Tripura Chief MinisterManik Sarkarshares his views with The Hindu on the controversy generated by the refusal of Doordarshan and All India Radio to broadcast his Independence Day speech. Mr. Sarkar, who has an uninterrupted two-decade tenure as Chief Minister and an equally long innings in the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, defends his decision to deliver a ‘political speech’ on August 15. Excerpts from the interview :
Your speech was allegedly a political one that had nothing to do with Independence Day.
Independence Day is a political day. On the day, the speeches are expected to be political in nature, so it is.
But when a particular political party or a certain ideology is criticised on Independence Day, it could be asked if it is consciously turned into an issue…
No, never. In my presentation, I have not mentioned the name of any political party. I have highlighted certain events. We are traditionally a united society. This unity has evolved through secularism which is in the Constitution; it is under attack. Some people are indicating that they would like to construct a new state on the basis of a particular religion. Secondly, the gap between the haves and have-nots is increasing and [I] advocated an “alternative set of economic policies”. I argued about growing unemployment. Finally, I said, in Tripura we are resisting these in our own small way. What is wrong in it?
The BJP is growing in the country … do you think that the country is changing?
I do not think so. When the country was formed, priority was given to religious-neutrality … it was decided the state will have no religion. Now there is a demand to form the state on the basis of religion. I believe people are not accepting it.
But the BJP is winning elections…
But did they go to the elections three-and-a-half years ago with the slogan to have a state on the basis of religion? They went to the polls on the basis of some economic proposals. Prices of daily consumables will not escalate, inflation will be arrested, black money will be returned from abroad, everyone will get 15 lakh rupees, etc. Did they promise that the state will be rebuilt on the basis of religion? There is no reason to think that 31% who voted for the BJP, did so on the basis of promises to have a religion-driven state; they voted on the basis of economic promises.
How do you analyse the situation vis-a-vis a relationship with the Congress?
Congress or BJP are not each other’s alternative — this is what we have to project. They are either side of the same coin. The BJP is avidly engaging in communalism. The Congress was weak in resisting them. On economic issues, the Congress and the BJP do not have much of a difference. In this context, we are talking of alternative economic policies and people are selectively accepting us.
There is a lot of discussion about Opposition unity. What is your opinion?
People want the Opposition to unite. But the Opposition unity would emerge only through an alternative set of policies and not on the basis of discussion between a few leaders. Of course the leaders should discuss but they will have to indicate why Opposition unity is needed. They will have to go to the people and tell them what this unity is about, its objective and policies.
Even joining hands with the Congress at the national level?
Yes, if the Congress changes its neo-liberal policies. If they make their policies pro-people … think for the downtrodden and give economic issues priority…[in that case] why would there be a problem to mobilise a movement with them? But they are firm in their position and thus losing.
May go with the Trinamool Congress too?
If a situation is created, we can think of all options. Your question is conjectural.
The BJP seems to be gaining ground in Tripura. Are you worried about next year’s election?
Let us wait for the election.
