AAP's infighting will go on till policies are unclear, says Sitaram Yechury

Visakhapatnam, Apr 15: The bickerings in Aam Aadmi Party will continue as long it has no clear perception on socio-economic policies, especially on the issue of communalism, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has said.

Quoting the Draft Political Resolution of his party's ongoing 21st congress here, Yechury said though most regional parties in the country play opportunistic politics, the CPI(M)'s approach to them would depend on the given political situation.

"Future of

will solely depend on their policies. If they don't come out clear on these two issues (economic issues and communalism), if they try to push these issues under the carpet using opportunistic strategies, then there may not be a good future for that party. If they do not have clarity on these two issues, the internal bickerings will continue," Yechury told PTI here today.

Terming AAP as a "party of contradictions", he said if it makes its stand clear on these two issues, then CPI(M) may take a view on that party, he said.

Maintaining that AAP is an offshoot of anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, the 21st Draft Political Resolution of CPI(M) noted that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has had an appeal among middle class sections and youth in many places.

However, apart from agitating on popular issues, it has not come out with a clear-cut programme and policies.

Taking a dim view of the NDA Government's foreign policy, Yechury said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing the same thing what former PM Manmohan Singh did.

"Modi has travelled abroad more than any PM has done in our country. What he is going to get out of these trips for India, we will have to wait and see. But so far nothing tangible has come," he said.

"Regarding the NDA's foreign policy, we are concerned because there is a clear shift towards becoming an appendix to USA's strategic interest in the world. That is not in India's interest," said Yechury, a front-runner for the CPI(M) general secretary's post.

During the meet here, the CPI(M) would deliberate on the present political situation and discuss strategy for strengthening the party.

The organisational elections will be held on the last day of the conference on April 19 when its new general secretary will be elected, as the term of incumbent Prakash Karat is going to end.

PTI