The Hindu : CPI(M) meet to address Muslim fundamentalism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 22, 2002

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CPI(M) meet to address Muslim fundamentalism

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA FEB. 21. After a gap of three years, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is holding its State conference against the background of critical issues such as containment of terrorism, the underworld and communalism.

Beginning tomorrow, the 20th State conference will discuss, for the first time, the dangers Bengal now faces with regard to Muslim fundamentalism. "Our party has to play an active role in containing the aggressive minority fundamentalism,'' Mr. Anil Biswas, State CPI(M) secretary, said.

Altogether, 532 delegates including 132 observers from across the country are expected to take part in the four-day conference. The CPI(M) general secretary, H.K.S. Surjeet, will inaugurate the conference tomorrow.

The last party conference had focussed on the growing influence of Hindu fundamentalism backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the need to check communalism. Since then, the party noted, the BJP's and the other "communal" parties' influence had waned which was reflected in the results of the 18 elections held in 14 States. "It is evident by now that the average man has rejected communalism,'' Mr. Biswas commented.

But, what is troubling the CPI(M) right now is the growing terrorist activities in Bengal. Fed by the local underworld, the terrorists are creating bases across the State.

Also, the Khadimshoeowner's abduction and the attack on the American Center have established that terrorism is maintaining close links with Pakistan's Inter-State Intelligence (ISI).

The conference will remind the members about the need for maintaining strict vigil. It would also put the workers on the alert against the dangers of terrorism.

The other issue which is worrying the CPI(M) is the recent spurt in violence in the districts of Midnapore, Bankura and North Bengal where the People's War Group (PWG), the naxalites and Kamtapur supporters have waged a war of sorts against the administration. The party will try to delve deep into the problem to find why such movements had got strength in those areas.

Whether such movements could be contained through timely and proper uplift of the tribals and backward population there would also figure in the discussion.

For the CPI(M), the conference is crucial as it would be held at a time when the world had suffered a terrorist attack on America and the U.S. Government had unleashed a war on Afghanistan.

At the national level, the BJP Government's liberalisation policy had shattered the country's economy. "Even in such a hostile situation, the CPI(M) could grow in Bengal only because it pursued a pro-people policy over the years,'' Mr. Biswas said.

The party 's popularity in the State could be gauged by the rise in membership from 2.33 lakh to 2.47 lakh in the past three years. The CPI(M) would now concentrate on strengthening the organisation and strive for ideological and political unity.

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