Not many days have passed since the passing away of CPI(M)’s tallest leader Jyoti Basu.
Sitaram Yechury, one of the Left party’s ‘young’ leaders, got down for a chat with Swati Chaturvedi of Zeenews.com on the programme Kahiye Janab and spoke about Jyoti Basu’s legacy, price rise and many other issues.
Excerpts:
Swati: Welcome to Kahiye Janab. First, tell us what’s your take on Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement that CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu’s death marked the beginning and end of communism?
Yechury: It is not right to compare Jyoti Basu’s political legacy with Mamata Banerjee’s remarks. Her seven years of political career are linked with the development of contemporary India. If we see from 1940, many challenges came before the country, not before any individual. At that time, the entire world was of the view that India can never become a developed country; it was impossible. But in the last 60 years, we made it possible with a “vibrant democracy” and we showed it to the world. His life is linked with the challenges. The question is that ups and downs came in his way, and he faced them. But it is a matter of pride for India to be linked with such a great personality.
Swati: Are all other opposition parties ‘dwarf’ in front of the CPI(M)?
Yechury: No, they can’t be called small. It is history’s own process that there are certain conditions that make a leader. The conditions in which he rose, and the kind of responsibilities he was handed over after attaining the position of leader; he carried them well and accepted all challenges.
Swati: It has become a ‘historic blunder’ that Jyoti Basu did not become the Prime Minister. What’s your take on that?
Yechury: It’s not that only I was opposed to this. There was a serious argument among party members over this issue. On one hand, it was a golden opportunity to become the Prime Minister of the country. But on the other side, a simple majority of 272 was required. Only 32 MPs were with Jyoti Basu. To gain majority, he could done whatever he wished. In that case, he would have had to do what he did not want, if he came to power. So, he was in a dilemma as he could lose his ‘credibility’ among the public. Finally, it was decided to decline the offer for the betterment of the party. His best quality was that he remained with the party even when his candidature for the PM’s post was opposed by his party.
Swati: There was a time when leaders like Hari Krishna and Jyoti Basu were such oppositions that they shared strong relationship with politics. But now, it seems that your and Prakash Karat’s era is like ‘shooting yourself in the foot’. Your party again and again lost the elections, in the process making yourself irrelevant.
Yechury: Results depend upon the circumstances. Opposition parties, CPI(M) and others, can never become biased when it comes to the country’s interests. If you lose elections, that doesn’t mean people don’t have faith in your party. After all democracy means that sometimes you have power and sometime we have power. It’s not on the basis of cut and paste but on long-term strategy.
Swati: Why did you withdraw support from the Centre on the issue of the nuclear deal? That was Prakash Karat’s ‘historic blunder’.
Sitaram Yechury: See, there was no other option that the government left for us but to withdraw support from the Centre. Although, the Centre had promised us that whatever they will decide, they will discuss with us. But they didn’t keep their word.
Swati: What is your take on ‘price rise’? Can Centre take effective measures to tackle it? People are sad as they do not have any other option instead of Congress. Even you have left the common man support-less.
Yechury: Only the Opposition has the power to initiate a ‘mass movement’ and force the government to find a solution. Preparations are on for the March 12 mass movement that will be exclusively based on price rise. There are many reasons behind the current price rise. Firstly, futures/forward trading should be stopped. Secondly, essential commodities should be sold through public distribution system. Thirdly, in the last two years, the government has cut by 73% foodgrain distribution among the states in above poverty liner (APL) category. They should restore it. It will have a great impact.
Swati: Why is the Left silent about the sugar issue and about Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar?
Yechury: No, we were never silent on this issue. We said that they should not have exported sugar at that time. Now, they are getting it imported on the price that is three times more than that of exporting sugar. This question has been raised inside the Parliament as well as outside it. It is a collective responsibility of the Cabinet.
Swati: If you were a part of the Centre, then can you say that the condition of the country would have been better?
Yechury: Definitely, there would have been other alternatives. Like in the past also, we helped the government on the issues of PDS, Gramin Rozgar Yojna, tribal property law etc. There would have been a difference in the national policy as well.
Swati: You are in politics, you talk about public. Then why don’t you think about the public?
Yechury: We definitely think for the public. According to us, in the coming days, the government will surely take steps as the Centre is under immense pressure. Speculative training in the market will be stopped.
Swati: With the kind of numbers you got in the last elections, it doesn’t seem that the public is with you.
Yechury: Let me tell you one truth. In the last elections, the Opposition was divided but now it is united. So, the number of votes will be more this time in West Bengal. It should not be said that we are weak or the public is not with us.
Adaptation by: Preeti Panwar
