Rejecting different parameters on industrialisation policy in the Left-ruled states, the Kerala CPI(M) has sought uniform approach in both West Bengal and Kerala.
Discussions on the political organisational report at the nineteenth Congress of the CPI(M) here took an interesting turn on Tuesday when delegates from Kerala raised eyebrows on the ?duplicity? of the central leadership?s suggestions in the chapter? Role and experience of Left-led governments?which deliberated on the industrialisation issue. They had told the Kerala government to concentrate on social sector and agriculture production, while West Bengal had been advised to focus on inviting more foreign capital, industries and investment.
Kerala finance minister and senior CPI(M) leader TM Thomas Isaac, in a closed-door meeting, is learnt to have demanded that a ?uniform industrial policy? should be drafted for both the states. Contending the ?logic? of the central committee document that Kerala should focus on social sector and agriculture production rather than industrialisation, he said it would be difficult for the state to counter its political opponents if a uniform industrial policy is made for both the states.
When West Bengal is inviting investment in the industrial sector, it would be difficult for Kerala to sit idle, the minister may have told the delegates. Some Kerala delegates were also informally wondering that whether the conclave is ??just to protect Buddhdeb Bhattacharjee and his policies.??
The move is also seen as an attempt by the Kerala finance minister, a staunch opponent of chief minister VS Achuthanandan, to snub the hardliner policies of the chief minister, which favours renovation of agriculture and “eco-friendly” industries in the state. The central committee’s decision to support the Achuthanandan’s stand has not gone well with the “official wing” in the party led by CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.
To the suggestion that the state government should focus in social sector, Isaac, himself an economist, said listing out the social sector parameters of West Bengal that Kerala is far ahead of its Left counterpart in health, education and other living standards. The state has made good progress in the social sector. It should be protected, but that doesn’t mean that we should not concentrate on industrialisation, he said. He maintained that a decreased agricultural production is also not a reason to stop industrialisation.
The chapter within the organisational report had told Kerala to concentrate on “traditional industries” and “agriculture production.” On the other hand, the West Bengal government has been given the go-ahead with the industrialisation projects, including various multi-crore FDI projects. “While attracting corporate investment, we should be careful to see that they do not extract unreasonable concessions that go against public interest. While pushing for greater industrialisation with private investment, we should also tell the people that such private sector industries cannot solve the basic problems associated with the liberalised capital system,” the document had said.