The Left is keeping the UPA government on its toes, literally.While CPI leaders met Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Friday morning to demand that Assam Rifles shift base from Kangla Fort forthwith, CPI(M)’s Nilotpal Basu met I&B Minister Jaipal Reddy in the evening, demanding immediate steps to stop publication of the International Herald Tribune from India.Taking a cue from the recent Manipur bandh, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan told Patil Assam Rifles’ refusal to shift out of the historic fort in Imphal is creating widespread resentment in the area. ‘‘It is not just a 400-year-old palace of the former Manipuri king — for them it is also a seat of culture. An alternative site has been given to Assam Rifles, but they have not moved out,’’ Bardhan said. The CPI is part of the Congress-led government in Manipur. In another meeting, CPM’s Nilotpal Basu told the I&B Minister to ‘‘depoliticise the cultural, media and education’’ spheres and take immediate steps to stop the publication of IHT from India.‘‘I requested the minister to immediately take steps towards the independence of these institutions as these issues have also been given due importance in the CMP,’’ Basu said. The meeting came two days after Basu and his party colleague Basudeb Acharia wrote to Reddy demanding immediate ‘‘action’’ against all parties involved in bringing out IHT from India.
