CPI(ML) to abstain from voting during Presidential election

Patna, June 19 (UNI) CPI(ML) General Secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya today announced that his party would abstain from voting in the presidential polls.

Mr Bhattacharya told mediapersons here that his party was opposed to policies being pursued by the UPA and NDA and there was no question of supporting the candidates, put up by these political configurations.

The CPI(ML) could consider to lend support to any candidate if fielded by the Left parties independently, he said, adding his party had supported the Left candidate during the last Presidential election.

When asked, this step could be described as ''undemocratic'', he said there was nothing ''undemocratic'' in deciding to abstain from the voting as even the Election Commission was seized with the matter of making a provision to say no to all contesting candidates.

Mr Bhattacharya said there was nothing personal in opposing any candidate in the Presidential election. It was a well considered decision taken on principles, he added.

Referring to the judgement of court convicting accused of the 1989 Bhagalpur riot, he described it as ''too little too late''.

He said the judicial system in the country should be reformed to provide speedy justice to the victims. There was no meaning of justice if delivered after a long period of the offence committed, he added.

Mr Bhattacharya described the statement of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar relating to assurance for land owners of protecting their rights as unfortunate and said he should be more concerned for the interests of landless labourers.

''The ongoing rectification process of the BPL list was far from satisfactory and the final list would again prove to be fiasco, '' he said adding aspiration of poor could not be protected during the regime of Mr Kumar.

UNI