The CPI(ML) held its 2nd Punjab State Conference in Batala of Gurdaspur district on 27-28 September 2017. The conference was dedicated to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh whose 110th birth anniversary was observed on 28 Sept. and great revolutionary cultural activist and theatre personality Comrade Gurusharan Singh, whose 6th death anniversary was observed on 27 September.
The conference began with the paying of tributes to the martyrs and flag hoisting by comrades Harbans Kaur and Sukhandeep Kaur, daughters of Amar Singh Acharwal and Hakim Singh Samaon – two famous martyrs of Naxalbari movement in Punjab.
CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya inaugurated the Conference. Politburo member Prabhat Kumar and Rajaram Singh, the central Observer, also addressed. The Presidium for the conference was comprised of comrades Ruldu Singh Mansa, Gurpreet Singh Rudheke, Jasbir Kaur Natt, Sukhdev Singh Bhagokavan and Vijay Kumar Sohal. A Steering Committee was constituted including comrades Sukhdarshan Natt, Balbir Singh Randhawa and Har Bhagwan Bhikhi.
Comrade Gulzar Singh, District Secretary of Gurdaspur, welcomed the delegates and comrade Gurmeet Singh Bakhatpur read a condolence resolution to pay tributes to all leaders and activists of communist movements in India and abroad who left us since the last state conference which included Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Swapan Mukherjee, Srilata Swaminathan, PV Srinivas, Prof. Randhir Singh, Prof. Ajmer Singh Aulakh and comrade Bhura Singh Mann who was martyred during the Kisan Karz Mukti Morcha movement in Punjab.
Comrade Dipankar said that the policies of imperialist-corporate regimes all over the world have caused severe crisis for the people. They are trying to divide by sectarian nationalism, fascism, militarisation, and jingoism. In India every new day witness newer failures of Modi government leading to increased anger and discontentment among masses. The Congress or any other bourgeois party completely lacks vision and policy alternative to overcome this crisis. Only the strong unity and movements of workers and peasants and strengthening of democratic movements can bring in a resolution of the present crisis. This situation demands from us to make every possible effort towards the expansion of the party. He congratulated the party in Punjab for the successful conference and also appealed to work hard to make the 10th CPI(ML) Party Congress, which will be held in Mansa, Punjab, in March 2018, a great success.
Thirty delegates deliberated on the political-organisational report. Comrades Sukhdarshan Natt, Ruldu Singh Mansa and Gurpreet Singh Rurheke replied on many points raised in the conference, the outgoing state secretary Gurmeet Singh finally concluded the discussions with his detailed explanations followed by passing of the report. The conference unanimously elected a 23-member State Committee which in turn re-elected Gurmeet Singh Bakhatpura as the Secretary.
Revolutionary songs by many activists and a choreography by Malwa Lok Kala Kendra presented during the conference received great applauses from the delegates.
