CPM to support Congress

DINDIGUL (Tamil Nadu), Sept 14 (PTI) — CPM general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet has attacked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for supporting the Vajpayee Ministry while having reservations on the BJP and reaffirmed support to the Congress in forming an alternative government of secular parties.

Mr Surjeet told a rally here that such differentiations between the party leading the ruling coalition at the Centre and the central government defied logic.

"How can these two be separate?’’ he said and added that since CPM, along with other constituents of the United Front, had defended the DMK against charges levelled against it by the Congress in connection with Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, it had every right to ask the DMK chief this question.

Mr Karunanidhi should remember that the threat of dismissal of his government had disappeared only because of support from the people and opposition parties, including the CPM.

Stating that the DMK should not take shelter behind this "irrational’’ differentiation between the ruling BJP and the government led by it to support policies that endanger secular unity of the country, Mr Surjeet added, however, "if somebody wants to remain in power somehow, it is his own concern.’’

The CPM leader reaffirmed his party’s support to the Congress.

Mr Surjeet criticised Union Home Minister L.K. Advani for his reported statement that the Centre would consider using Article 356 and said it could be resorted to as per the directive of the Supreme Court in the S.R. Bommai case.

Though MDMK leader Vaiko and the TDP had issued statements against using Article 356, he wondered why they had not categorically stated they would not support the government if it resorted to dismissal of state governments using this provision.

Alleging the BJP was solely responsible for "internationalising" the Kashmir issue, which had been raised during the recent NAM summit, he said India had been "marginalised" in the comity of nations after the nuclear blasts at Pokhran.

Alleging that the BJP government was not worried about addressing basic issues, he said no lessons had been learnt from the experience of countries like Indonesia which were suffering from "over dependence" on the World Bank and the IMF.

He said states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were following similar policies, which would not solve people’s problems.

He also accused the BJP government of destroying the "secular character" of the Indian people and said democratic forces were waiting for the Vajpayee government to collapse under its own contradictions.

Former Union Home Minister and CPI leader Indrajit Gupta appealed to his party’s national congress to identify "friends and allies" in the battle against communal forces.

"State power had gone to the hands of fascist and communal forces. The fight against these forces could not be handled by Communists alone, and they needed other allies too," Mr Gupta said addressing delegates to the 17th congress after hoisting the party flag at the conclave’s venue here.

"Who these allies are, you will have to decide at this congress," he said, adding that the meet should chalk out a "new policy for the coming days."

CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, central committee members, national secretaries and state office-bearers were present on the occasion.