CPM says Cong a leopard that can’t change its spot

Reflecting the Left parties’ growing criticism of the Manmohan Singh government’s economic policies, the CPI(M) today accused the ...

Reflecting the Left parties’ growing criticism of the Manmohan Singh government’s economic policies, the CPI(M) today accused the Congress of not implementing the UPA’s Common Minimum Programme and suggested building a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative.

In a strongly-worded attack on the Congress, CPI(M) Politburo member Prakash Karat said ‘‘they swore by CMP but they do not implement it. This is our realisation. The leopard does not change its spots. But we will not remain silent. Our stand is clear.’’

Addressing a seminar here on the “UPA Government, the Centre and the role of the Leftists”, he charged the Manmohan Singh Government with diluting pro-people provisions in CMP and said his party’s continued support to it was conditional to its adherence to CMP.

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‘‘It is not our responsibility alone to keep the UPA Government in power. The responsibility also lies with the Congress. But our experience in the last nine months is that the Congress has not changed its character,’’ Karat said.

He called for building up an alternative to the Congress and BJP, and said the consolidation of secular and Left forces was necessary for this.

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