However, Karat says in his article: “The seventh Left Front government is conscious of the need to provide for the all-round development of the Muslim minority, so that they can more fully be part of the common endeavour of all sections of the working people for a better life.”

The TDP tie-up and Cong

Politburo member and Andhra Pradesh state secretary B V Raghulu writes on the party’s straining relations with the Congress and new seat arrangements with the TDP for local body elections.

He says: “The straining relationship of the CPM-Congress is not a sudden development. The CPM, right from the formation of the Congress government, began raising people’s issues and this has made the Congress party impatient. Repression was unleashed in Vijayanagaram when the party took up the issue of displacement of people in Thotapally and waged a struggle . . . the government dug out cases that were foisted on them during the previous Telugu Desam regime.”

He goes on to say that it is “irrational to term the adjustments with the TDP in local body elections, which does not have political objectives, as opportunistic.” He also adds that CPM is under no compulsion to continue support Congress.

Talking Theory

Shyamal Chakrabarty offers an explanation for the apparent contradictions between the stated positions of the party and the actions of its government in West Bengal on the question of FDI.

He says the following conditions should be imposed on flow of foreign capital: a) it should enhance existing level of productivy; b) it should help update our technology; c) it should lead to employment opportunities.

... contd.