The Left-led all-India protests against the fuel price hike makes the headlines in the latest issue of People’s Democracy. But what the protests lacked in sting and firepower, the report makes up for with length. As for the three Left-ruled states—West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura—the report gives more credit than due to the local units. While in Kerala it says, quite correctly, there was a total hartal, in West Bengal and Tripura there were “innumerable” protest rallies and demonstrations. The fact that life was normal in Kolkata on protest day was glossed over, naturally. The biggest reports were on protests in non-Left ruled states, perhaps with an eye on the so-called Third Alternative partners—Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam and Bihar. The TDP is given due credit for leading demonstrations in Andhra Pradesh alongside the CPM. That raise included the part played by the TDP is the protests in Khammam and Nalgonda. No mention is made of the protests by the CPI in these areas.Food policy flayedThe growing threat to food security, as signified in wheat imports, is the subject of a scathing article by politburo member Brinda Karat. “Step by step, one of the most crucial components of self reliance, that is food self sufficiency and food security have been systematically eroded,” she writes.The public distribution system is in a shambles. The government, now, is preparing to deal the “final blow” by cutting the supply of foodgrains to PDS by slashing family quotas, hiking prices of rations and cutting foodgrain component in wages paid in employment generation schemes. According to Karat, the “neo-liberal policy framework” is the primary reason for the so-called mismanagement of the food system and there are four components of this. Firstly, the emphasis on export-oriented cash crops is a major reason for current shortfalls of wheat production and diversification, without a policy of bringing alternative land under wheat production, would be disastrous. Secondly, wheat deficits are the result of the “deliberate policy” of the government to cut down on procurement on the one hand and encouraging private trade on the other.Thirdly, the Food Corporation of India is being “systematically weakened” and finally, the Targeted Public Distribution System had “miserably failed”, she says. She suggests that the Cabinet must reject the proposals by the Agriculture Ministry in this regard.Charting course in Kerala, BengalAt the recent victory celebration of the Left parties held in Hyderabad, the two victorious chief ministers—Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and VS Achutanandan—outlined the priority areas for their governments.Bhattacharjee admitted there was indeed an “anti-incumbency factor” in the state, related to unemployment, poverty, lack of electricity in some villages and poor roads. But it was the state government’s approach to land reforms that helped them tide over the problems. Actually, consolidation of gains in agriculture was a priority area.He also mentioned how the state was attracting domestic investment as well as foreign direct investment, especially in the manufacturing sector, that would give jobs to millions. In IT, he said, Kolkata’s growth would outstrip both Hyderabad and Bangalore. Healthcare and education were the other priority areas. In contrast, the report on Achutanandan’s address made it evident that the new Kerala Chief Minister was planning his policies close to his image. The state government, he said, will protect people against “neo-liberal policies”. Despite the state’s fiscal crisis, the LDF government had decided to write off the debts of farmers who had committed suicide, the police cases against tribals who fought for their land rights would be withdrawn and possession certificates would be given to all deserving tribal cultivators. Mentioning women voters specifically, he said the LDF government would book culprits of sex rackets and related crimes. The report makes no mention of whether the Kerala Chief Minister has been meeting MNC heads and other business leaders with plans to invest in the state.Compiled by Ananda Majumdar
