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Sunday, May 02, 2004

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National

We will take a common stand: Surjeet

By Our Staff Reporter

The CPI(M) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, with the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, at an election meeting in Madurai on Saturday. - Photo: K.Ganesan

MADURAI, MAY 1 . The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies of spreading rumours of differences among the constituents of the secular alliance.

Addressing an election meeting to canvass votes for his party candidate, P. Mohan, in the company of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M. Karunanidhi, here on Saturday night, Mr. Surjeet said: "We will take a common and firm stand. Issues in the alliance will be sorted out by consensus."

The CPI (M) leader said a strong federal structure, coupled with secularism, could alone safeguard the nation's unity. "Till the BJP is in power, the country's security is at stake. The non-BJP forces will defeat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and defend India's unity and communal harmony."

The BJP had no faith in secular principles, which had forced parties such as the DMK to quit the NDA. A new political scenario had now emerged that would safeguard secularism and democracy, he added.

Apparently referring to the exit polls, he appealed to the voters not to be carried away by the media. "You must investigate and find out the reality."

Mr. Karunanidhi said there was no question of the DMK deviating from the political stand taken by the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). "We will not deviate even an inch from the stand against the ruling BJP and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). This secular alliance will form a government at the Centre and ensure that communal harmony prevails," he said.

Though the majority party would take a decision on who should become the Prime Minister after the elections, the DMK was in favour of the Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi, leading a secular government. "The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also endorsed this view," he said.

The DPA was opposed to the policies of both the Centre and the State. "Almost all sections of the society, including government employees, were affected by the anti-people policies of the AIADMK regime. We have always stood for the rights of the working class."

Mr. Karunanidhi said the Opposition parties came to the rescue of the two lakh employees when they were dismissed. "The Centre did nothing when we took up the issue. Finally, it was the Supreme Court that rendered justice to the victims and even its order was not implemented properly," he said.

The AIADMK Government had extended the operation of the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act [TESMA] by another six months. "We must punish them (the ruling party) in a democratic way and the May 10 elections will provide an opportunity for it," the DMK president said, adding that the exit polls had threatened the future of the BJP and the AIADMK.

The DMK president said he and the CPI (M) candidate were "good friends" cutting across party lines.

The CPI (M) State secretary, N. Varadarajan, said the ruling party was depending on money and muscle power to win the elections. The CPI (M) cadres were being assaulted in Nagercoil. "This has only triggered an upheaval among the masses against the policies of the BJP/AIADMK regime," he said.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary, R. Nallakannu, said the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had no concern for democratic values. While the Government employees were denied their basic rights, many industries were in the doldrums owing to the policies of the Government.

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