It’s time all Left parties came together: Karat

Hyderabad: The Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary, Prakash Karat, said the central committee meeting has identified the shortcomings and steps to be taken to strengthen and expand the party. Addressing a press conference on the second day of the meeting here on Tuesday, he said it was decided to bring Left and Democratic forces in the country together to fight against the communal forces, which were at the helm of power in the country.

He said they had recognised the need for the unity of the left parties. However, Karat said at present the merger of the Left parties was not on the agenda, rather “it was a closer and wider unity of Left forces” was the need of the hour. Responding to a question on the land pooling scheme of the AP government for its proposed State capital, he said the party had made its position clear on this.

First, it was against the acquiring fertile agriculture lands, secondly, if such acquisition was needed, then the proposed acquisition should be accepted by 80 per cent of the affected population in the area. Besides, such acquisition should provide for the proper compensation and resettlement as it was made out in the Land Acquisition Act -2013. However, it was against the spirit of the Act, that the central government has brought amendments to the Act by promulgating ordinances, and also allowing FDI in certain sectors in utter disregard to the Parliament, he pointed out.

On the ensuing Delhi polls, he said seven left parties would be coming together to fight against Congress and BJP. Terming both BJP and Congress as two sides of the same coin, he however pointed out that from the communal point of view, Congress was different because of its secularist agenda.

Giving benefit of doubt to AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks of asking people to beget more children, Karat hoped that what the AP CM had meant may not be same as what the Hindutva forces were advocating more births among the Hindus.

In regard to the proceedings of the meeting, he said a draft review report on the 'Political Tactical Line' has been adopted after discussion. A 'Draft Political Resolution' has also taken up for discussion which consists of the course of action the party must undertake to fight right-wing and Hindutva forces, he added. The central committee had also called upon the party units to protest against the visit of US President Barack Obama, as the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade.