‘We welcome FDI, but with some riders’

• The number of people subscribing to the Marxist ideology is dwindling, even among the poorer sections. How long do you think the CPI(M) can sustain its ideas?
V P Damodar, Pune

It is not a fact that a small section of poor people subscribes to Marxism. Gradually, in addition to Bengal, Tripura and Kerala, where we have a substantial base, there are other States where poor people are adopting our ideology. In Rajasthan recently, there was a widespread struggle in which our mass organisation, the Kisan Sabha, was the leading force. In other States, industrial workers are joining us. Although our expansion has not been satisfactory, there is a feeling among people that the CPI(M) and the Left are the alternative to the Congress and the BJP.

• Is uprooting corruption from all levels of governance on the Left’s agenda? In this context, would you favour giving more teeth to watchdog bodies like CVC, CAG and CBI?
Gaurav Dua, Delhi

We have always said that investigating agencies should be given more teeth and we have asked the government to do so. Because of pressure from our party, the government had to order a CBI inquiry in the Juhu Centaur hotel issue. We feel that exemplary punishment should be given to the guilty in all these cases. There must be expeditious decision-taking with regard to dealing with corruption cases.

• Taking into consideration the disintegration of the USSR and the policy change in China, how much is Marxism and Communism relevant as a way of life today? In Bengal, the successive Left Governments have only led to the rapid disintegration of industries. Please comment.
Jaideep Ghose, Pune

After the disintegration of the USSR and the changeover from socialist economy to market economy in Eastern Europe, we organised a seminar which was attended by 20 Communist organisations that had not changed their name. It was resolved that Marxism was relevant in the current situation because it was a science. But I must mention that in the past, prior to the disintegration of the USSR, we had criticised their interpretation of Marxism.

In Bengal, our success has been in land reforms. Now the State is self-sufficient so there is a change in scenario. Big industries are coming to the State. With regard to investment in industry, Bengal ranks fifth in the country.

• The Women’s Reservation Bill has been put off yet again, just because of some politicians who are pursuing vested interests. Where does your party stand on the Bill? With a senior leader like Somnath Chatterjee in the chair, how does it propose to make women’s reservation a reality?
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi

The passage of a Bill does not depend on the desire of the Speaker. It has to be placed before Parliament by the government. We are not asking for unanimity on the issue. The BJP, for instance, has changed its stand in the matter. We were told by Home Minister Shivraj Patil that the BJP was not interested in the increase in the number of seats in Parliament by one-third as had been proposed during discussions on the Bill.

Our position is that the Bill should be brought before the House in the original form and put to vote. But, the fact is that the government is not serious on the women’s Bill. In the next session of Parliament, we will bring more pressure on the government to bring in the original Bill in Parliament for voting. In meetings with the Prime Minister, a majority of parties supported our stand that the original Bill should be put to vote. Once that is done, we will push for reservation for the weaker sections.

• Why doesn’t the CPI(M) join the Cabinet so that it can exercise veto power against unfavourable decisions?
Subhash C Agrawal, Delhi

We have earlier clarified why we didn’t join the government. Had we joined, we wouldn’t have been able to oppose Cabinet decisions the way we are doing now because the Cabinet functions on the basis of collective responsibility. For instance, on the Patents Bill, we had submitted 12 amendments, 10 of which were accepted and two were referred to a committee. On the issue of lack of labour laws in special economic zones, we asked why the labour laws should not be applicable in such areas. On the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, we gave our suggestions which the government had to accept. We opposed BHEL’s disinvestment because in the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA it was stated that profit-making navratnas will not be disinvested. So, by extending our support to the government from outside and putting pressure on it, we have been able to do something for the benefit of the people.

• Bankura is an economically backward district of West Bengal. You have been MP from Bankura for the last few consecutive terms. During your tenure, have you pursued any Centre-sponsored development project in the area?
Kaushik Guha, Kolkata

In the past, Bankura was known as a backward district. But not today. Agriculturally, we are an advanced district and irrigation facilities are available in 70 per cent of the district. As far as industry is concerned, there are sponge iron and cement units, to name a few. Recently, the foundation stone was laid for a Rs 3,000-crore ferro-alloy industry. In the pipeline is a biomass project which will generate 10 MW of power. This will be the biggest biomass project in the country. We are also trying to open new coal mines.

On September 23, the narrow-gauge line from Bankura to Sonamukhi is being converted to a broad-gauge line and will be inaugurated by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. In three years, trains from South India will be able to go to the North-East with the development of a new line. In fact, in the next two-to-three years, Bankura will be connected by railway lines on all sides. I would also like to mention that Bankura is one district where the highest number of rural artisans stay. We are trying to improve the product quality and reduce production costs which is generating employment opportunities for the rural poor.