Party or NGO?

Left leaders have been prominent among those expressing solidarity with Medha Patkar in her current protest against the Narmada project. This raises a question that doesn8217;t apply when some former PMs in search for a cause materialise before TV cameras. The former PMs8217; near-irrelevance to power politics effectively allows them to explore the very limits of freedom of expression and thought 8212; consistency and responsibility impose few constraints. No such luxury applies to the Left, in power in one and a half states8212;with ambitions for two and a half. Given that it sees itself as a serious player at the Centre and given that Narmada has become a symbol and substance of development policy debates, what are we to make of the Left leaders8217; photo-ops?

Will the Left oppose, in principle, big hydro projects in Bengal and Kerala on the grounds that they will cause displacement? Will it or does it support indefinitely delaying all big development plans that require land acquisition or land loss? The Left is, of course, free to take such a position and take it to voters and try to convince them. But then it must say so, as clearly as Medha Patkar does. Otherwise, it is legitimate to wonder whether the expression of solidarity is deliberate political blurring. Or one more attempt to embarrass the Manmohan Singh government. Which leads, in turn, to the other question: would Left leaders have been quite as forthcoming had the Narmada flowed through states where the communists have little political influence? Gujarat, Maharashtra and MP are basically Congress vs BJP playgrounds with important positions for regional players like the NCP, the Sena and now perhaps Uma Bharati.

It is instructive to notice that none of these parties or their leaders has argued that the Narmada project is not necessary. Their political feedback is clear 8212; the majority opinion in these states wants the project, wants the benefits from it. Had the Left been confronted with such ground level realities in the states it rules, would its leaders have been so ready to join protesting activists? A vibrant civil society needs political parties and NGOs but for discourse to be honest and sincere the two need to be sharply differentiated. The Left really must choose what it wants to be. To be fair, it8217;s not going to be easy8212;its leaders have now begun to relish their double role. Of playing both government and non-government, ally and opposition.