At the official launch of his apolitical platform Bharat Nirman Manch here on Friday, expelled Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Lakshman Seth accused the leadership of the Left party of “ignoring the importance of caste identity.”
Pointing out that the CPI (M) was in power only in Tripura, Mr. Seth said the reason the party was unable to expand itself in the country was its “failure to address caste issue and social injustice.”
Besides his wife Tamalika Ponda Seth, the meeting was attended by several former CPI-M leaders of Purba Medinipur district, including Ashok Gudia, Amia Sahu, Prashanta Patra.
His address to the gathering was laced with diatribe against the CPI (M) leadership for not taking any initiative to uplift the minority community in the State.
Mr. Seth said that even though 94 percent of the total population in the State belonged to the backward and minority community, the CPI (M) leadership had been “sleeping” over the issue of their development. “The CPI (M) is aloof towards the predicament of the poor because its leadership consists of upper caste people,” he alleged.
Mr. Seth claimed that even though the members of the Backward Classes and minority community constitute the majority of the State’s population, “they have not been given place in the leadership of any political party.” Claiming that the leadership of mainstream parties is dominated by the upper caste, he alleged that “perhaps they (the upper caste leaders) do not want the members of the Backward Classes to come to the forefront of political activity, because they are apprehensive of their rise to leadership status.”
Elaborating on his stand on the issue of the representation of the members of the Muslim community in the leadership of political parties, Mr. Seth said, “I am not demanding reservation for Muslims in the leadership of parties.”
“Promising leaders from these communities will come to the forefront through such movements,” he added.
Accusing the CPI (M) of giving only “lip service” to the ideology of class struggle, Mr. Seth said it never took up any “comprehensive policy” for the development of socially and financially backward people. His charge against the CPI (M) for ignoring caste issues comes days after eminent social scientist Partha Chatterjee said the Left Parties had failed to comprehend “caste-based politics and distanced themselves consciously from such politics.” Mr. Seth ruled out the possibility of joining any party at present and said “the future course will be decided by time.”
Buddhadeb flayedHe alleged that the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was one of the “main reasons” behind the downfall of the Left Front government in the State. He accused him of failing to come to aid the CPI (M) workers during the Nandigram agitation in 2007 when the party was in doldrums.
With regard to his earlier comment that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has “courage”, Mr. Seth said his comment was with reference to her ability to “restore peace” in Jungal Mahal and Darjeeling.
Rubbishing allegation of financial irregularity in the non government organisation Indian Centre for Advancement of Research Education (ICARE), Mr. Seth said it was set up with the consent of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and the CPI (M) State leadership was kept in the loop. Mr. Seth claimed that senior party leaders “Biman Basu, Surjya Kanta Mishra and his wife, Mridul Dey , Nripen Chowdhury, Dipak Sarkar, Binay Kongar, Madan Ghosh, Nirupam Sen are involved with NGOs.” He asked whether the NGO Aronnok, run by Mr. Bhattacharjee’s daughter, received funds from the U.S consulate.
