Left Front loses touch with people: MP Roy

For the first time in 34 years, some allies of the Left Front in West Bengal are apprehensive about being voted back into power by people in the ongoing Assembly elections. Though the ruling Left has tried its best to put up a united front, the rift has surfaced among its allies with veteran Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader, Abani Roy, unhappy with the way the current dispensation has handled the Singur and other burning issues. In an exclusive interview to The Sunday Indian, the Rajya Sabha MP Roy, 72, slams the WB government for unrolling anti-people policies in the state. Excerpts:

TSI: Will the people vote the Left Front back into power for the eighth time?

Roy: Nothing can be said at this stage. The fact of the matter is that people are not happy with Left Front government. Development work throughout the state has not been satisfactory. In some villages situation is pathetic with no proper system to deliver drinking water. In many villages, even health services and primary educational institutions do not exist. Also, the government has failed to supply nutrient rich food, particularly to women and children, through the public distribution system (PDS). The adivasi and the backward areas are the worst hit.

TSI: You mean to say that voters are unhappy with the government?

Roy: Young people in the age group of 18 to 35 are not at all happy with the government because of its failure to generate enough jobs. The WB government has failed on this front also.

TSI: Has the government been a complete failure?

Roy: Of the last 34 years of rule, the initial years were good as the government worked hard to develop many villages through the panchayat system. During those years, the government gave more power to people. Later on we lost touch with people as there was lack of monitoring. Besides, there was no proper administrative help to educate people.

TSI: When did the government lose its focus?

Roy: During the last quarter of the regime the government went astray. The regime misused power to suppress the demands of people. Police force was used to silence dissents. Even the government stayed out of touch from people. It became complacent and created problems within the Left Front allies. Partners in the Left Front are not happy with the way government has gone about handling burning issues.

TSI: Do you have any advice for the government?

Roy: In a democratic society the ruling party should pay respect to the opposition parties. In democracy the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. If we don't fulfill their demands and serve them properly then people will certainly vote that government out of power.