Third Front prospects look up

Somnath Chatterjee of the Communist Party of India Marxists, while saying that this development did not amount to the formation of a third alternative, however asserted that 8220;we are not opposed to such a front8221;. All these parties have entrusted Chatterjee with the task of coordinating with each of them.

At a press conference today, Chatterjee along with leaders of the CPI, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal, RSP and Forward Bloc said that thefirst reflection of this coordination will be a dharna in front of Parliament House to protest against the economic policies of the BJP-led government.

In a statement, also supported by the BSP, National Conference and the Tamil Manila Congress, the government was blamed for failing to evolve the Ninth Plan at a time when greater public investment was needed for the economy8217;s revival. The government was indiscriminately closing down industries and deciding to go ahead with the disinvestment of the share of the public sector units, the statement further said

The leaders said that their protest was also against attacks on different minority groups at the instance and leadership of communal forces. They will raise all these issues in both Houses of Parliament tomorrow.