Modi's ascent to national politics will be a disaster: CPI-M

The CPI-M Monday said the projection of Narendra Modi by the BJP as an alternative to the neo-liberal policies of the Congress would only bring disaster for the country.

Speaking at the launch of the centenary celebrations of veteran Marxist leader and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party's effort to bring Modi - the Gujarat chief minister - to national politics.

"The BJP is trying to bring Modi on the national front. Undoubtedly it's a disastrous sign. As if the Congress' neo-liberal policies were not enough, now we have a Modi.. disaster is inevitable," Bhattacharjee said.

Observing that West Bengal under the leadership of Basu always stood as a symbol of secularism, Bhattacharjee said that image of the state was under threat with the BJP trying to align with the ruling Trinamool Congress.

"Back home too, secularism is at stake with the ruling party keeping its doors open for the BJP. Signs are ominous," said the former chief minister.

Bhattacharjee also attacked the Mamata Banerjee regime over the panchayat polls issue.

"The panchayat system which was built brick by brick under the Left had given voice to the poor and the oppressed. But now that system is under attack, that system is now under danger," said the veteran Marxist.

He also took a jibe at Banerjee for her repeated attacks on the media and her claims that it was conspiring to kill her.

"He (Basu) also had differences with the media. It's natural to have differences, but he never castigated the media. (He) Never got any journalist behind the bars, never accused the media of indulging in such conspiracies," added Bhattacharjee.