PM speech ignored 'other India': Left

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was unable to impress the Left with his Independence Day speech. Though the Left didn't fire a fresh salvo against the government, it didn't appreciate the address either.

Singh's speech had no mention of the contentious Indo-US civil nuclear deal. The CPI(M) welcomed this. Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said, "The party welcomes the fact that the prime minister remained silent on the Indo-US nuclear deal and didn't try to influence public opinion from the Red Fort."

The CPI(M) said Singh, by doing this, also held the sanctity of Parliament. Yechury said it was appropriate that the prime minister didn't say anything as Parliament was going to discuss the issue in a few days.

However, the Left parties couldn't find any reason to hail the plans of the government as spelled out by Singh. The CPI(M) and the CPI saw the speech as acknowledging the existence of two Indias, one of which needs urgent care. CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan reacted sharply, saying, "This shows the urban-rural divide is widening."

Yechury also adopted a similar tone. "There exists a developed India and another one which needs to be developed." While Bardhan criticised the speech for not paying any attention to primary education, Yechury said, "He has expressed some noble intentions but we need to see how the government implements them."

Bardhan said there was a need to review the ties with the government and the CPI might have to reconsider its support.