Satya Pal Dang blames Comrades for decline of Communism

Amritsar, Jan 22 (UNI) Aged CPI leader Satya Pal Dang -- a veteran of many an electoral battle in Punjab -- evinces sadness at the ''decline'' of the Communist movement not only in the state but also in other parts of the country.

For the Communist leaders of today, self interests seem to be more important than the party'', the 86-year old leader, said talking to UNI at his simple office in Ekta Bhawan in the suburban town of Chheratta.

''Our leaders are to blame for the fall of the Left movement, as they sacrificed the ideals of Communism and put their self above the party'', he said gazing at the portraits hung in his office of the numerous party colleagues who sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorism in Punjab.

Mr Dang, who quit politics in 1997, is now looking after his ailing wife, Vimla Dang, a two time MLA from Amritsar West constituency. Mrs Dang, a well known social worker, who had worked tirelessly for the widows and children of terrorist victims as head of the Punjab Istri Sabha, too had quit politics alongwith her husband.

''I am not aware of what is going on in the current assembly polls, as i keep taking my wife to the hospital'', he said.

The two had over the years earned the respect of not only the people of Amritsar but also of leaders belonging to the Akali parties and the Congress.

Recalling on the hard hitting letter he had written a few years back to the then CPM general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet and CPI secretary A B Bardhan, he lamented that neither had sent him a reply.

Recalling portions of this letter, he said basically he had referred to the 1960 split of the Communists and had advocated that both the CPI and CPM should again come together for the welfare of the people of this country, particularly the working class. The CPI and CPM were the only two parties which were based on principles and looked after the interests of the common man, he added.

''I had also objected to the alliance of the Leftists with parties like the Samajwadi Party and others, which had no principles', he maintained.

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