Date:15/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/15/stories/2007121562401400.htm

National

Fight against religious fundamentalism: CPI

Staff Reporter

‘UPA Government following BJP line’

Kolkata: A mass democratic front, including non-Left forces, must be created to fight against religious fundamentalism and capitalist exploitation, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta said here on Friday.

“The United Progressive Alliance government that we support is following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) line…it is not fulfilling its promises,” Mr. Dasgupta said, addressing the open session of the CPI’s 23rd Kolkata district conference.

“It is shameful that we still support the government,” he said.

“Hindu fundamentalists win elections based on religion, Ram Mandir and now the Ram Sethu, something that does not exist,” he said.

“The Ramayana is a great epic and we respect the figure of Ram but Communists must resist the fundamentalists’ attempt to win elections by exploiting Ram’s name.”

It was also painful when writer Taslima Nasreen had to leave the State, as Kolkata’s heritage has nothing in common with fundamentalism, he added.

The capitalist development that the country was witnessing with 9.2 per cent growth was leading to price rise, farmers’ suicides and capitalists defying trade union laws.While it was a tragedy that the Left had not been able to extend its influence to the whole country, the West Bengal government and its Chief Minister must help strengthen the movement against the bourgeois government, Mr. Dasgupta said.

CPI leader and State Water Resources Minister Nandagopal Bhattacharya said that as the bigger partner in the Left Front, it was up to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to approach its coalition partners with a “sensitive, accommodative mindset” and try to forge a comprehensive Left unity.

“We do not agree with the Forward Bloc’s stance of fighting the coming Panchayat elections separately as it will only strengthen the opposition at a time when unity is needed among Left Front partners,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.

He said there was confusion among Left Front partners as the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was apologising in New Delhi over the Nandigram issue, while his party men like Benoy Konar were making contradictory statements in the State.