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Resist U.S. domination, says Buddhadeb

Special Correspondent

CPI (M) will continue to oppose UPA Government's pro-American policies

KOLKATA: The United States is out to dominate India's foreign and economic policies and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government should resist such influences, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said here on Wednesday.

"We do not want India to be a junior partner of the USA and have been urging the Manmohan Singh Government to break out of USA's influence on its policies", Mr. Bhattacharjee said while addressing a meeting organised by the Students' Federation of India — the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s student body.

Pressure on Centre

The CPI (M) had little option in the present political situation but to support the UPA Government from outside. However, it would continue to oppose pro-American policies of the Government, the Chief Minister said. The U.S. administration was putting pressure on the Centre to adopt pro-U.S. policies though public opinion against such policies was mounting, he added.

The Government would take stern measures against those indulging in ragging in institutions, Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

On the reservation of seats in institutions of higher learning for the Other Backward Classes, Mr. Bhattacharjee said that the CPI (M) would resist attempts by the rich and upper castes to monopolise education and would work to ensure access to such institutions for the economically weaker sections of society.

Backs quota for OBCs

In this regard, he supported the UPA Government's move towards increasing the quota for the OBCs. "We are for the opening up of educational opportunities to the backward communities for which additional seats need to be created in the institutions."

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