https://picasaweb.google.com/108557843850845403192/July172013
Report
National Convention of Socialist Party
(17-18 May 2013 at Trivandrum, Kerala)
The biennial national convention of the Socialist Party was held at
Trivandrum, Kerala, on 17-18 May 2013. 500 delegates from 20 states
participated in the convention. Bhai Vaidya, national president, hoisted the party
flag at Mrinal Gore Nagar, the venue for the convention, 17 May morning, followed
by the National Anthem.
Comrade S. Rajshekhakhran Nayar, chairman, reception committee, welcomed
the delegates, special guests and press persons. Justice Rajindar Sachar inaugurated
the convention and Bhai Vaidya presided over the inaugural session. In his
inaugural speech Justice Sachar congratulated the party cadres for holding the
convention in Kerala where the first Socialist Party government was formed in
1954 with Thanu Pillai as its chief minister. He reminded the audience about
the incident of police firing on peaceful protesters in which 8 people were
killed. Dr. Lohia had asked for the resignation of his own party’s government
saying that police firing on peaceful protesters would not be allowed in
democratic and free India. There was a split in the party on that issue but
Lohia did not change his stand. Justice Sachar, drawing the contrast, cautioned
the gathering that the present day rulers are bent upon converting the country into
a police state. He further stated that the UPA government is pursuing neo-liberal
policies, crushing the protests of vulnerable sections. The communal forces are
becoming stronger. In such a grave situation Socialist Party should emerge as
an alternative to meet this serious challenge at the national level. We should
come out to fight these anti-constitutional and anti-democratic policies of the
ruling establishment.
He asked the cadres to establish a connect with the downtrodden masses in
order to seek their positive response and expressed faith in the present
leadership of the party saying that they are competent enough to take and fulfill
the responsibility. Justice Sachar expressed hope that some representatives of
the party would be able to reach the Parliament in the next general elections. He
emphasized that it is a must in order to undo the damage done to the
Constitution and the parliamentary system by neo-liberal forces.
Pannalal Surana, chairman, parliamentary board, announced that the party
will field candidates in all states in the coming general elections. However,
he stressed upon the need to work collectively and consistently to strengthen
the party organization. He emphasized that study camps should be held on
regular basis for the ideological training of the cadres.
Veteran socialist leader and former MP P. Vishwambharan, who attended
the inaugural session as a special guest reminded the audience that the last national
convention of the Socialist Party was held in Calicut 37 years ago. He happened
to be the president of the Kerala Socialist Party during those days. He stated
that it was an occasion of great happiness for him that the national convention
of the Socialist Party was taking place again in Kerala on such a large scale to
which he is a witness. He declared that he was with the Socialist Party (India);
although there are several outfits and leaders who claim to be socialists, but
they are not in the true sense and spirit. SPI is the only party which is committed
to take the socialist legacy ahead. Based on a sound socialist foundation and
completely opposed to neo-liberalism, Socialist Party can build India of the dreams
of JP and Lohia.
Former MLA, M.K. Premnath, Kerala Janata Dal (Secular) vice president Prof.
Ramchandra Kurup, and senior leader of Samata Kranti Dal, Prashant Mishra,
while addressing the inaugural session, expressed their best wishes for a
strong Socialist Party. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B. Vivekanandan, said
that the present regime is promoting inequality in a systematic manner. This should
be checked and replaced by a socialistic order. Only the Socialist Party can do
this. N.K. Gangadharan advocated unity among socialists who are opposed to
corporate capitalism.
Messages
were received from several intellectuals, writers, artists, advocates,
journalists and grass root activists for the success of the convention. These include
Justice Krishna Aiyar, Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Prof. Kamal Nayan Kabra, PUCL
president Prof. Prabhakar Sinha, PUCL vice president Ravi Kiran Jain, Gandhi
Peace Foundation Secreatary Surendra Kumar, theatre director Ramgopal Bajaj,
‘Janata’ weekly editor GG Parikh, socialist comrades Dr. Sunilam, Rakesh Kumar
and Sanjiv Sane, UK’s Green Party leader Janet Alty, Socialist Party (Lohia)
general secretary Sandeep Marodia, HMS leader comrade Harbhajan Singh Sidhu.
Dr. Prem Singh read the message sent by Justice Aiyar.
In his presidential remarks Bhai Vaidya said that equality (samata) is
the foundation of socialism. But equality has become casualty during this
neo-liberal era. We have to fight it collectively and decisively. Capitalism
and Communism both have failed in the first decade of the 21st
century. That is why the Socialist Party has been revived in Hyderabad two
years ago. This party is the need of the hour. From 1995 onwards, around 3 lakhs
farmers have committed suicide. Who is responsible for their death? It has become a crime to ask such simple questions.
The ruling and opposition parties both are serving capitalism under the dictate
of WB, IMF, WTO and corporate houses. There are 60 percent farmers in India.
How can the western model of capitalist development be successful in India? Why
do the mainstream political parties not confront such basic questions? Marxist
parties too do not have a favourable attitude towards tribals and farmers. They
are for the capitalist mode (technology) of production. The Socialist Party advocates
a socialist model of development based on the thoughts of Gandhi, Lohia and JP.
This model, based on decentralisation and small machine, will be able to
provide job to all job seekers. Bhai Vaidya said that the Socialist Party has
raised several genuine demands like full employment, free, equal and quality
education to all, preference to agro-based industries, participatory democracy
and caste annihilation. He congratulated the Kerala unit for organizing the
convention in an effective and fine manner facing the odds posed by the state
government.
Dr. Prem Singh conducted the proceedings of the inaugural session. He stated
that the task of forming party units in
remaining states will be completed in the next 6 months. He congratulated the
Kerala Socialist Party comrades for constituting a strong unit in the state and
expressed hope for the same in other states. Comrade E.V. Philip gave the vote
of thanks.
Meeting of the national council was held in the afternoon session. The party’s
national treasurer Jayanti Panchal placed the party accounts before the
national council for its approval. The national council approved the accounts. Two
constitutional amendments passed by the national executive committee were also accepted
in the national council. As per the first amendment, active members of the
party will pay 1%, in place of 5%, of their income or Rs. one thousand - which ever
is more - in the party fund. As per the second amendment, there will be 4 national
general secretaries in place of the existing 3.
An elaborate resolution related to politics, economic policy, education
policy, health policy, foreign policy, internal security policy, environment
policy etc. was place by Dr. Abhjit Vaidya and seconded by Onkar Singh. The
resolution deliberated upon and adopted in the convention included the
following main points : adoption of socialist model of development in place of
capitalist model, free, equal and quality education to all from KG to PG, no to
FDI and WTO, immediate removal AFSPA, rethinking relations with China. Bhupendra
Pal placed a special resolution that in view of the increasing disparity in
incomes, the seventh pay commission should not be formed for the next 5 years. The
resolution was supported by Jayanti Panchal. Socialist Mahila Sabha’s
resolution demanding Bharat Ratna for Savitri Bai Phule, the first women teacher
of modern India, was also accepted by applauded voice. Dr. Prem Singh and Nurul
Ameen conducted the proceedings of the session. Classical Kathakali dance performance was presented
in the evening.
Sessions of Socialist Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) and Socialist Mahila Sabha (SMS)
were held on 18 May with Dr. Abhijit Vaidya and Varsha Gupte, respectively, in
chair. Progress reports were presented by Niranjan Mahto, national general
secretary of SYS and Varsha Gupte, national president of SMS. State
presidents/conveners of both the forums presented reports of their states. The
resolutions were placed, discussed and adopted.
Elections for the national office bearers and national executive members
for the year 2013-2015 were held in the national council. Election officer N.K.
Gangadharan announced the names of the office bearers and executive members. Senior
leader Balwant Singh Kheda from Punjab and prominent human right activist Mohammad
Shoib from Lucknow were elected national vice presidents of the party. (The
list of office bearers is attached). Comrade George Jacob introduced the party
comrades who had worked very hard in organizing the convention and made it a
big success. Kerala Socialist Party general secretary E.K. Sreeniwasan
presented the vote of thanks at the end.
A meeting of the new national executive committee was held as the
national convention concluded. Bhai Vaidya chaired the meeting. He
congratulated the new team expressing his faith in its commitments and
competence. It was decided that the next meeting of the national executive will
be held in Delhi at Gandhi Peace Foundation on 11 August 2013 at 11 am.
A well-attended
public meeting was held at the Gandhi Chowk of the town in the evening. Justice
Rajindar Sachar and Bhai Vaidya addressed the gathering. A cultural program of
Malayalam folk songs was performed by Nandan Pattu Team from Kottayam.
Dr. Prem Singh
General Secretary
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