Congress has betrayed the nation: D Raja

Kochi, Aug 1 (UNI) CPI National Secretary D Raja today accused the Congress of betraying the nation and the legacy of its own leaders, who had fought for the country's Independence and had laid the foundation stone for its indpendent economic and foreign policies.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kerala unit of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF), Mr Raja alleged the Congress, led by its president Sonia Gandhi, had nothing to do with the legacy of the Indian freedom movement.

The political culture of the party had degenerated and it had betrayed the nation and its people. The party has shown its true colours after the trust vote, he alleged.

Mr Raja said when Pandit Nehru was the Prime Minister, the foundation of a strong public sector was laid. ''Now, the trio of Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and Montek Singh Ahluwalia is trying its best to break up the public sector in the country.'' Similarly, while under Ms Indira Gandhi, banks were nationalised, under Ms Sonia Gandhi these were being privatised.

Exhorting the youth to play a more active role in politics, Mr Raja said they would have to come forward to fight the ''anti-people policies of the Congress and the communal and fascist policies of the BJP.'' Referring to the debate over BSP leader Mayawati being projected as the Third Front candidate for Prime Minister, Mr Raja said in a democracy, anyone could become the Prime Minister. ''This is not the birth right of Mr Advani and Dr Singh,'' he added.

Accusing the Congress of ''spreading lies'' about the Left parties' opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Raja said the Left parties were not against nuclear energy.

However, the government's own projections showed that nuclear energy, which presently contributed 2.6 per cent to the country's energy production, would increase to 6.8 per cent only by 2020 after making huge investments.

''At what economic and political cost are we going in for this energy, that is the question being posed by the Left parties,'' Mr Raja said.

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