Sulekha.com

 I totally agree with your views.It is high time government thinks before making statements like giving jobs and money to family members of deceased person, who travelled to other country for earning money rather than on government duty.I am currently abroad and i am here purely to make money.I cannot expect government to provide my family with compensation in case of my death as it was not the government who sent me abroad.

Kkbhai

[This is what Dictinary.com has to say about fascism

1.system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism

CPM fits more into the above definition or BJP?]

Well, let’s go through them one by one, comparing West Bengal and Gujarat (for ease of comparison, two States in India – one with a CPM Govt, one with a BJP Govt.).

[system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator]

WB centralises authority, so does Gujarat – but Buddhadeb doesn’t compare to Modi in terms of personal authority.  Modi is closer to a dictator.  Panchayats are significantly more empowered in WB than in most of the rest of the country – not just more than in Gujarat.

[stringent socioeconomic controls]

Please note: socioeconomic = social and economic.

In WB you may (or currently, actually may not) have more rules for business and industry owners to follow.  But that’s only half the equation.  Are unions (the other half of business and industry) as free in Gujarat as they are in WB?  Or are independent unions pretty thoroughly suppressed, with only Parivari unions allowed to function (albeit weakly by design).

And what are the social controls in place in these two States?  Are you more likely to be able to run up against a social or cultural organisation burning cinemas down because they don’t like what’s being shown in Gujarat or in WB?  Where have pogroms (mechanisms of social control for both ‘minorities’ and ‘majorities’) been allowed and encouraged (Gujarat) and where have they been kept out (WB).  Despite both States being border States, and WB arguably having a more difficult border than Gujarat does.

[suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship]

Which State has a freer press?  Which State has a media that includes a broader set of opinions?  (WB)

Which State has more recently tried to harass journalists and writers (by slapping false charges against them) that exposed uncomfortable truths about it? 

[a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism]

Definitely more present in Gujarat under the BJP.  Look at the racism of how they allowed the Gujarat pogrom and now defend those responsible.  Has WB ever done that with riots?  In fact – when was the last communal riot in WB, how large was it, how long did it last?  And compare that with Gujarat.

[You said that Congress is non communal and BJP is communal .

Can you substantiate your point here?]

Congress ideology does not differentiate between Indians on the basis of trivial characteristics like religious identity or language.

Hindutva does differentiate between Indians on the basis of religious identity.  In fact Hindutva uses only one of India’s religious identities to define Indian identity and nationalism.  Congress uses ALL of India’s religious identities to define the nation – you tell me which is more inclusive, and which one excludes and marginalises and why.

[can you please elaborate on  what you mean by parivar?]

Sangh Parivar.

[Is anybody who speaks up for Hindus becomes part of the 'parivar'.]

No – there are plenty of secular minded people, and Leftists, who speak up for Hindus and who are not a part of the Sangh Parivar.   A prime example: Medha Patkar is speaking up for the interests of the mostly Hindu rural MP population that is being displaced by the Narmada Dams. (The Hindutva parties are not speaking up for these particular Hindus.)

Regards

• jinah's savagery that killed 20,000,
• Moplah with 30,000?,
• Godhra+postGodhra that killed more than 300 (blamed on you folks),
• postBabri that murdered 1700+,
• SUNDRY riots - another 3000+? and so on compared to less than 800 for postGodhra of counter-terrorism positive action..