An alternative secular government with the support of Left parties is the need of the hour, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said.
Speaking after inaugurating a public meeting here on Thursday in connection with the election campaign of Left Democratic Front candidate in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency P.P. Suneer, Mr. Yechury said the support of 61 MPs from Left parties to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004 was the major reason for enacting many people-friendly Acts, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
On Modi’s politics
But the UPA government in 2009, without the support of the Left front, paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, he said.
Coming down heavily on the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Yechury said Mr. Modi had made many promises to farmers, including one-time loan waiver on agriculture loans, but nothing materialised. But Mr. Modi had waived ₹5.55 lakh core for the business class in the country, Mr. Yechury said adding that less than one-fourth of the amount was sufficient to write off farm loans.
People-centric policies were needed to protect the interest of the working class people, including farmers.
‘Why not tax super rich’
If 2% tax was imposed on the super rich people, the standard of living of the poor could have improved. But the BJP government had removed all such taxes, he said.
Criticising the candidature of Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Mr. Yechury said the Congress was saying that the BJP had to be defeated and an alternative secular government had to come at the Centre. In such a situation why did Mr. Gandhi come to Wayanad? Mr. Yechury asked.
‘‘If his aim is to defeat Mr. Modi and form a secular government, why is he contesting against Mr. Suneer,’’ Mr. Yechury asked.
A day after Mr. Gandhi campaigned in Wayanad, the LDF held a massive road show at Sulthan Bathery led by Mr. Yechury.
