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LDF win crucial in the national context, says Prakash Karat

Special Correspondent

`It will strengthen Left's ability to influence policies of UPA Government'

ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat addressing an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: General secretary of the CPI(M) Prakash Karat has said that victory of the LDF nominee in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha byelection is crucial in the current national context because it would strengthen the Left's ability to influence the policies of the UPA Government.

Participating in a `meet-the-press' programme, organised by the Press Club here on Tuesday, Mr. Karat said that if elected, the LDF nominee would be firm in insisting that the country must follow an independent foreign policy and that India should not vote with the U.S. on the Iran nuclear question. He would be equally firm in his position that India should not barter away its economic sovereignty at the WTO ministerial meeting at Hong Kong endangering agricultural and livelihood of farmers in India and Kerala and that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) should not be allowed in the retail sector. Would the UDF nominee be able to take such firm stand on all these issues? he asked.

Mr. Karat said the victory of the LDF candidate would also mean the defeat of caste and communal forces. He said the Congress bid to make it appear that the CPI(M) and Left were against development would not carry any conviction with the people. Although the Chief Minister of Kerala repeatedly spoke about the need to attract investment, he could not see much investment on the ground. The Left could not be blamed for the Government's failure to attract investment, he said.

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