Opinion View from the Left
An editorial in the CPM journal Peoples Democracy sees the crumbling of the US-created new world order in the mass demand for a change of regime in various countries in the Middle East.
Imperial self-interest
An editorial in the CPM journal Peoples Democracy sees the crumbling of the US-created new world order in the mass demand for a change of regime in various countries in the Middle East. It says that apart from being subjected to authoritarian rule for decades,these citizens have suffered in the last two years of the economic crisis.
Clearly,the new world order that the US sought to create post-Cold War is crumbling. More importantly,the USAs capacity to determine world events appears to have weakened considerably, says the editorial. It points out how,in the past,US imperialism had intervened unscrupulously in many countries,particularly in the Middle East,to safeguard its strategic interests.
It says it is not surprising that the US,despite being the self-declared protector of human rights,democracy and human values,has been cautious in its reactions. While not openly articulating a regime change in Egypt,the USA is preparing to retain its strategic control through various alternatives, says the editorial,adding that the US would try to use former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei,as it did with IAEA under his leadership for its military operations in Iraq.
Pranabs precedents
An article in the CPIs New Age,takes a dig at Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for terming illogical the demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam. As Mukherjee was speaking for the policies of his party,he forgot his past; but history never forgets,the article claims. He was one of the leaders of Bangla Congress in 1967 when his mentor Ajoy Mukherjee was West Bengal chief minister,with ministers of the Bangla Congress and Left parties. This democratically elected ministry was replaced by Prafulla Ghoses ministry overnight by the then governor,Dharam Vira,on November 26,1967 under the auspices of the Central government led by Indira Gandhi. Reacting to the event,MLAs of the Bangla Congress and Left parties built barricades to stop the governor from entering into the assembly hall and Pranab Mukherjee,the then Bangla Congress leader,was party to it… Was the then speaker Bijoy Banerjees decision to adjourn the assembly sine die illogical and undemocratic?,the article asks.
Light on saffron
An article in the CPI(ML) journal Liberation says that investigators continue to let political expediency decide the direction and pace of probes. The Rajasthan ATS chargesheet names Indresh Kumar and Aseemanand,but does not put them in the category of the accused. It has formally arrested Aseemanand only now,following his confession. Above all,the question is that if SIMI could be banned based on questionable evidence like custodial confessions and narco-analysis,why has no action been taken against the RSS,in spite of Aseemanands evidence?… Why have various state ATS teams and the CBI failed to pursue most of the army officers,retired and serving,who figure in the tapes found on Dayanand Pandeys laptop? …Why are investigators,known to arrest/ shoot first and ask questions afterward where Muslim youth are concerned,so coy about investigating army officers? Is it because in such cases,the countrys deeply cherished stereotypes about the patriot and the terrorist stand threatened? it asks.
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