Overtures to the Left

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chose the right moment to make overtures to the Left. In China, he held fruitful discussions to tackle the global economic crisis. In Tokyo also, he was anxious to highlight the need for collaboration with China. Whether or not all this was aimed at placating the Indian Left is open to speculation. When the Left broke up with the UPA, Sonia Gandhi said that she would like to see it back in the UPA fold. Manmohan Singh has reiterated the invitation. Previously, he had made a similar appeal to Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. When it comes to a trial of strength, there can be no comparison between the Left and the Trinamul. It is a little surprising that the Prime Minister did not stress the bond of secularism. India has in the last few months been the victim of strident Hindu fundamentalism . The Christians have been the main target. Conversion of Hindus by Christian missionaries has provoked Hindu zealots and reconversion is ramapant. States under the NDA are the battle zone. All this should bring parties conmmitted to secularism under the same banner. But politics make strange bed fellows. Prakash Karat attaches more importance to the US treaty and is seeking a new set of alliances for the coming general election. Both the CPI (M) and the CPI have already rejected Singh's offer.

For the first time, Manmoahan Singh has spoken on the Singur issue. Despite his attempted balancing act, he seems to be more inclined to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's line. While giving due importance to agriculture in order to ensure food security, he has highlighted the need for rapid industrialisation, which alone can promote growth and create employment. He regretted that the Nano plant had to shift from West Bengal to Gujarat-from a state governed by the Left Front to a BJP state. It shows his preference for the Left to the BJP. This is obviously a political ploy to bring the Left to the UPA camp. It also brings some comfort from Delhi to the West Bengal Chief Minister. Singh's statement that the obsolete Land Acquisition Act will soon be amended to make it more favourable to farmers implies that the West Bengal government cannot be faulted on the Singur question. source: the shillong times