West Bengal communists face criticised

BBC World Service, Friday 28 August 1998, published at 11:34 GMT 12:34 UK

The communist leadership in the Indian state of West Bengal has been criticised in an internal party report and accused of allowing itself to be influenced by vested interests.

The report says the pace of land reform has slowed alarmingly, and alleges that the state government has failed to improve health, education and environmental services -- particularly in rural areas.

The report was presented to a conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal.

A BBC correspondent says it was drafted by three party figures known to be opposed to the state's chief minister, Jyoti Basu.