Forward Bloc threatens to sever ties with "capitalist" CPI(M) in WB

Barasat, Dec 26 (UNI) All India Forword Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas warned of his party's severing ties with the Left Front's major stakeholder CPI(M) in West Bengal, if the latter maintained its ''capitalist policy'', adopted in the name of industrial development in the state.

Addressing a gathering here yesterday on the occasion of unveiling the bust of former party general secretary late Chitta Basu, Mr Biswas criticised the CPI(M)'s policy of ''patronising the capitalists staying away from its anti-capitalist policy''.

The AIFB general secretary's view came almost at the same time when Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Industry and Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen maintained, during their addresses in the CPI(M) District Conference, that without industry in West Bengal, sustainable development would not be possible. And development of industry in the state was inevitable for which they would have to go all out raising confidence of the people of the state.

Criticising the dual role of the Left party, the Forword Block leader said the nature of the CPI(M) had come to light and they would have to disclose the facts publicly.

''Dissociation from the CPI(M) may put the Forword Block in trouble by losing its seats in the state assembly in West Bengal or in Parliament from this state, but Forword Block can not do away with its anti-capitalist policy,'' Mr Biswas reiterated.

''We could identify the enemies and there is no way out to go against such evils,'' he stated.

Referring to the Gujarat elections, Mr Biswas reminded the Left Front major that the latter would have to face consequences in West Bengal, if they ''shook hands with the capitalists and went against the interests of the masses''.

''Forward Block can not rely on such strategies as CPI(M) adopted in patronising the Tatas for Singur project at the cost of state exchequer,'' he pointed out.

He observed that communist parties in the country and their ideology had been crippled and thus parties like the CPI(M) had to make abortive attempts to beg for a seat in the Gujarat elections tying with Congress.

He, however, defended the role of his state party leadership under Ashok Ghosh for arranging a public rally in Nandigram, where the CPI(M) allegedly maintained double standards for the last 11 months.

''Foword Block had never supported the actions taken in Nandigram and will never support them in future,'' he maintained.

UNI