The Hindu : CPI(M) reiterates demand on Gujarat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 21, 2002

National

National

CPI(M) reiterates demand on Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 20. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has reiterated the stand of the Opposition that Parliament should be allowed to discuss the Gujarat situation under the relevant provisions with voting, so that the people's representatives could freely express their opinion on the issue. The party also demanded the removal of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

The People's Front, of which the CPI(M) is a constituent, has already decided to stick to the demand for a discussion on Gujarat under Rule 184 that entails voting. The other Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, have also adopted a similar stance which has resulted in a deadlock in Parliament.

At a two-day meeting of the CPI(M) politburo which ended on Friday, the current political situation was discussed and it was also decided to work on strengthening the third alternative, that exists at present in the form of the People's Front.

In an attempt to expand the Front, which consists of the four Left parties, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Janata Dal (Secular), it was decided to explore the possibility of roping in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The Front leaders were aware that both the RJD president, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and the front convenor, Mulayam Singh Yadav, did not enjoy the best of relations. The RJD's close equations with the Congress is not appreciated by the SP and some of the Left parties. Efforts are on to bridge the differences. Even though initially, the RJD chief was said to have agreed to be part of the Front, he has never formally associated himself with the combination during the past year. In fact, the RJD had fielded some candidates in the recent U.P. Assembly elections against the Front.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) politburo expressed grave concern over the "continuing violence and intimidation of the minorities in different parts of Gujarat." Commenting on the fate of the riot victims in relief camps, the party charged the State administration with putting pressure on the inmates to return to their homes.

It noted with concern the manner in which the secondary school examinations were conducted without taking into consideration the safety of Muslim students regarding the location of examination centres. "It shows how callous the State administration has been", the politburo statement said.

It also condemned the continuing Israeli aggression and military attacks on the Palestinian people in the West Bank area. Deploring the Vajpayee Government's "continuing silence at the shocking atrocities" against the Palestinian people, the politburo demanded that New Delhi recall its ambassador to Israel immediately.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National