Forward Bloc directs leaders to go to the people

"Party leaders however big they are, have to visit people in their homes. Alienation has set in. Some time people see our faces on TV but our leaders have to go to the people," AIFB General Secretary Debrata Biswas told a press conference here.

Speaking after the conclusion of the party's central committee meeting, he said,"In our party we want our leaders to be with the masses."

He said party leaders have to take up various issues including food security, which was very important to the grassroot level.

On next year's panchayat election in the state, Biswas said Left parties would not leave an inch and fight unitedly.

"We should not take any election lightly. There may be attack on us, but we have to work seriously," he said.

He alleged under Trinamool Congress rule the democratic system in the state was being destroyed. "The unprecedented incident of recent violence in the state assembly is a matter of shame."

The AIFB leader criticised the UPA government's cash transfer scheme and demanded the central government should take sufficient measures to strengthen PDS and abolish APL and BPL categories.

He said his party would continue to oppose FDI in retail and strengthen the movement against it.

The 17th party Congress of AIFB would be held in Chennai from September 22 to 26 next year.