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.”

Bangladesh Govt. plans to preserve Jyoti Basu's ancestoral house

From Ataur Rahman

Dhaka, July 15, 2009 : A museum and a library are among others which are likely to be built at the ancestral home of veteran communist leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, a ruling party lawmaker told this correspondent during noon today.

Ex State Minister for Culture Mr. Obaidul Quader MP when contacted said he has visited Barodi , the ancestral home of Mr. Basu which is about 20 Km from here on the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina . Before flying to Egypt to attend NAM summit which began today Hasina had asked Quader to visit Jyoti Basu's house as her government plans to preserve it ( house ) having memories of the veteran leader.

Mr. Quader said he has asked the concerned people to prepare a proper plan - making a monumental site of the place which will incorporate a museum , a library and other necessary spots so that people from far and near can visit . When asked how long it will take to start the task , Quader said we hope the work will begin very soon once the plan which will be sent to the PM gets her approval.

PM Hasina had asked Quader to survey the house of the veteran leader to see whether it could be turned into a library, The Daily Star said in a report published today. The paper also reported that Mitali, an Indo- Bangladesh cultural society on Monday called on the government to presertve the house of Basu. The organization also demanded that the road from Bishwa Road to his Barodi hose be named after him ( Jyoti Basu ).

Jyoti Basu knew and had good relations with Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( Hasina's father ) and Hasina has great respects for Mr. Jyoti Basu . Whenever she visited Kolkata, she had called on the veteran leader. Basu as chief minister of West Bengal played a role ( in convincing BJP central govt in New Delhi) in reaching an agreement on sharing waters of river Ganges in 1996 after Hasina came to power.

Quader said the road to Mr. Basu's house at Barodi is now in bad shape .The road will be repaired as part of the preservation plan. He also informed they also talked with the secretary of ailing Basu today and sought their consent which he( Basu) gracefully gave.

Besides DC[ Deputy Commissioner] of Narayanganj district under whose jurisdiction Barodi falls, other officials and a large number of people were present when Mr. Quader visited the spot.

Mr. Basu during his last visit to Bangladesh in 1999 had visited his ancestral house and is known to regularly enquire about the present condition of the house.

If built finally ,it would a good example of honoring history.

Basu returns home after discharged from hospital

Kolkata, July 19 : CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu was today discharged from a private hospital following improvement in his condition and he returned home."Basu is progressing well. The medical board constituted for his treatment met this morning and reviewed his condition and decided to discharge him today," a medical bulletin issued by AMRI Hospital at Salt Lake here.

“He slept well last night and has taken his food adequately. The sodium and potassium levels are within normal limits. Basu is slowly being mobilised out of bed”, said T.S. Kuckrejja, executive vice-president, AMRI, Salt Lake.

"The panel of doctors will continue to monitor his progress at his residence from time to time," he said.Basu would now be kept under watch by specialised doctors round the clock at his residence, sources said.The 96-year-old veteran Marxist leader was admitted to the hospital last Sunday after he fell unconscious at his Salt Lake residence.

On July 12, Basu became unconscious twice while brushing his teeth in the bathroom. The attending nurse, Madhabi Biswas, could not find his pulse or record his blood pressure and provided cardiac massage to revive him.

Jyoti Basu’s bedroom will be converted into a virtual intensive care unit with life-saving equipment to ensure the 95-year-old CPI(M) leader does not face a crisis like last Sunday’s when he twice fell unconscious.

“The medical board has suggested that before shifting Basu to his Salt Lake residence, we should arrange a medical set-up there,” a senior AMRI official told mediapersons.

The unit at Indira Bhavan will have a cardiac monitor, pulse oximeter, defibrillator, Ambu bag, oxygen cylinders and a suction machine as well as emergency drugs. Doctors and trained nurses will man the unit round the clock.

Madhabi Biswas will be part of the new unit following a request from Basu.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu has conveyed to AMRI that the party would pay for the equipment.

“Bimanbabu wanted AMRI to facilitate the procurement of these equipment,” a hospital official said.

Sources said it would cost around Rs 5 lakh to set up the unit. According to them, standby equipment would be provided by tomorrow and these would be replaced once the new equipment are procured.

Jyoti Basu in hospital, condition stable

Kolkata, July 12, 2009: Nonagenarian Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu was admitted to a hospital today after he fell unconsious following acute breathing trouble.

The condition of Basu, who turned 96 on July 8, is now stable, doctors attending on him said.

Basu fell unconscious this morning at his Salt Lake residence 'Indira Bhavan' following acute breathing trouble, his personal assistant Joykrishna Ghosh said.

Doctors were called in immediately and the former chief minister was rushed to AMRI Hospital, where he is in the ICCU, he told mediapersons.

Basu is under observation of a medical board which treated him when he fell ill about three months ago.

Doctors said his condition was stable and his echocardiography was conducted.

Basu's son Chandan, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and state transport minister Subhas Chakraborty went to the hospital to inquire about his health.

ON 96th Birthday