Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112759330400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

CPI slams Congress leaders

HYDERABAD: Taking exception to the criticism of the Left’s alliance with the Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India State secretary K. Narayana advised the Congress leaders against indulging in “personalised criticism” in the name of caste.

Dr. Narayana criticised the Congress leaders for reportedly bringing in the caste factor into the Left’s alliance with the TDP. The Congress, he said, is reputed for distributing money to caste leaders during the elections. “Congress leaders’ charge attributing caste bias to leaders of other parties is like ghost reciting scriptures,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He ridiculed the Congress leaders’ reported claim that the Left leaders ‘lost mental balance’ which was reflected in their alliance with the TDP. He wanted them to clarify their stand on the issues raised by the Left including handing over lands to industry at throwaway prices, sanction of Indiramma houses to Congress activists.