Operation Barga-A Comment

Operation Barga A Comment Suhas Chattopadhyay ASIM MUKHOPADHYAY has drawn a gloomy picture of the West Bengal government's Operation Barga (OB) or the programme of rapid recording of sharecroppers.1 But what he has written is hardly convincing to those who have some knowledge about the barga- recording under the OB. Mukho- padhyay says that the OB had raised high hopes among the peasantry because, unlike earlier land reform measures, it seemed to be a better thought out and determined attack on agrarian problems and seemed to have the sincere support of the parties in the Left Front in the state. He further adds that during his first visit to different parts of the state at the beginning of the OB he had noted extraordinary jubilation among the peasantry but a second visit after a few months revealed a sharp fall in the people's morale. This statement seems to be an exaggeration.