Finding the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill and the ongoing price rise as a platform to pursue its dream of a ‘third alternative’ — a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative — the CPI(M)’s politburo today met to discuss how to take forward the unity between different parties.
“Discussions were held on the current political situation and how to continue our struggle in Parliament and outside against price rise, the Finance Bill and the nuclear liability Bill. We will work together with other secular parties on these issues,” Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters.
The party will continue to oppose the nuclear liability Bill and it plans to bring a cut motion on the Finance Bill against the proposal to increase the excise duties on petrol and diesel. The government, however, doesn’t face any threat as it has a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha (the Finance Bill needs to be passed in the Lok Sabha). The main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, too, may not like to pull down the government immediately and is not likely to be a party to this grand plan of the Left-led brigade.
While the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and the Left Front remain divided over the issue of Women’s Reservation Bill, Left leaders feel the issue will not hamper their unity on other subjects like the nuclear liability Bill and price rise.
The Politburo meeting was originally scheduled for two days. It was, however, cut short by a day as members like Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had to leave early. Sarkar today left for Dhaka on an invitation from the Bangladesh government. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also skipped the meeting as the Assembly session is on in the state.
The CPI(M) and other Left parties also plan to hold a ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation against price rise on April 8. It wants to mobilise around 2.5 million people across the country for this programme.