Rift within Left over Anna support
Strong differences have surfaced within the Left parties, particularly in the CPI(M), over its leaders sharing dais with the anti-graft crusader, Anna Hazare. The CPI general secretary, A.B. Bardhan and CPI(M) politburo member, Ms Brinda Karat, had shared dais with Mr Hazare during his one-day token fast at Jantar Mantar on December 11.
Resentment is also brewing among the reds for joining hands with the BJP on the issue of Anna Hazare. The BJP leaders, including Mr Arun Jaitley, was also present at the occasion. CPI national secretary D. Raja, who shared dais with the self styled Gandhian at Jantar Mantar, in a veil attack on Anna said : “To undermine Parliament, political parties and political process is to create a condition of anarchy, which will pave way for emergence of authoritarianism and fascism.”
When asked by the top party leadership, both Ms Karat and Mr Bardhan reportedly tried to shift the onus on one another. “While Brinda said she was there because of Bardhan, the CPI general secretary said he went to Jantar Mantar because of Brinda,” sources disclosed.
It may be recalled that both the CPI(M) and CPI had earlier pointed fingers at Mr Hazare for apparently toeing an RSS line. The CPI(M) leadership had made it clear that the support was issue based and there “was no need to share platform with Hazare.”
The matter has also been brought to the notice of the party general secretary, Mr Prakash Karat. Sources, however, disclosed that Mr Karat had given a green signal to his wife and politburo member Brinda Karat’s decision to share platform with Mr Hazare.
The anti-graft crusader, who had initially claimed that his movement was “apolitical,” has now turned it into a full fledged political movement, being backed mainly by the BJP.
Mr Raja, who took potshots at Anna, also tried to defend the Lefts’ move to join the Anna show.” He said: “Left parties are not afraid of participating in a public debate.”
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