The Hindu : Front Page : Prakash Karat meets Mayawati

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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Prakash Karat meets Mayawati

Gargi Parsai

Join hands to take on the Congress-led UPA government on nuclear deal

— PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

new strategy: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat with Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati after their meeting in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat met Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati here on Sunday, in a move to take on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government during the trust vote in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

The leaders discussed the India-U.S. nuclear agreement and the coming confidence vote. Mr. Karat drove to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s residence here for the meeting that lasted about 45 minutes.

“We wanted both parties to cooperate in the struggle against the nuclear deal and on the trust vote in the Lok Sabha,” Mr. Karat said after the meeting.

Ms. Mayawati reiterated her opposition to the deal. Mr. Karat appreciated her stand and said the deal was ‘against the country’s interests.’

“It was decided that there should be cooperation to stop the deal and in the fight against the UPA government,” said a CPI(M) statement.

This was the first meeting between the leaders after Ms. Mayawati withdrew her support to the UPA government on account of its ‘failure to tame inflation,’ followed by the pullout by the Left parties on the deal.

Assurance

Speaking at a press conference to announce a national campaign by the Left parties against the deal and the “anti-people” policies of the government, Communist Party of India leader A.B. Bardhan said he had been in touch with Ms. Mayawati and she had assured him of her support during the trust vote.

“Political tool”

He said the CBI had become a “political tool” in the hands of the government and was being used to “switch on and switch off the so-called investigations.”

“It is so obvious and the intention is so clear. We have told her [Ms. Mayawati] that we condemn all such efforts,” Mr. Bardhan said.

Ms. Mayawati charged the government on Friday with “targeting her” after the CBI filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court in the “disproportionate assets case” against her. At a press conference here, she declined to divulge her strategy on the trust vote but made clear her opposition to the deal.

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