Third Front an option for people: Bardhan

Nashik, Aug 28: On Wednesday, Aug 27, A B Bardhan, the Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary appealed people to vote for an option to the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. '' On one hand there is Congress, on the other is BJP. You have experienced their rules. Another option to them should be created. Only Left Front will not provide the alternative. Parties such as Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Dal (S), Telugu Desam Party and many other small parties will come with us and provide the alternative, Mr Bardhan said while addressing a public rally in Nashik. The CPI leader ended his two-day tour of the district with the rally.

'' If Congress has its future Prime Minister, L K Advani is the PM-in-waiting from BJP, why can't Mayawati become the Prime Minister ? She has the experience of ruling the largest state in the country. She can surely lead the country,'' he said regarding BSP supremo's wish to be the Prime Minister of India. Mr Bardhan also expressed his opinion on various other issues.

He criticised the anti-people, anti-farmers, anti-workers policies of the United Progressive Alliance government such as privatisation of industries, outsourcing of work, entry of multinationals in retail trading, hike in fuel prices.

''We did not withdraw support only because of the Indo-US nuclear deal but all these issues and most impotant was rising inflation and the government's failure to curb it,'' he added.

Regarding the nuke deal, the Left leader said the government was telling a lie that the deal will provide electricity to many but in reality, it will provide only four per cent more electricity and also at a very expensive rate.

He also demanded that the government should issue a white paper about the disposal of the nuclear waste. He also said the US was hiding behind the small nations of the Nuclear Supply Group (NSG) who raised objection about the draft of the deal and trying to impose its own conditions.

On the Amarnath Shrine land row, Mr Bardhan said government should protect the rights of all religions, be it Hindu or Muslim.

''The present violence over the issue will divide Jammu and Kashmir . That state is our integral part, we have fought for it,'' he added.

He also blamed the Centre for critical situation of the farmers and said ''There should be complete loan waiver for the farmers.

The Rs 70,000 crore loan waiver scheme declared by the UPA government does not mention loans taken from money-lenders. The government is closing small banks. This will again lead the farmers to take loan from private money-lenders resulting in their indebtedness and suicides,'' he maintained.

UNIan