India needs a secular democratic alternative: Manik Sarkar

Calling for a “secular democratic alternative” to keep the communal forces at bay in the country, senior CPI(M) leader and Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar on Tuesday asserted that the BJP “is more dangerous” than the Congress.

If the BJP were to come to power after the General Election, the country “will be dismembered” and India’s unity and sovereignty will be in danger, Mr. Sarkar, said here, addressing an election rally in support of the CPI(M)’s Tiruchi Lok Sabha candidate, S. Sridhar.

Emphasizing that only a “secular democratic alternative” to both the Congress and the BJP will be able to take up issues that affect the common man like price rise, fear of communal polarization and unemployment, Mr. Sarkar said for such a political alternative to emerge, the Left parties in the country have to be strengthened.

In this backdrop, the Marxist leader referred to how the CPI and CPI(M) were together contesting as a separate front in Tamil Nadu for the first time in a Lok Sabha election.

Mr. Sarkar said the Congress was getting isolated from the common people because of its anti-people policies and was not in a position to form the next government at the Centre. The Country had not seen this type of corrupt government as the UPA, which was mired in scams, he said.

While the people have “decided” that they will not allow the Congress to stage a comeback, Mr. Sarkar said the BJP was trying to encash on the failure of the Congress. However, the saffron party also might not be in a position to form the next government in New Delhi either, he contended to drive home that the Left and other democratic and secular forces might hence have to play a crucial role. Mr. Sarkar has been addressing several election rallies for the Left parties since Monday including in Thanjavur. EOM.