Jyoti Basu contracts pneumonia, hospitalised

KOLKATA, 1st January, 2010(IANS): Nonagenarian Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu was on Friday admitted to a private hospital here with pneumonia.

"A CT scan revealed that he has moderately severe pneumonia," said a top official of the AMRI Hospital (Saltlake), where the 96-year-old leader was admitted on Friday evening.

"He is being given intravenous antibiotics. A series of blood tests have been conducted on him. He is under observation," the official said, adding that Basu was fully conscious. A five-member medical board led by cardiologist A K Maity has been formed for Basu's treatment.

The veteran Marxist leader was brought to the hospital in an ambulance with 'chest congestion and infection'. The communist patriarch was being given normal diet. His further course of treatment would be decided by the board after reviewing Basu's condition on Saturday.

Basu, who was suffering from cough and cold for the last few days, underwent an x-ray at his Salt Lake residence in the afternoon.

A concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for an update on Basu's condition. A stream of leaders, including West Bengal Left Front Chairman and state CPI(M) Secretary Biman Basu, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta rushed to the hospital.

Basu, who was chief minister for 23 years, has been ailing for long due to various old-age complications.

He was hospitalised last July following gastro-intestinal complications and transient loss of consciousness. In May last year he injured his left leg after a fall at home. This prevented him from casting his vote in the April-May Lok Sabha poll- the first time in 63 years that he did not vote. Basu also has a clot in the brain from a fall in his bathroom in 2008. In 2007, the veteran leader had cracked a rib after a fall in the bathroom.

Born 1914 in Kolkata, Basu became chief minister in June 1977. He stepped down voluntarily on health grounds in November 2000. One of the founding members of the CPI(M), Basu almost became India's prime minister in 1996 as the head of a coalition government. But the CPI(M) vetoed the proposal.

Gopal Gandhi calls on Basu, bids adieu to Marxist veteran

Kolkata,December 13, 2009

Outgoing West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on Sunday called on veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu at the latter's residence in a farewell call on his last day in office.

Gandhi, who arrived at around 11.45 am at the former chief minister's Indira Bhavan residence at Salt Lake, exchanged pleasantries during his 10-minute visit.

He told Basu about his departure for Chennai tomorrow. "I remember the days when we met in South Africa ... We often remember Kamal-di (Basu's late wife)," Gandhi told the veteran leader.

Basu, aided by his personal assistant Joykrishna Ghosh, told Gandhi that he found it difficult to carry on a conversation as his sight and hearing have dimmed with age.

Gandhi and Basu presented bouquets to each other.

Later, the governor told newsmen that he had first met Basu in London in 1992. "I have the privilege of having his guidance in many matters, especially in the last five years," Gandhi said.

PTI

Karat met Basu

KOLKATA, 28th NOVEMBER, 2009: The CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat met communist patriarch Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake residence Saturday and enquired about his health. Karat arrived in Kolkata today morning to attend a party meeting Saturday and Sunday. The West Bengal unit of the CPI(M) will meet to discuss the issue of rectification guidelines for its party workers.

'Karat came to meet Basu at his Salt Lake residence today (Saturday) afternoon to enquire about his ailing health. He talked to Basu for less than 10 minutes,' Basu's personal assistant Joykrishna Ghosh said.

He said the CPI(M) general secretary did not continue the talks for long as the communist veteran was not well. 'It was just a courtesy meeting,' Ghosh said.

Later Prakash Karat slammed Trinamool Congress' demand to impose president's rule in West Bengal, saying it was against 'basic democratic principles'. 'Anybody who makes such demand should know that the demand of Article 356 (to impose president's rule) goes against the basic democratic principles. The Supreme Court has already said that the use of Article 356 against an elected government is unconstitutional,' Karat told reporters here before entering a party meeting at CPI(M) state headquarters.

About the central team which is scheduled to visit trouble-hit areas of Hooghly district, he said: 'Let the central team come and review the situation 'objectively and impartially'.

'If the central team looks at the situation, they will understand who is responsible for it. Everyone knows who is trying to destabilise the state.'

Vote Left, Basu urges Congress supporters

‘Trinamool Congress has taken to path of violence’

‘We supported Congress against communalism’

‘We had made mistakes in certain areas’

KOLKATA,1st November, 2009 : The Trinamool Congress has taken to the path of violence and terror and is in league with Maoists, veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu said here on Sunday even as he appealed to supporters of the Congress — an electoral partner of the Trinamool Congress — to back Left Front candidates in the November 7 bye-elections for ten Assembly seats. “The main Opposition party (Trinamool) is pursuing the path of killings and of terror…..The Trinamool and the Maoists are together (in carrying out such acts),” he said in a statement.

The State was going through dangerous times, he said and appealed to Congress supporters to back the Left candidates for the sake of “peace, order and development.”

“I am telling those who support the Congress that we (the Left parties), in the interests of the country, had supported the Congress against communalism,” Mr. Basu said, referring to the Left backing from outside for the previous United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

His remarks come a day after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee came down on the Trinamool for its alleged links with left-wing extremists and said the party chief Mamata Banerjee — who is calling for the withdrawal of the joint security operation against the Maoists in the State — should approach the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister (who feel the need for such an operation) with her demand.

“Our (the Left parties) workers are being killed every day. Those being murdered include doctors, nurses, police personnel and ordinary people. Party offices are being set ablaze. The Trinamool and the Maoists are together. They are taking the law into their own hands,” Mr. Basu said.

Pointing out that sections of traditional Left supporters voted against the Left Front in the last Lok Sabha elections “when the results for us were bad,” Mr. Basu admitted that “the fault was not with them” for not backing the Left.“We could not take our message properly to the people. Besides, in certain areas we had made mistakes,” Mr. Basu said.

Kowtowing to imperialists unacceptable to Left: Basu

Kolkata, Aug 31 (IANS): Claiming that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is “surrendering to the imperialists” and framing policies adversely hitting the poor, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) patriarch Jyoti Basu Monday said the Left parties will staunchly oppose such moves.

“Whatever be the impediments, the Leftists will work in the interest of the workers and the common people. We will never accept the way the central government is surrendering to (the) imperialists,” the nonagenarian Basu said in his written message at a rally organised by West Bengal’s ruling Left Front to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a mass movement against food shortage.

“Due to the policies pursued by the centre, poor people are being adversely hit. Peasants are committing suicide. Food crisis is also escalating in the country,” said Basu, who was chief minister of West Bengal for 23 years from 1977. He stepped down in 2000 for health reasons. He said prices of essentials, hoarding and black marketing are on the rise, and asserted that the Left parties had built up agitations against the maladies.

“We will never agree to the strategies aimed at dividing the poor,” he said in the missive, read out by Left Front chairman Biman Bose. Attacking the state’s opposition parties and Maoists for stalling development by perpetrating violence and triggering lawlessness, Basu appealed to the Left workers to mobilise the people against such atrocities.

“Work for the people. We should not lose faith in the people, even those who have turned against us. Many have voted against us in the last general election. We have to correct our mistakes. We have to bring these people back to our fold,” the leader said. “I have confidence that the people of our state will never pitch their lot with opportunistic alliances and parties devoid of policies and morals,” said Basu.

Left should win over people: Jyoti Basu

A mammoth rally by the ruling Left Front to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of movement on food shortage in 1959.

KOLKATA, 31st AUGUST: While there is need for bringing back into the Left’s fold who went against it in the April-May Lok Sabha elections, it is also imperative that the Left parties correct their mistakes, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, said here on Monday.

“Many had gone against us in the last [Lok Sabha] elections. We will have to bring them back to us again … . Side-by-side, we will have to correct our own mistakes,” Mr. Basu said in a statement that was read out at a massive rally organised by the Left Front to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Food Movement” in which 80 persons were killed in a baton charge on demonstrators demanding food.

“The struggling masses are the Left’s hope in difficult times. I say this from the experience of the great ‘Food Movement’,” Mr. Basu said, criticising the attempts being made by the Trinamool Congress in league with the Maoists and, in certain places the Congress, to stall development and create anarchy in the State.

Leaders and workers of the Left parties were being murdered, party offices were being attacked and set ablaze. “We will have to resist such attacks by mobilising the masses. For this we will have to keep reaching out to the people, work to further the interests of the poor and common man and win over their affection,” Mr Basu said.

expressed the belief that the people of the State “will never accept an opportunistic alliance or a party without a policy and principle.” “They will never bow their heads to the politics of anarchy and terror,” Mr. Basu said.

The poor are coming forward to renew their struggle against the Centre's policies, which were forcing farmers to commit suicide. The increase in prices of essential commodities, arise in black marketing, and a deepening food crisis had hit them badly, he pointed out.

TMC, Cong spreading terror in WB: Jyoti Basu

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and communist patriarch Jyoti Basu said opposition parties Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its ally Congress, along with Maoists are trying to spread terror in the state.

In his written speech read out by Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) state secretary Biman Bose, Basu said: “Trimaool, Congress and Maoists are trying to stop development in West Bengal through anarchy and terror. We have to counter their efforts by mobilizing common people…they know who are their friends and who their foe.”

Basu asked his partymen to win back the support of people through ‘understanding their needs’.“In the last Lok Sabha election many voted against us. We have to correct our mistakes. We have to bring them back to our fold. We have also to regain their confidence. The people are our hope in difficult times.

“We should not lose confidence on the people,” the veteran politician said.Basu also accused Trinamool, Congress and Maoists for killing CPI-M activists and setting their houses on fire in the districts.

Learn Subhas’ ability to touch a chord with people: Basu

KOLKATA, August 24, 2009: Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu referred Subhas Chakraborty as a crowd puller and urged party workers to reach out to people and work for their interests just like the late leader worked.

Basu’s speech was read out at the condolence meeting of former transport minister Subhas Chakraborty, which was held at Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

Basu described Chakraborty as a hard-working individual and an able administrator. “He was a crowd puller. I have heard many people are coming to his condolence meeting. I express my gratitude to them,” said Basu. The speech was read out by CPI(M) leader Amitava Nandy. “You (party workers) will have to work for people’s interests. That is what Subhas used to do,” he added.

Shocked by Chakraborty’s sudden demise, Basu said: “At this age, I should have gone. This was not his time to pass away. He could have worked more for a long time.” Recounting the days when Chakraborty was part of the youth movement, Basu said: “In those days, he used to work hard for the part. He even had to go to jail.”