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-----Original Message----- From: Shishir Jha Sent: 16 April 2002 07:20 When the 'Silent Majority' Backs a Violent Minority EPW Commentary March 30, 2002 Sumanta Banerjee A short and relevant excerpt. ........... "The anti-BJP political organisations, ranging from the Congress to the socialists, from the CPI(M) to the Naxalites, failed to mobilise their ranks on the streets and halt this march (against Advani's Rath Yatra). I remember, at that time I posed a question to my friends in the CPI, CPI(M) and some Naxalite groups: 'You can bring thousands of your ranks and followers at a moment's notice to the Delhi Boat Club for a public meeting. Why don't you organise them to form a human chain to prevent Advani's ratha-yatra?' While others prevaricated, a CPI(M-L) leader of the Liberation group was frank enough in his reply. He admitted that while his party's followers and sympathisers (the majority of whom are from the poor and depressed castes and tribals) would readily congregate at a public meeting on economic demands, and even face police bullets to fight for those demands, they would hesitate to respond to any call given by their party that may pit them against their religious establishment which upholds their faith. He then added the usual refrain: "After all it's up to the state administration to prevent communal riots". Although many other Leftists may not agree with this assessment, I think this frank acknowledgement throws light on the pathetic state of mind that has paralysed the Left and secular circles in India." ............. Shishir _______ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
