Mamata a ‘pseudo-Left’,no place for her in new Front: Bardhan

He said she is right in raising such issues but claimed that she was forced to do so because of the peculiarities of the state where she is the Chief Minister.

“We want to build a new front. Such a front will come into existence,” the CPI leader said.

Asked whether Banerjee has a place in a Front which the Left believes will come into existence,Bardhan replied,”I said Left oriented parties. I did not say pseudo-Left who mouths Left slogans but are not necessarily Left.

“She came to power defeating the Left. If she is mouthing Left slogans,it is because the mass in Bengal are Left oriented.”

He said the Left parties will “absolutely and thoroughly” join hands with democratic forces to fight the anti-people policies of the government.

“Now elections have started. Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are going to elections. BJP hopes to retain both the states. As far as Himachal is concerned,BJP will lose and many other parties will emerge,” he said.

On who will win in Gujarat,Bardhan evaded a direct reply and said the Left is a “weak force” in Gujarat while in Himachal they are “far better”.

He said the leaders of CPI(M) and CPI will meet on Saturday to discuss the question of Left unity and later there will be a meeting with other parties like Forward Bloc,RSP and CPI(ML).

Attacking the UPA government,Bardhan said,”they increase the price of diesel by Rs five and now a proposal is there to decrease Rs one. This is how the government manages the price rise.”

He alleged the government is on a “slippery road” and is also “taking the country through the slippery road to doom and destruction” as it is virtually handing over huge resources to corporates and multi-national corporations.

On the land acquisition bill,he demanded that the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee be accepted. “The government is taking no steps to really get this bill through. They are watering down the provisions. Four powerful union ministers are behind it,” he said.

“If you have numbers,it does not mean you can do anything. Democracy is not about numbers but it is the rule of the people,by the people and for the people,” he said.

He also announced that the CPI along with other Left parties and tribal organisations will march to Jharkhand Assembly to protest against the state government on the issue of acquiring tribals’ land.