KOLKATA: IN the bizarre media scenario in West Bengal, where almost all
business newspapers and channels, except a handful, are brazenly anti-Left, the
only viable and steady alternative is Ganashakti, the CPI(M) daily organ that
has a broad readership and broader acceptance among people for decades.
In the changed political scenario in the state, Ganashakti has
practically become the sole voice raising questions about the functioning of
the state government, depicting the atrocities being committed against the peasants,
workers, women and other democratic sections of people. It has already exposed
corruption, nepotism and utter failures of the TMC-Congress government.
Naturally, Ganashakti has also become a target for attack.
In fact, for the last 14 months Ganashakti has been facing fierce attack
of the ruling parties of West Bengal. From urban belt to rural belt, the
attacks were everywhere. The attacks were initiated all over the state just
after the declaration of results of the assembly election. The ruling party
activists immediately started threatening and also initiated attacks in many
areas to stop the sale and circulation of Ganashakti. It was declared as
‘banned’, hawkers were attacked, and even the packets of the daily were burnt.
Several boards of Ganashakti were dismantled by the anti-socials. Yet,
the circulation and sale of the daily continued under such difficult situation.
The readers’ increasing interest toward Ganashakti is also evident.
Beside the physical attack, the state government, in a completely
illegal move, stopped issuing advertisements to Ganashakti. Even private
institutions that are issuing advertisements to the daily are facing direct or
indirect threats from the ruling party. So, Ganashakti has been facing huge
financial loss for the last one year. Moreover, the devaluation of the rupee in
comparison to dollar has resulted in a steep increase in the price of
newsprint. Allied expenditures have also increased.
In these circumstances, the CPI(M) West Bengal state committee has given
a call for collecting fund for Ganashakti from people. Party state secretary
Biman Basu, in an appeal, said that Ganashakti has been playing its role even
amidst these multidimensional attacks. It is only this daily that has been
regularly taking initiatives to protect the interests of poor people including
the workers and peasants and also effectively exposing the attacks on
democracy. Through its news, features, articles and special contributions
Ganashakti has been instrumental in revealing the undemocratic face of the
state government.
Basu said that Ganashakti has been resolutely continuing the fight
against the anti-people policies of the central government. It has been
operating as the only alternative newspaper when almost all business newspaper
groups are playing anti-Left role and eulogiser of TMC and Congress. Daily
newspapers and other organs of Communist Party have always tried to portray the
real picture of the society to the largest possible reach. Ganashakti has the
rich inheritance of Janajudhha and Swadhinata publications. The common people
have always extended assistance in publication and management of the organs of
the Communist Party. The people of West Bengal protected Ganashakti during
Emergency. In those dark days many people risked their lives to render support
for Ganashakti. The support of the readers helped it to overcome stiff hurdles.
Basu appealed to workers, sympathisers of Left forces, common people and
above all the readers of Ganashakti to stand by the daily in this adverse
situation. Fund raising to support Ganashakti will be organised in the entire
month of August. Basu expressed confidence that Ganashakti will continue to
play a strong role to bolster the right to freedom of expression of the
democratic people of West Bengal in the future.
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