Basu flays Samajwadi Party, RSP, Forward Bloc

In a write-up on May Day in the CPI-M mouthpiece Ganashakti, the veteran Marxist leader said that an opportunity came before the Congress to form an alternative government after the Vajpayee government lost the confidence motion.

The Congress was in a dilemma, but when the party expressed readiness to form an alternative government, the Samajwadi Party, as well as the two LF partners, failed to understand the danger of communalism and refused to support Congress.

Reiterating CPI-M8217;s stand, Basu said that his party had stated for long that it would provide issue-based support to Congress to protect secularism.

Describing the stand taken by SP, RSP and FB as 8220;irresponsible8221;, he squarely criticised the Congress for adopting an 8220;opportunistic8221; policy.

In an obvious reference to a Third Front Government, Basu said that when a chance came for another alternative, the Congress backed out and enabled the BJP to remain as a caretaker Government.

Stating that as a bigger party, the Congress has greater responsibility, Basu said that it is the prime duty of all secular forces to counter the challenge of communalism, setting aside their narrow interests and factionalism at the local level.

He said that efforts should be made to unite secular forces to corner the BJP.

The Marxist leader said that the country is facing another election which is not wanted by anyone. Common people, he said, have many problems, but the BJP-led Government had not paid any attention to these problems during its 13-month rule.