The Hindu : Rejection of Congress record, says CPI(M)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003

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Rejection of Congress record, says CPI(M)

New Delhi Dec. 16. The CPI (M) today said the outcome of the Assembly elections in five States was a "rejection of the record and performance" of the Congress Governments and the defeat of that party in three of the four northern States showed that it had lost ground among some of its traditional support bases.

"In the eyes of the people, there was no difference between the economic policies of the BJP and the Congress," the CPI (M) politburo, which met here on Monday, said.

The BJP benefited by the rejection of the Congress, it said adding that there was no endorsement of either the Centre's performance or the BJP's "right-wing economic policies."

Observing that the poll verdict was a boost to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh combine and the forces which "wish to subvert the secular basis of the polity," the CPI (M) said "it will embolden them to push forward with their real agenda under the cover of the BJP-led Central Government and the newly elected State Governments."

On the proposed one-day strike on February 12 by State and Central Government employees federations, it said the party would actively work to support the strike which was in defence of the democratic rights of the people.

Stating that the U.S. war on Iraq and its occupation was an "illegal act of aggression," it said the U.S. should immediately withdraw and make arrangements for a representative and sovereign Iraqi Government to take over.

— PTI

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