CPI(M) for Third Front; No Alliance with Cong: Resolution

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) Assailing the Congress-led UPA on the economic and foreign policies and the BJP for divisive, communal politics, the CPI(M) today said the Left parties would take the initiative for forming a Third Alternative of non-Congress secular parties and launching ''united struggles and joint actions.'' Releasing the party's 56-page ''Draft Political Resolution,'' CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said that while the BJP continued to be his party's ''Enemy No. One'' for its attacks on Muslims and Christians, the Congress was playing havoc with the lives of the common man by pursuing pro-corporate and pro-FDI policies.

''The party will continue to adopt tactics for isolating and defeating the BJP. It will not enter into any alliance or united front with the Congress,'' the resolution said.

The Left parties were supporting the UPA government despite their reservations on economic and foreign policy issues precisely because the BJP remained their primary political adversary, Mr Karat told reporters. Party leaders Mr Sitaram Yechuri, Mr S R Pillai and Mr K Varadarajan were also present.

''We will still want a secular government which does not follow the economic policies of the NDA and the UPA,'' he said in response to a specific query on how the Left would deal with a situation which might force it to work with the UPA again.

Mr Karat was, however, not sure whether the third alternative would come into being before the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, stating that this move was a long-term goal.

The resolution for the CPI(M)'s 19th Congress to be held at Coimbatore from March 29 to April 3, said: ''There has to be an alternative to the Congress and the BJP-led combinations. The Left must take the initiative for it. For this it is necessary to forge a third alternative.

''Such a platform must be based on a consistent anti-communal outlook, address the problems faced by the people and advocate pro-people economic measures; it should make provisions for social welfare and for strengthening of the public distribution system; defence of national sovereignty and an independent foreign policy.'' The party made it clear that it was against raising the prices of petrol and diesel, stating that the middle class and the poor were not in a position to withstand any further burden.

''Price rise of essential commodities is eroding the livelihood of the people. Successive hikes in fuel prices have contributed to inflationary pressures in the economy,'' the draft resolution said.

Replying to queries, Mr Karat said the Left would take a position on the nuclear pact when the nuke experts were through with their negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). ''We have the UPA-Left panel on the deal in place. It would consider the outcome'' of the talks with the IAEA.

The draft said the CPI(M) had opposed the UPA government's departure from the framework of the Common Minimum Programme on foreign policy.

''The party will mobilise all the patriotic and democratic sections to thwart the US imperialist designs to convert India into its strategic ally,'' it said.

Expressing the hope that the resolution would be adopted at the party meet in March, Mr Karat said this would guide the party's approach on national and international issues for the next three years.

The issues dealt with in the resolution include international and economic situation, role of BJP and the communal forces, food security, UPA's performance, foreign policy, North-East, Jammu and Kashmir, Centre-State relations, terrorist violence, education and health.

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