'Left Front to Play More Active Role'

The CPI(M) feels that the recent massacres within the Nepalese royal family could havebeen the outcome of a conspiracy. "Naturally, no final comment can be made from hereand a full scale investigation is called for. Since there was no post-mortem of thebodies, it is doubtful if some crucial details will be ever known," says Biman Bose,member of CPI(M)'s Politburo. Turning to the national scene, Bose said the Lok Morchaexpected to increase its following among the country's peasantry, government employees,industrial workers and other sections of the working class, in the months ahead. Duringrecent talks, CPI(M) leaders have suggested to leaders of the other morcha parties tolaunch a series of agitations to put pressure on the NDA government.

The chief architect of the Left Front's resounding victory in West Bengal, Bose saidthe recent agitation by BALCO workers clearly signalled a change in the mood of thebeleaguered working classes, which would not accept every decision of the CentralGovernment to weaken their position lying down."Only a determined, united struggle bythe workers will compel their exploiters to re-examine their policies," he said.

Defending the recent changes introduced in the functioning of the sixth Left FrontMinistry, Bose said the need to maintain speed in official work had become a priority."Mr Jyoti Basu too had worked hard earlier, but of late his age was coming in theway. He repeatedly wanted to be relieved and informed the party formally several times,after which Bhattacharya (Buddhadev) was made the new Chief Minister." he said.

Bose felt the local media had raked up an avoidable controversy over Bhattacharya'sjurisdiction, the role to be played by planning minister Nirupam Sen, officiallydesignated as number two in the new Cabinet and the supervisory role of the Left Front. Itis the Front which will guide the government on implementing official policies afterdiscussing and finalising them, he said, making clear the Front's dominant role.(Observers say during Basu's time this was not the case as the man towered over the Front,the administration and the party. At the same time, the LF would make sure that there wasno new personality cult around Bhattacharya as had happened with Jyoti Basu).

In a cautious comment on the beginning made by the sixth LF Ministry, Bose said"Smooth sailing so far." He acknowledged that the new Ministry was alreadyfacing some challenges -- four jute mills have been closed, a spurt in dacoities andanti-socials building illegal fish farms on river Ichamati, compounding flood problems inNorth 24 Parganas. "However, we are demolishing these farms and will see that suchillegal practices do not occur," Bose said, referring to the recent demolition driveundertaken by the government, without reacting to suggestions that some CPI(M) leaderswere locally involved.

Turning to the proposed involvement of the Indian Oil in the Haldia PetrochemicalProject (HPL), Bose said that a major industrial house in Western India was known to becreating hurdles for the HPL. Even during the first few months of production, high qualityof the products had been ensured, which has enabled the HPL to corner a sizable chunk ofthe Eastern Indian market already. "I have now seen units even in Bankura districtusing HPL raw materials," Bose said.