The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has invited criticism from the two mainstream parties for asking for donations from the public during its election campaign.
Replying to the BJP and Congress’ criticism, senior State CPI(M) leader Kuldeep Tanwar said no institution, organisation or political party could function without resources. But if this money came from the common people, the party would be answerable only to them and no one else. Since the CPI(M) was always raising peoples’ issues, it was qualified to ask for financial help from them.
It was only the Left parties that had raised their voice on all important issues, Mr. Tanwar said. The BJP and the Congress had organised perfunctory protests on major peoples’ issues and always supported big industrialists and the corporate sector, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The CPI(M) has brought out a leaflet to clarify its stand on seeking donations. It has explained that the party was being run on the money collected as levy from its party members, salaries earned by its elected representatives and the donations given by the working classes and the common man on the streets.