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Karat for credible “third alternative”

Special Correspondent

Time for joint struggles with UNPA on crucial issues affecting people, he says

— Photo: V. Sudershan

FORGING UNITY: Om Prakash Chautala, Babulal Marandi, Amar Singh, A.B. Bardhan, Prakash Karat, Mulayam Singh, Sitaram Yechury and Chandrababu Naidu at the UNPA-Left rally against the UPA government in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Calling upon the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) to work closely for the emergence of a credible “Third Alternative” in the country, the Left leaders suggested that joint struggles on crucial issues affecting the lives of common citizens, farmers and workers could be undertaken.

“It is time for us to work towards the formation of a third alternative in the country’s polity. It is time that we held joint struggles,” CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said while addressing a UNPA rally on farmers’ issues here.

The government’s path to development benefited only the big industrialists, and in turn, they were influencing the economic and foreign policies, Mr. Karat said.

Although Mr. Karat did not mention the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said the current visit of the U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates was aimed at concluding vital agreements, including in the field of military cooperation.

“Can you imagine that after these agreements, we will be forced to feed and welcome the imperialist forces of the U.S. who have occupied territories in our neighbourhood,” he wondered.

Loans demanded

The Left leaders demanded that the coming general budget should announce loans to small and medium farmers at a simple interest rate of 4 per cent. The rally was also addressed by Samajwadi Party chief and UNPA chairman Mulayam Singh, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, Asom Gana Parishad chief Brindavan Goswami and Jharkhand Vikas Party chief Babulal Marandi.

The Swaminathan Committee report, which recommended a comprehensive national policy for farmers, should be implemented without any further delay, Mr. Naidu demanded.

Senior UNPA leaders, including Mr. Singh and Mr. Naidu, were later detained after the rally. Others detained included Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, Mr. Chautala and actress-turned-politician Jayaprada.

The UNPA held the protest at Jantar Mantar against the “anti-farmer” policies of the UPA government.

The leaders were released later.

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