RMPI is a national-level Left party based on class struggle: Mangat Ram Pasla

Born at Pasla village in Jalandhar district, Mangat Ram Pasla (65), who recently formed a new Left party, Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), has always played a crucial role in the Left politics of the country. In an interview to The Tribune correspondent Gagandeep Singh, Mangat Ram Pasla talked about many aspects of the Left politics in Punjab and his personal life.

What was the purpose behind forming the new left party RMPI?

For the past two decades, the path that the CPI (M) had adopted was proven to be one of opportunistic politics. They had quit class struggle and were hobnobbing with the ruling parties at the Centre. There was a lot of resentment among members and Left sympathisers across the country. And a lot of members had abandoned the CPI (M) and had been struggling by constituting their own forums. Consequently, people have been urging for a national-level Left party that would be based on class struggle.

Apart from taking forward the legacy of Leninism and Marxism, we would also take along the philosophy of India revolutionary movements and individuals like Ghadar movement, Bhagat Singh and Dr BR Ambedkar. We would also motivate people with the teachings of Sikh Gurus, who devoted their lives for the humanity and equality and against the oppression of the weaker sections of society.

Do you think not taking along Dalits and Sikhs in Punjab has been the reason for the Left failure?

To some extent. There are examples that we got mixed up with the Muslim league and the Akali Dal despite knowing that there were some ideological differences. And sometimes we just ignore them completely knowing that they made sacrifices for  humanity, equality and the equality of women. I am of the opinion that if we initiate a movement based upon the ground realities of Punjab, we could revive Left in Punjab.

The  Left seems to have lost ground in Punjab. How do you take it?

Our failure is we could not elect MLAs and MPs in Punjab on our own. After 1964, the Left MLAs and MPs were elected only in alliance with either the Congress or Akali Dal. Meanwhile, the middle-class land holding communities in Punjab used to be the sympathisers of Left parties. Gradually, they associated themselves with other parties. They joined the SAD and Congress. Now, they have been joining the AAP. The downtrodden sections of society are still with the Left and their number has been increasing. Dalits have also been coming back to the Left in a big number.

Would you be able to get any MLA elected in the upcoming Assembly elections?

We have no alliance with any ‘bourgeois party’ in Punjab, though we are making efforts for an alliance of all Left parties in the state. In spite of being in tough competition with ‘bourgeois party’ I am sure we will get a couple MLAs elected in this election.

How do you see the spilt in the CPI (M) that took place in 2001?

It has been very beneficial. We have been opposing the CPI (M)’s support to the Congress at the Centre. How could Harkishan Singh Surjit, CPI (M) General Secretary, support the party with which we have ideological differences? People had started seeing us as a party of opportunists that was a stigma to the CPI (M). That’s why we got split.

The CPI (M) has always been condemned for not raising its voice against the alleged police atrocities in the state during the militancy period and having pro-Congress stance.

We never stood with the Congress, though we opposed terrorism. We also raised our voice against the alleged fake encounters and disappearances in Punjab. However, we didn’t raise our voice against police atrocities as vigorously as we should have, which I think has been a big blunder of ours. Since Harkishan Singh Surjit was on good terms with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, giving the impression of the CPI (M)’s alliance with the Congress in Punjab. That was also a reason of our split later on.

Have you ever been part of student politics?

After completing my graduation from Ramgarhiya College in Phagwara, I started pursuing my MA English from Doaba College in Jalandhar in 1973. Then a movement started in Punjab and the police were behind me. Therefore, I could not complete my MA. Then again I got admission in Khalsa College, Amritsar, where I got involved in the Left student politics. I was part of the railway strike of 1974 and got arrested. I had to leave my studies to join the mainstream politics with the CPI (M). I worked in trade unions of the CPI (M) too.