Giriraj’s remark amounts to terrorising minorities: CPI

We will ask EC to serve notice on him, says Sudhakar Reddy

April 21, 2014 04:44 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 07:18 pm IST - TIRUVARUR:

CPI general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy at a press conference at Tiruvarur on Sunday. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj

CPI general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy at a press conference at Tiruvarur on Sunday. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj

The Communist Party of India will write to the Election Commission, urging that it serve notice on Giriraj Singh, a BJP leader in Bihar, for his remark that those opposing Narendra Modi can go to Pakistan, party general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy said on Sunday.

“This is nothing but terrorising the minorities, and all those who oppose Mr. Modi. Who is he to say that? We equally condemn [senior BJP leader] Nitin Gadkari, who shared the stage with Mr. Giriraj Singh, but did not condemn the statement. The EC should not permit him to address meetings.”

‘Gadkari should apologise’

Speaking to journalists before campaigning for the CPI candidate for Nagapattinam, Mr. Reddy also criticised Mr. Gadkari for his statement that casteism was in the blood of Biharis. “He should apologise and withdraw the statement.”

He said the BJP’s position on Article 370 only showed what would happen to the country’s unity if the party came to power.

Asked about the stability of the Left Front vis-à-vis the challenges the pre-poll alliances had thrown up to its unity, especially with the RSP breaking away from the LDF in Kerala, Mr. Reddy said it was sad that it happened; but he was hopeful that the RSP would return after the elections. “Yes, there are issues to be discussed and rectified within the Front after the elections. The RSP is still with us at the national level, and we are sure they will return to LDF after the elections.”

‘No increase in polling’

Dismissing the ‘Modi wave’ as a creation of the corporate media, Mr. Reddy said Bihar witnessed only 52 per cent polling, the usual percentage in the State. “The BJP claims to win 30 seats in Bihar. But had there been a Modi wave, there should have been at least a marginal increase in the polling percentage.”

On the AIADMK’s exit from the alliance with the Left, he said the decision could have been influenced by corporate interests.

Mr. Reddy said the elections would throw up a fractured mandate, but the Left alliance would emerge as the single biggest block, with bright prospects in Kerala and Manipur.

‘BJP will fall short of majority’

Thanjavur Staff Reporter writes

CPI State secretary D. Pandian said the Congress would be defeated in the Lok Sabha polls. Though the BJP would emerge as the single largest party, it would not have the required numbers to form the government.

“In such a situation, there is a possibility of a non-Congress and non-BJP government at the Centre, and the Left parties are working towards forming a secular government,” he said.

He criticised the DMK for fielding the former Union Ministers, A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran, who were facing corruption cases. The AIADMK and the DMK should spell out their stand on the Common Civil Code, the special status to Kashmir and construction of a Ram temple, he said.

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