The Hindu : National : `No bargaining on unification of CPI, CPI(M)'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 10, 2005

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National

`No bargaining on unification of CPI, CPI(M)'

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, FEB. 9. There should be no "bargaining'' on the subject of unification of the two communist parties which is now being sought by "those who had once called us splitters,'' general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Harkishen Singh Surjeet, said here today. But, one could join the party if one so chooses, he said. Even without his mentioning names it was obvious that Mr. Surjeet was reacting to a suggestion of communist unity reportedly reiterated by general secretary of the Communist Party of India, A.B. Bardhan, at his party's 22nd State conference at Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh earlier this week.

Mr. Surjeet was inaugurating the three-day 21st State Conference of the West Bengal CPI(M) at Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas district about 20 km from here. Among those present were the Polit Bureau members, Jyoti Basu and Prakash Karat, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Left Front chairman, Biman Bose and the State secretary, Anil Biswas. A minute's silence was observed in memory of victims of December's tsunami tragedy.

The CPI had split in 1964 following differences within the party on theoretical issues. The CPI(M), Mr. Surjeet recalled, had been formed on the principle of adopting an independent line. There has been talk of deviations but any deviation should be judged on the basis of practice.

Marxism a science

"Marxism is a science and not a dogma. We should discuss matters and decide what is right or not for practical implementation,'' he said.

Mr. Surjeet had a good word for the CPI(M) leadership in West Bengal where the success of the party was indication enough that "we are on the correct path.'' He recalled the crisis in the socialist world and the subsequent deviations from respective party lines in the latter stages of the last century. Yet, even during such times, the West Bengal CPI(M) had steered clear of any possible fall-outs within the party.

The CPI(M), he said, pursued a line independent of that being adopted by communist parties in other countries such as China where socialism was being consolidated in a different manner. No single module could be applied in all countries; it would vary from nation to nation, Mr. Surjeet added.

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