No boycott, we’ll just keep away: Bardhan

The Left refuses to use the term ‘‘boycott’’ even if it stays away from the first anniversary celebrations of the UPA Government on May 22.

Emerging from a Left coordination meeting on Tuesday, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said it is a UPA affair. ‘‘It is their Government, they have every right to celebrate. We are only supporting from inside. There is no question of us attending the function. We are going to stay away,’’ he said. Asked if this can be construed as a boycott, Bardhan shot down the insinuation. ‘‘We are not participating. That does not mean it is a boycott.’’ Then he went into the same list of grievances against the UPA which the Left has been raising for the past few days. The Left will raise issues of concern at a meeting with the UPA leadership on Wednesday. —ENS