Modi's remarks on Third Front appalling: CPI(M)

Sitaram Yechury said, "Certain people are extremely disturbed by the block formed by 11 Left and secular parties"

CPI(M) today termed as "appalling" BJP Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's remarks that the Third Front idea was "third rate", saying the political discourse would become "third rate under him".

"Certain people are extremely disturbed by the block formed by 11 Left and secular parties. Comments like Third Front is third rate by somebody who aspires to become the Prime Minister is truly appalling. Political discourse will be third rate under him....These (comments) are uncharitable and unsolicited," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

Responding to Modi's comments in Kolkata that Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal would work well with BJP in power at the Centre, he claimed the Trinamool Congress would not hesitate to work with BJP in the future.

"The Trinamool Congress, which had left NDA (in 2001), returned to the BJP-led alliance after the 2002 Gujarat elections. That clearly meant you endorsed the Gujarat riots, because had you not, you would not have rejoined NDA," Yechury said in reply to questions.

He said, "The BJP PM candidate did not mince a word and almost said vote for Trinamool in Bengal and for BJP at the Centre. But there is no reaction from Trinamool. The Chief Minister has also not said a word on this so far."

The CPI(M) leader also said the Trinamool Congress was "more with the BJP" on opposing the Communal Violence Prevention Bill in Rajya Sabha as they opposed it only on count of the measure transgressing states' rights and not on the "anti-communal nature" of the bill.

"We made it clear that while we support the legislation which we have been demanding for long, we opposed it mainly on two grounds -- on the expanded definition of communal violence in the bill to include regional, caste and even labour disputes and secondly, on the issue of transgression of federal rights," Yechury said.