The Left ruled
West Bengal for 35 years. They ensured power stayed in their hands in a simple,
straight forward way. They curbed free speech. Violently attacking members of
opposition parties (our current Chief Minister, herself, has been survived the
brunt of such attacks on more than one occasion). Violence was the order of the
day. Violent politics, violent trade unions and violent society. Monopoly is
after all the most efficient form of business.
To fight
things change was need. TMC promised change. Change in the way we worked and
lived. A promise of freedom from violence and an ordered society. Much needed development
of the state and prosperity for all. People believed in the promise and
overwhelmingly voted TMC to power.
But since
then it has been hard to break the habits of 35 years. TMC and our Chief
Minister have found that monopoly is still the most efficient form of politics.
So, free speech gets one a “jail-card”. Destroying
opposition party office is terms as suppressing communalism. Killing opposition
party workers is serving the greater cause of secularism. Promoting a violent
and intolerant society a means to spread fear and keep one in power.
Is this the
21st century West Bengal or the Dark Ages? Is this Dance of
Democracy or the Eccentricity of Dictatorship?
We all like
to think of West Bengal as a class apart. After all there was a
time then what Bengal thought today, rest of India though tomorrow. But today
we are all silent. Mute witnesses to a failed ideology and broken promises.
The urgency
of these questions cannot wait another 2 years.
Policy. Why?
Develop.
What?
Empower.
Who?
Law and
order. When?
Inclusive society.
Where?
Enable. How?
Are we ready
to take action toward concrete change or stand by to facilitate more of the
same?
Sad. Bengal who contributed the maximum to free India is today lagging far behind most Indian States - perhaps in every sphere of life, Poverty, Education, Jobs, Law & Order. And Freedom. Common man lives in fear - of TMC or Auto Drivers or local gundas. Venturing out after 9 PM by ladies - BIG BIG Challenge in itself. While the Country progress - Bengal is perhaps going down. Bad Luck stuck Bengal perhaps - since Naxal days. Then CPM rule. And now - Rule of Lawless. It pains. It hurts
ReplyDeleteIn this aspect, Bengal is in close competition with North Korea. Only difference is - in N Korea, some bootlickers are punished (albeit inhumanly/brutally) but in Bengal the crooks circling The Dictator seems to be absolutely"bindas". More nuisance they commit - they become closure to the Supremo.
ReplyDelete