The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Red Star has alleged that the Communist Party of India (CPI) is playing a ‘double game’ in the State.
“On the one hand, the CPI is enjoying all the benefits of being part of the government; on the other it is trying to be different,” K.N. Ramachandran, general secretary, CPI(ML) Red Star, alleged at a news conference on Monday. “In the past too, they did the same trick.”
Mr. Ramachandran said his party would try to build a people’s progressive movement to take on the ruling establishment. “There is not much of a difference between the policies implemented by the LDF and its predecessor. Sixty years after the first Communist government introduced land reforms, many Dalits, tribespeople, and agricultural labourers are still landless,” he said.
The development model followed by successive governments has led to ecological destruction and drought. “The governments were not willing to take over the land encroached upon by land mafia. The focus of our agitation will be on land, shelter, and environment,” he said.
Mr. Ramachandran said that in West Bengal, his party was supporting the agitation launched by the Committee for the protection of Land, Livelihood, Ecology and Environment, against the setting up of a power grid in Bhangar in South 24 Paraganas district.
He was abducted, allegedly by Central Intelligence officials, in Kolkata last month when he landed there to express solidarity with the agitation. He was taken to Durgapur and put on a train to New Delhi.
