Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Modi of West Bengal

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Modi of West Bengal

The scale may be smaller in the case of Nandigram. But the basic fact is the same. There was violence by a large group against a much smaller group. There were deaths, more on the side of the smaller group. There was looting, there was rape. No one knows the details; Buddhadeb, or his party and government, made sure the media did not manage to enter the war zone. So there were no devastating TV visuals that would convery the horror of what was going on.

But essentially, the West Bengal government did what the BJP government did in Gujarat. Closed its eyes, thus giving a free run to the goons. Moral support too, by its statements at the time. And delayed deployment of central forces so its cadre could ‘recapture’ Nandigram.

I am sorry that I end up calling Buddha a Modi. Buddhadeb has generally been good for the state, good for bringing in a good dose of realism into the party, a good dose of capitalism too. But you are judged by your worst performance. So live with it. It was the same in the case of Modi too. Modi has been good for the economy of Gujarat pre-riots, he was good for it post-riots. But he will always be judged by his one big error. Same for you, Buddha, no mercy for you here.

Oh, and I came across this post rightly attacking Buddhadeb, but also playing apologist to Modi.

If the BJP’s Narendra Modi who responds to riots within 48hours is called a “Modern Day Nero”. what title will the sanctimonious conscience keepers confer on this Chief Minister of Bengal who has slept over the complete breakdown of government and constitution in Nandigram ?

// Got it wrong, pal. The line should have been: If Narendra Modi who did not respond to riots for 48 hours…! Buddhadeb’s screw-up does not absolve Modi’s screw-up, you guys are as sad as commies. //

It is easy for the leaders to sit back while their followers unleash violence, and talk only in terms of general ideas and motives, while the dirty work is being done on their behalf. It is important for them to keep that mental distance with what really goes on at the grassroot level, while, they spout philosophies and principles. But those very principles are translated into blood and gore and systematic looting and violence as we just saw in Bengal, before in Gujarat, even before in Delhi…

Buddhadeb, you would like think that this was inevitable, when worker power meets anti-state elements, this is exactly what would happen and all that blah. The same way a Modi would tell himself that the anger of a hurt community was pushed beyond a point and it lashed out, and it was inevitable. Like an Advani would tell himself that the Rath Yatra was critical for the self-respect of the nation, and some unfortunate incidents happened in its wake. Like a Rajiv Gandhi thought that the ground shook when a big tree falls.

Fact is, all of you are liars. And all of you are responsible for blood on the streets, violence, rape and mayhem. No court may ever punish you, but there are some saving graces.

Like never being able to wash the stigma away. The curse of spending the rest of your political life wringing and wiping your hands. The curse of being the Lady MacBeths of politics. Hopefully your worst judge will, one day, be your own mind.