WITHIN this semi-feudalist and semi -capitalist structure, our task is to increase the consciousness level of common. And I believe that in West Bengal we have done it successfully. Veteran Communist leader Jyoti Basu has stated this before media persons on last Saturday at party PC office Muzaffar Ahmad Bhawan. After completing party state secretariat meeting, replying another question regarding the role of opposition, Basu has firmly stated, “they have no other program apart from removing us. Why should people voted for such opportunist parties. We have to convince people politically and bring them back into our fold.

Replying one question regarding the differences of some Left allies on the issue of foreign investment in West Bengal, Basu clearly said, “I cannot understand why these questions are raised now. We are in capitalist system. We have extended our outside support to the Congress incumbent. And we have told for several times that on the basis of agricultural achievement Left Front Government will go for industrialization. Nothing is new. At the same time still, we also have to develop agriculture. We also gave emphasis to agricultural development. Production of all types of food grains has been increased in many folds. West Bengal is in the first position in production of many food grains. Though if still there is little more scope to develop this field we have to do this. Basu has added at the same time to generate more scope of employment we have to go for Industrialization. And public, private and foreign capital is need. For the industrial growth we also needed foreign investment, but it should be based on mutual interest protecting the legitimate interest of our workers. I have several times said even I have delivered speech in assembly on that issue. In our party congress this policy also adopted. So now why again these questions are floated, I don’t know.

Basu has continued that in capitalist system there is specific role of private capital. We are moving under the capitalist system, that’s why we also want investment of private capital. But we also committed to maintaining the workers interest. Even since the installation of Left Front government in 1977, we asked workers that they also have the responsibility in the enhancing productivity. This is not only the owners’ concern. You also have to take initiative .After that if any confrontation created with owners then you must come to us. Jyoti Basu also has mentioned that there was a time when WB held a prestigious position among other states in country. But due to politically motivated licensing system and policy of freight equalization by the successive Congress governments, the state had to suffer a lot and acute industrial stagnation was developed. But after removal of these regulations, discrimination now for the interest of unemployed youth, Government is emphasizing on industrialisation. It is the necessity for our state.

But in capitalist path Congress ruled country for long time, though unemployment, poverty are increasing, so what will be the outcome from this path. Asked one reporter, Basu also has replied that ‘yes we know it very well, what you will expect from this capitalist structure, it is so usual. We are not in socialist system; within this bourgeois structure practicing socialism is not possible. West Bengal is a constituent state within Indian Republic. We are present in three states in India, which are not independent republics. We cannot in any way claim that we are establishing socialism in these states. We have to work within the constraints of bourgeois state. Ushering in socialism is a long process but we cannot make people wait for infinity for the day to arrive. We have to accept capital to provide minimum relief to the people within the bourgeois state but at the same time constantly educating the people about our programme and the need to accept capital.

Basu reminded that we have never objected to investments in the State. Even when Bidhan Chandra Roy led Congress was in office, we supported major industrial projects in Durgapur and Asansol, because they were meant to provide employment and usher in industrial development. We never objected to industrialization but wanted to ensure workers rights are protected and workers are allowed to form trade unions. We will continue to invite private investments as well as foreign investments.