‘How can we let them capture our base?’

Vietnam also resumed talks with the US to resolve problems. We want to solve problems across the table because we are good friends at the national level.

•You often say it is not possible to have relations with the CPI(M). Earlier, you had threatened to quit Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s cabinet. How will you convince your cadres in Basanti?

I have explained this earlier too. It is true that there are differences in our party about taking a radical and final decision like snapping ties. If my party does not approve, I cannot quit. After all, the decision to quit the Front has to be a collective one.

•What is the root cause of such an ugly flare-up in Basanti?

Basanti and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas are our strongholds. On many occasions, we have told the CPI(M) to stay away from these two places. As we are critical about their action in some places, they want to teach us a lesson by capturing our bases. How can we allow this?

•How can you claim that the Left Front in West Bengal is a model of coalition politics?

The Basanti outbreak has definitely sent out a message that we (LF partners) have no strong commitment to coalition politics. Jyotibabu has rightly said that the Left Front should be rebuilt as there are deep fissures.

•Which party, RSP or CPI(M), has more arms and ammunition in Basanti?

They have light machine guns, muskets, revolvers and explosives. We cannot fight them with only some hand bombs. Moreover, they have the police and the administration on their side.

‘We have more public support in Basanti’

Abdur Razzak Molla is the CPI(M) minister for Land and Land Reforms whose constituency is close to Basanti, the scene of the CPI(M)-RSP clash.

•Do you consider the RSP as an LF coalition partner or an adversary in Basanti and other parts of South 24-Parganas?

There are times of stress and strain even among partners. Can’t we sit together and sort out things? What is there to be ashamed of? We are now trying to resolve the problem after the flare-up.

•Why is Basanti so volatile? Any reasons for these repeated clashes between LF constituents?

In Basanti, the MP, MLA and the minister belong to the RSP. They run the panchayat samiti. But at the grassroots, the turf war is more acute. We run 105 gram panchayats and they run 102. It means that we have more public support in Basanti. But they don’t agree with the real picture on the ground.

•Is it a power row at the village level?

No. They want to retain their base and we want to regain ours. When clashes erupt, it is difficult to control the cadres. This is a problem being faced by both parties. The workers on either side do not listen to the leaders.

•How do you plan to resolve this? By holding a meeting between ministers?

The problem cannot be solved at the senior leadership level. Instead, it has to be approached at the grassroots level. That is the only way forward.

•RSP’s top leader Kshiti Goswami has alleged that you have a huge stockpile of arms and ammunition, while they have only crude bombs.

The incident at the Irrigation Minister’s residence involved crude bombs. RSP is admitting they have only crude bombs. (CPM has alleged that Naskar’s relative died of an explosion caused by bombs stored in the house). Now draw your own conclusion.