NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India political and economic challenges posed by the current situation.

In a resolution adopted Friday, the CPI national council described the new government as one “formed by a small breakaway group in parliament with the outside support by the Congress (I) in a sort of opportunist gang up.”

“The CPI would function as an opposition to this government and critically put to test its performances and declarations in the coming days. This does not exclude support on specific issues where justified,” the resolution said.

It called other left parties and groups to jointly launch a nationwide campaign to find a negotiated settlement of the disputed Ram Janam bhoomi Babri Masjid issue and step up efforts to tackle the Punjab and Kashmir problems. The resolution said the left parties should immediately try to evolve a common approach of all secular parties to the solution of the vexed temple mosque controversy, implementation of the Mandal commission report for job reservations for backward classes and the Kashmir and Punjab problems.

“On the question of galloping price rise, explosive unemployment and acute economic crisis that the country is facing, the left front and the Janata Dal should come forward with concrete proposals. Basu’s tirade

Jyoti Basu, the chief minister of the Left Front led Bengal Sunday disclosed that he had been offered the prime minister ship a few months ago but he had rejected the idea.

Speaking at the open session of the 5th conference of the CITU’s Hooghly district unit here, Basu said that the Prime Minister Chandrasekhar even told me to become prime minister a few months ago, but I totally rejected the idea.

Basu added that he had asked Chandrasekhar at the time about his programmes, “but he could not give any reply and his only mission has been to oust V.P.Singh from leadership.”

Continuing his tirade, Chandrasekhar, he accused Chandra Shekhar of having “committed treachery and insulted the people” by joining hands with the congress I and splitting the Janata Dal for “personal gains”.

Basu said that the people had given their verdict against the congress I in the last Lok Sabha elections.

“How could they dare to insult the masses by joining hands with the congress I ” he asked.

“They have not regarded the people as human beings, Basu charged, “that is why they have taken such an unprincipled stand. They could have gone to the masses before joining hands with the congress I. The people, for this treachery, will teach them a lesson,” he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 16, 1990