E-Paper
CPM ignores Surjeet role in CONG-Left pact for UPA-I
In a new style of history writing, the CPI(M) has left out several important developments shaped by its former general secretary, the late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, in a booklet released by the party in his memory.
In a new style of history writing, the CPI(M) has left out several important developments shaped by its former general secretary, the late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, in a booklet released by the party in his memory.
Surjeet’s political initiatives find a passing reference in the publication released on his 94th birth anniversary on Tuesday.
The booklet, Com. Harkishan Singh Surjeet — Highlights of an Inspiring Life, makes no mention of the political developments in 2004, which saw the Left coming together with the Congress for the formation of the UPA government. It was made possible by Surjeet’s active intervention.
“We consider the role played by Com. Surjeet in the formation of the United Front government in 1996 more important than the formation of the UPA government of 2004,” said CPI(M) central committee member Suneet Chopra, who was one of the leaders involved in bringing out the document.
Surjeet’s efforts to unite the opposition following the 2002 Gujarat riots — and his angry phone call to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after returning from the riot-hit state — also find no mention in the 36-page booklet.
Surjeet’s role as party boss between 1992 and 2004 finds mention in the last three pages of the booklet.
Sources close to the family of the veteran Marxist say the booklet appears to have been “prepared in a hurry and lacked interesting details about him.”
