Stop drifting: CPM message for UPA

The general feeling among Politburo bureau members was a sense of 8220;disaffection8221; with the government8217;s performance8212;principally its lack of 8220;political direction8221; in taking on the BJP, tackling the situation in Manipur, handling Jammu 038; Kashmir, and implementing some commitments in the Common Minimum Programme CMP, sources said.

The PB discussed the BJP8217;s 8220;efforts to whip up feelings on non-issues8221; and its assessment was that 8220;people have not responded to the BJP8217;s campaigns8221; on the Savarkar or tiranga issue.

But if the BJP was whipping up non-issues, the UPA was not taking up the right issues either, they felt. It was then decided that at tomorrow8217;s luncheon meeting, party leaders Jyoti Basu, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, and Sitaram Yechury will underline the need for the UPA government and the Congress leadership 8220;to firmly counter the platform and tactics of the BJP.8221;

The PB also discussed reports it had received from its own units on the situation in Manipur and J038;K. While the party is averse to the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in toto, it would like the explosive situation in Manipur 8212; and northeast as a whole 8212; and Jammu and Kashmir to be dealt with greater sensitivity than so far shown by the union government, sources said.

Speaking to reporters later in the evening, PB member Sitaram Yechury outlined the five measures that should be taken up on a priority basis: the National Employment Guarantee Scheme; food-for-work programmes; rural infrastructure development; more funds for health services in rural areas; and full utilisation of the education cess for improvement in education facilities.