Kolkata: Ganashakti, the Bangla language mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has triggered outrage for carrying a front-page article quoting a Chinese spokesperson as saying that Indian soldiers violated border protocol and disregarded the status quo in Galwan Valley, leading to the deadly clash that killed 20 Indian troops this Monday.
The publication and the CPI(M) have both defended themselves against the outrage, saying it is usual practice to quote the governments of both India and China, and present both versions.
A statement from Ganashakti said the outrage was a “smear campaign” run by the BJP’s IT cell.
What Ganashakti carried
The article, titled ‘Ladakh seemante sanghat, mrityu ubhai pakkhei’ (Face-off in Ladakh, both sides suffer casualties), first detailed the Monday night clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, then carried the official version of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
It went on to quote the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson as saying he had not heard of any casualties on their side, and then the story was continued on Page 2, in which the spokesperson said the Indian Army had violated their consensus agreement on de-escalation.
“Indian Army on 15 June violated that agreement in a serious way. The Indian Army breached China’s border line twice for their illegal work. They also provoked Chinese soldiers and attacked them. This violation of protocol led to the physical clash,” Ganashakti quoted the spokesperson as saying.
But now, only a cutting of the second page is being circulated on social media, implying that the publication was only putting forth the Chinese view, due to the Communist link.
Also Read: Congress and BJP both want action against China incursions, but only when in opposition
BJP IT cell ‘mischief’
Ganashakti highlighted the presence of both countries’ versions in a statement, blaming the BJP IT cell for “mischief”.
“We have taken versions from both the governments. On the front page we have given the Indian foreign ministry’s version, and then quoted the Chinese spokesperson,” it said.
“The BJP’s IT cell however has taken only the second page, where it seems like we have written (that the Indian Army violated the agreement and breached the border). In reality, we quoted the Chinese spokesperson. It is a mischievous way to confuse and mislead people. We condemn this,” it added.
Nilotpal Basu, member of the CPI(M)’s apex body, the politburo, told ThePrint this “maligning campaign” by the BJP had contradicted itself and proved that the Left was “still relevant”.
“I have read the story,” Basu said. “It is a textbook example of a news article and it is totally matter-of-fact reporting. The paper has carried versions of both the countries. BJP’s IT cell is making such outrageous and irresponsible interpretations of the article to mislead people and brand it as pro-China.”
Basu added: “The BJP has failed in its diplomacy and strategic handling of foreign issues. They have made India isolated in the region. Now, they are trying to divert attention by these stupid tricks.”
CPI(M) was never aligned with Chinese or Soviet Communists
The CPI(M)’s Bengal state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said the party was never aligned to China’s Communist Party or that of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
“We only raise issues and express concern for our country. We are not agents of China. Some people always refer to an old saying ‘China’s chairman, our chairman’, but they don’t tell you that all senior CPI(M) leaders protested against this slogan. And we never accepted it,” Mishra said.
“We never want a war anywhere. We want peace and settlement through dialogue. We expressed condolence for our soldiers,” he added.
However, Swapan Dasgupta, nominated Rajya Sabha MP and journalist aligned with the BJP, claimed that the CPI(M) had shown its true colours with this article.
“They have maintained their unblemished record of being anti-India. Nobody has ever seen CPI(M) taking a pro-India stand. So, we are not surprised,” Dasgupta told ThePrint.
Also Read: Breaking TV sets to boycotting Chinese goods — India’s RWAs wage ‘war’ against Xi’s China
Cpim only one part me cpim like cpim no Congress cpim best kolkata west bengal city
My dady cpim my mom cpim
They are always against national interested….I am very happy indian people crushed them electorally but now time to finish this toxic breed from Hindustan…
The wire, the print, ndtv or many other website which trying to divide India based on caste are highly funded by chinese communist party.
CPM mouth piece has now become work for TMC goons. They think Chinese criminals are their God father. People of Bengal do not believe these thugs who now joined with Congress. All leaders are garbage slurred. Working class have kicked them.
Who is telling Communists to make a balance between India and China? They didn’t uttered a single word against China. Who is stopping them to condemn china?
Major problem with communist is that they hate” Nationalism ”
If they stand with India some one can mistook them as Nationalist. Which is not in their Ideology. They deserve a Gutter as usual
Starting from pre independence time with it opposed the Quit India movement, to running down the independence itself, “Yeah azzadi jhutha hai”, to supporting to Chinese in 1962, to calling the Chinese Communist Party Chairman as their own etc etc, the Communists have always played an anti national game in India. Talking to a Chinese spokesperson with the fig leaf of covering both sides of the story is a joke. In reality that was the only story that it wanted to put out.
All such biased reporting deminig india and braving China will no way help our communist brotheren.
Absolutely false. It is a clear quotation. Ganashakti has quoted verbatim the Chinese Foreign minister’s televised response, and this was shown on all major Indian news channels. Does that mean all Indian media houses are anti-nationals for showing the Chinese Foreign minister’s response???? Because by the logic of BJP they should be too!!! I am posting the link of Ganashaktis’ http://ganashakti.com/bengali/india-china-border-clash. Anyone who can read and understand Bengali can check it for themselves and explain to anyone else.
Modi Government has been found wanting and now they are hiding behind the valour of our brave soldiers and trying to divert the attention by twisting others’ words. PM please lead the nation, and stop your followers from doing such harm.
Ye 1962 me bhi unhi ke sath the aaj bhi, inko pahle maro
Irrelevant issue !! Facts of the other side also to be taken for consideration. Indian soldiers were unarmed…in a group of 50-70. They(China) were in good numbers .Why there was no pre assessment of the situation ? Now, we are hearing of some Jawans being released from China’s captivity.Earlier, it was told by Army that no one is missing or captured !!! What a joke !!! And…the big question is …why no arms were with the Jawans at that point of time ? Who ordered this ? We are apprehending a Fulwama like episode here also !!!
Communists of India cannot stop loving China. In 1963, the Communist party divided on the basis whom to support, USSR or China. India has never been high on the priority list of Communists. They are the fifth columnists of foreign forces inimical to India.
OK, VERY FINE, THE MOUTH PIECE HAS PUBLISHED BOTH THE VERSIONS OF INDIAN AND CHINESE GOVTS. WILL IT FOLLOW THE SAME STANDARD FOR OTHER STORIES WHICH MAY BE INCONVENIENT TO CPIM? BECAUSE EVERY NEWS ITEM HAS TWO VERSIONS
Self ,vested interest Sinking in china,Japan debt traps & awards of many contracts even constructed the vallavvai patel statue with imported Chinese materials & with very good relationship with USA which is right now sinking in Chinese debt traps of gigantic amount 1’3 trillion dollars is nothing but hipocracy of the BJP..
we all know which side commie were in 1962 and which side they are today
Seems like Coupta’s lackeys didnt see the report in Ganashakti. There was no “quote”.
Let’s start with weeding out the internal enemies.
Can Ganashakthi and the print the paid or unpaid advocate publish Indian spokeperson version if the are in China.
kammunists are the most dangerous creature after xti@ns and jih@di in this world . Both of this group kill , murder , rape and blame others for its crime . The sheer underdevelopment in kerala and bengal is proof of its failed economic policy . communist are solely responsible for bijon setu and sabrimala massacre .
Dear brother please go through the statistics of Niti Ayog for the last two years. In fact Kerala is at no.1 position in the case of development in most sectors
I can provide evidence this is not right the social media has posted only the second page of the newspaper whereas at the end of the first page it was written according to Chinese minister (probably defense) by providing only the second page they made it look like as if ganashakti is supporting China
I know Print is well known for its neutral posts and comment i am a regular follower of Print please don’t break my trust and look into this matter and make another neutral article showing the truth i will be waiting for the neutral article .
Thank You for reading
I can provide evidence this is not right the social media has posted only the second page of the newspaper whereas at the end of the first page it was written according to Chinese minister (probably defense) by providing only the second page they made it look like as if ganashakti is supporting China
I know Print is well known for its neutral posts and comment i am a regular follower of Print please don’t break my trust and look into this matter and make another neutral article showing the truth i will be waiting for the neutral article .
Thank You for reading