Outsiders?

It does not require an extra intelligence to deduce the latest poll battle cry of the Chief Minister of West Bengal urging people to save Bengal from outsiders. The mounting pressure is more perceptible for Mamata di, who is battling a deluge of heavyweight ‘outsiders,’ like the Home Minister and the BJP party president in her home turf. She is, more importantly, fighting a fiercer battle from within, a fact known to a few. The threat of BJP running over Bengal is more hallucinatory, compared to the threat of an implosion from within her party.

The State’s embattled Finance Minister has been giving periodic valorous soundbites on investments figures. The endowed ones know that much of the touted statistics are either the Central or State government projects, duly budgeted earlier. Despite valiant attempts, the ghost of Tata’s exit looms over Bengal and its maverick leadership.

Surprisingly, an ‘All India’ party like the AITMC chose to talk of the threat of ‘outsiders’ influencing Bengal, apprehending destruction of its rich ‘inclusive culture.’ BJP, on its part, has named many as poll organizers for their party, none a familiar name to me! Either BJP is buoyant of their win, or too confident of TMC’s defeat. It may be premature to come to any conclusions right now. Perhaps, the BJP has no local faces enough!

The average Bengali is today less concerned about who could be winning the 2021 elections. The Covid pandemic has upset all walks of life. Jobs are lost, and the children are missing their education. There is perceptible negativity all around, despite the non-stop colourful ads of the government praising themselves for one or another reason every day.

The threat of ‘outsiders’ is not unreal. It may not be from BJP alone. I recall someone bringing the entire opposition to a rally at Maidan before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. All of them were outsiders too. Therefore, understanding the ‘co-operative federalism’ in its true sense is of importance to a matured and seasoned politician like Didi. Does anyone know the percentage ownership of businesses by ‘outsiders’ in Bengal? Or for that matter, the migrant labour population in the State? 

Did the NRC and CAA not aimed at identifying the real ‘outsiders’? Why did we protest then? We did not want a polarization or a division on religious grounds. Such stand is applicable for caste, creed and communities from other States as well. Instead of appreciating the diversity of our country, parochial shouting that the culture is in danger due to outsiders reveals a sheer hollowness.

There needs to be no fear of outsiders. Fears emanating from within, however, have no cure. These are tests of cohesiveness that any party suffers after a while. Sound leadership must prove its worthiness repeatedly.

A recent aspect quotable is of the ‘insider’ Chirag Paswan from Bihar, biting the dust in his home state. The ‘outsider’ Owaisi, fighting from Hyderabad, won 5 seats and upset the Mahagathbandhan’s victory in many other seats. The threat of his entry into Bengal and grabbing away of the minorities, on whose support the Left and the TMC kept winning elections is for real. This outsider could change the post-poll scenario in 2021.

Time left is too little to achieve what has not been done or what all could have been done. But why worry? The obnoxiously expensive poll strategist must be having a solution for a win and an infamous continuity of the status quo.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix