Demand to de-recognise BJP gathers momentum

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) The demand for de-recognition of the BJP on account of a ''provocative'' CD gathered momentum today with the Left parties rubbishing the BJP's claim that the Election Commission has no authority to take such action and challenged the NDA allies to break their silence on the issue.

The top leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and Forward Bloc came down heavily on the saffron party's reported argument that the EC has no power to de-recognise a political party or freeze its symbol because such a path would be detrimental to functioning of parliamentary democracy.

The Left leaders said the highly provocative CD released by Mr Lalji Tandon in Lucknow has the potential of stoking violence when the electoral process of the seven-phase UP assembly polls has already begun.

While the Samajwadi Party, Congress, the BSP and Jan Morcha have also intensified the campaign against the BJP on the issue, the Election Commission has extended the hearing on the controversial issue till tomorrow.

Talking to UNI, CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi said the controversy over the provocative CD, distributed by the BJP on the eve of UP polls and the consequent complaints to the EC, has once again shown the polarisation in Indian politics, while all the secular parties are unanimous in demanding the de-recognition of the BJP.

" But why are the allies of the NDA-JD(U), the Trinamul Congress and the BJD keeping mum?" the CPI leaders wanted to know and reminded that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ''has repeatedly claimed that he would distance himself from the BJP's communal agenda. Now he has avoided commenting on the CD." The CPI leaders said the contents of the CD are thoroughly communal, provocative and violative of not only the Election code but even of the country's constitution." The CD had the potential of inciting communal fenzy." UNI KSA BDP GC1628