Anti-people policies will lead to emergence of 3rd front: CPI

Bangalore, Sep 11: Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said there was a strong possibility of the emergence of a third front as both Congress and BJP's economic beliefs were "contrary to the common man's interest".

"The economic beliefs of BJP and Congress have alienated the common people... and this will lead to the emergence of third front," he told reporters here.

Raja also alleged that both BJP and Congress compromised with each other for political reasons at the cost of the common man's interests.

The CPI leader blamed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's alleged mishandling of the country's economy for rising prices of essential commodities and decline in both agricultural and the industrial output. "The country's unemployment index has hit a high at nine per cent," he added.

Raja slammed Home Minister P Chidambaram for seeking a review of the Supreme Court's verdict banning Special Police Officers (SPOs) in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

The Centre had moved the Supreme Court on Aug 13 seeking modification of its order disbanding the armed SPOs, consisting of tribals and locals, for combating Naxals in Chhattisgarh, saying that it would lead to escalation of violence by the left wing extremists.

Alleging that the decision to seek a review of the apex court order was an attempt by Congress to divide the tribal people, Raja also accused the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh government of "promoting an unconstitutional force like Salwa Judum and using it to supress tribals".

On the Lokpal Bill, Raja said CPI was a strong advocate of bringing Prime Minister within the parameters of a strong anti-corruption legislation.

PTI