The CPI yesterday chose the issue of neglect of minorities to take the United Front government to task.
It said that, despite hope and expectations being generated among the minorities after the governments installation, nothing concrete had been done to improve their position.
One of the resolutions passed by the CPI national council said the UF government has not taken any initiative to meet the aspirations of the minority communities. This naturally leads to heart burning.
However, it noted that during the 11-month long United Front rule, communal tension has been reduced, riots have not taken place, except minor flare ups in the BSP-BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh and the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled Maharashtra.
The national council asked the government to take concrete steps such as the implementation of 15-point programme announced during the Narasimha Rao government and the Gujral committee report on assistance from the Minorities Finance Corporation. It also demanded the establishment of composite police force and welfare measures for artisan communities.
In another resolution, the council criticised the proposed Rathyatra of BJP president LK Advani and cautioned that it may accentuate communal tension, as was evidenced in the similar Rathyatra of Advani in 1990.
