Calling for a strong and vocal stance against the BJP, CPI(M) State Secretary and prominent political leader Md. Salim launched a scathing attack on the state's current political situation. While attending a memorial meeting for a deceased Left leader at the Srujani Auditorium in Durgapur's City Centre, he made highly significant and aggressive remarks regarding the current political landscape of the country and the state, which has already sparked intense debate in political circles.
Speaking from the stage of the memorial meeting held on Thursday afternoon, Md. Salim openly discussed the current political equations and the roles of various opposition leaders. While speaking about the recent political changes in the state and the greed for power and ambitions of various leaders, he launched a sharp veiled attack on the state's former Chief Minister as well. The CPI(M) State Secretary said, "Some people gain wisdom only after the thief has fled. For others, wisdom comes at an advanced age. But why is the talk of becoming Prime Minister or Chief Minister coming up here? We are giving a call to unite to save voting rights and protect the constitution. But he is looking at who will become Chief Minister, who will become Prime Minister. He has narrow-mindedness." Political analysts believe that this remark by the veteran leader essentially reflects a plea to rise above personal or party power ambitions and save the democratic framework of the country.
However, the CPI(M) State Secretary was not limited to a tone of criticism alone. Reminding everyone of the need to unite all democratic forces to protect the country's current constitution and secular framework, he also gave a clear and positive political message to the former Chief Minister. He said, "Despite that, if he does not sit in the lap of the BJP—since he is being attacked by the BJP now—and speaks out against the BJP, that would be for the best." In other words, in the country's current political situation, where a broader fight is underway against fascist and divisive forces, he has called on everyone to forget personal grievances or narrow interests and fight on a single platform. How much of an impact this strong and clear political message from the Left camp centered around the Durgapur memorial meeting will have on Bengal's politics in the coming days, and how other opposition parties react to it, remains to be seen.
