Ignoring the somersault

IN Opinion | 05/09/2005

Ignoring the somersault

A funny thing happened last week. The dog did not bark.

You don`t say!

Darius Nakhoonwala

One of the most momentous thing in Indian politics happened last week and our darling leader writers - all but two of them, I believe - missed the event. Instead, they chose to focus on a non-event - the Nalini Chidambaram-CBDT business. So much for editorial alertness.

The event was the 100 per cent turnaround by the CPM on the decision by

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to invite FDI from an Indonesian firm. Until last week, the politbureau had been in a rage over this perfidy by its chief minister; last week, it turned into a ewe lamb, meek and submissive. Whatever Comrade Buddhadeb is dong is well within the party`s policies, it bleated.

Only two newspapers of note bothered to comment. One was The Telegraph of Calcutta, as well it might; the other was Business Standard which could barely hide its glee over the politbureau`s discomfiture. The rest, notably The Hindu, chose to remain silent. Even the Indian Express which usually has a robust sense of the important overlooked the change in the CPM`s policy.

The Telegraph was subtle in the way its smacked its lips in satisfaction but the sound was unmistakable. " After several decades, things began to change, as new political and economic realities forced the Marxists to change their ways. Mr Bhattacharjee captured the spirit of change much more than his party. And the investors responded by changing their perceptions of the state. The large investments that he has managed to win for Bengal from top Indonesian and Singaporean companies should have inspired great expectations." 

In any other state, it said, this would have been a cause for celebration. "But Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee returned from his tour of Singapore and Jakarta to find himself in the thick of controversies." That said, the paper noted with quiet satisfaction that "The CPI(M), which was totally opposed to FDI, has come to partially accept it." It labeled the controversy over the issue as bogus, which is absolutely right.

The Business Standard was more direct.   "Is `Buddha-ism` Marxism?" it asked and went on to rub Marxist noses in Marxist lore, comparing Indian Marxism to religion and Indian Marxists to orthodox Brahmins. The key point it made, however, was that Comrade Buddhadeb had chosen his timing well.

It noted that the "Pope and his cardinals in the Politbureau would have to "wait till the election in West Bengal is over early next year. Mr Bhattacharjee is clearly using this window to force the issue and pile up the chips on his side of the table. The battle will be as absorbing as the one that is currently raging in the Brotherhood of Saffron."

That last was below the belt, but I think the Commies deserve it. Don`t you?