CPM must change or perish,Buddha told US

A cable sent by the US consul-general in Kolkata on October 27,2009 read: “Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that his Communist Party of India-Marxist must ‘either change or perish’ and he lamented the lack of technocratic expertise within party leadership in a meeting with the Ambassador in Kolkata.” An “up-beat” Bhattacharjee was “friendly and showered praise on President Obama” during the 75-minute meeting.

“He was also frank in his criticism of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Bhattacharjee ,a member of CPI-M’s Politburo,argued that communist ideology needs to ‘either change or perish’. He lamented the fact that long-term politicians and outdated ideology continue to overwhelmingly dominate the Left in India. He contrasted this with the technocrats and other experts that now have power within China’s communist party,” the cable said.

Bhattacharjee recounted to Roemer the “benefits that Pepsico’s Frito Lay factory has brought to potato farmers in the state”.

“Unlike his party colleagues,he supports US educational institutions establishing independent branches in India without local partners. He specifically asked if the Ambassador might help with encouraging American businesses to invest in West Bengal and help connect community college expertise to local mining needs.

“He pointed out that several of his top advisers and allies within CPI-M have US educations,including West Bengal Finance Minister,Asim Dasgupta…,” Consul General Beth A Payne wrote.

The cable concluded with a comment by the consul- general: “Despite being personally pro-American,Bhattacharjee will follow the dictates of the CPI-M leadership and we will likely still see anti-American imperialism rhetoric in the run-up to the state assembly elections.”