Verka (Amritsar), February 2
In a significant development, Mr Harkrishan Singh Surjeet, CPM General Secretary, today extended “indirect” support to the PPCC which has reached an alliance with the CPI.

In a categorical statement, Mr Surjeet appealed for votes for Left candidates. He said if there was no CPM candidate then the voter should vote for a candidate belonging to another Communist party (meaning CPI). Asked if such an appeal would not help the Congress as the CPI had reached an alliance with it, Mr Surjeet said there was need to bring secular forces to power. He alleged that the SAD and the BJP were communal parties which could damage the social fabric of the country. “Voters must ensure that the communal forces get a crushing defeat in the elections,” he said.

The “indirect” support extended to the Congress had raised many an eyebrow within the party. Mr Jagtar Singh Karmpura, city secretary of the CPM in a statement alleged that Mr Surjeet wanted to disintegrate the party by extending “unprincipled” support to the parties like the Congress.

Mr Surjeet had come here to address a rally in favour of Mr Tarsem Singh Bhola, a CPM candidate.

Mr Surjeet alleged that the Akalis should be held responsible for all that happened in June 1984. He said the Akalis encouraged the separatist forces to convert the Golden Temple and Akal Takht into a fortress by militants.

It may be mentioned here that 12 CPM candidates are in the fray while the CPI candidates will contest from 11 Assembly segments with the support of the Congress.

Replying to a question, Mr Surjeet admitted that the ruling BJP wanted to take political mileage from the Army buildup along the border. He said India and Pakistan should avoid a war as it was not in favour of both countries. He said his party was against all kinds of terrorism in the world. He, however, said his party was also against the policies of the USA which wanted to establish its hegemony in the world.