VISAKHAPATNAM: CPI MP and AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said here on Wednesday said that the Left parties should reconsider their support to the Congress-led Government at the Centre.

"The BJP has been voted out by the people because they did not like its polices. Why should we support the Congress, which is following the path of the BJP? We are making it clear that the support to the Congress has to be reconsidered," Mr. Dasgupta said at a press conference here.

A liability

"Support to the (Congress) Government has almost become a liability for us. It is difficult to continue our support as the Congress has deviated from the CMP. It has failed to control inflation and protect secularism," he said.

Asked if there was a possibility of realignment of political parties and formation of a third front after the UP elections, the CPI leader said the third front was their perspective but not on the immediate agenda. He hinted that many changes were on the anvil.

Mr. Dasgupta said Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's economic policy had failed and the nine per cent growth in economy claimed by him had only helped the rich while the real wages of workers had gone down. The 36 billionaires in India had a total wealth of Rs. 6 lakh crores, which was equivalent to the annual budget of the country. On the other hand, 26 per cent of the countrymen were without two square meal a day and 50 per cent of people did not benefit from the economic policies of the Government.

Issues at stake

In the coming Parliament session, the Left parties would raise several questions like the SEZs, rule on printing skull mark on beedi bundles, violation of labour laws, change in the mining policy of the Government, including bauxite mining in Visakha agency area, etc., he said.

He asserted that the SEZs were not necessary to give a boost to industrial growth. They would only push agriculture sector further into deep problems as fertile land was being acquired for establishing them. It was a conspiracy by national and international cigarette companies to destroy the beedi companies by having the skull mark printed on the bundles. Instead, the warning printed on the cigarette packs could be printed on beedi bundles also. All-India secretary of AITUC V.V. Rama Rao was also present.

Rahul's statement

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statements on Babri Masjid and Bangladesh, the CPI leader said: "It's an irresponsible statement and most unfortunate that our young friend has spoken something which he should not have said."

"It can't be attributed to a family. All secular forces as a whole fought the issue. Is a particular family above the party?" he asked.

Mr. Dasgupta did not want to comment on the Telangana issue saying that his party's State unit would make a decision.

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