Date:19/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/19/stories/2003021904171200.htm

National

Yechury flays Centre

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE FEB. 18. The CPI (M) has strongly criticised the Central Government for moving the Supreme Court to vacate its March 2002 order, which decreed status quo in Ayodhya.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme here today, the CPI (M) politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, while accusing the Vajpayee Government of taking a partisan attitude to support the fundamentalist organisations, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), said the move was aimed at the ensuing Assembly polls in four States on February 26.

The Supreme Court had clearly ruled that no part of the land could be acquired and prevented any sort of religious activity in the disputed area.

The Government duty was to implement the law of the land as per the court order.

But, instead of maintaining the status quo, it had approached the court to vacate the order.

He urged the Government to take the lead at the coming conference of non-aligned nations to oppose any unilateral U.S. decision to wage a war against Iraq.

"Till now India has not categorically stated its opposition to the threat of an American aggression on Iraq.

Unlike in the past India should not offer any help even for air fuelling on our soil, '' he said.

Referring to the union budget to be presented in Parliament, Mr. Yechury said that it would lay greater stress on easing the pressures on the middle class. Provision should be made to empower the State Governments to increase their public investment in the infrastructure areas so that more jobs could be generated.