MADRAS: West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu said Friday the Congress-I government at the center headed by P. V. Narasimha Rao would not last its full term because of the anti-people economic policies being pursued by it.
Answering questions from members of the Madraspress club Basu said it would not be possible for him to say now when the country would have to face another election.
When the budget session of parliament begins he Communist party of India (Marxist) would take a stand on every issue on the basis of merit Basu said adding “we will certainly vote against the government if any issue is anti-people.
Basu was asked whether he saw any change in the ruling party’s attitude towards the opposition now compared to the time it was headed by the late premier Rajiv Gandhi.
“It is the continuation of the same old policies even now. The Rajiv Government had indiscriminately borrowed without saying how exactly it would be repaid. Fundamentally there is no change with the passing away of Gandhi. Only now dynastic rule has ended” he said.
Asked about the possibility of the CPI-Mand CPI uniting he said it was all the more necessary now to work together. Both parties were in government in West Bengal and Kerala and the question of a united party did not arise at all.”
Commenting on the fate of a now defunct Soviet Union the veteran Congressional leader said the changed situation would have an impact on India.
He said India depended on the USSR for defence equipment and spare parts. Now the Indian government had to discuss these matters with the Russian government he said adding we will be in great difficulty now as the Russian government needs hard currency. We have to export jute tea and other items to them.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1992
