Mumbai Convention Against Imperialist Globalization, Communalization and Gujarat Genocide, War Jingoism and Subservience to Imperialism, particularly US Imperialism

All India Convention against Imperialist Globalization, Communalization and War Jingoism was held successfully at Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bhavan at Dadar in Mumbai on July 20, 2002.

Convention was prepared well by an organizing committee consisting of the representatives of CPI(ML)-New Democracy, CPI(ML)-Red Flag and CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative.

Decision to hold this Convention was taken by six organizations namely CPI(M-L)-New Democracy, C.P.I.(M-L)-Red Flag, C.P.I.(M-L)-Unity Initiative, CPI(M-L)-Liberation, M.C.P.I., C.O.I.(M-L). COI(ML) later dissociated from the Convention. MCPI too could not attend the Convention while Liberation sent a speaker to address the Convention.

Members of three organizations, namely CPI(ML)-New Democracy, CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative and CPI(ML)-Red Flag, arrived from Maharashtra’s rural areas, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Karnataka, Orissa, Jharkhand, M.P. and Chhattisgarh. The Hall was full, with nearly 1,000 people participating in the Convention.

Pravin Nadkar of C.P.I.(M-L)-New Democracy welcomed the delegates on behalf of the organizing committee and explained the purpose of holding the convention. Attempts by the saffron brigade to whip up communal frenzy for electoral gains were described in his speech. He narrated in his speech an incident of Jamner region in the border of Gujarat state, where the communalists tried to fan up communal trouble by indulging in acts involving thefts of the ‘silver eye’ of Hanuman’s statue. The conspiracy was thwarted with the arrest of the thief- one Ratnakar Joshi for whose release these communal forces organized a 'Morcha'!

Sanjay Singhvi of CPI(ML)-Red Flag read out the resolution before the delegates.

Leaders of the participating organizations, besides Justice Dawood and Asghar Ali Engineer, addressed the Convention. These well known democratic personages emphasized the need for struggle against communal conspiracies against the unity of the people.

Addressing the Convention on behalf of CPI(ML)-New Democracy Sardara Singh Mahal dealt with the link between globalization and intensifying communalization and appealed to intensify struggle against globalization. He stressed that the religious cleansing pursued in Gujarat and growing fascist danger from Sangh Parivar should be seen in the context of globalization. He also stressed that the message of the Resolution should be put in to practice.

Addressing the Convention K. N. Ramchandran  of CPI(ML)-Red Flag  also dealt with the rising trend of communal fascicization linked with the process of globalization.

Arvind Sinha of CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative spoke about the important role of the communist revolutionaries against the situation of communalization of politics in the context of globalization.

Others who addressed the Convention included Sapan Mukherjee of CPI(ML)-Liberation, Ashok Manohar of Lal Nishan (Leninvadi), Justice (Retd.) Dawood and Dr. Ashgar Ali Engineer.

Resolutions were then read out demanding the implementation of Sri Krishna Commission Report, condemning the dissolution of Gujarat assembly in order to utilise the ‘fruits’ of communal cleansing by Sangh Parivar, in support of the workers and peasants struggles, condemning the censor board for preventing the release of Anand Patwardhan’s "War and Peace" and condemning the police repression in West Bengal.

P.K. Murthy of CPI(ML)-Unity Initiative thanked various individuals and organizations that had cooperated to make this event a success. Arunodaya and other cultural groups had enlivened the proceedings with cultural performances. International was sung at the end.

Joint Statement Issued Before Convention

Dear Comrades and Friends,

The BJP-led NDA Government has taken our country to unprecedented crisis. The intensification of globalization policies through  IMF-World Bank-WTO dictates has ruined the economy, devastating people’s life. The Sangh Parivar’s communal drive has led to creation of hatred and divisions among the people, threatening the very unity among them. It has led to carnages and ethnic cleansing in Gujarat. When Sangh Parivar was getting exposed increasingly, Vajpayee government diverted attention of the people utilising the attack in Jammu on May 14 on innocent people by whipping up war jingoism and leading the subcontinent to the brink of a nuclear holocaust.

Vajpayee government’s opposition to settling of Kashmir question according to the wishes of the people of J&K and its policy of war jingoism are serving the hegemonic strategy of US imperialism and its allies who are intervening in the subcontinent on a much larger scale. Though the war threat has receded, apparently under imperialist manoeuvres, they continue to flood the subcontinent with arms and ruin the economy of both India and Pakistan further. The danger of US-UK military presence in Kashmir has increased. With the military bases of US and allies already in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the war moves on the border have provided opportunity for the aggravation of imperialist intervention in the region as part of the global policing by US. The economic and political decisions taking is becoming more and more subservient to imperialism particularly to US imperialism. Through POTA, proposed reforms in labour laws and other draconian measures, central and state governments are trying to snatch away whatever democratic rights of the people in general, and of workers and peasants in particular, remain. This is an open and flagrant betrayal of people’s interests by Vajpayee government.

The people are already coming out against globalization, communal frenzy and genocide in Gujarat, war jingoism and subservience to imperialism through protest demonstrations, strikes etc. all over the country. Congress and other major parliamentary parties in opposition, including those who are engaged in phrase mongering against globalization but implementing the very same policies wherever they are in power, have fallen prey to the war jingoist frenzy whipped up by Sangh Parivar.

It is in this context the Six Organizations are taking initiative for this All India Convention to mobilize the masses against the growing threats to their day to day life and against the grave challenges faced by the country.

We appeal to all sections of the people, democrats, patriots and all struggling forces to join this All India Convention to express their resolve to oppose globalization and the fascist oriented drive by the saffron forces, and to build a massive broad based movement to fight imperialist offensive against our country and to safeguard the democratic rights and the unity of the people.