Left to provide Left-democratic alternative

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Encouraged by the successful three-decade rule of the LDF government in West Bengal, the Left parties today pledged to provide a Left-Democratic alternative saying both the Congress and the BJP were wedded to anti-people economic policies.

Top leaders of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and the Forward Bloc said the onus of providing a real alternative has fallen on them as had been proved in West Bengal which witnessed the unprecedented land reforms, complete communal harmony and decentralisation of power through Panchayati Raj Institutions during their three-decade rule.

Addressing a big gathering at the Mavlankar Hall here to mark the 30-year-rule of the LDF government in West Bengal, Left leaders Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan emphasised that the left parties would have to join hands to launch joint struggles on people's issues to pave the way for emergence of a real alternative to the Bourgeoise parties.

Mr Karat stressed that the Left unity which had stood the test of time in Tripura and Kerala also, needed to be further consolidated all over the country as the 15 years of the NDA UPA rule left no one in doubt that only the Left parties could provide an alternative.

Mr Karat said as the Left parties had succeeded in isolating the BJP on the national political scene, their ''joint movements'' would be able to bring about a real change in the country's polity.

Earlier Mr Bardhan, Forward Bloc leader Debvrat Biswas and RSP leader Abani Roy cautioned against the increasing assualt on the LDF government by the TMC, the Congress, the BJP and the naxalites saying these parties were playing politics over the Nandigram issue.

The Left leaders said despite limited resources the track record of West Bengal government was ''praiseworthy'' in providing basic amenities like public health and education.

On the ongoing controversy pertaining industrial development in the state, Mr Bardhan said the success story in the agriculture sector should be followed in the industrial sector too as the latter has the potential of generating more employment opportunities.

Mr Karat said ''certain compromises'' have to be made as the state has limited resources but assured that corporate investmentwould not be allowed at the cost of the rights of the workers and farmers.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, CPI National Secretaries D Raja and Mrs Amarjeet Kaur were among others who addressed the gathering.

UNI