People's Democracy

Thinking Together

"CPI(M) is having two faces -- one in West Bengal and the other in the rest of the states.  The comrades will support globalisation in West Bengal, but will oppose the same in Tamilnadu". This is the charge levelled against us not only by the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu but also by M.L. outfits like Revolutionary Youth Front.

 K. Raju, Madurai, Tamilnadu (through email)

THIS is a baseless charge that is continuously raised by our political opponents. Through the columns of People's Democracy, we have, on many occasions, shown that the West Bengal Left Front government has, to a large measure, been seeking to protect the people from the disastrous negative consequences of globalisation. One of the fundamental pillars of globalisation is the abdication by the government of its social obligations to the people. This is more so in areas of food security, health, education etc.  While under pressure from globalisation policies, the Central government and many state governments have been abdicating their responsibilities, the West Bengal Left Front government has, within severe constraints, been trying its best to protect the people's interests.

Most of our detractors point to the fact that since foreign capital is also going into Bengal, therefore, the CPI(M)-led government in West Bengal is implementing the policies of globalisation.  This is ridiculous. Opposition to the policies of globalisation is not merely opposition to the flow of foreign capital. In today's world, foreign capital may come into every country. Under these conditions, we have to protect the interests of the Indian economy and its people from the predatory motives of such foreign capital. 

The CPI(M) has, in its Programme, clearly stated that foreign capital that comes into the country must fulfill certain conditions.  These are: (a) it must add to the existing productive capacities in the economy and not merely take over the existing domestic industries; (b) it should bring with it superior technology that is currently not available with us. By satisfying these conditions, foreign capital coming into India would augment our productive capacities and generate employment while bringing in superior technology.  The Left Front government in West Bengal is trying its best to adhere that these conditions are fulfilled for the foreign capital that enters the state. 

There are bound to be difficulties even in this approach. According to the Indian Constitution, all policy matters relating to the economy mostly rest under the jurisdiction of the Central government. Once the Central government adopts a policy, it becomes valid for the whole of India and no state government can implement any alternative policies. The West Bengal government, like all other state governments, operates under these constraints. However, wherever possible, where the Indian Constitution permits the state governments to take autonomous decisions, like in the case of agriculture and land reforms, the West Bengal government has shown to the whole of India, the pro-people alternative policies that it has implemented.  We had, on many occasions earlier, given the details of the unprecedented land reforms undertaken in West Bengal. We have also repeatedly shown that the policies in agriculture have turned a recurrently rice deficit state into the largest producer of rice under the Left Front rule.

I would suggest that you pursue some of the articles written in People's Democracy from time to time on various aspects of this issue.