Left builds a common platform to honour Che memory

CALCUTTA, Oct 19: If everything goes well, various Left organisations in West Bengal will have legendary Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto Che G...

CALCUTTA, Oct 19: If everything goes well, various Left organisations in West Bengal will have legendary Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto Che Guevara’s kin to grace the functions planned for Che’s 30th death anniversary.

Che, who remained a special source of inspiration for the Left forces throughout world, `will be remembered by the Left parties in the state in special functions’ and efforts are on to have either the daughters or his grandchildren to grace the occasion, according to Left Front sources here.

According to sources, Che’s daughters, Aleidita and Celia, are likely to visit West Bengal sometime between 5th and 7th of next month.

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The Latin American revolutionary, who was allegedly killed by the CIA agents in a Bolivian village on 9th October 1967, became famous for his brilliant unorthodox guerrilla warfare tactics.

The Committee For Solidarity with Cuba understandably met thrice during the last fortnight to finalise the details of their visit, and according to a highly placed source, Biman Basu, a CPI(M)’s Central Committee and West Bengal State Secretariat member was present during those meetings.

The committee will meet again shortly to give finishing touches to the itinerary of Che’s daughters. Even the non-Left student and various youth organisations may take part in the functions to felicitate Che’s daughters.

While the occasion is likely to leave the small-time Left Front members gratified, the LF big brother may end up sulking. For the CPI(M), which guards its signposts of success zealously, would find it difficult to accept the fact that it has to share the credit of bringing Che’s daughters with other LF allies.

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What has miffed it more is that even several non-communist and non-Left youth wings would participate in the functions! Occasions such as this take place hardly once in a decade and the CPI(M) has got an opportunity to hold a biggest ever Brigade Parade Ground rally which would have, if not reinforced its political prospects, reinforced its political image.

Considering this, it is difficult to say what inspired the LF big brother to share such an occasion with its allies. But a section of the State leaders hint that with the party conferences on and the organisation and leaders being pre-occupied with dissensions and `who must get the most’, it becomes politically convenient to share the glory which the presence of Che’s daughters would fetch them.

According to sources, Biman Basu told the LF partners in a recent meeting held to discuss the issue during the party conferences that it would be difficult to organise such a massive event alone and it was better “that all of us take part in the functions”.