Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary MA Bibi, in an interview with Hizb ut-Tahrir, expressed confidence that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) would win the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, claimed that the Congress’ economic policies had paved the way for the growth of the BJP and spoke of the Left’s ongoing struggle against the Sangh Parivar.
For the first time since 1977, is CPI(M) about to have no state governments?
In fact, for the first time since 1977, the CPI(Maoist) is on the verge of forming a CPI(Maoist)-led LDF government in Kerala for a third consecutive term.. The Pinarayi government has succeeded in eradicating extreme poverty at the state level, and is the only government to do so. Our welfare metrics and highest human development rankings have been recognized by NITI Aayog. Infrastructure development is worth it $1-lakh crore in education, health, roads, bridges, ports, airports, IT centres, inland waterways etc. have been implemented or completed. Intellectuals like Amartya Sen and Romila Thapar point out that there were no communal riots or bloodshed under the FDF. Your prediction of LDF defeat cannot be taken seriously.
Rahul Gandhi has called you the ‘B’ team of the BJP.
Rahul’s naming of the CPI(M), the B-team of the BJP, is behavior unbecoming of the LoP. With hundreds of former senior Congress leaders in leadership positions in the BJP, including in the poll-bound state of Assam, a friend of mine described the Congress as a feeder organization for the BJP. Congress’ economic policies paved the way for the growth of the BJP. The only disagreement between the Congress and the BJP is which one represents Team A and Team B when it comes to anti-people economic policies. Despite all this, Congress can and must contribute to the fight against the new fascist tendencies of the Union government.
Under LDF rule, the BJP has made profound inroads in Kerala.
The LDF administration never reached a settlement with the BJP, and we were locked in a long struggle – politically, economically, ideologically, culturally and organisationally – against the Sangh Parivar and the RSS. It is also true that the BJP is achieving some scattered advantages. The soft Hindutva approach adopted by the Congress is also responsible for this. Recall that former KPCC (Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president) K Sudhakaran publicly stated that he organized protection for the RSS to set up their physical training camps.
Home Minister Amit Shah said the ideology of the Left parties was borrowed from China and Russia.
Those who have not seriously studied the development of civilization and human society say that leftist ideology is not suitable for India. However, history shows egalitarian and harmonious societies, such as the Onam festival in Kerala or the pre-Marx “Samathwa Samagam” (society of equals) of Aya Vaikunda Swamy. This was a few years before Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels joined the “Justice League,” which later merged with the Communist League. However, the RSS was formed through a military structure inspired by B. S. Monje’s meetings with European fascists, including Mussolini. Therefore, the neo-fascism of the RSS was influenced and shaped by European fascists.
Amit Shah blamed the Left and Congress for the increasing Naxal brutality in the last few decades.
The reason for the emergence of Naxalism is the extreme poverty and inequality in Indian society and the exploitation and oppression of the rural poor and Adivasis. The economic and social policies pursued by ruling class parties such as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party provide the backdrop for the emergence of Naxalites of various stripes. The CPI (Maoist) has never come to terms with “left communism,” which every communist committed to Marxism-Leninism would disavow.
Do you see any future for your party in West Bengal?
In West Bengal, our comrades work among the common people. We have been getting very good responses from the working masses and students. We will certainly regain our lost influence in West Bengal. We are confident about our bright future in West Bengal.
