No one willing to spearhead revolution in Pakistan: Prabodh Panda

ISLAMABAD - No one in Pakistan is willing to ’spearhead’ a revolutionary movement there, veteran Indian politician and Lok Sabha member Prabodh Panda has said.

“Revolution is a word that has a resounding quality in the political discourse of present day Pakistan, but no one willing to ’spearhead’ such a movement seems to be in sight,” Panda said in an interview with The Express Tribune.

When asked about his views on the matter, the Indian MP replied: “I cannot say about Pakistan, but the people in India are certainly ready for a revolution.”

“I can see it happening in India, the process of revolt is already there,” he maintained.

Panda, who presides over the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the All India Kisan Sabha, however could not say how long it would take for the Indians to actually come out on the streets.

“I cannot give a specific timeframe,” he said, but argued, “A government that does not bother to resolve the people’s problems does not retain the right to stay in power.”

Panda, who was in Islamabad recently to attend a two-day South Asian parliamentarians’ roundtable conference on food sovereignty, said the governments of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries “do not have the strength to create a self-reliant economy to support social sector development.”

“In the absence of any viable alternative to under-performing governments that have repeatedly failed to address people’s issues, the people will opt to revolt,” he warned.

Panda urged “all political parties of the left” to come and join hands to “bring about a change that people now yearn for.”

He called it a pity that not a single representative of any left wing party was present in the Pakistan parliament. (ANI)