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“CPI has not yet talked about separate Eelam”

Special Correspondent

Bardhan warns that feelings of people in its support will be consolidated if “genocidal attack” continues

— Photo: V. Ganesan

CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan addressing a public meeting in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan on Friday said his party had not yet talked about a separate Eelam. The party conference had only advocated the right to self-determination in areas where the Tamils were in a majority.

However, he warned that the feelings of the people in support of a separate Tamil Eelam would be consolidated if Sri Lanka continued its “genocidal attack” on the Tamils.

Recalling the creation of Bangladesh, Mr. Bardhan said though the Bengali-speaking people were not initially for a separate country, the repressive measures unleashed by Pakistan led to the creation of Bangladesh.

“We leave it to the Sri Lankan Tamils to take a decision on the issue,” he said, adding that a solution to the complicated issue could not be found through military means.

He alleged that the Indian government had signally failed to take steps to ensure that the genocide of the Tamils was stopped.

Mr. Bardhan said his party would take a positive look at joining the government if the Third Front formed the government at the Centre. “The question will become vital. We will positively consider it if our joining will ensure stability and guidance to the government,” he said.

The CPI’s national executive meeting on May 19 will be followed by the three-day national council meeting on May 20, 21 and 22.

Third Front

Mr. Bardhan, who was here to address election meetings, said the Third Front was doing very well and the chances of it coming to power at the Centre were bright. He said there was a wave in favour of the AIADMK front and it might lead to victory in all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Mr. Bardhan attributed the Third Front’s chances to the pre-poll alliances that would lead to victory in many States, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa, and also to post-poll realignment at the national level.

He said the Third Front’s emergence had caused nervousness in the Congress camp and its leaders were speaking in different voices, contradicting themselves and holding different opinions. “With the completion of four phases of the elections, the Congress has faced the reality that it may not get the numbers. The fifth phase will drive the last nail in the Congress’s hope,” he said.

He alleged that the DMK in alliance with the Congress was resorting to brazen display of money power and trying to bribe the voters.

“It is a great threat to Indian democracy. I am unhappy that a senior political leader like Mr. Karunanidhi is giving his blessings and not speaking against it,” he said.

Asked whether the Left would support the Congress to prevent the BJP from coming to power, he shot back, “You think that only the Congress is capable of preventing the BJP.” “In the Left-ruled State we have effectively prevented it,” he added.

Mr. Bardhan said the attempts of the Congress leaders to create difference between the alliance partners in the Third Front would not succeed. The poaching attempts on our partners would be rebuffed, he added.

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