CPI not to join proposed 'grand alliance' in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 28 (UNI) The Communist Party of India today clarified it will not join the ''grand alliance'' as proposed by some Akali Dal groups ahead of Assembly elections in Punjab.

The CPI will not join the proposed ''grand alliance'' of the Akali groups, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann), and also not have any truck with Shiromani Akali dal (Badal), unless and untill it is with forces of RSS and VHP ''whose political arm is the BJP'', Dr Joginder Dayal, Member of National Executive of CPI, told UNI here.

Clarifying his party position on the ongoing controversy as whether the CPI and the CPM will go with any Akali faction to form a so-called grand alliance of opposition parties in Punjab, he said the CPI at the Chandigarh party congress had clearly stated that it will do its best not to let Akali-BJP alliance come into power again.

Dr Dayal said SAD ( Badal) supremo Prakash Singh Badal had time and again stated that he would not break his party's ties with the BJP and on the other hand he would participate in the ''Rath Yatra'' of BJP President Rajnath Singh and welcome the yatra of Mr L K Advani.

''The CPI's understanding of these yatras is that these are meant to create communal division among the people'', he added.

He said the CPI will not have any alliance with the Congress also because it has been pursuing pro-WTO and ''anti-people'' policies.

Even some top leaders of the Punjab Congress are not in favour of the policies being persued by the Amarinder Singh Government vis-a-vis mega projects in the state.

These mega projects are not manufacturing units which will generate largescale employment for a long period, he added.

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