Is the Left still anti-communal?

— Pranjit SaikiaThe recent developments regarding the Indo-US nuclear-deal have converted the Indian politics into a theater of opportunism. The Left parties which who fervently opposed the deal have ultimately stood along the BJP which once which was communal in their eyes. Some may say that it is the ideological stance of the Left, who have been opposing the deal from beginning. But where their ideology stands in so far as communalism is concerned? In the last Lok Sabha election, Indian people had given mandate against communal forces. People were fed up with the BJP-kind of “Signing India”. This had given a chance to all secular forces to come together and form a secular government. But four years down the line, what made the comrades to join hand with the communal BJP to oppose a government deal is baffling. But more astonishing is that, when CPI (M) politburo member M.K. Pandhe, who heads the CPI (M)-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), warned Samajwadi Party, that it would lose Muslim vote for supporting the deal. This statement had faced opposition from different quarters, which made Karat to quickly downplay his colleague’s remark. But it is very unfortunate to give a communal colour to the issue. Now the question is should Muslims oppose the deal as it involves the US as a party? Again should Hindus and Christians support the deal as it may be opposed by Muslims? This has really put the Left in a very ridiculous situation as opposing to communalism has long been their ideological stance. But Pandhe’s remark is very dangerously poised as it attempts to communalise the Indian foreign policy. No political parties should not think that, if they support the deal they will be dumped by the Muslim community. Equally, no one should support the deal as it is a Pan-Islamic in nature, as it involves United States, who is the enemy number one for the Muslim world. The support or opposition to the deal should be on the basis of the national interest. If we look at our foreign policy, it is not bent to any community or religion. To serve the national interest it is very essential to come above those wobbly perceptions. Since long back India has been maintaining cordial relations with the Arab world. As no body from any political quarter had opposed India’s gas pipeline project involving two Muslim countries – Iran and Pakistan, there should be any question of opposing the nuclear deal involving United States, if it serves the national interest. Again for a long time some political classes have been opposing to establish full diplomatic relation with Israel in fear of losing Muslim support. But one should remember that our foreign policy is never determined by religious consideration. Because of Israel’s Pan-Islamic nature of its foreign policy, we can not restraint ourselves to have a strong foreign relation with Israel. Equally, Arab world is also not at all supportive towards Israel. Because of that should we cease to have cordial relation with Arab countries? No foreign policy can be so selective. In the era of expertise, one has to rely on others irrespective of their nature of foreign policy. In case of foreign policy, only determinant is to fulfil country’s national interest. The recent statement of the Left leader is essentially communal in nature. The party which claims to be the custodian of secularism in India has ultimately tried to bang on “minority votes” by motivating them on religious line as a preparation for upcoming Lok Sabha election. Again, they have entangled with the communal BJP to oppose the government’s move. Dose it mean Left’s affirmation of communal politics? How do we believe that the Left is anti-communal?The recent developments have diminished Left’s credibility on its long standing secular stance. The Left have faced opposition for their moves from within. Senior Left leader Jyoti Basu time and again cautioned that the BJP is more dangerous than George W. Bush. He urged the top chunk of Left leaders to reconsider their decision to go with the BJP in trust vote against the government. It is high time to de-communalise the foreign as well as the domestic policies. All policies are going to affect us irrespective of our caste, race and religion. Rather opposing policies on the basis of caste, class and religion, we should oppose anti-people policies. The opportunity provided by the people to fight against the communal forces should not be lost out to fulfil one’s narrow political interest. Again the Left’s a narrowly politicised stance on the issue forced the Congress leadership to rope in the SP for their survival at the Centre, which presents the extreme form opportunism in Indian politics. The party, which was once “enemy number one” for the Congress, has now become the soul-mate in the changing political scenario. But this form of opportunism does not represent a good sign for future of Indian politics. It is true that, in politics no one has permanent friends and foes. But even in politics too, some amount of ethics and morals should prevail upon in choosing friends and foes. In earlier incidents ethics and morals were lacking, but in the recent incidents these two noble human qualities have completely withered away. But still time is not yet over. Among all political classes there is need of “new thinking” and change of perception towards policy formulation. It is high time to cease politics of opportunism. Because politics is not only about mega deals, a web of strong words, revenge and vandalism; it must also be about ethics, about ideas, about passion, about vision for society, about a struggle for justice, about a struggle for downtrodden class. Otherwise the parliamentary system in India will remain a mockery.(The writer teaches Political Science at Biswanath College) source: assam tribune

Left withdraws support to UPA

From Kalyan Barooah NEW DELHI, July 8 – The UPA Government at the Centre plunged into its worst crisis till date, with the Left Parties withdrawing support over the nuclear deal, leaving the Dr Manmohan Singh Government high and dry. However, the Congress Party put up a brave front and declared that there was no threat to the Government. The Congress Party’s confidence followed Samajvadi Party’s unanimous support to the UPA Government.An upset Left said the time has come to pull the rug. Not content, the Left is also planning to request President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil to ask the Prime Minister to seek a vote of trust in the Lok Sabha to prove his government majority, when they call on her here tomorrow to submit the letter of withdrawal of support.In a day fast paced with political developments that saw almost all big and small players confabulating on the fate of Dr Manmohan Singh Government, leaders quickly picked up their calculators, to see if the UPA combine had the numbers to survive.The Left parties were first to set the ball rolling when it met in the morning at its headquarters to draft the letter to External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. They accused the ruling Congress-led coalition of refusing to provide the text to the members of the Committee on Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation and said the proposed meeting on July 10 would not serve any purpose in this context.It is critical for the country that the safeguards agreement was discussed with full transparency and not kept secret, said CPM general secretary, Prakash Karat.“Why is the Manmohan Singh Government keeping the draft of the IAEA agreement secret from the people,” the Left leader asked.The brief announcement by Karat-led the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi convene an emergency meeting of its senior leaders. In the evening, the all-powerful Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) was held, which was presided over by Mukherjee, in absence of the Prime Minister, who is away in Japan. The meeting was convened to fix a date for the special session of Parliament. Indication was that the government could go in for a trust vote on July 28.The Congress Party later described the Left action as most unfortunate. “When the entire nation is mourning those killed in the Kabul blast, the Left has chosen to make the announcement. It is most unfortunate. They think their prestige is more important than the nation’s prestige,” chairman of the AICC media department, Veerappa Moily said, reacting to the Left’s announcement.Yet, perhaps the biggest set back was suffered by SP, when at least six of its MPs gave broad hints they might oppose the opportunistic alliance with the Congress. Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav announced in the morning that all was well in the party after a meeting of the party Parliamentary Board, only to be contradicted by his colleague, Jai Prakash in Lucknow that a section of them opposed the move.He said each of its 39 MPs is solidly behind the Indo-US Nuclear deal. He requested the Left parties not to join the communal forces.Fishing in troubled waters, BJP president, Rajnath Singh attacked both the Left Parties and the UPA and demanded that a special session of Parliament should be convened immediately and the Prime Minister should seek a vote of confidence. He said the BJP leaders would approach the President of India to direct the present government to seek the trust vote. His statement came after an emergency meeting of the party’s office bearers, here this evening, to discuss the current political scenario and draft its future strategy. The day also saw a war of words between the Congress, Left and opposition parties. The Left held the Prime Minister responsible for precipitating the crisis, when he declared that Government would very soon approach the IAEA to move forward on the deal. The four parties- CPI (M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP lost no time in firming up plans to pull out of the coalition government, which it was supporting from outside.Karat also released the draft of the letter to Mukherjee. Since the UPA has refused to provide the text of the Safeguards Agreements to the members of the UPA-Left Committee, no purpose will be served by having a meeting.Further, the proposal for a meeting on the 10th is rendered meaningless since the Prime Minister, while travelling abroad, has chosen to announce that the government will be going to Board of Governors of the IAEA “very soon”.Previously, the Left parties had decided that if the government goes to the IAEA Board of Governors, they will withdraw support, the letter said.Meanwhile, allies rushed to extend support, ruling out any threat to the survival of the UPA government. RJD president Lalu Prasad said the alliance has majority support and it will be proved in Parliament. Later, Union Agriculture Minister and NCP president Sharad Pawar also said that the government is stable. source: assam tribune