[Reader-list] CPIM and soft hindutva

[Aarti Sethi]

Dear All,

This morning's Hindu carries a story on a statement signed by
prominent left intellectuals and academics. Predictably the statement
takes a pro-government line calling the agitation in Nandigram
"unjustified". This is saddening but not in the least surprising. A
similar statement was signed when the violence began in March 2006.
The secular intelligensia in this country have tended to see the CPIM
as the last defense against the far-right fascist forces. We need to
get out of this siege mentality. It is important that the CPIM's
legitimizing constituency begin to call a spade a spade. Our
relationship to the actions and brutality of the the CPIM cannot be
overdetermined by "secularism in the last instance" because the CPIM's
own record on issues of caste and religion is extremely dubious.

Here is an excellent piece that appeared on Kafila by Vidya Bhushan
Rawat which dispels any illusions anyone might have to the contrary.
Please do take the time to read it. Apologies in advance for the
somewhat long post.


best
Aarti


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http://www.kafila.org/2007/11/15/soft-bhadralok-hindutva-under-left-garb-vb-rawat/#more-221

Soft Bhadralok Hindutva Under Left Garb
Vidya Bhushan Rawat

We have received this guest piece from Vidya Bhushan Rawat, which
looks at another pathology behind the 'Left' Front and its
entrenchment in West Bengal politics. We are pleased to present this
as it underlines a point seldom registered by self-proclaimed
'Leftists' and 'secularists': the saffron under the red colour of
Indian marxism in general but especially of the CPM. The Sachar
committee had recently only revealed what many had always suspected
with regard to Muslims. With regard to the Dalits, analysts have been
at pains to point out that West Bengal ranks far below even UP, in
terms of ownership of land by Dalits. So much for its much touted land
reforms. While publishing this piece, let us also underline, with the
author that when, in the height of the anti-Islam hysteria during NDA
rule, LK Advani's Home Ministry proposed 'bio-metric identification
cards' - to check the problem of 'infiltration' (!?), then too,
Buddhadeb was its most enthusiastic supporter. It is actually
interesting that when the ruling classes and parties under Indira
Gandhi used to see CIA everywhere, the CPM too saw CIA; and then when
the NDA started seeing ISI 'under every bed as it were, CPM followed
suit. Curious, would you say? Read on, for the real debate on the
'Left' should be here, which is not to say that we agree with every
thing said here. - AN]

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Nandigram is burning and the Neros of the left front governments are
watching it with great patience. Those who are up in arms against any
displacement elsewhere remain mute spectators at the butchering of
people in this 'war zone', as the governor of the state Mr Gopal
Krishna Gandhi mentioned in his statement. CPM and its leadership were
prompt in condemning the governor for his remark as unconstitutional.
If governor's remark is out of the touch of Bengal's reality then how
can one justify the 'call' for 'recapture' of land by the top
leadership of CPM?

The fact is that this unprecedented crisis needed a strong response.
It is rare for a governor of the stature of Gopal Krishna Gandhi to
speak out openly against the state government. It clearly reflects his
mind and pain on what the state is witnessing in Nandigram. A governor
should not keep quiet if the state government that operates under him
violates basic principals of governance. Whether it is Gujarat or
Bengal, the state can not withdraw itself from the governance asking
people to take the law in their own hands, as CPM and its chief
minister continue to chant. It is not only shocking for a party to
defend the illegal act of their cadre to recapture the land. Why was
government silent on this for such a long and why were the central
forces being kept at the mercy of the party cadre. A party can not be
asked to take over the role of the governance. Bengal's government is
using the same language which very unfortunately Rajiv Gandhi spoke in
the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination and later on Narendra
Modi, in Gujarat after the Godhara fire. A chief minister is expected
to act and provide protection to the people and not to teach lesson to
those who faulted or disagreed.

West Bengal is passing through a big crisis. It is the test of its
patience with a government which actually is the symbol of brahmanical
supremacy and tyranny in the name of Marxism. Now, that supremacy is
also being challenged by Mamata Banerjee, who herself has no clean
record despite claiming to lead all the people's movement. In fact,
any one supporting her should first ask her the question what her
stand is on land reform and secondly how long would she flirt with the
Hindutva forces in Delhi. But it looks as if all the opposition forces
are uniting in their battle against the CPM. However, ground realities
are different and mere media attention might not change the situation,
though the halo of good governance and Panchayati Raj and much-touted
land reforms the left stand exposed in front of the world.

Whether the government goes or not, is not the question. Nandigram has
silver lining on the one side and duplicity of Bengal's Bhadralok
politics on the other. Let us discuss about the silver lining. Despite
all our condemnation, one thing that needed to be expressed here is
the spirit of the people of Nandigram, which defies all convention so
far. The governments of the day, whether in Bengal or elsewhere are
shamelessly pursuing the agenda of acquiring people's land for the
SEZ, big dams and big companies, without rehabilitating them. Those in
power know that the people's struggle start for a few months and
fizzles out. And that has given them the reason to pursue with their
dangerous policies of land acquisition. Hence the question is really
not about the face of CPM. The question is that there is a broader
agreement in the mainstream 'national' parties and regional parties
for 'reform'. They have gone far beyond people's aspirations and the
result is that these movement will shake the nation and find space
somewhere else which might not be democratic.

Unfortunately, many of their friends thought the Marxists as the only
party committed to 'land reform'. But Buddhadev had other ideas. He
had to attract the middle class Bengalies who felt betrayed of 30
years of left rule without any industrialization. Disturbed over the
'loss' of 'face' of Kolkata and Bengal as an 'industrial hub', Buddha
government went over board to attract 'investment'. The selection of
the company from Indonesia was equally important to understand.
Despite its track record, the Marxist would want us to believe that
contract given to this 'Indonesian' firm is according to secular and
anti-imperialist beliefs of the left front. This, at a time when the
Muslims and Dalits are regularly at the receiving end in West Bengal.
The disturbing question is why particular area of Nandigram or Singur
or why 19000 hectare of land was required. Many report charge Party MP
Laxman Seth, a man who is heading Haldia Petrochemicals, as allegedly
instigating the land grabbing in the area. All this was done to
promote 'industrialisation' of Bengal. And in this battle to dislocate
people and invite industries to suck the blood of the people, the
government got wholehearted support from the 'national' media. Like
Gujarat where Narender Modi's corrupt practices and criminal past as a
chief minister is easily ignored by the equally corrupt corporatised
media where corporate interest are bigger than the people's interest,
all in the name of development, Buddha Dev Bhattacharya also became a
star of the media even when a large number of his party persons were
not in demand there.

CPM and its allies have been opposing Congress party's new economic
policies. They have participated in numerous programmes, condemned
Narendra Modi and rightly so, they organized massive demonstration
against WTO and yet when their own state is concern, they remain mute.
They do not even want a discussion leave along allowing people to
visit Nandigram.

It is clear that the proposed SEZ would displace thousands of people
particularly the rural poor. In the case of Nandigram and Singur,
these would automatically be the poor Muslims and Dalits, who
unfortunately are not the vote bank of the CPM. A party like CPM whose
chief minister spoke the language of Lal Krishna Advani when he was
home minister of India, on the issue of Madrasas and his stand on
so-called Bangla Refugees, Buddh Dev and his party thought it is good
to create an SEZ some where else which does not affect the Bangla
upper caste or CPM's supporter's zone. After all, why should they
annoy their own supporter who would get the benefit of Tata's promised
Rs One lakh car and jobs in Salim's company? It would not be the
Muslims and Dalits who would get job in these companies. This opinion
maker Bhadralok had charged the CPM in the past with insensitivity
towards its own issues and condition of stagnation in West Bengal in
past three decade's left front rule. Left front has to come clean on
the issue of Dalits and Muslims in Bengal. Where are their land
reforms? Where is Dalit and Muslim representation in their government
jobs, police and elsewhere? Well, the bhadralok make us believe that
they don't believe in caste system and therefore there is no need for
reservation. Of course, it can not deny the fact that the scavenging
community in Bengal is worst hit by its manipulations apart from the
Muslims. The condition of Dalits in Bengal is a matter of grave
concern. Scavenging is still prevalent though CPM dominated cadre and
intellectuals would not allow outsiders to expose this bitter truth of
Bengal. Even loyalists like N Ram and his ' The Hindu' did not think
twice before giving Bengal clean chit on issues of scavenging and now
on Nandigram, the most 'secular' newspaper in India has turned
brahmanical. Of course, those reading 'The Hindu' in the South know it
well that it serves the brahmanical interest under the guise of
secularism. The other loyalist for Buddha Dev at the moment is
Goenka's Indian Express, voice of India's corrupt middle classes
supporting an irresponsible privatization. Express has been supporting
every effort of the government that displaces people and support
Industries.

But suddenly with huge turn around, the other dominating media houses
could not ignore the public pressure and started condemning CPM. Their
own friends started deserting them. This resulted in media scrutiny
and blame game. Embarrassed, the party banned media and activists from
going to Nandigram. And look who was the first visitor after CRPF
reached Nandigram. It was Lal Krishna Advani and his Hindutva team,
that visited Nandigram.

It is rare for a communist chief minister to be complimented by the
Hindutva Hridaya Samrat. When Lal Krishna Advani was home minister, he
lauded Buddha's effort to fight against 'Bangla' 'infiltration. Buddha
was also complimented for his remarks against Madrasas. Therefore,
Bengal CPM reflects a domination of the Bhadralok and their political
view point. The Bengali middle class has already been communalized
long back and one can find these reflections in Durga Puja
celebrations also.

The problem of Nandigram is wider. Why was such a place chosen. Is it
because the area has a sizeable Dalit and Muslim presence? In Bengal
so far the issue of Dalits have not got any support from any political
outfits. As far as Muslims are concern, Bengal is the only state where
we find starvation deaths among the Muslim community in Midnapur and
Jalangir. The Bhadralok dominated CPM's leadership might have thought
this would go unresisted. Yet, they proved wrong. The brave people of
Nandigram and Singur have actually rendered a great service to
strengthen movement for land rights all over the country. Governments,
corporations who are working to suck the blood of the people must also
understand that their theory that after initial reactions people
forget things, have proved absolutely wrong in Nandigram. The way the
people have fought for their right to dignity and land will go in the
history of India as one of the most sustained response to an effort of
the government to occupy their land.

The question is not whether the government is shifting SEZ elsewhere
or not. The question is how come the forces of the left are silent on
growing discontent in their home territory. Why should the government
allow a political party to have a field day, to kill the opponent and
'capture' the land? Prakash Karat says that there is nothing wrong for
the supporter of the CPM to 'recapture' their land, which was hijacked
by Trinamul Congress workers. These political statements should not be
taken on a serious note except for the fact that they are not meant to
introspect. Prakash Karat's biggest blunder was to say that Maoists
have joined the movement. It seems he realized it late that there are
radical left groups who are uniting in Singur and Nandigram. But
Karat's worry is not Mamata Banerjee but these left groups who can
teach CPM and their goons a lesson in their own language. CPM has
never bothered about the opposition in Bengal which is mute and
Bhadrlok dominated like the CPM. It is worried about the
reorganization of the radical left forces in the state. Therefore, it
does not surprise us when Karat in his press conference in Delhi,
charge the 'Maoists' from Jharkhand for spreading violence in Bengal.
Mr Karat knows well that the National Security Advisor has already
stated this that the red corridors are increasing.

But more than that, the question again comes to the forefront of those
in power. Nandigram has shown that people will resist any attempt to
dislocate them in the name of development. Whether it is Khammam in
Andhra Pradesh or Kalinganagar in Orissa, the war cries of the people
should not be termed as 'revivalism' of Naxal movement in India. It is
not therefore a co-incidence that the Naxalbari movement in the
Darjeeling hills of West Bengal was butchered in the same way as we
have been witnessing in Nandigram. The only difference was that time
it was state police which caused enormous death in the village of
Naxalbari while today it seems the police remain mute when the CPM's
cadre started their 'gharwapasi', very similar like the offensive
return of the tribals and Dalits by the Hindutva brigade in
Chhatishgarh and Gujarat.

General Secretary Prakash Karat also asked people not to equate the
Nandigram incident with that of Godhra. But comparison will always be
made as long as those who kills come from the same class and
communities and those who suffer too hails from the same. In Gujarat
the Muslims were butchered by a powerful state dominated by the Hindu
upper caste, in Delhi it was the Sikhs who were killed by the same
state and in Nandigram, it is again the Muslims and Dalits who are at
the receiving end. I can understand the problem of those writing about
'poor' being killed in Bengal because none of them really want that
Buddha Dev be declared new avatar of Hindutva. But so far all
indications suggest CPM's common agenda seems to be soft Hindutva in
Bengal by targeting the poor through its land mafia and Muslims in the
name of Bangla refugees and growing Madrasas. CPM has lost an
opportunity to lead people's movement in India which is now uniting to
fight against privatization of public resources and highly tainted
liberlisation and globalisation where corporations would call the shot
and people would get the shot if they oppose the diktat of the status
quoists. Nandigram has shown that people will not wait for a Messiahs
to come to rescue them, they will unite and fight endlessly against
oppression and exploitation. The battle for honor and dignity has just
begun now.