Date:28/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012802500500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

CPI calls for unity among Left parties

By Our Special Correspondent

ONGOLE, JAN. 27. The Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary, Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy, feels that the Left parties should join hands and present a viable political alternative to both the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the State.

Speaking to newspersons here today, he said that there was some change in the attitude of the CPI(M) over unification with the CPI. He pointed out that CPI(M) members, attending their State conference at Warangal, responded positively for the unification move.

Issue-based support

He said that the CPI would offer issue-based support to the Congress Government in the State. Though the Government had changed, there seemed to be no change in policies.

For instance, the TDP Government had signed an agreement to entrust sanitation, drainage and lighting in 42 municipalities to non-government organisations (NGOs) and the Congress Government had decided to implement it.

Mr. Sudhakara Reddy said that it was nothing but privatisation of services in municipalities being carried out at the behest of the World Bank. No NGO would do the services without profit and contractors would take over the services ultimately, he argued and wanted the Government to reconsider its decision.

He wanted the Government to complete the irrigation projects giving priority to those in backward areas to win the confidence of people and check regional feelings.

He supported the Government for restricting free power to small farmers and to those in upland areas. Saying that it would cover 75 per cent of farmers, he felt there was no need to provide free power to corporate farmers.

The TDP was fighting for landlords and trying to politicise the issue, he felt. He however demanded the Government not to disconnect illegal connections but regularise them in a phased manner.

Asked whether the CPI would have any truck with the TDP in the ensuing municipal elections, Mr. Sudhakara Reddy ruled out the possibility of any electoral understanding with the TDP as long as it continued its relations with the BJP and adhered to World Bank policies.

Government, Maoists blamed

He blamed both -- the Government and Maoists -- for violating ceasefire agreement and vitiating the atmosphere for peace talks.

He said Maoists had blasted landmine in north Coastal Andhra and the Government resorted to bogus encounters and they lost confidence in each other.

Saying that it was still possible to revive peace talks, he wanted the Government to take the initiative and bring Maoists back to the negotiating table with the help of mediators.