|
Political Notes |
 |
BJP : Advani warns against indiscipline
BJP president L.K. Advani has warned partymen against mistakes which could project the organisation in a negative manner. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day national executive meeting of the BJP Scheduled Castes Morcha in Delhi, he said the media cannot be blamed for the party’s weaknesses. He said the “media will highlight even the smallest shortcoming while ignoring the good work done by the party.”
The BJP chief then tried to drive home his point by saying, “if I am healthy, it is no news. My ailments will make news. So we should try to remain healthy.” It was, however, clear that some of the leaders were in no mood for what they described as “sermons.”
One leader attending the meeting recalled : “It was Uma who first insulted Naiduji. Naiduji did not say a word. It was Uma who hit out at Mahajan. She accused him of leading a luxurious life and described him as a power broker. Majahan did not say a word. It was Uma who defied the leadership in full media glare. She accused the leadership of conspiring against her. None of them reacted. It was Uma who dared Advaniji to suspend her.” For this functionary, “Uma’s return has signaled that if a particular leader has some clout, the party will bend backwards to please her.”
Left parties against private airlines on international routes
The Left parties which are supporting the UPA Government from outside, have asked the Centre to reopen the decision to allow private airlines to expand international operations. At the same time, they have asked the Government to give the green signal to the national carriers, Air India and Indian Airlines, to fly on all routes. The Left parties said the Government’s decision will deliver a major blow to the national carriers as Indian Airlines and Air India are already hamstrung by the refusal to allow them to acquire new aircraft. CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said the Government should first focus on allowing Air India and Indian Airlines to expand operations without restrictions. They should also be allowed to acquire new fleet. The Left parties said the Government should ensure a level playing field for the national carriers before going ahead with the proposal to allow private airlines to fly to more foreign destinations.
West Bengal : RSP attacks the CPI(M) for anti-people policies
In West Bengal, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has attacked the CPI(M) for pursuing “anti-people reforms prescribed by the bourgeois interests in Delhi.” Top RSP leader Debabrata Bandopadhyay said at a party meeting in Kolkata that the CPI(M) led Left Front should stop working against the interests of the people. He said if things continued like this, the RSP will be forced to reconsider its support to the Left Front in the state.
Openly chiding the Left Front Government for its policy of contracts in employment sector, Bandopadhyay attacked the Government’s decision of pursuing a dual policy by paying huge salaries to the professors on permanent posts while giving a pittance of rupees two thousand to three thousand to those working on contract basis. The RSP leader’s open criticism of the Government comes a day after the CPI(M) backed state Government employees coordination committee pulled up Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta for “importing” the idea of contracts.
On whether the party was firm in its opinion on withdrawing support to the Left Front Government, which it has been supporting since its inception in 1977, the RSP leader said things will be decided both inside the RSP and the Left Front. He said the UPA Government is taking full advantage of the BJP-fear among the Leftist forces.
Tamil Nadu : Former Minister murdered
In Tamil Nadu, former Law Minister V.
Arunachalam alias Aladi Aruna, was murdered
during a morning walk in Tirunelveli district on December 31. One of his friends who was with him was also killed.
Aladi Aruna had revolted against the DMK leadership on the eve of last parliamentary elections after he was denied a ticket. He charged the DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi with seeking to make his son as the next party president and was suspended from the party. Aruna was one of the foremost Dravidian writers in English and had written on a variety of subjects. Police are investigating the murder.
|
