CPI opposes Congress in Punjab assembly elections

Chandigarh, Feb 1 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI), which is supporting the Congress party at the Centre, reiterated its stand to oppose Congress in the coming assembly elections in Punjab.

Talking to news persons here today, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said his party would oppose the so called communal forces like Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) combine in the state.

He said the CPI would oppose Congress in the state as after the last assembly elections it did not honour the alliance and worked against the policies of his party.

He said Amarinder Singh government in th past five years indulged in corruption in the name of mega projects and worked against the interest of the farmers and employees.

''The farmers in the state are continuously struggling against the acquisition of their land by industrialists,'' he said adding his party would oppose tooth and nail the policies of the Congress government of acquiring farmers' land for setting up mega projects.

Mr Bardhan said the CPI and its alliance partners -- CPM and Lok Bhallai Party (LBP) would work against communal forces as Punjab deserved a secular combination and not communal. The CPI is contesting on 25 seats while CPM and LBP are contesting on 14 and nine seats respectively.

About the manifesto of the party, he said it would be released in a few days. All the three parties would release individual manifesto, he clarified.

UNI