[Reader-list] Fwd: Comrade Arjun

[Rakesh Iyer]

Mr. Mani

This is, in my view a highly prejudiced article. And I say that because of
the following things:

i) The Left is not an innocent player of politics as has been claimed in the
article. The Left has a very strong cadre base and can organize violence at
the drop of a pin. In fact, they have done so on innumerable occasions in
the past. In the case of Nandigram, the Left had actually killed people or
attacked those who were its earlier supporters but had turned against it due
to the possible loss of their livelihoods.

In the case of Singur, the Left had used police for actually unleashing
violence on the people. I won't say that the people didn't respond in kind,
for where they could they did. And in the context of the Indian state (and
so the West Bengal provincial govt. as well), that violence was necessary to
get the issue important for everybody. If Singur and Nandigram would not
have witnessed violence from those who were fighting for their own rights
against the CPI (M), the Left would have massacred everybody who were
opposed to acquisition of land.

ii) The Left and Trinamool Congress have been attacking each other for the
past many years. And the reason is very simple. In the case of any other
province where the Left is not strong, you can raise opposition to the
government or form a political party and fight against its wrong policies.
Even political organizations which don't fight elections can organize
demonstrations on issues they feel important, and they are given the right
to dissent. Yes it is under attack in many states as well like Gujarat and
to a certain extent in other states, but it still is there.

But in West Bengal, the Left just crushes any dissent by ensuring that govt.
schemes work only for those who are on its' side. The Left has turned the
police into an arm of itself. The Left, which opposes Salwa Judum in
Chhattisgarh, has now created a virtual Salwa Judum in West Bengal as well
(except that it is not known by that name). The Left has thus ensured that
any political opposition to it must have the ability to organize violence to
fight out the Left. And so the Trinamool has been violent.

iii) As far as the Maoists is concerned, it may be true certainly that
Mamata is playing politics by hobnobbing with the Maoists. But the real
solution to Maoism can't and shouldn't be by butchering them or shooting
them down. If the Trinamool and Maoists are accused of dehumanizing those
they kill, then this solution also does the same. How then are we different
from the Maoists (or even the Trinamool, and I would include, the Left)?

See, we all believe in some idea of India or the other. People may believe
in Hindu Rashtra, socialist or capitalist society, secular republic,
democracy and so on. The key thing is that Communism is also one among such
beliefs. Just because I don't agree with India becoming a Hindu Rashtra
doesn't mean that I should kill all the Hindu Rashtra activists of this
country calling them anti-national.

If I don't agree with any ideology, then the real thing is not to ask people
to change beliefs at the drop of a gun, but by fighting it politically. It
would be prudent on Indian govt's part to first take out all CRPF and other
batallions from the provinces affected by Naxalism and then call for a cease
fire agreement followed by talks with Maoists. And our govt. should go ahead
with these talks.

Because Naxalism is not about development. It's about the fight to dignity
and a way of life which is placed at a higher pedestal by the tribals. You
may not like it, but you have no right of stopping them from living like
that. At best, you can advise them. But that's it.

Rakesh