Chennai: Asking voters to defeat both the BJP and Congress, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, who was in the city on Saturday to campaign for his North Chennai MP candidate U. Vasugi, said that people should give an opportunity to alternative political parties to rule the country.
Addressing people at Tondiarpet, he said that the Congress and BJP were on the same page in implementing neo-liberal policies and encouraging corporate firms. “The so called Gujarat growth story is propagated by the BJP in their campaigns. In reality, the growth is helpful only to the Ambanis and Tatas. Electricity and several acres of land are provided to corporates and not to the common man.”
Talking about BJP’s campaign against graft he said, “The neighboring Karnataka witnessed a major mining scam in which the mining mafia was very much part of the government as ministers. The BJP promising a corruption free government is unreal.” He said that since North Chennai was the cradle for trade unions in the country, working class people should vote for CPI(M) candidate U. Vasugi to make their voices heard in Parliament.
BJP manifesto dangerously communal, charges CPM
Chennai: Slamming BJP manifesto as ‘dangerously communal’, CPI(M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that any attempt to build Ram temple at Ayodhya would lead to communal clashes in north India.
The promise made in the manifesto that the BJP government would provide a sanctuary for Hindus harassed in their host countries has only betrayed the BJP’s indifference to Indians of other religions living abroad, said the Marxist leader.
In a press statement, Ramakrishnan said, “Mahatma Gandhi fought against apartheid in South Africa. He fought for affected people without any discrimination on the lines of caste, creed and religion. Crores of Indians live in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, US and other European countries. Many of them have got jobs and are working there. They belong to different religions.”
“The BJP’s statement that it would provide shelter to affected Hindus in foreign countries in India clearly shows the communal colour of the party.” He added that the manifesto did not speak anything about the welfare of minorities like Dalits and Muslims.
“The BJP’s manifesto has exposed its true colours. How have parties like the MDMK, DMDK and PMK decided to be with the BJP?” he asked in the release.
