Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093055761200.htm

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“CPI(M) for non-Congress, non-BJP alliance”

Gargi Parsai

We are trying to work out some understanding with BSP: Karat

Prakash Karat

NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday said that after the Parliament elections his party would neither support the BJP nor any government led by a party that had a strategic alliance with the United States “with the India-U.S. Nuclear Agreement in it.”

The party’s effort would be to form a third front or an alliance to work with on a common platform of policies. “However, we will not be hustled into forming any front or alliance. We don’t want to mix our quest for a meaningful third front with some temporary arrangement or adjustment for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Since we have broken up with the United Progressive Alliance we have decided to work for the defeat of the BJP and communal forces, and the rejection of the Congress for pursuing such policies. We will go with allies who can work with us against the BJP and the Congress.”

In an interaction with members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) here, Mr. Karat said that after the trust vote on July 22 in Parliament, his party had been in touch with Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, who is a strong contender for the Prime Minister’s job.

“We are not ruling out anything. She has a party that has a possibility of getting a large number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. We are trying to work out some understanding with the BSP, but nothing has worked out yet.”

Poll performance

Mr. Karat was clear that his party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections would not be affected by the Left parties breaking away from the UPA on the nuclear deal. “People understand the pro-American policies of the government. They understand unemployment and the lack of jobs. They understand the role of Wal-Mart and such multi-national companies in the food and farm sector. They understand that had it not been for the Left, the meltdown in the U.S. financial sector would have affected our banks and insurance sector — which the UPA was keen to privatise. Local banks, in Kerala, for instance, are doing well. Why should they be privatised? We will take all this to the people, not just dwell on the nuclear deal and price rise.”

The Left leader said that in States such as Orissa and Karnataka, a common secular platform should be formed of the concerned people of all hues, including those from the Congress.

However, Mr. Karat felt the UPA government had failed to get its act together in curbing terrorism. “Intelligence and security need to be looked into. The solution is not just to have tougher laws like TADA or POTA. We need better intelligence, policing and better systems.”

“Alienation”

According to him, the manner in which the police investigate and target minority communities lead to widespread alienation and insecurity. “We can fight terrorism with better methods.”