Political violence is highest in West Bengal among all the states
Does that make you proud ?
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PDS is a social party committed to the ideals of democracy, secularism, green and peace .These ideals are sweeping the world today and will more vigorously do the same in future. P.D.S is inspired by the success of democratic, socialist, and social democratic parties all over the world on these important matters and recognizes the everlasting relevance of these values for Indian realities. PDS espouses a forward looking, progressive, environment friendly, multi-cultural and scientifically enlightened democracy in India. It would pursue a vigorous development plan based on green technologies and aiming at job generation in rural areas. PDS recognizes that technological revolution and its successful uniform deployment all across the country would be central to India’s success in 21st century. PDS also recognizes mass scale illiteracy, corruption in every layer of Governance and chronic hunger of a large number of the population as three main retrograde elements in Indian democracy which it vows to eliminate with the help of e-Governance, technological revolution in agriculture , massive state funding for primary & secondary education and unfettered development of entrepreneurial power of the people. |
Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) was founded by Saifuddin Choudhury on 21st of February, 2001. Saifuddin Choudhury and Samir Putatunda, two former leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist)with a number of their colleagues, disenchanted with the outdated policies, broke away protesting against authoritarian centralism of CPI (M) and started building the long waited platform for the democratically committed socialists, communists and politicians of other hues in West Bengal and other parts of India.
Collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 led to severe debates among communist parties of the world, India being no exception. As the horror stories of genocides in Russian Gulag shocked the common people, communists all across the world, who so far believed in one party democracy, started questioning Stalinist type of communism that led to great purge of 1936 when 92% of the former communist leaders were exterminated to consolidate Stalin's homicidal autocratic regime. However, in India, the debate was brewing slowly as the communist parties were enjoying governmental power through parliamentary democracy and therefore, debate for multi-party democratic reform was being delayed citing the proponents of democratic reforms as anti party enemies.
PDS endorses universal humanism, democracy, green environment and science against fascism, autocratic communism and violent politics
Given the sweeping victory of democratic socialism in Europe and fall of unitarian communism in Eastern block, it was evident to Saifuddin Choudhury and Samir Putatunda, that new theoretical leadership in CPI(M) politburo who are product of student leftist movement in Delhi and devoid of any ground experience, would not allow or accept democratic socialism and instead would continue to inflate the balloon of democratic revolution in a bid to transfer more power in the hands of the powerful top echelons of the party. Mr Choudhury and Mr Putatunda, therefore, firmly concluded that , due to power centric autocracy, CPI (M) would fail to appreciate the true nature and values of pluralistic democracy ,therefore would continue to deny ,and at times would even justify, the fact of mass genocides by Stalin .They will also continue with their own hypocrisy of following social democracy while claiming adherence to Leninist ideology.Although Lenin denounced parliamentary democracy through out his writings and dissolved 3rd constituent assembly in Russia on November 12, 1917 nipping the hope of the growth of pluralistic democracy in Russia.
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The matter of asking democracy was no isolated or theoretical demand as the whole of West Bengal was suffering from parallel administration set up by CPI (M) and protected by infiltration in every Government office and police force aided by party muscle.This was done without any regret .In communist practice party taking control of state machinery and corresponding organizations is most coveted objective and quite natural .But this situation is not compatible with pluralistic democracy .This situation stifles the voice of common people .This exactly happened in West Bengal .The reality of a radarless opposition also contributed to the success of left front's anti-democratic manipulations and activities.
Overall politics in West Bengal became ugly ,violent and undemocratic.Opposition to CPIM also could not grow on healthy lines.Terror became the rule of politics. Therefore, Mr. Choudhury and Putatunda decided to break way and set up Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS). Many others were to join this effort,but for various reasons all of them could not directly associate with it. A few leaders from Parties like C.P.I@R.S.P too joined this new party .
(i)Founder and Party President Saifuddin Choudhury (ii) Bengali writers/intellectuals like Dibyendu Palit rallied behind PDS
Formation of P.D.S was preceded by the creation of a mass platform by name JANACHETANA(Mass Consciousness) Thousands of people including many leading intellectuals associated themselves with Janachetana.
Party for democratic socialism (PDS) has been founded on the solid principles of parliamentary democracy, non-violence, clean environment, sustainable development, denouncing all kinds of religious fanaticism and proclaiming international brotherhood of all the nations and its people.
PDS considers, keeping in mind the history of communist revolutions and its violent aftermaths which deprived power and dignity of common masses to whom the revolution promised a working class heaven, that only through continuous democratic evolution, equitable society and nation can be built. Only the practice of democracy can uplift and empower marginal sections of society and PDS vows to connect this ignored marginalized masses with democratic process so that with each election, their voice and aspiration can be better reflected in nation building. P.D.S stresses the need for eternal vigilance by people to safeguard democracy, gurrantee its continuous improvement, strengthening of democratic principles and practices to keep it effective as a tool for social change.
In the matter of class contradictions, PDS affirms, given the technological and democratic evolution in 20th century, that the basic idea of class struggle and the role of proletariat to lead it for establishment of the dictatorship of proletariat , have been transformed into social contradictions of various interest groups in democracy. This newly transformed contradiction of various social interest groups can be best resolved through democratic means and it is possible to empower working class masses through dedication to pluralistic democracy.. P.D.S believes that the physical nature of class contradictions and its resolution through violent means as espoused in the old days is no longer valid .The old physical nature of the contradictions have been transformed to qualitative natures and people irrespective of their birth,color,caste ,gender or class are free to take unified positions on any relevant issue.
PDS also conforms to non-violence and clean processes for democratic protest movement. It has proved its commitment to lead the agitated common masses non-violently several times from 2001 uptil now. One of the best examples of its non- violent movement was set on 10 January 2003 when people of Bengal observed a peaceful strike at the call of P.D.S which DECLARED THAT NO OBSTRUCTION OR COERCION WOULD BE APPLIED TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE STRIKE AS APPLICATION OF FORCE WOULD SIGNIFY A MORAL DEFEAT OF DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.
PDS is highly concerned about ongoing violent political clashes in West Bengal in which nearly 3500 people have died since 2007 and the blame for this goes to irresponsible power politics of the ruling party and its main opposition. PDS is completely opposed to such naked power hungry competitive politics that led to exodus of Tata motors from West Bengal. It advocates pro-development, issue based political position for development of West Bengal. Employment of nearly 10 million jobless youths of West Bengal is at the top of the party's agenda.
PDS is highly concerned about Industrial and Ecological pollution and will campaign for green technology and better environment standard
PDS is highly concerned about dooming ecological balance in West Bengal which has been triggered by murdering of several rivers, ponds and lakes to satisfy vested interest of ruling classes. Every attempt to reduce pollution in the cities of West Bengal either by introduction of CNG powered Bus or 4-stroke Auto failed miserably because of populist short-sighted nature of politicians who have always prioritized their vote bank over ensuing environmental disaster. PDS is determined to restore ecological balance in the state. To preserve the Mother Nature, PDS always advocates and encourages sustainable development like organic farming, eco-friendly housing and renewable energy source as a means of peoples future. PDS wants to bring eco-friendly technological revolution in rural Bengal by providing people solar energy driven light, kitchen & pump sets, biogas, clean water treatment plant and one internet kiosk per village. PDS firmly believes that effective and democratic use of advanced technology will bring employment and prosperity in the villages.
PDS practices zero tolerance against any kind of communalism and religious fanaticism. While PDS admits people's freedom to practice their religion, it does not encourage use of personal faith for social identity or identity based politics. PDS affirms humanity as supreme religion and is opposed to any kind of obscurantism or inhuman practice that prevails in the name of religion and God. While the PDS will never hurt the religious feelings of the common people, it is also,at the same time, determined to a take a tough stand against inhuman and discriminatory practices that goes in the name of religion and that deprives the right and equality of different race, sex and colors in the name of supreme power. It admits the right and freedom of people to critically analyze and evaluate religion if that is done objectively with civility and rationality without discriminating a particular religion.
PDS believes Obama's success will inspire democratic revolution in India as well
PDS believes in internationalism and brotherhood across all the nationalities. For long, CPI (M) and many other forces of left have opposed everything of USA defining all as imperialism. P.D.S considers that this opposition is blind because in a democracy, people and its Government must be demarcated. P.D.S supports better Indo-US relationship while opposing expansionist imperialistic policies that its ruling powers pursued.
P.D.S condemns US invasion in Iraq,disapproves of Chinese oppression in Tibet and Russian aggression in Georgia.Any territorial aggression in any part of the world and any desire of any country to lord over the other country is always highly condemned by theP.D.S.
P.D.S firmly denounces all forms of terrorism that is wreaking havoc in today's world.Terrorism ,conducted in the name of religion, has turned out to be the most dangerous threat to the humanity. Terrorists groups ,if succeeds in acquiring weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons ,would bring about universal destruction .to our planet. P.D.S is committed to engage itself in mass campaigns against terrorism and hopes that all opinion makers including the religious leaders would play important role to rescue those who have taken to this wanton path of terrorism. P.D.S also demands that political leaders including the leaders of the nations stop use of languages of threat and force while dealing with various socio-economic and political problems, thereby set example of peaceful and enlightened behavior.
P.D.S has supported Indo-US nuclear deal because India needs to secure its energy security and its growing industrial march can not be sustained without nuclear energy as a formidable option.This deal has broken the nuclear apartheid that India was subjected to and opens the door for India's cooperation with the rest of the world on vast horizon of nuclear science.
P.D.S considers CPI(M) and old style left's opposition to US-India nuclear deal as myopic.
PDS is highly positive about Barack Obama and would like America to change as promised by Obama and believes that this will contribute to the onset of much waited new generation revolution in different parts of the world including Bengal and India. PDS feels that Obama can not afford to fail.
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