Left fulfilled oppn's role, BJP failed: Karat

Indore, Nov 15 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat today claimed that his and other Left parties fulfilled the role of a ''true opposition'' in the country.

''Even after supporting the ruling United Progressive Alliance, the Left parties played the role of the opposition in public interest whenever the need arose while the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed,'' he said here while addressing a public meeting after a rally.

Alleging that the country's policies were drafted not as per public need but were being orchestrated by Washington, DC and foreign institutions including the World Bank, Comrade Karat added that -- besides a strategic alliance -- the United States was imposing conditions vis-a-vis foreign investment in insurance, banking, higher education and the retail sector.

''My party will never allow implementaton of policies that attack the poor man's livelihood. We protested a proposal to permit entry of foreign companies in retail. An attempt is being made to set up a retail undertaking with foreign participation and the public distribution system has collapsed across the country,'' he said.

Accusing the BJP of dividing people on the religious grounds, Mr Karat added that communalism spiralled to never-before proportions after the saffron party assumed Madhya Pradesh' reins in 2003 and minorities were being constantly attacked.

UNI