Opinion View from the LEFT

The lead editorial in the latest issue of CPI mouthpiece New Age subtly points out that the six-member SIT includes three Gujarat cadre IPS officers “who are still working under the Modi administration”. The premise of the article is that the SIT has summoned Modi to provide him a “platform to get many of the doubts cleared about his role in the riots”. It will be “used to get Modi cleared as well as to re-assert the Sangh Parivar’s theory that no more investigations be carried out in Gujarat riots as it revives the wounds.”

In this context,the article also questions the SIT’s decision to summon Modi in connection with the Ehsan Jafri murder case. “So far,SIT had not dug any evidence that could go against Modi personally”. If the SIT really wanted to pin down Modi and his colleagues,it should have taken up the case of Naroda Patia massacre,it says and alleges that there are enough “call records” establishing that the RSS-BJP leaders involved in this “massacre” were in “direct contact” with the chief minister’s office.

BSP bluster

With the Samajwadi Party and the Left showing signs of warming up to each other post-Amar Singh’s exit,the New Age now has no qualms in attacking Mayawati — who stood with the comrades during the no-trust vote against Manmohan Singh’s UPA-I just two years ago.

So,New Age carries an article pouring scorn on the BSP chief. Referring to the garland episode,it says “Mayawati has cut the crudest,the ugliest and the dirtiest joke on the Indian polity by showing her arrogance and throwing all democratic norms,decency to the four winds.” The article questions the source of the money that was used in the garland and demands an investigation “so that the mischief could be nipped.” The money in all probability “was collected by forces from industry and business houses,there are news from the districts how BSP leadership misused its power and authority in making such huge collections.” What’s more,the article claims that Mayawati is amassing wealth and alleges that she has purchased bungalows in Lucknow and bought buildings in Delhi’s elite areas,and talks about her losing hold over the Brahmin-Baniya combination in Uttar Pradesh.

Inflation? Who cares?

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement that he would not be surprised if inflation touches double digits in March itself,has been attacked by the CPM. It says that the UPA government has given up even the pretence of showing remorse at the “unprecedented burdens” being imposed on the people.

“By pleading helplessness,the government is not just abdicating its responsibility of providing some relief to the people. Worse,it is blatantly declaring that in order to provide further gains and super-profits to its social base of the ruling classes. The common people or the aam aadmi has to suffer by bearing the burden for providing such gains to the rich…Therefore,for the shining India to shine brighter,suffering India will have to endure greater suffering,” says the lead editorial in CPM mouthpiece People’s Democracy.