BJP146;s true colour

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat describes P.C. Joshi, the first general secretary of the CPI, as a 8220;man of remarkable human qualities8221; in his piece on Joshi8217;s birth centenary observed on April 14. He points out that Joshi was at the helm of the party during the post-war upsurge, and the Communist Party emerged as the 8220;spearhead of the anti-feudal and anti-imperialist struggles8221; between 1945 and 1948. But Karat8217;s praise of the legendary communist leader is tempered by criticism as he points to a list of mistakes by the party at the time. One was the 8220;inability to integrate8221; the international task of fighting fascism with the national task of the fight against imperialism, which led to isolation from the national movement in 1942. 8220;The advocacy of self-determination for a Muslim nation was a gross misapplication of the nationalist theory, which was subsequently corrected in 1946,8221; writes Karat, even as he suggests that Joshi personally could not be held to blame for all this. In a candid remark, Karat says this could also be attributed to the fact that collectively the Indian communist leadership was 8220;in thrall of the CPSU8221;. In writing the tribute, the CPM chief says, 8220;Though the CPIM was resolutely opposed to the line put forth by P.C. Joshi and his like-minded comrades in the CPI, it will be unhistorical and un-Marxist to deny his role and contribution to the building of the party and developing a Marxist outlook.8221;

Courting debate

In his speech at the conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts that has been excerpted in People8217;s Democracy, Kerala8217;s Marxist chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan is quoted as pleading for the executive8217;s say in the appointment of judges by calling for 8220;fruitful consultation8221; between the executive and judiciary. But, taking a cue from recent judgements which he says 8220;evoke many apprehensions8221;, he says, 8220;It is the bounden duty of the judiciary to safeguard and protect the legislations passed by the state legislatures and Parliament to fulfill the aspirations of the majority of toiling masses.8221; The Kerala CM referred to the Kerala high court order nullifying what he thought were crucial provisions of the Kerala Education Act. That, and another development, where arrest warrants were issued against two Kerala MLAs who had sought exemption from personal appearance in a case, were among the issues that merited 8220;rethinking on the attitude of the courts8221; towards other pillars of Indian democracy. He also drew attention to the Supreme Court holding that laws under the Ninth Schedule could be subjected to judicial review, claiming it had 8220;serious implications8221; for farmers and peasants who had so far been protected but there was now the prospect that India could revert 8220;to the pre-independent era and zamindari system8221;.

Compiled by Ananda Majumdar