The Hindu : Opinion / Interviews : We cannot accept globalisation at the cost of our self-reliance: Buddhadeb

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Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

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We cannot accept globalisation at the cost of our self-reliance: Buddhadeb

Marcus Dam

Last weekBuddhadeb Bhattacharjeestepped into his sixth year as Chief Minister of West Bengal. He has successfully met two Assembly elections and will face another election next year. In an interview, the veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) says "it's time now to change our mindset." Excerpts:

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: "Ours is a Government with its responsibilities towards the poor." — Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

West Bengal seems to be on a new course under your stewardship. You are largely believed to have given the much-needed thrust to industry in a bid to take the economy forward. What sort of targets have you set yourself in his direction?

We need more Foreign Direct Investment in the State. The figure has kept growing over the past few years but is still only between 12 to 15 per cent of the total investments made ... not more than 15 per cent. Investments are coming in, being made by the Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesians. But we will have to perform in order to be able to attract more FDI in industry and infrastructure.

As for domestic investment the situation is changing for the better. The Tatas, Ambanis and Hindujas are coming, particularly in the four sectors of iron and steel, petrochemicals, information technology, and agro-business. Investors, both in the country and overseas, now consider West Bengal a suitable destination.

It has, however, been a late start, would you not think?

We did commit certain wrong things in the past. There were investors really afraid of trade unions here. But things have changed. The word "gherao" is our contribution to the Oxford dictionary. [laughs]. I am in constant touch with our senior trade union leaders and keep telling them that it is now a different situation.

On one side trade unions have a right to carry out trade union activity. We don't want slave-labour, policies like hire and fire. Ours is a Government with its responsibilities towards the poor. But at the same time I tell [trade union leaders] they must behave. If you do not behave companies will close, you will lose your jobs.

The quality of production is not only the headache of the management. I am trying to send this message across, at all levels.

Have you been successful?

Not totally, but things are changing. We still have some problems in certain trade unions. Recently, some unfortunate things happened that concerned the IT sector [pro-bandh supporters preventing IT employees from going to work on September 29, the day the Left trade unions had called a nation-wide strike]. But I have subsequently assured the IT sector authorities that no outsider will be allowed to create any disturbances within the sector.

Trade unions, the Government and the Party should move together, otherwise it will be very difficult.

Can one assume you are getting adequate support from your party [Communist Party of India (Marxist)] in this regard?

As far as the party's State Committee is concerned I'm getting all help. There may be some differences in certain areas regarding trade unions in the IT sector, whether the sector should be treated as any other industry. Then there are questions over the proposed special economic zone in the State. There are certain differences but I do not think they pose any major problem.

Everyone understands what is what. It's time to change our mind-set.

Unlike your senior colleagues in the party's highest echelons you, as Chief Minister, need to address a separate set of compulsions — those of governance. How difficult is the situation?

In our party our Chief Ministers [we have two in the Polit Bureau] do not go beyond the line determined by the party leadership. I do not like to do otherwise.

We have our decision-making process — the Polit Bureau, the Central Committee. But, at the same time, I have to discharge my responsibilities as Chief Minister. So I take my decisions within the overall policy framework of my party. This is my position — sometimes difficult. We want FDI, a re-structuring of certain undertakings; in such matters I have the full support of the Central Committee. In some other areas differences had arisen — whether we take financial assistance from international agencies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank. We have discussed this and have clinched the issue.

Looking back over the past five years, how do you assess the performance of your Government?

Firstly, we have been able to continue our success in agriculture. Basically our agricultural sector is better than in any other part of the country. Secondly, the investment climate is changing for the better. Earlier there was a serious image problem and apprehensions among industrialists as well as foreign companies. This has changed over the past five years.

On the other side, we need to improve our performance in sectors like health, education, transport, roads, irrigation. My advice to those in my Government is: "Be responsive and responsible."

Looking into the future, we need to consolidate our success in agriculture. We have to ensure food security for the people and see that foodgrain production does not fall. The emergence of horticulture and agri-business will have to be facilitated.

The most important thing I am trying is addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor in urban and rural areas. Ours is a Left Front Government and we must give priority to the demands of the poor. At the same time, we have to fulfil the dreams of the younger generation — those coming out of our colleges and technology institutions and joining knowledge-based industries, like IT, biotechnology. This generation is the torch-bearer of the 21st century, not us.

This generation is also caught in the thick of the debate over the terms of acceptance of globalisation imperatives.

None can stop globalisation. This is the objective factor and we have to accept this. Yet, globalisation has many dimensions: globalisation of knowledge, communications, so on and so forth.

But there is need for caution too. We cannot accept globalisation at the cost of our self-reliance and our national economy. The world is divided between the North and the South. If globalisation only benefits the developed countries, if it is only for big capital, then we have to be very cautious.

A debate has started in the World Trade Organisation meetings. Developed countries are trying to impose certain conditions on agricultural produce, patents, all of which have affected the developing nations. We cannot accept globalisation if it means further concentration of capital at the cost of poor countries.

The unrest in Nepal, the camps in which militants on the run are sheltered in Bangladesh, the Maoist threat in southwest West Bengal — these have been matters of concern to your Government. Has the Centre been responsive enough to your anxieties?

On the question of developments in Nepal and their fallout in our State I must say that some positive developments have taken place in Nepal recently. The Maoists have declared a ceasefire, they have started a dialogue with leaders of the seven-party combine and a section is considering entering that country's mainstream. All this aggregates to some respite in North Bengal.

But certain activists of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation in North Bengal are taking shelter in Bangladesh along with those of ULFA with which the KLO has links. The big question is: why is Bangladesh allowing these terrorists to operate from their side?

The Centre appreciates our concerns. I have had talks on the matter with the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and even Sonia Gandhi.

ULFA is still very active in Assam and there is always the possibility that the KLO may regroup again with ULFA's help. These terrorist outfits are being patronised by the ISI and we have sensitised our security agencies accordingly.

As for the Maoist threat in the three districts of the southwest, I would still insist that they have failed to penetrate among our people. They are sheltered on the Jharkhand side, cross into our State to create disturbances and flee back across the borders when our police launch operations against the militants.

Are you prepared to talk to the Maoist leadership operating in the State if it gives up violence?

No question. I am not going in for any talks — with or without conditions.

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