CPM for alliance based on policies, not on parties: Yechury

Kakinada, Aug 31 (UNI) Commuist Party of India(Marxist) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury has clarified that his party would forge alliance based on policies, and not on parties.

Replying to queries from newspersons after inaugurating the new building of party's district unit office here today, he said CPI-M would forge alliance with any party which strives for integrity of the nation based on secularism, provides alternative economic policy that ameliorates the suffering of the people and fight against communal forces and US imperialism.

On having alliance with the filmstar Chiranjivi's Praja Rajyam party in Andhra Pradesh, he said, it was left to the party state leaders.

Clarifying the party's stand on SEZs and coastal corridors, Mr Yechury said they were not against industrialisation but wanted the government to dispense with the system of extending concessions to industrialists and restoration of labour laws, protecting the rights of industrial workers.

He said they were also opposed to the acquiring of huge chunks of fertile lands to benefit the realtors at the cost of the poor farmers.

Asked about the Tatas threatening to pull out from Singur in West Bengal, he attributed it to the unrest created by Trinamool Congress at the NANO car project site.

He said Singur and Nandigam were not SEZs and the situation there was in no comparison to SEZs elsewhere.

Asked why the CPI(M) was inconsistant in its policy in dealing with indiscipline, especially in case of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who was exonerated for his open opposition to strikes but taking a hard stand towards Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath chatterjee, Mr Yechury said the situations were totally different.

While Buddhadeb has expressed regrets, Somnath has defied, he added.

UNI XR/BR DPN RSA UCS1956