Karat: capitalism is not the only option

American people taking to the streets to protest government's policies

A file photo of CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat.

Referring to the crisis in capitalism in different parts of the world, Communist party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Sunday that no longer could one insist that capitalism was the only economic option.

“Despite this crisis, U.S. imperialism is becoming more aggressive, even as it takes advantage of the people's disaffections to pursue its path of ousting those governments that are against it. It was not love for democracy, but the compulsions of extending its hegemony that shaped the country's policies,” Mr. Karat said.

Mr. Karat was addressing the CPI (M)'s West Bengal State Committee on the first day of its two-day meeting here. Senior party leader Benoy Konar presided over the meeting.

Speaking on the global economic meltdown and the credit crisis in the Euro zone which has deepened, he pointed out that attempts were on to check the malady from spreading to other counties.

“There is a slowdown in the U.S. economy and even though the workers and the Left movements in that country are weak, people there are taking to the streets to register their protests against the U.S. government's economic policies and the disparities resulting from them.”

Slams corruption

He also slammed the corruption at different levels tarnishing the image of the United Progressive Alliance government. Its failure to control food prices had led to severe public resentment.

“Farmers across the country have been put to great distress. Production costs, costs of fertilizers are rising and agricultural produce is not getting remunerative prices. It is the responsibility of the Left parties to carry out a sustained movement to highlight this ongoing crisis” he told the meeting, according to a press release issued by the State Committee.

Referring to the stir being planned to highlight the ongoing crisis, Mr. Karat said the CPI(M) would be supporting the call by the central trade unions for a countrywide agitation on November 8.

The meeting noted that there was a need for the party to strengthen itself ahead of the West Bengal conference, scheduled for February 2012.