People's Democracy

THE CPI(M) would hold consultations with all opposition parties on the question of fielding a joint opposition candidate for the post of vice-president. It was hopeful that an agreement would be reached on a common candidate.

This was stated by the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet at a press conference on July 8. Questioned whether the party would be speaking to the Congress and Samajwadi Party also in view of the stand taken by these parties on the presidential polls, Surjeet replied "We hope they have learnt the lessons from whatever has happened. We are clear that we will do everything possible to take forward the fight against the fascist forces and these consultations are part of that effort."

Surjeet was briefing the media on the deliberations of the two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, held in New Delhi on July 6-7. The meeting was presided over by Jyoti Basu. A press statement issued by the Polit Bureau was also released at the press conference. Earlier, the Polit Bureau had adopted resolutions on the latest Godhra revelation and the Eastern Railway bifurcation move.

Referring to the Election Commission’s recent order based on the Supreme Court judgement which requires an affidavit to be filed by all the candidates contesting elections, Surjeet said the Supreme Court has gone far beyond its jurisdiction. He said this procedure would pose serious obstacles to the normal electoral process and if it is allowed, no democratic right can be ensured in the country. At the all-party meeting convened by the government just hours before his press conference, Surjeet had made it clear that this was no time to indulge in lengthy debates about the merits of the judgement, but to take action to stop its implementation. He told the media that he had suggested to the government to come out immediately with a legislation and get it passed in the coming monsoon session of parliament.

Surjeet attacked the government for its decision on allowing the foreign direct investment into the print media, saying this would lead to dangerous influence of foreign powers on the Indian media.

Responding to questions regarding the revival of People's Front, Surjeet said it was part of a continuous process, and efforts for that are already on.

The Polit Bureau meeting condoled the demise of Comrades Suryanarayana Rao, member of CPI(M) Central Committee and its Karnataka state secretary, D D Shastri (Forward Bloc) and M Dasan, member of the CPI(M) Kerala state committee.