The Hindu : National : No need for third front now: Karat

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

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National

No need for third front now: Karat

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL, FEB. 3. "There is no immediate need for a third political alternative in the country unless it is formed around basic issues such as opposition to communalism, struggle against anti-people economic policies and against the imperialist United States. The proposed third front should not be a mere electoral front," the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat, said today.

Inaugurating the party's 18th State-level conference here, he said there was no option but to support the United Progressive Alliance Government to keep communal forces at bay. The CPI(M) continued to oppose the Government's move to privatise profit-making public sector units, the decision to increase the foreign direct investment cap in the telecom sector and other PSUs such as BHEL even though it supported the UPA Government from outside. The party would mobilise people's support to mount pressure on the Government to withdraw anti-people policies. The Government should honour commitments made in the Common Minimum Programme. If it wanted to implement various welfare and development schemes (health and education), it could approach international funding agencies instead of increasing the FDI cap in telecom sector and privatising profit-making PSUs. The nominal interest can be remitted for borrowing loan but it need not lose income from the profit-making units.

CMP diluted

Mr. Karat said that while making legislation on ensuring employment to the people of the rural areas, the main proposal mentioned in the CMP was diluted by the Government. Hence the decision to launch a series of agitations.

He said the U.S. continued to destabilise governments throughout the world under the pretext of fighting terrorism. It had already destabilised Iraq. King Gyanendra had declared an Emergency in Nepal but the U.S. continued to supply weapons to the King and his army to curtail the activities of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). It wanted to establish its superiority over Bangladesh, Cuba, Latin America and Colombia. But the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, had raised his voice against the U.S. dictating terms. The left parties in India also wanted to contribute to the struggle against imperialist forces, Mr. Karat said.

Earlier, A. Abdul Wahab hoisted the party flag.

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