It is common knowledge that the deadly impact of global warming has been felt increasingly for some years in Orissa and West Bengal. Not least because 97% of the power production is based on old huge carbon-spewing, coal-burning thermal units in Bengal. The anti-progress, convoluted political “logic” advanced by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders opposes a nuclear power producing unit proposed for Haripur, although the central government, in view of the power shortage in the region is supportive.

But then, under Ms Banerjee, the TMC has driven away the Tata Nano car factory from the state, and opposed even the installation of a thermal unit at Katwa, not to mention a chemical complex at Nayachar. It is indeed a wonder that some factories can still undertake production in West Bengal at all, going by the record of the TMC!

Yet in 2010, there is hardly any mention of global warming or the rapidly degrading environment in the political manifestos and programmes announced by political parties during the poll campaign, in a state where weather patterns are changing rapidly and living conditions worsening. Environment expert Subhas Datta is deeply disappointed and so are large sections of the people. ”It indicates the general lack of awareness among our political masters,” he says. True. Nor is there much emphasis on projects for the future, or detailed proposals regarding visions of most parties for the future of Kolkata or the suburbs.

However, there are millions of words on the threat posed by globalisation and liberalisation, on part of the left and the threat posed by Hindu fundamentalists, on part of the TMC. Minority toasting is the new order of the day. The Bhattacharya-led state government runs huge ads in local papers about the good work done for the Muslims. Bhattacharya himself announces a slew of fresh goodies for the community if the left is re-elected to power, at every possible appearance on TV. Both sides approach even the relatively simpler civic polls as an undeclared war against each other, with no holds barred. What have such issues to do with the state of civic services and their improvement is hard to understand. Talk about heightened political consciousness !

As usual Ms Banerjee goes everyone one better. “I have secret information,” she thunders at public rallies, ”that the CPI(M) and the government have plans to initiate communal riots in areas like Rajabazar, Kidderpore, Watgunge, Garden Reach etc. This is what they always do when faced by certain elector al defeat. People must be alert about this. The CPI(M) has set fire to the Stephens Court building recently, and earlier at the slums of Ultadanga Tiljala and Burrabazar, to take over these areas with their armed cadres ….”

The context of such inflammable public speeches (exhortations?) by the Union Railway Minister has to be understood. She makes these comments in every Muslim-dominated area she campaigns in. At such meetings she is surrounded by local Muslim leaders and her meetings are attended by large Muslim crowds to whom she promises job reservations according to population patterns. At her home, there are now large pictures showing her in a namaz pose, along with Muslim women. She also attends major namaz meetings during Id and other festivals. What is she trying to convey to the people by such tactics?

Not to be outdone, Bhattacharya announces plans to ensure a 10% reservation of official jobs for backward Muslims, along with people of the SCs and the STs. Banerjee deliberately chooses to mistake his meaning. She says there are 2.20 crores Muslims in West Bengal and 10% of jobs would mean 22 lakh people would get work. Rubbish, Bhattacharya is bluffing. But that was not what Bhattacharya meant at all, scribes point out. Undeterred, she repeats her error at public meetings, where howls of despair are heard from the minorities.

One wonders just what these leaders, clear believers in the two-nation theory, are trying to do, in West Bengal? Can they ever keep their promises made in public, how can they face people if they fail, what about the unrest and anger their false claims and promises will generate among the impressionable young? All this just for a few miserable votes in the civic polls, so that they can come to power or retain it?

To the credit of the beleaguered left front, at least it has not reacted along communal lines to the vicious campaign launched by Ms Banerjee. Responsibly, front leaders have drawn the attention of the centre and challenged her to come out with her so-called “information”. Naturally, there is no answer from the Kolkata-based Railway Minister.

Even so, there is no doubt that these are hard times for the left and that it will fare badly in the civic polls, perhaps also in the proposed assembly polls in 2011. But there are already enough disturbing indications of the kind of polity that will be seen in Bengal and India, in case Ms Banerjee and her raucous hordes take over. Unrepentant over ruining the economy of the flourishing Singur areas, by driving the Tatas away, she claims that she has set up some 35 railway “projects' in West Bengal already!! She is doing this to offset suggestions that she has done the state's economy grievous harm already. Only problem, no other TMC leader makes these claims, because no one knows where these “projects” are located in Bengal. (IPA Service)