PRAGOTI

Aditi,

What are the alternatives? can you specify some for a state like West Bengal? Let's take the case of industrialisation in the state. The Pol Org report of the 19th Congress reiterates the position that was taken in the 12th Congress. It specifically states the following,
"...Within the existing capitalist system and the parameters set out by the big bourgeois-led government at the Centre, it was not possible to develop industries in West Bengal with the limited resources of the state government. Neither was it possible to change the nature of the capitalist path of development in one state alone when all the powers are vested with the Centre. West Bengal government cannot by itself break from this bourgeois landlord
system..."

It also states that, "..Earlier the Left-led governments were consistently struggling against the discrimination by Central government in terms of licensing, investments and
provision of financial resources to the Left-led states. With deregulation and a market
economy, this aspect receded and the question of how to attract investments for
industry and infrastructure development came to the fore. The West Bengal
government brought out an industrial policy in 1994..."

Where is the alternative here? very simple, if the Centre follows a neo-liberal trajectory, then the states are bound to follow the same path. Very clearly mentioned above. Forget about revolution! how can you mobilise people in such a situation because these policies will be anti thetical to people's interests. What we can at most do, is to not fall into the trap of TINA factor, ideologically, and try to educate the masses about the limitations of a state government and mobilise people against neo-liberal policies.