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Journalism of Courage
Veteran Marxist leader and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu said here today that the Third Front was not a viable alternative to the BJP-led coalition and the Congress had better chances of forming a government at the Centre in the next general elections.
Speaking at a press conference, he said that if the Congress forms a government, the CPI (M) will offer its support from outside. Here to attend the party’s central committee meeting, he said: ‘‘The Congress has alienated itself from people because of its economic policies and has also surrendered to communalism’’, Basu said. ‘‘But they are not a communal party.’’
| (From left) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, former Kerala chief minister E.K. Nayanar, former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu and CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet at a rally in Bangalore on Sunday. Keshav Vitla |
Basu noted that Sonia Gandhi had matured politically as a leader. ‘‘She has picked up in politics,’’ he said, recalling a recent meeting with her. ‘‘I think she understands politics better now,’’ he said in reply to a question. When he met her last time, he asked her as to what is happening in the Congress and she replied with a smile: ‘‘You know better as to what is happening in the Congress than I do’’. Basu said he suggested to the Congress to build a core leadership.
He also broke his silence on not being allowed to become Prime Minister with the support of the United Front in 1996, after the 13-day BJP Government fell. The UF’s idea to make him the Prime Minister did not work as the CPI(M) central committee rejected it, he said. Keeping in tune with the party line that had advocated giving maximum autonomy to J-K, Basu spoke on the possibility of waging a war against Pakistan, and asked the Government to extend full autonomy, barring matters of defence and foreign affairs, to the state.
‘‘War is not a solution,’’ he said. New Delhi, Basu emphasised, should step up diplomatic efforts and build international opinion against Pak-sponsored terrorism but asked the Centre to be prepared for the war.
Referring to the Kargil conflict, he alleged there was a failure of intelligence agencies. ‘‘I hope the Government has drawn lessons from Kargil.’’
