‘In 2005, we asked the Left partners to reconsider our support to the Government. But they said no’

Abani Roy: Left or right depends on the policy. Our policies must be in line with whatever we believe in. If it’s not so, then sometimes, particularly in Bengal, we have to differ with the CPI(M). It happened in case of Singur and Nandigram.

•Coomi Kapoor: Some people describe the CPI(M) as the Big Brother of all Communist parties. How would you describe your relationship with it?

Abani Roy: In a democratic society, they have more in terms of numbers. That is the case at the state level and at the Centre. They had 45 MPs, so they decided when to withdraw support from the Government, although we did not agree with them. It was not at the right time.

•Coomi Kapoor: When did you suggest pulling out of the Government?

Abani Roy: In 2005, at our party conference in Pondicherry, we took the decision to tell our Left partners that it was time to reconsider our support to the Government, especially knowing the Congress and what they will do with economic reforms. We told the partners, continuously, that we should pull out. But they kept saying no. Eventually, they pulled out on the issue of the nuclear deal. But the main thing is that we work for the people, for the poorer sections, the farmers and the working class. For us, the price rise was the main issue. So, it would have been more effective if we had pulled out much earlier. Now, it has become a question of international politics and the imperialistic attitude of America.

•Coomi Kapoor: So which is the main issue for you: the nuclear deal or price rise?

Abani Roy: We were more concerned with the price rise and economic reforms. For a long time, Finance Minister Chidambaram has been trying to give the EPF to private agencies. And we have tried our level best to obstruct it. Now, he’s free to do these things. I think the time when Manmohan ji told the Left that he was going ahead with the nuclear deal and that if the Left wanted, it could withdraw, in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, that was the right time to withdraw. Later, in November 2007, the joint UPA-Left coordination committee was formed and the Government sought permission to go to IAEA. We told them that we would not allow them to go to the IAEA — that was another time when we could have withdrawn support.

... contd.