The Hindu : Fight NDA regime's wrong policies, CPI(M) tells DMK

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Fight NDA regime's wrong policies, CPI(M) tells DMK

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI DEC. 27. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) vice-president, T.K. Rengarajan, today urged the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to come forward to fight the ``wrong policies'' of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre.

On the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi's remark that his party would forge a ``progressive front'' for the Lok Sabha elections, he told The Hindu here that as of now, the CPI (M) welcomed its exit from the NDA. His party's poll strategy would be evolved only by its central committee at its meeting slated for February 29-31 in Hyderabad.

The CPI (M) wanted the DMK to fight the BJP's `communal agenda' and the NDA Government's policies and programmes such as the Electricity Act and privatisation of public sector units.

Asked about the decision by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) to continue in the NDA, Mr. Rengarajan said if any secular party helped the BJP come back to power, it would cause a `great harm' to the nation. On the possibility of a political realignment, he said the situation was still fluid in the State. The CPI(M) had forged programmatic alliances only in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, while in other States, it preferred seat adjustments to ensure the defeat of the ``BJP's communal agenda and its wrong economic policies.''

Mr. Rengarajan dubbed the State BJP president, C.P. Radhakrishnan's view that his party's main goal was to defeat the Left parties a ``daydream.'' The CPI(M) would accept the challenge and fight the BJP to save the country.

The State BJP chief, instead of telling the people how the Vajpayee Government implemented the NDA's agenda, had tried to side track the issue by launching a tirade against the Left, he said. The people were aware that the Centre, which was ``tainted by scams'', had not implemented most of its promises such as enhancing employment opportunities, besides failing to solve inter-State river water disputes.

On reports that the BJP might take the services of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) cadres for specific jobs of the party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, he said though it was not a new phenomenon, in the prevailing scenario it would create a ``dangerous impact'' on Tamil Nadu as the ``communal virus'' had already been spread by the Sangh Parivar in several parts of the State. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had gone to the extent of organising a conference in Tiruchi to distribute `trishul' to its members to ``threaten the minorities and secular forces,'' he said adding the Left and Dravidian movements would be able to take on the Sangh Parivar.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States