Congress, BJP anti-people, an altertive is needed: CPM leader

Special correspondent

SILCHAR, March 3: In order to find a footing in the Barak Valley, left leaders often make election campaign to regain the ground and carry conviction with the people that the solution to the critical issues now being faced by them is to extend their support for the third front.

In this search for ground for his party, Manik Dey, Tripura Power Minister today came down from Agartala to address a public meeting at Bipil Chandra Paul memorial ground here. He lashed out at Congress and BJP for all the mess in the country and made it clear that only a front under the leadership of CPM could be the altertive to these parties. He said a tionwide campaign has been started in order to garner the support of common people to strengthen the third front.

Manik Dey added to say he was confident with realization growing fast among the masses about the non performance and anti people policies of Congress and BJP, they would in course of time come forward to support the third front. He cited the CPM ruled Tripura state under Manik Sarkar who has been hailed as the most successful chief minister in the country. He pointed out, “This is not a myth but a reality.” One could see for himself how in every field, the state has advanced. He claimed it is a state free from corruption which has become a byword in the administration of Assam.

 Manik Dey said, “CPM government has provided better road connectivity, round the clock electricity and successful implementation of all the central and state schemes and projects.” ONGC in Barak Valley since its exploration here from 1960 has been groping in the dark without any significant achievement in the production of gas and oil. In Tripura, ONGC is a story of total success where there is no state interference as compared to Assam. He expressed his surprise that there should be no ONGC run project in this valley which once has been described as floating on gas and oil.

 In fact, Manik Dey went hammer and tongue to hit out at Gogoi Government and lamented at the pathetic condition of tea workers, idequate health services for them and other distressed people as well as corruption ridden food security cards and lack of electricity in rural areas. Of concern, according to the feedback from the ground to him, Manik Dey referred to the drinking water crisis in tea belts and villages and the intake of polluted waters from river and ponds by people who have been falling victims to diarrhea and other intestine disorders.

 Continuing his tirade, CPM minister also targeted Tarun Gogoi government for not being accountable and transparent in the implementation of welfare schemes for BPL families, women and child, IAY as well as MGNREGA. Equally pitiable was the condition of farmers who have been deprived of their various benefits under different schemes. They could grow more vegetables and fruits and plough back profits, but for the lack of help from the state government. While coming from Tripura by road, the minister was appalled to see the deplorable conditions of highways and PWD roads and wanted to know why they should be like that.

 Apart from giving a comparative factsheet about the achievements of Manik Sarkar and Tarun Gogoi, Manik Dey said, “The focus is now on connectivity through Bangladesh and for which the chief minister has been pursuing the matter with the UPA and now with the NDA. It has been a success as trucks and buses have started moving and work on BG is progressing fast. This will boost up the economic development of the state and benefit people.” He wondered why Tarun Gogoi government is not showing any interest in connectivity of this potential Barak Valley through Bangladesh.

 From what Manik Dey said in the public meeting, it was clear that there was no possibility of any alliance of the left parties with Congress. He came out rather more scathingly against Congress for being a commul and corrupt party than BJP. He went back to recall Jaiprakash rayan, socialist party frontline leader, under whose leadership all the non Congress parties united to fight against the corruption of Congress. And that fight continues by the left parties, he pointed out. He called upon the people to vote for CPM for peace, harmony and development. Others who addressed the meeting included Samiran Acharjee, secretary, Cachar and Hailakandi district, Parimal Dey, executive member, Tapash Bhattacharjee, joint secretary, and advocate Rejamond Ali.