Kolkata: The CPI-M yesterday said it was not currently concerned about forming a third front, and is instead working on strengthening Left and democratic forces opposed to the Congress and the BJP for the 2014 general elections.
“We are not envisaging the creation of a third front at the moment. We are working on strengthening all the Left and democratic forces. We are working on forging alliance of non-Congress and non-BJP forces,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said after the conclusion of the party’s three-day central committee meeting here.
Karat however, did not concur with the views of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad who on Friday described the third front “a group of wannabe prime ministers” that will never come into existence. “Lalu Prasad and his party have already decided to align with the Congress. That is why he is saying such things. We do not share his views,” said Karat.
He also said the party was working towards stirring up a nationwide movement against the faulty economic policies of the government and determined to effect not only the fall of the Congress led United Progressive Alliance government but also prevent the “communal” Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power.
The CPI-M will take out four jathas (processions) from across the country from February 25 to propagate its stand on issues affecting the people and alternative leftist policies. “Food security and price rise, land and house sites, employment, education and health and fight against corruption will be the focus of the jathas,” Karat said.
The four jathas will begin from Kanyakumari, Kolkata, Mumbai and Amritsar and head to Delhi. The jathas will be headed by party leaders R C Pillai, Karat, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat respectively.
Karat was critical of the United Progressive Alliance government accusing it of allowing business houses to accumulate profits at the cost of the common people.
“Under the UPA regime, the country faced multiple problems. In fact, the UPA has taken the attack to the common people by burdening them with its policies but is shamelessly allowing corporate and foreign capital to reap huge profits,” said Karat.
He also lambasted the government for its decision to deregulate diesel prices and increase railways fare and initiating cash transfer scheme. He also said the CPI-M was against dilution of government’s role in the proposed Land Acquisition bill.
IANS
