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D Raja, national secretary of the Communist Party of India, speaks to Kavita Chowdhury on the Left’s stand on the current stand-off in Parliament. Edited excerpts:
The Congress has accused the Left parties of ‘inadvertently’ aligning with the BJP and obstructing “people-friendly” legislation like the food Bill.
It is an absurdity. Ask them to be truthful. Have they not taken the support of the BJP to pass financial and economic matters, despite the opposition by the Left? In the insurance Bill, the banking amendment Bill, did they concede to the concerns of the Left ?
But the accusation in on the food Bill.
Did they consult us on the Bill? All four Left parties conducted national consultations on the universalisation of the Public Distribution System; we stated there was no point in having categories like APL and BPL, we wanted to ensure that for starters, 35 kg of foodgrain was made available (to each person monthly) at Rs 2 a kg; no cash transfers.
Did they consult us on all these issues? They are allowing private players in the market. Let the Congress not teach us on people-friendly measures.
Some believe the Congress is attempting to divert attention from the demand for resignations of its two ministers and is, therefore, pushing the food Bill.
People are mature enough to see through this deception. Even the Samajwadi Party wants Bansal’s resignation, while the BSP is not speaking on it. Who are with the UPA today except for the National Conference and NCP? The country is looted and the Congress does not own responsibility. Whether it be the JPC report on 2G or the coal block scam, the Congress does not own responsibility.
Do you also demand the resignations of Railway Minister Pawan Bansal and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar?
Their position has become untenable. Huge corruption takes place in the railways and nobody comes up to take responsibility.
Will the current impasse continue and will the Left allow the house to function?
Parliament in any case meets till May 10. If it does not function, the blame squarely lies with the Congress; the Opposition has full right to raise issues and question the government. At any point of time, has the Prime Minister got up and faced Parliament on these issues? Why are they blaming the Opposition?
Is the resignation of the two ministers in question a precondition before the Food bill can be discussed in Parliament?
It’s not a precondition; it’s a moral political question. The Congress is making a mockery of Parliament. As for the food Bill, if they are so sincere and honest, why did they bring it at the fag end of the session?
