The simple and down to earth nature of Indian Left leaders have always been adored and admired by many. Unfortunately, their posture and action are totally contradictory. While wearing no luxury on sleeves, comrades speak in multinational brand Nokia cell phone, drink Bisleri water, sport Reebok shoes, and yet, speak against MNCs. For a very long time, look and talk of the red brigade cheated Indian masses. Now there is a popular realization that the Left leaders shouting from Delhi should follow the practical path adopted by Little Buddha of Bengal and Hu Jintao in Beijing.
Left trade unionism creates everyday hardships for the people in the name of democratic protests. Airport modernization fiasco, Gurgaon Honda workers strike, recurring bank employees dharna and storming of Baba Ramdev’s pharmaceutical fort are clear reminders about the red game plan to recapture the lost territory of trade unionism. Providing political patronage to the unproductive employees amount to breeding laziness and undercutting of national growth.
Recalling the past performance of Left may help people understand their anti-development nature. In the 80s, Communists vehemently opposed the computerization of government offices and introduction of Navodaya schools. The rationale for Left’s protest against computer introduction was that employment generation would be affected. According to them, computers would eliminate the human workforce step by step. This fear was unfounded in the due course of time. In fact, computer technology helped India generate massive employment in the form of Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES). It helped the nation to recover its rightful space in the global trade that was lost during the industrial revolution and colonialism. Today India is rated as the champion of knowledge revolution and expected to do better in the coming years.
When Late. Rajiv Gandhi mooted the Navodaya schools to produce the best of human resources from backward areas by providing residential accommodation, the best of schooling ambience and financial support, Left opposed it saying that the Navodaya schools are luxury education institutes!
In the 60s, Left sided with the external aggressor – China during the war. Left revolutionary wing created endless trouble in the form of Naxalism for national security. Even today the violent arm of Left is debunking all development activities from Telegana to Jharkhand. Historically, Left blocked every move of development. Their contribution has been more towards underdevelopment than to development. How can one forget the contributions of Left to the success of BJP from 1989 when it supported V.P. Singh who came into power pulling down Rajiv Gandhi government in the mysterious Bofors case. Now they pretend to fight against the BJP and communal forces in the country.
Communists’ anti-development attitude has not gone well with the common people. Even in their citadels like Bengal, Kerala and Tripura there is a widespread resentment against politburo’s response to modernization. Lack of better political alternative compels the voters to go with Left parties during elections in these states. If the present public anger is not addressed, voters may be forced to go anytime in favour of their archrivals. The status of Communist parties in Indian politics has vastly declined to the extent that the Election Commission had to derecognise the CPI(M) as a national political party. To avoid future embarrassment like this and to increase its relevance in public service, Left parties need to rethink its approach to development.
