Mulayam Should Have Resigned Gracefully: Raja

Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, Feb 20 (UNI) Warning the Centre against invoking Article 356 against the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government in Uttar Pradesh, CPI National Secretary D Raja today said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, however, should have resigned gracefully after the Supreme Court verdict.

Addressing mediapersons, the CPI veteran, who was here in connection with the AISF national convention, said the party's considered view was that the floor of the House should be the place to test the Government enjoying a majority.

As such, an Assembly session should be convened, he observed and cautioned against imposition of President's rule.

Condemning the terror attack on the Samjhauta Express, he expressed shock and said terrorism should not be allowed to destabilise the nation and divide the people.

To a question, he said New Delhi should be alert enough to nip in the bud such strikes in future.

He was of the firm view that this incident should not be allowed to derail the peace process between the two countries. Both Islamabad and New Delhi should work unitedly and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, he noted.

Asked about the final award of the Cavery Water Disputes Tribunal, the CPI leader called upon both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to take up constructive steps on the basis of the award, received after many years.

On the ethnic war in Sri Lanka, he said the party favoured a negotiated settlement to the decades-old crisis. Ruling out a military solution to the issue, Mr Raja urged both sides to renew the ceasefire agreement and move forward on the path towards durable peace.

The Centre was urged to extend all humanitarian assistance to the innocent Tamils affected in the theatre of war in the north-east region of the island nation. Food and medicines should be supplied without any hindrance to those people, he added.

Criticising the UPA Government for failing to contain the spiraling price rise, the CPI veteran said the party was launching a fortnight-long nation-wide campaign from March 1 to press the Centre to initiate firm steps to bring down prices. The Centre was also asked to curb rising inflation and stabilise the economy.

UNI