'Coalition dharma' not for the Left: CPI(M) tells Cong

Making it clear that it was not part of the ruling coalition, the CPI(M) today firmly told the Congress not to invoke the coalition dharma on the Left and stop violating the Common Minimum Programme.

Responding to a question on Congress President Sonia Gandhi's statement in Kerala about maintenance of the "coalition dharma", CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu told reporters that it was for the Congress-led ruling coalition to see that it continued to enjoy support of the Left parties who were not part of the UPA.

"What is the use of invoking the coalition dharma on the Left when we are not part of the coalition at all? We will obstruct the government when it goes beyond the CMP.

"Congress is in a difficult position and we sympathise with her (Gandhi) when she speaks as Congress party chief," Basu said, asserting that it would continue to "obstruct" the government whenever it went beyond the CMP.

Calling the U C Banerjee Commission report on the Godhra train blaze, Basu and his colleague Mohd Salim asked the Centre to take steps for the release of those arrested under Pota in the case, saying the Pota Review Committee had concluded that there was no such incident.

This was also borne out by the Banerjee panel which described it as an accident as also the forensic report which indicated the same.

"The government should make public all facts in regard to the Godhra case as one of the biggest massacres followed the incident," Salim said.