CPI dubs AGP-BJP alliance opportunistic

By Our Special Correspondenrt

GUWAHATI, APRIL 30. The CPI general secretary, Mr. A.B. Bardhan, today termed the AGP-BJP tie-up in Assam as ``opportunistic'' and said the alliance was between two ``desperate and frustrated'' parties who were, till two months ago, abusing each other.

Addressing mediapersons here, he said the AGP wanted a strong ally as there were little hopes of it coming to power. The BJP, on the other hand, wanted to strengthen its presence in Assam and chose to ride on the shoulders of AGP, Mr. Bardhan said.

A prominent AGP leader attended a CPI election meeting at Nagaon and expressed his support to us, Mr. Bardhan said, adding that many AGP workers were now supporting the CPI in several places.

The ``secular and democratic parties in the alliance'' would be in a ``decisive position'' to decide the course of events in Assam after the results were declared, Mr. Bardhan said.

Mr. Bardhan, however, did not support the State CPI's demand - incorporated in its election manifesto - that Assam should be given a special status like Jammu and Kashmir under a Constitutional provision similar to Article 370.

``Kashmir has a special history of its own. Article 370 cannot be applied to other States,'' he said.

Fundamentalists behind BDR incursion

PTI reports:

Mr. Bardhan apprehended that fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh were behind the recent incursions by BDR in Karimganj sector of Assam.

``Some of the strong fundamentalists in Bangladesh are behind the incursions as parliamentary election of that country is due in October,'' he said.

Bangladesh's attacks on the Assam-Bangladesh boundary had to be solved in a firm way with the Government of India having a political dialogue with its neighbouring Government.

Cong. blamed for insurgency

Mr. Bardhan alleged that Assam's longstanding problems of insurgency, law and order, neglect and unemployment had arisen under the Congress which governed the State for 40 years.

Stating that the Congress could not now pass the blame to somebody else and had to take responsibility for the State's ills, he criticised the party's promise to solve the problems if voted to power.

Mr. Bardhan expressed confidence that unilateral ceasefire in the lines of Kashmir and Nagaland coupled with talks would solve the vexed issue.

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