Buddhadeb Bhattarcharjee is quoted to have said : “I have asked my party people as to why are they opposing FDI ? I have informed them, I cannot consent to such an opposition. I want investment in West Bengal. I had earlier told the US ambassador if they could invest in China, why not here? And I would continue to say so. ... I have to say at last, let us agree to disagree. That is all.” When Adi Godrej, a leading industrialist, advised him to restrain some of his politbureau colleagues who are voicing opposition to the policy of liberalization, Bhattacharjee replied, ‘‘You are right. But I am trying and the things are moving in the positive direction. In fact, there is no difference in the party over policy or programme. But the task of running the government is different

“Doing business in Bengal” had been the theme over which all the leading industrialists and business tycoons met in Mumbai on August 21 last to listen to what Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister and the CPI(M) politbureau member, had to say. Their expectation was also for seeing if Bhattacharjee had the temerity to give any breaking news. Bhattacharjee did live up to the expectations. He had no qualms to declare that his was a mission to offer all help, assistance and concessions to the monopoly business houses on a silver platter and contain the workers and employees, if necessary, through application of force. Bimal Jalan, former RBI Governor, a seasoned bureaucrat, introduced the CPI(M) Chief Minister with these accolades : “The West Bengal Chief Minister has emerged as a role model in the Indian politics because of his exceptional honesty and the ability to quickly draw necessary lessons from the objective situation. So his responsibility is immense.”



CPI(M) chief minister’s assurance to industrial barons

The newspapers and other media gave wide coverage to this conference giving it a lot of importance. The observations made and the promises sounded by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee do have serious implications and significant ramifications. Hence we would like to examine the essence of these from various angles and see why did he, with a Marxist and Communist cloak, receive such a standing ovation and overwhelming appreciation from the echelons of the ruling capitalist class. For convenience, we would broadly seggregate the views and opinions expressed by the CPI(M) chief minister into two categories — one in regard to foreign direct investment (FDI), economic reforms and privatization and the other relating to the trade union movement and mass struggles.

Buddhadeb Bhattarcharjee is quoted to have said : “I have asked my party people as to why are they opposing FDI ? I have informed them, I cannot consent to such an opposition. I want investment in West Bengal. I had earlier told the US ambassador if they could invest in China, why not here? And I would continue to say so. ... I have to say at last, let us agree to disagree. That is all.” When Adi Godrej, a leading industrialist, advised him to restrain some of his politbureau colleagues who are voicing opposition to the policy of liberalization, Bhattacharjee replied, ‘‘You are right. But I am trying and the things are moving in the positive direction. In fact, there is no difference in the party over policy or programme. But the task of running the government is different. I have to run a government. So I have to be a realist.’’ He then turned towards Sajjan Jindal, another monopolist, and begged of him to take over Indian Iron and Steel Company, a public sector undertaking. ‘‘Please acquire it, otherwise it would not survive’’ was his fervent appeal to Jindal. It may be added that recently, while inaugurating a function in Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta, which is a government hotel and being planned to be handed over to private owners by the state government, Bhattacharjee reiterated that his government was determined to go ahead with the privatization of this hotel.



CPI(M) chief minister at trade union movement

While referring to the trade union movement and working class struggle, Bhattacharjee, much to the delight of the gathering, opined that ‘‘The trade unions in our country only speak of the employed lot, organize movements for them but do not do anything for those having no employment. Nor are they least concerned as to how new employment opportunity could be generated. ... During the sixties and seventies, even after we assumed power in 1977, we had committed many grave mistakes. We encouraged irresponsible acts of the trade unions. Even today, many in the trade unions do not have any idea about the reality. They are only busy with their own charter of demands. We have discussed this at length in the party and have come to the conclusion that undemocratic acts would in no way be tolerated. I shall send police if there is gherao or any other militant movement. In fact I did send police to Bata and Pepsi. They complained that I had sent police without talking to them. I have responded by asking them — did you consult me before resorting to such agitation?’’ And he also mentioned that ‘‘Bandh does not beget any result. It only tarnishes the image of West Bengal.’’

So according to the CPI(M) chief minister, trade union and working class movement are creating hurdles before industrialization. Strikes and bandhs, which are accepted forms of democratic mass movement, besmear the state. But for these, capitalists, both Indian and foreign, would have come forward to create waves of industrial development. But they are constrained in their ‘noble’ mission because of the agitation of the working class and protest movements by the common people. And he, by virtue of his assignment of heading a government in a capitalist state has recognized this "reality" and is determined to carry forward the message of this "reality".



“Reality” in a class-divided society

But the question is, in a class-divided society, the "reality" Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is so passionate of, is of which class? Is this the stark reality that the millions of downtrodden, have-nots are facing day in and day out, or the concocted reality woven in the air-conditioned cozy rooms of palatial buildings or 5-star hotels by the financial oligarchy, thriving on the hunger of the millions? Take for instance, the case of West Bengal. There was a time when this soil was vibrant with the voice of protest against injustice, prided itself as the citadel of democratic mass movement and the nerve-centre of legitimate working class struggle. But with the CPI(M) and its associates in power for over 27 years, West Bengal has moved away from the path of struggle. With CITU, the trade union wing of the CPI(M), in control of maximum labour unions, there has been practically an annihilation of the working class movement. The CPI(M) and CITU leaders have been advising the workers to shun the path of struggle and instead embrace compromise, surrender to the terms of the owners, concentrate on increasing productivity and consent to work longer hours at reduced remuneration. How can one then hold this back-broken trade union movement responsible for stalling industrial progress? History tells a different story.

Trade unions evolved during the advent of bourgeois democracy as a means of collective bargaining. Trade union rights were granted by the bourgeoisie itself. Never has trade union been a hindrance to industrial development. Even in West Bengal after independence when there was relative stability of the market, industrial activity was at its peak when trade union movement was very strong and the fervour of it felt on the soil. But today, the same bourgeoisie is embroiled in an insoluble crisis caused by the inexorable law of capitalism. World capitalism is facing a serious crisis following rapid fall in the purchasing power of the people increasingly pauperized by ruthless capitalist exploitation. In fact, the very objective of production in capitalism is to earn maximum profit and this profit for the handful of capitalist owners is guaranteed expropriation of surplus labour of the myriads of working people. So stagnation, crisis over production, closure of existing industries, massive retrenchment, layoff, forced retirement, VRS, rapid decline in employment opportunity, wage freeze, job-freeze, abolition of vacant posts, mounting unemployment are wreaking havoc in the lives of the common people. In this era of acute market crisis, the moribund capitalist class is seeking to protect its profit margin through yet more ruthless exploitation of the labour, denying them minimum wage and other amenities, robbing them of their legitimate rights. And in order to hide the fact that capitalism itself is the biggest hurdle before industrialization, is raising the boggey that trade unionism draws the reins of industrial pace.



World capitalism is enmeshed in insoluble crisis

Even the big imperialist countries are in the midst of this severe crisis. There is galloping increase in unemployment in the so-called G-7 countries headed by USA. The USA is declared to be the greatest debtor country. In order to somehow handle this crisis, the imperialist powers are forcibly occupying other countries flouting and trampling even the barest precepts of democratic norms and established international laws, intensifying exploitation through the neo-colonial rules. The situation in the developing countries is still worse. Indian capitalism as an inseparable part of moribund world capitalism is also enmeshed in this all-out crisis. West Bengal as a part of capitalist India is no exception to this. One after another industry is closing down rendering lakhs jobless. There is no work in the rural sector either. Peasants are getting evicted from the land. People are dying of starvation, retrenched workers are committing suicide, unemployed youths are turning into anti-socials, a father selling his child for a pittance, a mother forcing her daughter to embrace prostitution.

On the other hand, when the downtrodden people in demand for bare subsistence, are trying to rise against this mounting onslaught and assault on their life, organizing democratic mass movements, the workers are using their trade union platform to register protest, the coercive state machinery is pouncing upon them, crushing the movements and in barbaric vengeance suppressing the dissent with force. Both central and various state governments in our country, subservient to the ruling bourgeoisie, irrespective of their political hues and colour of flag, are also engaged in the same act of steam-rolling the semi-clad semi-starved people at the behest of the ruling class.



Attack on trade union movement

At the same time, the ruling class and its agents are desperate to curb such legitimate protests of the oppressed people as undemocratic, irresponsible, anarchical and above all an impediment to industrial development and economic progress. And under that pretext, the hard-earned democratic and civil rights of the people, the established trade union rights of the workers, the right to protest, right to strike are being curbed and snatched away to disarm and emasculate the exploited.

The toiling people, the working class of West Bengal are also equally victims of this systematic attack from the power that be. Curtailment of democratic rights, denial of minimum wage, embezzlement of P.F. dues, forced retirement, VRS, CRS, coercive suppression of legitimate struggles, closure of both public and private sector units — West Bengal has a share in all of these.

CPI(M) is echoing logic of the rulers

This is the reality that each and every human being except for the handful of industry barons, business tycoons and their servitors in politics and administration experience day in and day out. But Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is not prepared to recognize this reality. On the contrary, he is adamant to provide lyrics to the tune set by the ruling bourgeoisie. His contention is that as the chief minister his task is to develop the economy of the state of West Bengal by revival of industrialization for which he is determined to bring investment, both from the national as well as foreign capital. And if there is industrialization there will be employment for the people. It sounds so mellifluous and expunged from the context, might confuse a section of the people as well.



CPI(M) is not opposed to FDI

We have just discussed that it is the capitalist system which is obstructing industrial growth. The capitalist class, in order to provide extra lease to its life, is bringing out the theories of economic reforms, privatization liberalization globalization and what not. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or in other words, imperial capital, makes its way into various destinations with the clear objective of usurping maximum profit by ruthless exploitation of cheap labour, raw material and extracting its pound of flesh through securing various concessions from the respective governments and authorities. It is the FDI that dictates terms and the recipients who carry the begging bowl, concede to the terms. Its is no philanthropic mission generating gainful employment to the people of the destination country. FDI, as will be seen from every instance, seeks to establish capital intensive industries where employment opportunity is meagre and that too for a very limited number of specialists and sophisticated hands.

Surely, Bhuddadeb Bhattacharjee is well aware of all these. People of West Bengal have also seen with the proposed FDI inflow in IT industry the state government sponsored IT company WEBEL, is under threat of closure. Already five units of WEBEL are on the verge of being shut down. Chandrababu Naidu, the so-called IT savvy former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh also claimed to have brought in sizeable FDI in IT sector. But within no time, the bubble burst and the skeleton was bared. Yet the CPI(M) chief minister has his approval for the “reality” that the ruling class is so desperate to project in order to shield its own fester-ridden face and notorious claws. World imperialism-capitalism is fleecing the people under one or the other pretext and trying to tighten its noose. Holding working class movement responsible for disruption in industrial progress is one of such ploys. To argue that trade union is coming in the way of industrial development and militant working class struggle is undemocratic, irresponsible and marring otherwise rosy employment opportunity, is to distort fact, undermines the dignity of struggle, betrays disparaging attitude to the working people, the creators of civilization. So the CPI(M) chief minister also puts the working class movement in the dock for the insurmountable misery of the people and calls upon the captains of the industry to come forward and be the rescuers. Is not Bhuddadeb Bhattacharjee becoming the spokesperson for the ruling class and in the process communicating to it his total allegiance?



Doublespeak of CPI(M) leadership

Bhattacharjee also cunningly made an attempt to show as if he is having his “compulsion” and priority as a chief minister, and he and his other party colleagues are not in the same boat. But the cat was out of the bag next day. Anil Biswas, another CPI(M) politbureau member and the party's West Bengal State Secretary, categorically said the next day that “whatever the chief minister has said, is the stand of the party”. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in his recent interview to the Economic Times published on 23rd September last, reiterated that he has got to get FDI at any cost. This is the politics of the CPI(M) today. The CPI(M) leaders want to assure the ruling class of their wholehearted capitulation and faithful service. But to deceive the people and the rank, and camouflage the avowed political line of subserving the ruling class, some of their leaders pretend opposition to the bourgeois policies and shed tears for the working people. Sitaram Yechuri and M. K. Pandhe, two other CPI(M) politbureau members, made some belligerent utterances against the proposed hike in FDI limits in telecom, insurance and aviation albeit for public consumption and to create pressure on the Congress-led government for better bargain in parliamentary politics. But Bhuddadeb Bhattacharjee took it upon himself to perhaps inform the class — Do not worry, we are all your men. These are all empty threats for playing to the gallery. And to heighten the extent of doublespeak, the same Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee the other day, while addressing a public meeting in Jhalda, Purulia (West Bengal) threatened the UPA government with withdrawal of support if the latter, according to him, is found not implementing the Common Minimum Programme. Seemingly, he was playing to the gallery as he on the next day denied to have said so. Incredible paradox !

The CPI(M) chief minister is also requesting industrialists to take over public sector units. That is why he made no secret of his opinion that government cannot do anything and hence there should be privatization. When workers are stripped of their irreducible rights and are subjected to worst kind of oppression the CPI(M) chief minister, instead of even pleading helplessness in mitigating their hardship, leave alone standing by them, is shamelessly holding brief for the owners and asking the workers to kneel down and be their slaves. Not a single word in support of the devastated working people came from him while overwhelmed with emotion in the company of financial oligarchy. What else is it but slaying the slain?



Will CPI(M) rank succumb to politics of capitulation ?

Everyone knows that this is the nasty role — the role of working as a force of compromise between labour and capital — which the social democrats have been playing in the arena of politics. But it seems the CPI(M) leaders have gone a step further. Instead of maintaining a balance, they are now advising the workers to surrender tamely. Will the honest rank and followers of the CPI(M) remain mute spectators when their party so nakedly declares joining the camp of the bourgeoisie? Time is still there for them to rise and realize.

[article.email.prefix]: pkrath@hotmail.com [article.homepage.prefix]: http://suciweb.org/era/era.htm

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