Ahead of state meet, Left tears into Mamata, Modi
'This misrule cannot go on. It is an uncivilised, dishonest government.'
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the rally in Kolkata on Sunday. (Source: Express photo by Pratha Paul)
A day ahead of its 24th state conference, CPM leaders on Sunday slammed both Bengal and Union governments at a mammoth rally held at the Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata.
Former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, while attacking the Trinamool Congress government, said: “This misrule cannot go on. It is an uncivilised, dishonest government.” To the Modi government, he said: “While they wanted the ‘Bam’ (Left) to leave it to the Rams, they actually meant Nathuram and not Ram. We need to strengthen ourselves against such communal forces.”
CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury took pride in the claim that only Left could own up to its mistakes. “We have committed some mistakes and people have given us a fitting reply. We have learnt from our mistakes and are ready to make amends. One who works, commits mistakes. The return of the Left government is a must not only to end the reign of terror but because unlike the Trinamool, which loots the people, Left works for their welfare,” he said, adding that around 200 CPM workers have been killed and over 50,000 rendered homeless in the state.
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Taking on Modi, he said: “After the Lok Sabha elections, Modi had said that the entire Opposition can be accommodated in a bus. But after Delhi polls, BJP MLAs can be accommodated in an auto-rickshaw. My suggestion is that don’t dream of uprooting the red flag. It will be there till the colour of blood is red.”
“The Centre had said ‘achhe din’ were coming but now people here are singing Kishore Kumar’s song — Koi lauta de mujhe beetein huye din. After the Union Budget, petrol prices were raised by Rs 3. Ghar wapsi toh chal raha hai, dhan wapsi nehi hua. They are spreading communal violence in the name of love jihad. India, a secular, democratic republic, has changed. You have a big responsibility,” he told the crowd.
CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said the party will fight against “anti-people” policies and in the state conference, find ways to strengthen Left unity and put forward an alternative before the country.
“The Modi government is only for capitalists and corporates. Ordinances have been passed favouring corporate houses — be it FDI in insurance or to amend the Land Acquisition Bill… Communal forces like RSS are spreading their agenda. Before it came to power, BJP had said price rise would be arrested… Farmers are committing suicide and government is set to amend labour laws,” Karat said.
Claiming that BJP had managed to get a foothold in the state because of Trinamool, he said: “BJP is trying to settle here. It has got an opportunity because of Trinamool. In the 34-year Left regime, there was no place for Hindutva, RSS and BJP here. Mamata’s communal politics has given an opportunity to BJP. CPM will take on TMC’s corruption and BJP’s communalism…”
“Since 2011, when Trinamool came to power here, there have been problems with farmers, violence against women and corruption… Bengal government is not TMC government, it is ‘Ghotala Congress Sarkar’… Only CPM and Left Front can bring Bengal back on tracks,” Karat added.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, CPM leader Mohammed Selim said: “Mamata had once said she would tie the PM with a rope… Now, she is going to meet him. Is she taking a rope with her or a rakhi to tie on Modi’s wrists? It is ghar wapsi for Mamata, who was once with the BJP.”
“Actually, now a competition is on in TMC — among Mukul Roy and Mamata Banerjee… Mukul Roy has saved himself from the CBI by singing in the favour of Modi and BJP. Now, Mamatadi is following in his footsteps to save her party from CBI,” he added.
Maintaining that introspection was needed, Selim said: “We will have to go to those who have turned away from us. If Trinamool thinks that it can keep us away, it must remember that mehendi leaves are green in colour but if pressed hard, they leave a red mark.”
Left Front Chairman Biman Bose claimed CPM will soon launch an attack against the Trinamool government. “There will be protests, come what may,” he said.
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