July 19, 2025
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met on 18 July 2025 and issued the following communique.
Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Rolls – Protests on 8th August: The Election Commission ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. Now, the EC wants to extend this exercise to the entire country. In the name of revising the electoral rolls, the EC is appropriating the authority to verify the citizenship of voters, which is outside its constitutional remit. Under the baseless pretext of weeding out foreigners from the electoral rolls, they are disenfranchising vast sections of minorities and other select groups. The entire process is fraught with various violations, and even the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution may be denied to many. The NRC exercise, which was widely opposed by the people before the Covid pandemic, is sought to be enforced surreptitiously through the back door. The EC, which until now had acted in favour of the BJP-led government, has now become complicit in implementing the RSS/Sangh Parivar agenda.
This attack on democratic rights, which is sought to be extended across the country, must not be allowed. It is to be noted that even some of the alliance partners of the BJP, like the TDP have voiced their concerns about the SIR.
The CPI(M) calls for protests, to be held throughout the country on 8th August 2025 against this anti-democratic exercise of the EC.
Repeal the Maharashtra Bill on Public Security: The Maharashtra Public Security Bill passed by the BJP government is a major attack on the democratic rights of the people. In the name of fighting extreme Left-wing forces, the bill seeks to portray all those who express dissent as a threat to public safety and national security. The bill deliberately leaves the definition of extreme Left-wing forces and similar organisations vague, creating ample scope for targeting any opposition. There is every danger that the stringent provisions in the bill will be used to curb dissent and silence political opposition.
The CPI(M) appeals to all the political parties and democratic forces to protest the authoritarian bill and demands its immediate repeal.
Jammu and Kashmir: The Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, in a recent interview to the media, admitted that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam was a result of a security failure. As a Union Territory, J&K is directly administered by the Centre, and even the elected Chief Minister is barred from participating in discussions and decisions related to security, law, and order. The admission of a security lapse is, in effect, an admission of the failure of the Union Home Minister, who is directly responsible for security. The government should be held accountable for such a serious lapse, and action should be taken against the individuals concerned.
The Lt Governor is undermining the functioning of the elected state government. Acting at the behest of the central government, he canceled the holiday commemorating the death of 22 martyrs who fought against the feudal Maharaja and for the liberation of J&K from his rule. Instead, the birthday of the Maharaja, who killed peasants and tried to suppress the liberation struggle, has been declared a holiday. Leaders of various political parties, including the Chief Minister, were not allowed to pay homage to the martyrs. This is a serious attack on the democratic rights and the federal structure.
The CPI(M) demands that immediate steps should be taken for the restoration of statehood to J&K and to respect the people’s mandate that elected the state government.
Stop the Deportation of Bengalis: Reports are emerging from many states about targeted attacks on Bengali-speaking people. In many BJP-ruled states, like Delhi, Odisha, Assam, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Bengalis are being identified and branded as Bangladeshis without any proper verification of their documents and following the due process. Such individuals are being detained by the police and subjected to inhuman abuse and torture. There are also instances of people (including Indian citizens) being forcefully pushed back to Bangladesh, both through land and even via the sea route.
The CPI(M) opposes these targeted attacks on Bengalis as they are against the right to freedom of movement granted to all citizens by the Indian Constitution. The Party demands the government to cease these illegal detentions and protect peoples’ rights.
Evictions in Assam: The Assam state government is evicting a large number of people from their rightful lands. The Chief Minister is boasting about these evictions and attempting to use them to further communal polarisation in society. Recent reports about the presence of rich mineral resources beneath these lands, coupled with the eagerness to allow private corporations to exploit them, provide another reason behind these evictions.
The BJP and RSS are trying to exploit ethnic differences across various North Eastern states to create divisions and establish their dominance. These moves will harm the unity and integrity of our country, particularly in a region that shares a long international border.
Kerala Governor’s Actions: The Governor of Kerala is misusing his constitutional office to promote the RSS and its Hindutva ideology. At public functions organised by the Raj Bhavan, he is deliberately displaying the map of Akhand Bharat and images of Bharat Mata, symbols that are not recognised by the Constitution. He openly defies the advice of the elected LDF government and refuses to conduct official events in accordance with constitutional norms. Through his actions, he is actively encouraging the RSS and its affiliated organisations to undermine the secular values upheld by the LDF government.
The CPI(M) lauds the various demonstrations organised by different sections of the society, particularly by the students, against these actions of the governor.
The BJP-led central government is refusing to permit the Kerala government to withdraw its petitions from the Supreme Court following its judgment on the powers of governors. The petitions are now infructuous as the Supreme Court ruling is not limited to Tamilnadu alone, but applicable for all states. The intention of the Governor and the central government is to prolong the litigation and ensure that universities are denied regular vice-chancellors, who should be appointed through due process. The Kerala High Court has also criticised the governor for his failure to appoint regular VCs. A conscious attempt is being made to discredit and destroy Kerala’s higher education system.
These attempts to obstruct the smooth functioning of the LDF government in Kerala will not be tolerated. The CPI(M), along with its allies will continue to work for the benefit of the people of Kerala and expose the machinations of the BJP.
Crucial Bills coming in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament: Reports indicate that the government intends to push through the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, along with bills to amend the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. The amendment to the Mines and Minerals Act aims to allow the exploitation of the country’s crucial mineral resources by private and foreign players. Similarly, the amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act are designed to remove all hurdles for the entry of US and other foreign corporations into the critical nuclear sector.
The CPI(M) will try to mobilise other opposition parties in the parliament to vote against these bills. The Party will also campaign among the people and mobilise them against such anti-people legislations that are against the interests of our country.
Trade Deals: The PB expressed its concern about the news appearing on the various trade deals that the government intends to sign with countries like the US and also the EU. The government should consult various stakeholders before going on an FTA signing spree. The central government has already succumbed to US pressure and is opening various sectors of our economy to exploitation. The government’s haste to conclude a trade deal is leading to the surrender of our country’s interests in vital areas like dairy, agriculture, defence, pharmaceuticals, finance, etc. The CPI(M) opposes all trade deals that compromise our sovereignty and sacrifice the interests of our country.
Congratulates the Working Class for the Successful July 9th General Strike: The General Strike called by the ten central trade unions and various all-India federations was a resounding success. Farmers and agricultural workers, led by their respective organisations, have also joined these protests in large numbers. The CPI(M) congratulates the workers and other toiling sections for the successful general strike and reiterates its solidarity with them in all their upcoming struggles.
CC Meeting: The next meeting of the Central Committee will be held on 13-15 September 2025 in New Delhi. The meeting will discuss the election preparations of the Party in the upcoming elections to Bihar and also other states, apart from other agenda.