explanatory. Its approach towards the Maoists is similar to that of any other ruling class party. Its approach to Liberation is also like that of any other ruling class party. Though it is the Maoists that face the most brutal onslaught of the State the CPM goes so far as to say that their activities include suppression of democratic rights of people. Yes, it is true they suppress the democratic rights of the landlords, moneylenders, mafia, as also the bureaucrats, police, forest officials etc. and have stopped their loot. Probably it is this that the CPM sees as the suppression of the democratic rights of people. The CPM can-not tolerate if any representative of the rul-ing classes are in any way touched by the masses. It shows their ruling class character.

On the nationality movements of the North East, like any other party of the ruling classes they raise the bogey of the ISI. They also harp on the threat to so-called national unity. Their document says: The situation is complicated by the fact that the neighbouring country of Bangladesh has become a sanctuary for most of these extremist groups and imperialism is very much active in aiding them. Of particular concern is the role of the ISI of Pakistan which is well-known for its links to the US intelligence agencies. The ULFA leadership is based in Bangladesh and most of the ULFA cadres who fled Bhutan after the army operation are sheltering there. The two major extremist groups of Tripura, the NLFT and the ATTF and the separatist groups in Manipur have their camps across the border. The heightened intervention of foreign agencies poses a serious threat to national unity.

All the standard rhetoric of the ruling class parties is evident here — anti Bangladesh and Pakistan, the hysteria of foreign agencies and the call for national unity. Even it vehemently opposes the separate Telangana issue calling for "a strong Centre and strong States to strengthen national unity".

This time the CPM sought to draw a difference between a Third Alternative and a Third Front. They said that "a Third Alternative would be formed on the basis of a common approach towards economic development. The Alternative is not for elections alone. We want a more stable, viable alternative". The new General Secretary, Karat, further clarified "so when we talk about third alternative now, what we are saying is that these forces must have a common policy framework, must show willingness to take up joint activities such as campaigns and movements to achieve this". Given the nature of the existing parties this type of Alternative is only possible by completely discarding even the mask of socialism. On the question of economic policy all the parliamentary parties are aggressive pushers of LPG, whether it is the regional parties or all-India ones. In other words their intention to form the so-called third front indicates their intention to even throw off their mask as being anti economic reforms.

It is either that or else it is subterfuge to continue the alliance with the Congress indefinitely by putting forward an alterna-tive that is not possible. Recently Jyoti Basu invited TDP chief, Naidu, for a dialo-gue. But, Naidu was one of the most aggres-sive pushers of imperialist dictated policies in the country, not to mention his ruthless butchery of Naxalites and human rights activists. What do they have in common? One leaves that to the reader to consider.

The CPM, like the CPI are not just revisionist parties but parties of the ruling classes. Revisionist is a political categoriza-tion to show that the party is not a proletar-ian party. But all revisionists need not be of the ruling class, some may be petti-bourgeois formations, some could be peasant formations, etc. So, the term ‘revisi-onism’ does not denote its class character. The CPM and the CPI are clearly ruling class parties representing the interests of the comprador big bourgeoisie and feudal elite. They too act as tool of imperialism within the country. That is why the CPM’s hostility towards the Naxalites is not in any way less than that of any other ruling class party. They too have been resorting to mass arrests, torture and killings in West Bengal. They have even started the regime of fake encounters. No doubt Jyoti Basu could have a lot to learn from Naidu. As they say, birds of a feather flock together.

All those duped by the ‘progressive’ credentials of the CPM should see its practice in the states it runs and not get carried away with its rhetoric. No doubt the latest Congress resolutions could help clarify the situation as to the real character of the CPM.

<Top>