Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 351 Wed. May 26, 2004  
   
International


Congress asks Buddhadeb to talk less on national issues


The Congress has urged Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to speak "as little as possible on national issues" and not to make "irresponsible statements" that might affect the interests of the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre.

At a rally at Shahid Minar Sunday, the chief minister had said without mincing words that the Left was the driving force behind the UPA government. "If we tell them to sit, they'll sit. If we tell them to stand, they'll stand," he said.

PCC general secretary Dr Manas Bhuniya Monday said such statements would affect the interests of the coalition government and would inspire the Opposition led by "communal and fundamentalist forces". The Left is backing the Congress out of political compulsion, he said. "Bhattacharjee knows this very well but has made such a statement only to boost the morale of his comrades."

Dr Bhuniya requested the chief minister to visit Gopiballavpur in West Midnapore, where armed CPI-M cadres allegedly burnt a person to death and looted 40 shops on Saturday.