London, Oct. 6 (ANI): Supporters of ousted political leader Bo Xilai are increasingly raising calls over the political discord in China, saying that the policies of current Communist Party leaders are widening inequality and breeding social unrest, which is leading to a growth of a 'new left' in the nation.
Though the movement remains relatively small and obscure, and is unlikely to have a major impact on the coming shuffle of party leadership positions, the criticism from Communist hard-liners are growing in volume, laying bare divisions around Mao's legacy and the role of the state in China's economy, placing Chinese leaders in a tricky position.
The new left, a loose collection of academics, lower-ranking government officials, writers and overseas activists, advocates a stronger hand for the state in economic planning as well as a return to the values put forth by the late Chairman Mao Zedong, The Guardian reports.
According to the paper, the new left argues that China's economic reforms over more than 30 years have led to wide income disparity, and the movement has criticized the takedown of Bo, once its most visible leader.
The new leftists have called attention to a widening wealth gap, government corruption and what they see as exploitation of cheap Chinese labor, raising questions about the effectiveness of current leaders and whether the party has drifted too far from its founding principles. Such questions come as the party prepares for a once-a-decade leadership transition beginning Nov. 8, the paper said.
Political analysts say scenes of blue-collar workers and students embracing Maoist imagery and slogans during officially tolerated anti-Japanese protests in a number of Chinese cities last month underscored leaders' fears that support for the new left could spread, it added.
Many protesters said in interviews that the demonstrations were also a way to express dissatisfaction with what they see as weak party leadership and Beijing's inability to protect China's interests. (ANI)