The Hindu : National : "BJP not an effective Opposition"

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Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006

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National

"BJP not an effective Opposition"

It is busy settling scores and raking up non-issues: Brinda Karat

Allahabad: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of having failed as an effective Opposition at the Centre, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday said it was busy settling scores and raking up "non-issues" such as Vande Mataram.

The Left supporting the UPA from outside was, however, putting pressure on the Government on issues of public concern, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat told reporters here on Tuesday.

"We do not claim that the UPA is being run as per CPI(M) directions. It cannot be. But nobody can deny we have been consistently keeping the Government on its toes despite our support to it. We have compelled it to take a number of steps for the people's welfare and to step back from those that might affect the common man," she said.

She alleged that the BJP had completely failed in fulfilling its obligations as the main Opposition party. Ms. Karat denied that the CPI(M) was put on the back foot on issues such as oil price hike. "It is to a great extent due to our influence the Government has refrained from introducing privatisation in sectors like insurance and pension. Our concerns over privatisation of BALCO and Centaur hotels have been vindicated by the latest report."

However, the CPI(M) did not intend to keep raising hurdles in the way of the Government, she added.

PTI

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