Decoding Basu

CPM veteran Jyoti Basu8217;s statement on socialism and capitalism...

CPM veteran Jyoti Basu8217;s statement on socialism and capitalism, which raked up controversies even within the party, forced general secretary Prakash Karat to explain the whole issue in a detailed statement. It says 8220;based on its programmatic direction, the CPIM joins state governments knowing fully well that it has limited powers within the Constitution. Utilising these limited powers, Left-led governments work to protect the interests of the working people, initiate welfare measures and within the limited spheres where it has some powers, put in place policies which are different from that of state governments run by bourgeois parties. The CPIM knows fully well that in the states where the Left is in government they cannot build socialism, but undertake some alternative policies within the capitalist system. Land reforms within the constitutional limits was one such step undertaken in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

8220;Even though the Left Front has been in office for 30 years in West Bengal, capitalist development has been taking place there as in the rest of India. What the state governments can do is to help strengthen the struggle for alternative policies advocated by the Left and democratic platform at the all-India level.

8220;The CPIM8217;s goal is for the setting up of a people8217;s democracy, which is a step towards the eventual goal towards socialism. This, as Jyoti Basu said, cannot be done by the three state governments ruled by the Left. The advance to socialism will be realisable only after the Left and democratic forces are strong enough to build an alternative at the national level.

8220;Till then, in the states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the Left-led governments will strive to put in place policies which benefit the working class, peasantry and other sections of the working people. Working within the capitalist system, facing a situation where the central government imposes neo-liberal policies, the Left-led governments have to undertake industrialisation and economic development in such a manner where the interests of the workers and the poorer sections are protected.8221;

Pattern in Orissa

The editorial in the latest issue of People8217;s Democracy says that the recent attack on Christians in Orissa comes in the wake of Narendra Modi8217;s electoral victory in Gujarat. 8220;On the heels of the Narendra Modi-led BJP8217;s electoral victory in Gujarat came the vicious anti-Christian attacks in Orissa8230; What is happening in Orissa is chillingly reminiscent of how the RSS/BJP consolidated its hold in Gujarat. Now that L.K. Advani repeatedly threatens to convert all Indian states into Gujarats, it is necessary for us to recollect what happened there a decade ago.8221; And a report on the visit of party Politburo member Sitaram Yechury to Orissa says 8220;analysing the pattern of the incidents, Yechury conveyed his apprehension that the RSS and its affiliates are planning to repeat what they had done in the Dangs district of Gujarat. He also drew the attention of Naveen Patnaik to the fact that the RSS was publicly claiming that Orissa is their next Hindutva laboratory. He also highlighted the timing of these incidents8230; immediately after the victory in Gujarat. In response to Yechury8217;s observations the CM claimed that the situation is under control.8221;

Trouble in air

The CPM has again protested the modernisation plans of the Airports Authority of India. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said, 8220;It is on record that the Airports Authority of India has achieved greater heights during the recent years in terms of revenue earnings, profits, dividends, aircraft movements and passenger/freight handling, necessitating the committee on infrastructure recommending the status of a 8216;Mini Ratna8217; to AAI. It is rather unfortunate that till date, such an important recommendation has not been implemented, and compounding this inaction, a new proposal for the creation of a separate entity in the form of ATC Corporation appears to be at the advanced stage of consideration, which is likely to weaken this otherwise result and profit oriented organisation.8221;