‘ Our state alliances will come only through mass struggle’
There has been a sea change in the economic and social life in India, but the CPI’S programme — which reflects the party’s understanding of the distribution of state power among the various classes — has remained static. Do you believe you need a new programme? After all, your political line must flow from this.
We are conscious of change. The first draft of possible modifications to our programme was introduced by Comrade Bardhan ( the party’s general- secretary for 16 years who has just demitted office) at the CPI’S 21st congress which concluded in Patna a week ago.
We will discuss the issue at all levels in our party. Then we hope to convene a special congress, or a plenum, to finalise the changes. We should complete the process in one year. The West Bengal Assembly election last year dealt a blow to the prestige of the Left. The CPI( M) suffered especially. It was viewed as “big brother” that often disregarded the other Left parties. After the defeat, do you foresee a more balanced equation emerging, particularly in relation to CPICPI( M) ties?
The relations are now cordial. Both parties are at the receiving end. We hope that the attitude in the post- election period will be different ( after the defeat in last year’s Assembly polls). There is better coordination now on politically fighting the Mamata Banerjee government and issues relating to West Bengal. All- India issues are to be discussed between the two parties after the CPI( M)’ s party congress gets over. But we wish to strengthen the unity of the Left. Is there a difference in the message the CPI gave after its 20th congress in Hyderabad in 2008,
The UPA totally supports corporate houses. The foreign policy tilt is towards the US. These are very serious issues before the nation.
which is no more than two years away?
Broadly, we may say that alliance or understanding may vary from state to state, with the Left being united as far as possible. The engaging of regional parties will depend on partnership in mass agitations on people’s issues. You are speaking of a united Left “as far as possible”. What does that indicate?
The Left has strong common concerns, but there may be occasional differences. In Andhra Pradesh, for instance, the CPI favours a separate Telangana but the CPI( M) does not. So, the nature of adjustment there may be different. Are you saying you are looking at no all- India alliances?
An all- India alliance may be hard to establish unless regional parties form a coordination committee that does not have an anti- Left orientation. For instance, the Left cannot go with a combine that features Ms Banerjee. Anyway, the programme- based alternative to the Congress and the BJP should be such as to go beyond 2014 ( the next general election) on the basis of mass struggles. What are the key issues of mass mobilisation you are looking at?
To give you a general sense — strengthen the public distribution system ( PDS), and universalise it. Barring a tiny section, most of our people need protection from the high prices of foodgrains. Take strong steps against forward trading as this raises food prices. There should be land distribution and house sites for the poor. Education, including higher education, and healthcare, must be affordable for all. Nowadays, higher education is totally commercialised. We are also against the privatisation of drinking water. Besides these, there will be issues unique to each state, relating to land, minerals, jobs etc.
Incidentally, we are also for a strong Lokpal Bill, but not the super- body that Hazare proposes. The government’s bill is very weak. We want the Lokpal to have an independent status to conduct an inquiry, but the punishment has to be through the courts. The question of judicial accountability also has to be separate. The CBI has to have autonomy.
We also want the public sector to be defended. Right now the most profitable ones are being privatised. In the area of foreign policy, the government avoids doing anything that the US does not like. It is like we don’t have the courage. An example of this is the Iran- Pakistan- India gas pipeline project, which has virtually been put to sleep. Now, the old question. You will have no truck with either the Congress or the BJP, even at the state- level, and even in states where the Left is weak, such as Gujarat where Narendra Modi is your common adversary? And for you the Congress and the BJP fall in the same bracket?
We can’t go with those two parties. Our state alliances will come out of mass agitations, and we would like to defeat both the Congress and the BJP. But they are not in the same bracket. The Congress is secular tough it compromises on that. We oppose it on economic issues, but it is still secular. The BJP is communal. Is there any proposal so far for a coordination committee of regional parties?
No, the idea has not been talked about. But there is a committee with Chandrababu Naidu as its head to fight nationally on the issue of kisans ( peasants). It was set up five or six months ago. Besides the CPI, the CPI( M), RSP, Forward Bloc, TDP and JD( S), Ajit Singh’s RLD was also a part of it. But Ajit Singh has since joined the government. So far, this committee has held an agitation only in Andhra Pradesh on the issue of remunerative prices for farmers. In the end, how this will work will depend on which parties come forward for mass struggles.