CPI(M) West Bengal state secretary Surjyakanta Misra asserted that there can be no political battle against communal forces and the BJP with the help of TMC or the vice versa.

In a statement, Misra said, TMC and BJP, through their divisive political line have accentuated the atmosphere of violence and provocation in different parts of the state. The state administration has miserably failed to protect peace, harmony and security of citizens. Instead of strictly combating communal hatred and having a political fight against dangerous communal forces, the ruling party in the state has embarked upon unhealthy communal polarisation with the ruling party at the centre. Communal danger has aggravated in the state after the Lok Sabha elections. Hindutva ideology promotes communalism and as a consequence helps minority fundamentalism. It is very important to unite all peace loving, secular, democratic forces to combat the dangers of majority and minority fundamentalism. To weaken this fight, dangerous trends of ideas like fighting TMC with the help of BJP or fighting BJP with the help of TMC are being spread. This has very serious ramifications on the secular basis of our political system and it is a serious danger for the Left and democratic movement. To battle out this trend, Left has to make determined efforts to build broadest unity against the increasing communal danger.

UNIQUE CAMPAIGN OF DYFI

DYFI in West Bengal is holding camps to fill up ‘application forms’ for employment and thousands of young people are responding to this programme.

This unique programme has started after chief minister’s public comment in a programme of the ruling party that ‘wayward’ youths are to be recruited in TMC. She would see to it that these guys get employment somewhere.

Unemployment in West Bengal has reached gigantic proportions. In the eight years of the TMC rule, industrial development has been virtually stalled. In industrial areas, one after another factory has been closed. In rural areas, lack of work has resulted in mass migration. Teachers’ recruitment has been either stopped or marred in deep corruption. The depth of unemployment is almost the same among less educated and highly educated. A sense of frustration is perceptibly prevalent.

DYFI has taken the cue and started the campaign of signing up application forms. These are actually bio-data of youth who are unemployed. What started as a singularly demonstrative programme has developed into a statewide movement. The campaign has started on July 5 and would now continue through August. DYFI activists are holding roadside camps in districts where youth are signing up. According to DYFI state leaders, hundreds of post graduate degree holders, trained in multimedia and graphic design, graduates in science, humanities and commerce are signing up. Alongside, less educated youth are also applying for manual jobs, including loaders. The extent reflects the gravity of joblessness in the state. DYFI activists are going to the villages too to ‘enroll’ job seekers. DYFI leaders have decided to submit all these applications to the state government. ‘Not a single fake identity will be found’, asserted DYFI leaders.

Meanwhile, the demand is to provide ‘unemployment allowance’ of Rs 6000 until a job is provided. This particular demand is placed before both the central and state government.