Third Alternative-hks


Preparedness for a third alternative Events underline need for a third alternative, argues HKS Surjeet.	Comment Advani's Lies MR ADVANI continues to excel himself in perfecting perfidy feels Sitaram Yechuri Sports Asiad Sparks of sporadic talent keeps tricolor flying

Harkishan Singh Surjeet

THE winter session saw the government placing a very heavy agenda before parliament. It placed many bills in pursuance of its economic agenda of liberalisation, as well as bills to bifurcate three existing states of the Indian Union. It had also before it the Women's Reservation Bill providing for thirty-three percent reservation for women in parliament and state legislatures.

This period also witnessed growing discontent among the working class and other toiling people which found extraordinary strong expression in the December 11 general strike at the initiative of the National Platform of Mass Organisations.

The National Platform had given the call to protest against the economic policies of the central government, against disinvestment of public sector units among other burning issues facing different sections of the people. The response to the strike call was tremendous. The strike was observed in almost all states of the country. In some places life came to a total standstill, whereas industrial strike was observed in some other places. Educational institutions also were closed on the day. The effect of the strike was so much that workers owing allegiance to the BMS and INTUC, were supportive of the demands. Even the allies of the BJP as the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal openly came out in support of the strike.

Another very important development taking place simultaneously during this period has been the visit to India of the Russian Prime Minister, Primakov. Some important agreements were signed during this visit and Moscow has reaffirmed its friendship with New Delhi. This assumes significance in the light of the recent US-British attacks against Iraq. Though Primakov, in reply to questions from reporters, talked of strengthening of bonds between Russia, China and India, the BJP government does not seem too enthusiastic about it.

The session saw the government moving the Insurance Regulatory Authority bill opening up insurance to the private sector and also providing for foreign equity participation. This was a measure resolutely opposed by the working class, the Left parties and trade unions. Though the BJP while in opposition had foiled the attempt to pass a similar bill by the Narasimha Rao government, this time they have changed their stand under pressure from US imperialists in the aftermath of the Pokhran nuclear tests.

On the amendment to the Patents Act also the BJP has backtracked from its earlier stand. Last time the bill was introduced its passage was blocked in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP also opposed it. But this time, as on the IRA bill, it is the BJP government which is very vociferous on its passage.

Another important legislation introduced for providing res- ervation for women in parliament and state legislatures, was a commitment all major national parties had made in their election manifestos. However it was only the Left parties which were serious in getting this piece of legislation on the statute book, with much delaying and resistance being witnessed in the rest of the bourgeois parties.

The introduction of the IRA bill was another issue on which big resistance had to be put up by the Left, the Samajwadi Party, RJD and some others. Within the BJP itself serious divisions existed with many senior leaders of the party opposed to the move to open up theinsurance sector to foreign companies. Ultimately the Congress came to an understanding with the BJP, and it was decided to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee.

Although there were divisions within the Congress party on these issues, the leadership did not want to displease Indian big business and the multinationals, and therefore decided to support these bills. The Patents Amendment Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Congress party.

The Congress party is again demonstrating that it still has drawn no lesson from recent past experience. It still seems oblivious or tends to forget that it was the pursuance of these very same policies, when it was in power, that had led to the mass discontent that over time saw it devastatingly lose the mass support it had previously enjoyed. Instead of learning from these earlier follies, the Congress is again advocating and supporting the same old policies now when it is in the opposition. Perhaps the recent electoral victories has gone to its head. It seems to think that this was an affirmative vote for the Congress, rather than a vote against the BJP. The CPI(M) has repeatedly warned that though it secured victories, this is not a positive vote for the Congress, but rather a vote against the policies and performance of the BJP government at the centre and the states. In the absence of any other alternative to the BJP in the states going to the polls, the people had no other choice but the Congress.

The BJP has all along been opposed to the linguistic basis of states and has advocated formation of smaller states " for administrative convenience". It may be recalled that after independence, the Congress party had backtracked on its commitment for forming states on the basis of language. It was only after powerful movements developed in various parts of the country that the Congress government had to give way and linguistic states were formed. Now this very concept is being sought to be overlooked.

While the government introduced the bills for creation of the new states of Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh on December 22, the bill for the creation of Vananchal could not also be introduced due to stiff opposition from the SP-RJD combine. The Congress party has pledged its support to these bills. Perhaps its leaders feel that with the formation of new states it will be able to seat itself in power, in these new states.

But the mere creation of these new states cannot by any measure overcome the backwardness of these regions or lead to developmental activities. What is required is systematic planning to develop the infrastructure and economically develop these areas by providing them with more funds and autonomy.

At the fag end of the session the government gave enough indications that it would like to legislate to ensure that each Lok Sabha has a term of five years. Even if the government were to be reduced to a minority, the Lok Sabha would continue. Such legislation, if passed, would guarantee a five-year tenure for each Lok Sabha. This move was undertaken with the purported aim of getting over fears of Lok Sabha MPs belonging to the BJP, Congress and other bourgeois parties that their terms would end in the event of a fall of the government. Members of Parliament belonging to the bourgeois parties no longer seem to be concerned with the welfare of the people,only ensuring their own full term.

The people had presumed that the Congress party would effect a change in its policies to gain their confidence. They had hoped that the Congress would raise its voice against poverty, unemployment, hunger and backwardness. They are however mistaken. The Congress seems to presume that the people have once again reposed their faith in the Congress party and its policies and no change in policy need be effected.

The Congress is dreaming of once again coming back to power at the centre on its own. But this is opposed to reality. For instance, in about 220 seats in five northern states the Congress does not count. Take UP. In the 85 parliamentary seats the Congress could get just two per cent of the vote in the 1998 parliamentary elections. Even if we assume that there is a shift of say 10 per cent, this would not be enough to defeat the BJP or the SP, to get a majority. The BJP is keeping the communal cauldron alive - it is assembling pre-fabricated material at various places in Rajasthan and UP, while at the same time going ahead with its agitation on the Kashi temple issue. In such a situation will the Congress be able to assert itself, regain its lost base and win back the confidence of the minorities and the backward sections?

It is the Samajwadi Party and the Left who have become the rallying point in the struggle against communalism. In Bihar, in the four assembly bye-elections the Congress did not gain any seat. Three were won by the RJD and one by the CPI(M). In the three assembly bye-elections in West Bengal also the Congress did not win a single seat. All of them were won by the CPI(M). The CPI(M) wrested a seat from the Trinamul Congress also. Therefore the Congress should realise that the days of one-party rule are over and the country has entered a phase where coalition governments have come to stay.

It is in this context that the Central Committee of the CPI(M) has called for the forging and strengthening of the third alternative. It is only such an alternative that can afford some relief to the common man and take the fight against communalism and defence of secularism seriously.

The unity displayed in the December 11 general strike is an indicator of things to come. The forces that came out in full support of the strike are mainly the very same forces that constituted the earlier United Front. Our Party and the Left have therefore to concentrate more and more on developing mass movements and taking up urgent problems of the people struggling for their demands. The militant mood of the December 11 strike should be carried forward to defend the country's economic sovereignty, to defend secularism and the federal basis of our country.