On reservations

The substance of the CPM8217;s argument on implementation of OBC reservations in centrally funded institutions of higher learning is this: Since a blueprint has been drawn up for the purpose

The substance of the CPM8217;s argument on implementation of OBC reservations in centrally funded institutions of higher learning is this: Since a blueprint has been drawn up for the purpose, it is now incumbent upon the government to ensure implementation of the legislation. In light of the Supreme Court8217;s stay on implementation of the law, a front-page editorial in People8217;s Democracy perceives the issue as one involving the specific roles of legislature, executive and judiciary.

Arguing that the judiciary cannot make the law, the editorial says: 8220;Once the legislature makes the law, it is mandatory upon the executive to implement it. The Supreme Court has now stayed such implementation and allegedly cast doubts on the legislature8217;s competence in making the law.8221; The CPM weekly makes the point that if reservation in jobs is correct, then reservation in educational institutions cannot be wrong. In the scramble for jobs, it points out, the deprived sections get left behind, worsening their already poor condition. Reservation is a 8220;necessary though not sufficient condition8221; to enable them to join the mainstream.

Secular alliances

With the BJP making a strong return in urban areas in the recent assembly and local polls, the secular alliance has evidently many reasons to worry 8212; one of these is a split in its own ranks. So the message in a review of the Maharashtra local body polls is that the Left and secular forces must regroup to counter further attacks. Ashok Dhawale, the CPM8217;s state secretary in Maharashtra, points to the gains from such an alliance. Referring to Nagpur he says while 8220;no statewide third alternative8221; could be formed in the local polls, all Left, secular and republican groups had come together to forge a 8220;perfect seat-sharing arrangement8221; there. The result was that the alliance won 10 seats in the Nagpur corporation.

According to Dhawale, the Nagpur result could be attributed to 8220;mass pressure8221; following the Khairlanji killings in September last year. Besides, 8220;considerable sections8221; of Muslims who were disillusioned by the Congress and the NCP, also supported the alliance. But, says Dhawale, similar efforts in Mumbai, Nashik and Solapur could not succeed due to the 8220;vastly exaggerated demands8221; of all constituents barring the CPM even though there was a chance for making gains by attracting Dalits, Muslims and working people. With the Lok Sabha elections two years away, the CPM would make efforts to bring together other Left and secular forces, he says.

Missing?

Going on the offensive over Nandigram, the CPM is now pursuing stories about missing persons highlighted in the 8220;corporate media8221; to show how they are, according to the party, actually false. One such story, according to People8217;s Democracy relates to Durgapada Maiti, who is actually a 8220;Trinamul Congress strongman, an explosives expert8221; and apparently left for an 8220;unknown destination8221; on March 4 after 8220;duly informing8221; his family. Maiti, a report says, resurfaced later.

Training its guns on 8220;corporate barons8221;, the report says such campaigns 8220;would never justify the act of gross violation of the very 8216;human rights8217; they corporate barons shout themselves hoarse about, of close to four thousand villagers rendered homeless by the rogues and ruffians of the Trinamul Congress and the Maoists8221;. The weekly also quotes from a recent report in the CPM8217;s Bengali daily, Ganashakti to show how of the 27 missing people, 8220;25 had been found out. And every one of them is alive8221;.

Compiled by Ananda Majumdar