Lakshman Seth is no ordinary politician of West Bengal. He started his career in the Haldia port area as a loader in mid-60s, joined CPI (M) in 1970, and eventually became the party’s State Committee member and an MP. But that does not say much of the CPI (M) strong man, who controlled all- important East Medinipur district for decades. He single handedly ruined his opposition in parts of Medinipur. Last week, he was expelled from the CPI (M) for “anti-party” activities. Known for his proximity to Jyoti Basu, he charges his erstwhile party colleagues with “indiscipline” and answers corruption charges raised against him from time to time.
You have made many allegations, targeting Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. But why would Mr. Bhattacharjee go against you?
Because I was a popular leader. My Haldia (cultural) Festival was a huge success and people from across the country used to participate in it. Jyoti Basu came, so did Mulayam Singh Yadav…other than Amartya Sen, every other eminent personality participated. Big time stars appeared…He (Bhattacharjee) did not like it.
Perhaps there is a reason…you used to raise huge money for Haldia Festival from business community, I am told.
Is there any programme without sponsorship?
Sponsors were pressurised?
Baseless allegation. Haldia is a lonely place with educated people…the family of those educated officers of various companies used to sponsor the festival…they used to wait for the festival every year, and we used to ask them to put up stalls and take a (sponsor) fee…it is done everywhere.
But it is also said that you raised huge funds from every quarter…like from trucks entering Haldia.
Absurd allegation. No one can prove such an absurd allegation.
But you have this huge organisation called ‘ICARE Medical Science and Research Institute?
Mr. Bhattacharjee also called me and said…’you have raised an empire.’ I protested. Because it is an NGO, its accounts are documented and audited regularly. The Indian government’s rule says, partners of NGOs cannot take away the profit. We never took away any profit. As per rule, we always ploughed the profit back into the organisation to upgrade the institute or to start a new one. I never took any salary…but we are accused of building an empire.
Which it is…
Had we done it we would have been caught for fraud. More importantly, top State-level leader (of CPI-M) or his family member is not attached to an NGO. They are doing welfare and I am doing business?
It was said that you were the main fund raiser of your former party?
The party is run by the average members. They pay a monthly membership, which helps us to run party offices in Delhi, Kolkata or elsewhere. On special occasions, we used to bring out souvenirs to raise some funds to fund conferences or to construct a party office…but this is an official way of raising funds, according to (party) constitution.
But in a disciplined party, can you talk like this against the leadership?
This is the problem. Discipline or regimentation! We are a regimented party, it is often said. Note that it is a military terminology. It does not and should not work in a democratic set-up and country. In a regimen, one commander evolves and the rest becomes his follower…there cannot be any criticism as regimentation does not allow such questioning. That is how Stalin, Mao and Bhattacharya fell…
What about Mamata Banerjee?
She is not in a Communist party. But, her party is growing in leaps and bounds and sooner or later she will have to cultivate parallel leadership…or she will be in trouble.
So true Communists should now slowly get out of the habit of being disciplined?
Rabindranath asked Russia that ‘You have progressed so much but there is fear every where…where is democracy.’ What a great thinker he was…that is why I have his photograph over there. I am not asking the party to break the structure, I am saying one needs to be a liberal.
Are CPI (M) members of Haldia joining you?
I don’t know. No one was in touch with me.
Will you join Trinamool?
(In English) My life is a like ship in turbulent sea, without any boatman, I don’t know if it will sink or float.
But you are praising Ms. Banerjee…
I said she is taking revenge on us due to the failure of our government. However, she has managed to control Maoists in Jungle Mahal and activists in Darjeeling…I was partly quoted in the media. However, I have a small political opinion. I would like to mention that in this country Dalits, tribal and Muslims have always suffered, even if they are 94% of the population. While we expected that such exploitation will not take place in Bengal due to reform movements, it did happen (in Bengal). Our parties are worse in treating Dalits and minorities. I would say, Congress initiated some genuine welfare measures to bring in some equality.
So, are you joining Congress?
I am out of politics. But I will be with the people. To quote Tagore, Apan hote bahir hoye nahire dara, buker majhe biswaloker pabi sara. (Separate yourself from your own self, you would feel the pulse of the world)
