Communique of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India

The 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of Communist Ghadar Party was convened during 1-2 June, 2019. The Plenum analysed the results of the 17th Lok Sabha elections and summed up the work of the Party in recent months, including our participation in the elections.

The Plenum took note of the enormous amount of money spent on these elections, which are said to be the most expensive election ever held in any country, with the lion’s share being spent on the BJP campaign. The use of modern technology —TV as well as social media — to spread lies among the people has reached an unprecedented scale. The entire election campaign was marked by political debate being reduced to the lowest level. Hate speeches, rabid war mongering against Pakistan, openly communal and divisive propaganda, accusations and counter-accusations of corruption dominated the political discourse. The unparalleled state terror in Kashmir, and the bombing of Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pulwama were used to project Narendra Modi as the strongman capable of crushing the enemies of India.

The 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of Communist Ghadar Party was convened during 1-2 June, 2019. The Plenum analysed the results of the 17th Lok Sabha elections and summed up the work of the Party in recent months, including our participation in the elections.

The Plenum took note of the enormous amount of money spent on these elections, which are said to be the most expensive election ever held in any country, with the lion’s share being spent on the BJP campaign. The use of modern technology —TV as well as social media — to spread lies among the people has reached an unprecedented scale. The entire election campaign was marked by political debate being reduced to the lowest level. Hate speeches, rabid war mongering against Pakistan, openly communal and divisive propaganda, accusations and counter-accusations of corruption dominated the political discourse. The unparalleled state terror in Kashmir, and the bombing of Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pulwama were used to project Narendra Modi as the strongman capable of crushing the enemies of India.

The Plenum took note, in particular, of the major role played by Anglo-American agencies in these elections. The multinational company called Facebook, which owns Whatsapp, has worked closely with the Modi campaign, supplying data and access required to reach unprecedented numbers of people. Crores of people have been sent messages on their mobile phones on a daily basis. Tailor-made messages have been targeted at specific groups based on their religion, caste, past record of whatsapp messages, history of internet use, etc.

The Plenum observed that since the destruction of the Soviet Union, far reaching changes have taken place in the world and in India.

The implementation of the program of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation has led to the rise of Indian monopoly houses as major exporters of capital. They have developed economic interests in all continents of the world and are actively pursuing their imperialist ambitions. This has led to the intensification of contradictions, both within the Indian bourgeoisie and between the Indian bourgeoisie and their rivals abroad.

Even though India became independent in 1947, it remained tied to the imperialist system. The Indian bourgeoisie retained close relations with the Anglo American imperialists, who exercised great influence over the Indian state. However, during the Cold War period, the Indian bourgeoisie successfully manoeuvred between the two superpowers, and played one against the other to get the best deal for itself. In the present post-Cold War period, the Indian rulers have found it much more difficult to resist US imperialist pressure. US interference in India, and its influence over the Indian state has been steadily increasing.

In its drive towards a unipolar world under its dictate, the US currently views China and Russia as together being the main potential roadblocks. The US wants India to act as a trusted ally in the Indo Pacific region, to contain China, weaken Russia, and isolate Iran. It is relying on a BJP-majority government headed by Modi, re-elected for a second term, to steer India along a course that suits American hegemonic aims.

Based on the above analysis, the Plenum concluded that there is unmistakably the hand of Washington in organising a landslide victory for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The key role played by Anglo-American imperialists and their agencies has ensured that the internal contradictions of the Indian bourgeoisie are settled, for the time being, in a way that suits American interests.

The Plenum unequivocally concluded that It is not the people who have brought about the BJP victory. The most influential Indian monopoly capitalists have collaborated with the Anglo-American imperialists to bring about this result.

The Plenum reiterated the truth that elections in the existing system is a tool in the hands of monopoly capitalists, Indian and foreign. It is a weapon to deceive the people and manufacture a so-called mandate for one or another of the trusted parties of the monopoly capitalists. Elections also serve as a tool to sort out inter-capitalist contradictions.

India is being dragged on an extremely dangerous course, to fulfil the aims of self-serving monopoly capitalists at the expense of the vast majority of people. Closer alignment with US imperialism is a course that will increase the danger of India getting embroiled in unjust imperialist wars.  It will also increase the danger, of the Indian Union getting broken up.

The ruling class of our country cares more about its own global ambitions than about the wellbeing of our people, the independence of our country or the cause of peace in the region. It cannot be trusted to defend India’s sovereignty or to work for peace in Asia. The situation demands united opposition by the broadest sections of the people to the dangerous course along which our country is being dragged.

The Plenum made a positive assessment of our Party’s work during the recent elections. At a time when people were being bombarded with the propaganda that the only choice is between BJP and an opposition alliance headed by the Congress Party, our Party launched a militant campaign in favour of the revolutionary alternative. We presented and popularised the program for the Navnirman of India. We set an example of communist participation in elections under capitalist rule.

The Plenum applauded the excellent work of all organisations of the Party in the recent months since the previous CC Plenum. It emphasized the need to strengthen the democratic centralist functioning of all party organisations, so as to build on the successes we have achieved.

The Plenum emphasized the need to step up efforts to expose the dangers involved in India becoming a trusted ally of American imperialism, the most aggressive and warmongering power on earth. We must continue to expose the existing system of parliamentary democracy, oppose the liberalisation and privatisation program, and build political unity against state terrorism and state organised communal violence, in defence of human rights and democratic rights.             

In conclusion, the Plenum reiterated that our intervention in all the day-to-day struggles of the people must be carried out with the aim of preparing workers and peasants to take political power in their hands and carry out the Navnirman of India. Navnirman means to reconstitute the political system to vest sovereignty in the people, reorient the economy to fulfil human needs instead of capitalist greed, and redefine foreign policy to strengthen anti-imperialist unity among our neighbours.

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  1. I read the MEL issue 12…

    I read the MEL issue 12 which had published the Communique of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India. The report has explained the reasons behind the record-breaking victory of the BJP in the recent elections.

    I work in some of the colonies of the workers in South Delhi. Residents of these colonies were shocked at the election results in the context of a lot of anger against the BJP amongst the people. Even the activists and others associated with the BJP were quite shocked. How then this result? What are those forces that can bring such a government to power through elections, which is against the will of the people? What are their motives, which are contrary to people’s aspirations? We need to understand their game.

    The prevailing system of representative democracy is bourgeois democracy. Notwithstanding the fact that workers and peasants cast their votes, this system delivers a result in the interests of the capitalists. The bourgeoisie gives money to bring the party of its choice to power. The media is used to portray such a party as the choice of the people. Slogans that people want to hear are used in the propaganda. It is not just the Indian capitalists who intervened in these elections, but the hand of US imperialism was evident, through the large US companies of Google, Whatsapp, Facebook. These companies used modern technology to play a big role in bringing BJP to power. The US acted in its own interest when it helped BJP to come to power. US imperialism wants that Indian government should ally with its strategy of eliminating Iran, blocking China and weakening Russia.

    Workers and peasants must reject this system because this system denies them their rights. This system denies the right to jobs to the youth of our country. It denies the universal right to our children to equal access to modern quality education. This system is not capable of putting an end to the poverty and hunger in our society. It is not capable of putting an end to the violence against our people on the basis of religion, caste and gender.

    I was very happy that our Party put forward the programme of the working class – the Renewal of India – in these elections. Our Party placed the alternative agenda of working class rule in place of bourgeois rule, before the people. Renewal means that people are sovereign, they can be the decision makers.

    I salute the courage of the Party for its participation in the elections.

    Sadhana, New Delhi

  2. Apropos plenum of the…

    Apropos plenum of the central committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India with utmost attention and interest. The analysis of the general election concluded recently and the role of our party in the election based on the outlook of the working class is an excellent example of class analysis and participation of communist in election under capitalists system. The role of the party during the election is also an outstanding example of communist work and tactics. The capitalist in India and the world over are using every means at the disposal – lies, hatred, terror and physical violence to hide their real intention and programme and divert the attention of the people from their problems.

    Challenging the programme and rule of the capitalists class the Communist Ghadar Party of India has boldly come out with the programme of the working class for the renewal of India – Navnirman of India. This programme is in sharp contrast to the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national programme of privatization, liberalization and globalization of the bourgeoisie to which all which all the bourgeoisie parties are committed to and present in different forms. The most important aspect of this programme of Navnirman is that it has not been kept limited to discussion in conferences and conventions, but has been put up for discussion, elaboration and development in the electoral arena, with the working class, so that the entire working class of the country and particularly that of the capital of the country Delhi, become aware of this programme an takes it up for agitation and implementation. This programme of Navnirman reflects the demands and aspirations of all those who are oppressed under the present system, and are yearing for liberation from oppression and exploitation.

    I had the opportunity to actively participate in this campaign in Delhi, and I can say with great confidence that the working class has not only accepted this programme for Navnirman of India but has come out to propagate it to the entire working class and people. The young workers in particular took upon themselves to take this programme to working class and people in very systematic and planned way, moving through the lanes and by-lanes of working class colonies, knocking at every door and discussing the programme with workers, youth, and women.

    The most important aspects is that the campaign has not stopped after elections. As we all know, as soon as the election are over the members and activists of the bourgeoisie parties go back to their rabbit holes, only to come back before next elections, to create divisions and diversions amongst the working people. In contrast to this the young comrades of the Communist Ghadar Party are continuing the campaign for Navnirman of India, with full enthusiasm. They are continuing the work of reaching out to the people, explaining the outcome of the election, the role of the big capitalists and US imperialists in bringing the present government back to power, and the need for Navnirman of India, all with the aim of building the political unity of the people and contributing to communist unity.

    The communique of the central committee will strengthen this work.

    Harishchandra, Noida

  3. From S. Rajan…

    From S. Rajan

    The Communique of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party of India presents a very clear and timely analysis of the recent general elections in the context of larger developments in India and the world.

    At a time when huge praise is being showered from all sides on the Indian elections as the greatest exercise of democracy in the world, and when it is being made out that it is the Indian people who brought about the return of the Modi government to power with a huge majority, the analysis sharply cuts through all these lies and delusions. It reminds us that, in a class-divided society like ours in which the big bourgeoisie holds the reins of power, elections can never represent the ‘mandate of the people’. The big bourgeoisie uses all the means at its disposal to ensure that its most trusted representatives are installed in government through the electoral process. This includes colossal amounts of money, control of the biggest media houses, and the use of various organs of government like the police and armed forces, the courts, the Election Commission, the bureaucracy, and so on, to ensure the desired verdict. At the present time, it is the BJP led by Modi that the ruling bourgeoisie counts on to work for their interests and take forward the anti-people program of liberalization and globalization.

    The Communique also draws attention to the hand of Anglo-American imperialism in particular in influencing the Indian elections to ensure that a government is formed here that is favourable to its interests. The politicians, officials, media, etc in India are tied by thousands of threads to foreign imperialists, and serve as a vehicle of foreign intervention in every aspect of life in this country, including the elections. At the present time, the growing pressure being put by US imperialism on India to fall in line with its global strategy for domination poses a great danger to the security of the people of India and the whole world.

    At the same time, the Plenum correctly pointed out that communists participate in elections with a view to broadening the scope of their work to mobilise the people around the program for the Navnirman of India. The value of this work must be judged by the thousands of people with whom the Party’s line and program was discussed, and the energy and clarity with which this line and program was taken to the people by the comrades of the Party.

    As the Communique pointed out, the Indian and foreign imperialist bourgeoisie are hell-bent on pursuing their own agendas at the expense of the Indian people. It is up to the communists to step up the work to organize the Indian working class and people to unitedly confront the dangers facing them and to take the reins of political power in their own hands.

  4. From Ramesh Vishwakarma,…

    From Ramesh Vishwakarma, Varanasi

    The 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the CGPI has very correctly analysed the results of the last Lok Sabha elections. The elections in the prevailing capitalist system are a tool in the hands of the ruling class, the Indian monopoly capitalists, to fool the people. It is a tool to put the party of their choice in power while creating an impression that people choose the party through their votes. After the election the winning party claims that they have received the mandate of people whereas it’s the ruling class which decided which party should be brought into power to carry out their agenda for the next five years.

    It is for this reason that it makes no difference to people which party comes into power, BJP or Congress or some coalition of parties. All the parties in power follow the same policies; only their methods of implementation change. Some are overtly divisive and communal while others do it covertly. All of them pretend to be pro-people in their own way while implementing pro-rich policies.

    In a class divided society, it cannot be anything other than the rule of one class over another. The economically dominant class also becomes politically dominant. Most political parties represent the interests of one group of capitalists or another in our country. The elections decide which group of monopoly capitalists will have an upper hand for the next five years through their representative party.

    The communique has correctly pointed out that elections are a mechanism to sort out fights between different monopoly groups “peacefully”. Democracy in the present system is only for the capitalist class; workers and peasants have no rights other than casting their vote once in five years.  

    The whole election system is rigged in favour of parties representing the interests of the ruling class. Candidates fighting for the interests of workers and peasants have no chance of getting elected. The results of the last Lok Sabha elections once again showed that thousands of candidates across the country who had tirelessly worked for the rights and welfare of toiling people and who wanted to take the voice of workers and peasants to Lok Sabha had no chance of getting elected.

    Another important aspect brought out by the Communique of the Central committee of the CGPI is the role of the foreign monopolies and imperialist powers, particularly of USA, in the last Lok Sabha elections. US imperialism has been making all out efforts to pull India into its camp to serve its geo-political goals. It wanted a party in power which is more favourable to US. US greatly influenced the Lok Sabha elections with the help of US monopolies. The growing influence of the US and its friendship with India is indeed very dangerous for people of our country, as pointed out by the Communique.

     The CGPI must be congratulated for demonstrating how the election arena in the present system should be used to expose the present system, to expose the myths deliberately created to fool people and to organize people to build a new political and economic system, i.e., for the Navnirmaan of India.

  5. From: Nand Kumar Gayakwad,…

    From: Nand Kumar Gayakwad, Pune,

    I read The Communique of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party, published in the June 16-31 issue of MEL with great interest. One can’t but be impressed with the depth of analysis of the current geo-political situation in the world and the clarity of thought of our comrades in the party, who summed up the work of our party during the elections and the outcome of these elections and what they mean for all of us.

    I have read so many commentaries on the outcome of the recent elections, available in the media (both print and electronic) and all of them keep on the repeating the same lie over and over again that it is the people who elect those who rule India.

    First, it is not the party or the coalition of “politicians’ who rule India. As our party has once again reiterated in the communique, in a class divided society, it is the class which rules and today the monopoly capitalists hold the state power. They select whom they would like to entrust the task of implementing their agenda during the next five years. The so called “democratic elections” are orchestrated to provide the legitimacy to the rule of the monopoly capitalists in the India. The party which the monopoly capitalists of India select to manage the affairs of the state on their behalf, wins the elections. The narrative during the elections is also so designed and the issues which are discussed and debated ad infinitum are so selected, that the people are led to voting for the party which the ruling class has selected. This electoral process has been perfected by the monopoly capitalists over the years so that despite people having won the right to vote (universal franchise), in order to select “the peoples’ representatives”, there is no threat whatsoever to the rule of the monopoly capitalists. The system has been perfected to a degree, that it is almost impossible for peoples’ representatives to win in the elections.

    It is very clear what the agenda of the Indian monopoly capitalists is – aggressive privatization of various sectors of the economy through which the monopoly capitalists can acquire the public assets and increase their profits further, guaranteeing ease of acquiring land which is an asset in short supply today, the labour reforms so that they can maximize their share of the surplus being produced and reduce the share of toilers (workers and peasants) in the wealth which the hard working people have created and also, lining up the people, through vicious propaganda and spreading hate and lies, behind their imperialist agenda which is to align with US imperialists at this juncture.

    The role of US imperialism is also very well brought out in the communique. The introduction of digital media and its use has made the job of spreading lies even easier for the monopoly capitalists. The whole history of last century shows that Anglo-American imperialists have destroyed countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya recently), engineered regime changes in many parts of the world through various nefarious means. It remains the only rogue state in the world which has killed and maimed millions of people using atomic bomb. It violates all international norms of civilized behaviour amongst nations and peoples. It does not respect sovereignty of nations and international treaties and agreements. It has created and financed groups to create havoc in the world. Anglo-American imperialists are currently working on mobilizing the Indian monopoly capitalists in support of their plans to “contain China, weaken Russia and isolate Iran”.

    It is very clear that the Indian ruling class is taking the country on a very dangerous path, a threat to the life and liberty to peoples not only in this subcontinent but all over the world. I agree with the conclusions of the plenum that all of us must work with the aim of preparing our fellow workers and peasants to seize political power in their own hands and build a new India. Our program is the Navnirman of India which means reorientation of the economy to fulfil the needs of our people and an anti-imperialist foreign policy which will strengthen our unity against imperialist wars.

  6. From: Ram Kumar, Varanasi…

    From: Ram Kumar, Varanasi

    The Communique of the Plenum of the Central Committee of Communist Ghadar Party, held on 1-2 June, gives us a clear picture of the election and its result. It provides a clear direction for action, based on sound analysis.

    “It is not the people who have brought about the BJP victory. The most influential Indian monopoly capitalists have collaborated with the Anglo-American imperialists to bring about this result.” This conclusion hits the mark.

    Our country is being dragged on an extremely dangerous course. As pointed out in the Communique, the capitalist class ruling our country cannot be trusted to defend India’s sovereignty or to work for peace in this region. The situation demands united opposition by the broadest sections of the people to the dangerous course along which our country is being dragged. Such united opposition, on the basis of principles, can only be built under sound communist leadership. It is not going to come about under the leadership of the Congress Party or any other party of the capitalist class.

    The propaganda in the news media and the social media is putting pressure on everyone to choose between one or another party and leader of the capitalist class. The ruling class wants everyone to take sides in the rivalry between BJP and Congress Party. As clarified by the Communique, the only way to defeat this is for all of us communists to boldly present the revolutionary alternative and fight for workers’ and peasants’ rule. We must fight for the Navnirman of India.

    The campaign of Birju Nayak, member of Communist Ghadar Party who contested these elections in South Delhi, has shown how communists can use the electoral arena to advance the class struggle. I sincerely wish that the entire communist movement draws the appropriate lessons from the example set by Communist Ghadar Party. If all communists were to unite and launch one single campaign for the revolutionary alternative, the political situation can be changed. The dangers posed by the present course can be averted. The door can be opened for actually ensuring prosperity and protection for all.

  7. From: Chitra, New Delhi…

    From: Chitra, New Delhi

    The Communique of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Ghadar Party, published in the June 16-31 issue of MEL, presents a very clear analysis of the present national and global situation, within which context we have to understand the results of the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections.

    In particular, I would like to draw attention to the major role played by Anglo-American agencies in these elections, which the Plenum takes note of.

    It is a well-known fact that that since the last 5 years, Whatsapp which was bought over by Facebook in 2012, has worked closely with the BJP. Crores of people were targeted on their mobile phones, with all kinds of hate propaganda and disinformation, in order to secure the overwhelming majority for Modi in these elections. Personal data of crores of people were accessed without their knowledge or consent, to bombard them with specific messages based on their religion, caste, political affiliation, past Whatsapp and internet practices, etc.

    As the Communique points out, the US is aggressively pushing to establish a unipolar world under its dictate. The recent visit of US Secretary of State Pompeo to New Delhi once again confirms that the US wants to strengthen its strategic-military partnership with India. It wants India as its trusted ally in the Indo-Pacific region, in order to counter China and Russia and isolate Iran. It is depending on the BJP led Modi government, with its absolute majority, to shape a course for India which will suit US interests.

    As the Plenum concluded, there is unmistakably the hand of Washington in organising the landslide victory for the BJP. It is not a mandate given by the people of our country. On the contrary, the people of our country must be aware of the grave dangers that this course, of close alliance with US imperialism, poses for our sovereignty and for peace and security in the region.

  8. From: N. Kandasamy, Madurai…

    From: N. Kandasamy, Madurai

    The 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of Communist Ghadar Party has analysed the recent Lok Sabha elections very comprehensively.

    An important observation of the Plenum was that an enormous amount of money was spent on these elections making it the most expensive election ever held in any country, with the lion’s share being spent on the BJP campaign.

    A report published in the press says that the total expenditure amounted to Rs 60,000 crore, out of which the BJP spent 45% and the Congress spent about 20%. Together these two parties of the bourgeoisie had the lion’s share of total expenditures.

    It is estimated that Rs 700 was spent per voter. This came up to nearly Rs 100 crore in each parliamentary constituency. Around Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore was distributed directly to voters, while Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 25,000 crore was spent on publicity. Logistics accounted for about Rs 5,000 crore.

    All this money could not have come from the pockets of candidates. The election campaigns of these bourgeois parties were financed by the biggest Indian and foreign monopolies and agencies. The financing was done through electoral bonds, direct donations, media time, logistics support, and underwriting of expenses incurred in other activities.

    It is not the people’s mandate that put BJP in power. It is money and propaganda power of the biggest monopolies that enabled BJP to form the government for the second term.

    This reiterates the immediate necessity for workers and peasants to take political power in their hands and carry out the Navnirman of India by reconstituting the political system to vest sovereignty in the people, among other tasks.

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