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Journalism of Courage
Prakash Karat’s article in the latest issue of People’s Democracy on the AICC Plenary session in Hyderabad highlights not merely the disconnect between the Left on the one side and the Congress and the UPA on the other, but between the Congress and the UPA government as well. The CPM general secretary makes a distinction between the party and government when he says the government should take a cue from Sonia Gandhi’s statement that there should be no excessive preoccupation with FDI and privatisation. But, Karat also blames the Congress on the key issue of secularism, saying the party isn’t doing enough and the Congress political resolution in Hyderabad said even less, because of which the BJP is in power in Bihar and Karnataka, two states where it has never been in government before. In West Bengal the Congress has joined hands with the Trinamool Congress and there is talk that it will put up candidates in all seats except where the BJP is contesting.
But, the party is ready. Referring to West Bengal and Kerala, Karat writes: “The Left will take on the Congress in both these states.”
Buddha keeps smiling
Is Manmohan Singh the right man in the wrong party? That could be one way of looking at it, going by what West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said at a recent All India Kisan Sabha rally in Nasik. He recalled a conversation he had with the prime minister. He asked what his vision of the country’s development was. The PM is said to have “conceded” that non-implementation of radical land reforms was the main factor inhibiting India’s development. But Dr Singh told the Bengal CM there was no hope of bringing in such land reform as the Congress will not be pleased with any such initiative, Bhattacharjee said at the rally. So, if the PM singled out Bhattacharjee for praise when he went abroad, the West Bengal CM never tires of selling the PM’s view of the world to party comrades. Bhattacharjee clearly realises that to get goodies from the Centre, it is smart to be on the right side of the PM. Recent actions by the Left also endorse this: they will do anything to keep Buddha smiling.
Little Brother protests
The recent “Kerala March” organised by the CPM in the state is the subject of a prominent article in People’s Democracy. According to the article, it recently covered all 140 constituencies in the state, and 1.5 million people gathered in 137 public meetings. There were 137 reception centres, making that about six receptions each day. All that happened over 25 days. The jatha was flagged off by the party’s Kerala veteran on January 1 and concluded on January 25 with a rally in Thiruvananthapuram. The jatha also received a host of petitions, mostly related to the collapse of agriculture, traditional industries, fisheries and the public sector.
Excellent work, no doubt, but not everyone thinks so. Left partner CPI has criticised the Kerala March for being too ostentatious, a remark that led to an angry reaction from Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM’s state secretary. Incidentally, the CPM has been having a not-too-cosy relationship with Left partners in West Bengal and Delhi too, apart from Kerala. They all love to see Big Brother squirming.
Retailing protest
Aiming to sharpen the protest against the government’s decision to bring in FDI in retail for single brands, the Left parties will contact retail trade merchant organisations to hold protests across the country. The date will depend on the mobilisation.
Compiled by Ananda Majumdar
