New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee Friday adopted a draft resolution to oppose the Congress for its ‘pro-US foreign policy’, in a snub to Marxist leaders like West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who have voiced discontent over the party breaking off with UPA-I.
The draft resolution, which will be placed before the extended central committee meeting in Vijayawada Aug 7 to 10, fully endorsed the line of party general secretary Prakash Karat, who led the Left parties to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2008 over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
‘The party should oppose the Congress, the prime mover of the neo-liberal policies of the UPA government, which represents the interests of the big bourgeoisie and favours a pro-US foreign policy,’ said the resolution.
Bhattacharjee and his group of party leaders in West Bengal have disputed with Karat since the politburo decided to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh government.
The chief minister strongly believes that Karat’s decision to sever ties with the Congress led to the Left’s rout in the general elections. Bhattacharjee did not attend the crucial three-day central committee meeting.
The draft political resolution said the UPA government is working to strengthen the strategic alliance with the US at all levels including military collaboration.
‘This alliance influences domestic policies and is the main detriment to an independent foreign policy. The party has to step up the opposition to the Indo-US strategic alliance and its various manifestations,’ it said.
‘It should rally all the patriotic, democratic sections against this tie-up with the US and mobilize people for the pursuit of an independent foreign policy and against imperialist intervention around the world,’ the draft resolution stated.
However, the CPI-M decided ‘to rally the people and the democratic forces’ to defend the CPI-M and the Left in West Bengal to help fight back the violent attacks (by the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists) and overcome the adverse situation.
The resolution also reiterated the call to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for practicing communal politics.
‘The CPI-M will seek the cooperation of those non-Congress secular parties who are willing to come together to take up peoples issues, defend secularism and oppose erosion of national sovereignty both within parliament and outside.
‘Wherever needed, there may be electoral understanding with such parties,’ it said.
‘The party will work to strengthen Left unity and consolidate the forces of the Left while waging a determined struggle against the disruptive activities of the Maoists,’ it added.
