The Hindu : Kerala News : RSP cannot be taken for granted, says Pankajakshan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 11, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

RSP cannot be taken for granted, says Pankajakshan

By Our Staff Reporter

KASARAGOD, MARCH 10. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) will be forced to withdraw its support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre if it goes ahead with anti-people measures such as the Patent Ordinance and the Seeds Bill, the party general secretary, K. Pankajakshan, has said.

Addressing a press conference here today, the RSP leader said his party had given a letter to the UPA coordination committee stating its displeasure on the proposed laws. The RSP has extended support to the UPA Government to keep the NDA out of power and to reinforce Left unity. ``But that does not mean that the UPA Government can take us for granted always. We will not let the UPA Government implement the wrong policies of the BJP Government. The RSP will not sacrifice its principles under any circumstances. The Left parties will sit together and decide their course of action soon," he said.

"We will not cooperate with the UPA in getting the proposed laws passed in Parliament. I understand that the CPI(M) and the CPI have serious reservations about the legislations,'' he added.

Third front

Reiterating the need for a third front in the country, Mr. Pankajakshan said the country was passing through a crucial political crisis. A third front could script a success story in the present political circumstances.

On Kerala politics, the RSP leader said it was for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leadership to decide on inducting or expelling a new party. "As far as the RSP is concerned, both the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Indian National League are non-secular parties. The main difference of the IUML and the Kerala Congress factions is that the former has a religious leadership whereas the latter has only the support of a religion," Mr. Pankajakshan said.

The RSP leader was in town to address his party office-bearers and discuss the coming local body elections. The party will launch a fund collection drive on March 15.

Call to procure paddy

Our Staff Reporter writes from Kochi:

The RSP(B) leader A.V. Thamarakshan has called for steps on a war footing to save paddy farmers. Though the Government had made an announcement on paddy procurement, no steps have been taken so far.

Paddy farmers in Kuttanad were hit by rain a couple of days ago. The harvested paddy and the crop were destroyed. The Government should take measures to procure paddy through the Civil Supplies Corporation or some other agency. The Union Government has already allocated money for the purpose and it is for the State Government to take adequate steps at the appropriate time.

Prof. Thamarakshan said the position of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) would be in danger if the Congress high command failed to intervene effectively in the State unit of the party. The RSP(B) will convene its State convention in Thiruvananthapuram on April 7, 8 and 9 when it will decide on its political course of action, he said.

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