Left Hits Back at BJP, Says Will Counter its Expose Threat
NEW DELHI: Blaming the Centre for poor business during the Monsoon Session, Left parties today accepted BJP's challenge of "exposing" opposition parties over disruption of Parliament, and said they will counter the threat "squarely at all levels".
Speaking to reporters here, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his CPI counterpart S Sudhakar Reddy claimed that the NDA major itself did not want bills like GST to pass as it was apprehensive of losing its regional allies like AIADMK who are strongly opposed to the legislation.
Accusing BJP of being "politically opportunistic", the leaders said the party delayed presentation of a report on Land Acquisition bill by Joint Parliamentary Committee fearing backlash during upcoming Bihar polls.
"We are here to declare it openly if this is the challenge, the BJP and RSS are posing to the Left, then this challenge will be met squarely in all these constituencies. If they are going to create trouble at all level, politically, organisationally, it will be met squarely.
"We shall safeguard communal harmony and fight against those sharpening communal polarisation for their advantage through democratic methods," Yechury told reporters.
On the claims that delay in passage of GST bill will halt economic growth, Yechury said such a campaign is an illusion.
He said it will take at least a year if the bill, a Constitutional amendment, is to be passed and hinted the BJP, despite its majority in Lok Sabha, is not in a position to see the GST bill cleared.
He added the Land Acquisition bill was not pushed through Parliament keeping in mind large section of voters belonging to peasantry.
"In both these things, we see a certain pattern. There is a political opportunism involved in this. The GST, we think will not happen because pushing them through Parliament will make BJP lose allies who are opposed to the bill.
"And the Land Acquisition bill, Bihar election is on agenda. A large population of voters belonging to peasantry... Again this land bill was not pushed through. So, basically, it was the BJP's political opportunism why these things did not happen," Yechury alleged.
Blaming Left for the disruption hence was not only "unfair" but something which had political point behind it, the CPI(M) general secretary said.
"Since BJP cannot negate Left on corruption issues, it was using the session disruption pretext to reach out to people in areas where communist parties have influence. This is only a pretext to create communal polarisation in constituencies where Left has influence. We will deal on the basis of nature of problem," he said.
On his part, Reddy said the BJP believes in "offence is best defence" approach and therefore, is trying to cover up its failure of not keeping promises made by crying about democracy being endangered by opposition.
Asked about the possibility of government reconvening monsoon session, which is not prorogued yet, for passage of GST bill, Yechury said it is prerogative of the Centre.
He, however, reiterated concerns over the bill which he said will eliminate revenue resource for states which will have to depend on Centre for their share.
Meanwhile, when asked about Mamata Banerjee-led TMC not joining collective opposition parties against government over Lalit-gate during session, he said, "There is a zabardast (strong) match fixing, which is going on even now between Mamata Banerjee's party and BJP. Hence, they were not with opposition in Parliament. The nexus is evident."
He slammed BJP for not initiating an enquiry in Lalitgate despite the opposition demanding for it.
Asked about NSA-level talks beginning between India and Pakistan next week amid reports of ceasefire violations by the neighbouring country in Jammu and Kashmir, Yechury said dialogue was required, but demanded to know on what terms.
"And whenever we ask on what terms the talks will be held, their answer is 56-inch chest," Yechury quipped.
On possibility of CPI (M) leaders sharing dais with West Bengal CM Banerjee at AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal's planned conclave on centre-state relationship, Yechury said he is yet to receive formal invitation in this regard.
Taking a dig at Narendra Modi over him clicking selfies during his recent visit to UAE, he quipped that the Prime Minister does not trust anyone else taking his photographs.
CPI national secretary D Raja accompanied the two during the press briefing.