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Karat: will oppose anti-poor policies

CUTTACK: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Monday that the party would oppose any decision of the Congress-led government that would harm the interests of the poor, workers, Adivasis, government employees and small traders.

Speaking at the open session of the party’s State conference here, Mr. Karat said the Left parties were providing crucial outside support to the UPA government; at the same time, they were playing an important role in opposing the ‘anti-poor’ moves of the Centre. “All the 61 MPs of the Left Front in Parliament will ensure that the Central Government does not take any decision that would jeopardise the integrity and sovereignty of the country,” he added.

On the nuclear deal and military collaboration with the U.S., Mr. Karat said the U.S. wanted India to be its junior partner. “But we would not allow this to happen and ensure that India does not become a strategic ally of the U.S.”

Criticising the Centre’s economic policies, Mr. Karat said the claim of 9 per cent Gross Domestic Product growth rate had nothing to do with a majority of the people as the bulk of the wealth was now concentrated in a handful of people. “Five persons of the country now have combined net assets of Rs. 4,12,000 crore while the poor have become poorer due to the pro-rich policies adopted by the Congress-led government.”

Agriculture, price rise, unemployment, the public distribution system and national security were very close to the CPI(M) and the party could not compromise on any of these issues.

Mr. Karat was critical of the BJP for pursuing communal politics and said the Left would continue their struggle to see that it did not come to power at the Centre again. He criticised the ruling Biju Janata Dal in Orissa for adopting a ‘faulty’ mines policy.

Janardan Pati, who was re-elected State CPI(M) chief, said the party would emerge as a major force in Orissa in the next three years.

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