A day after the CPI called for ‘‘mass intervention’’ to make the UPA government ‘‘deliver’’, the CPM today took a softer line on the Centre’s economic policies, preferring to focus mainly on political issues.After its central committee meeting, held over the weekend, the CPM did raise some economic issues. But they were clubbed together towards the end of the four-page statement issued today.The emphasis was on highlighting the possibility of the BJP raising communal issues and a warning to the JD(U) that further association with the NDA would affect its credibility. But the CPM stopped short of extending any invitation to the faction-ridden JD(U) to join the secular alliance.Also topping the CPM agenda was the political scenario in the north-east and Jammu and Kashmir. The Left was particularly critical of the Tarun Gogoi government’s handling of the situation in Assam.CPM politburo member Prakash Karat said the committee observed that ULFA and NDFB has been able to perpetrate terror. ‘‘The Tarun Gogoi government has been lax in taking firm measures in time to check these violent activities and there are serious allegations about some of the ministers having links with the ULFA.’’ the central committee statement said.On J-K, the CPM said it ‘‘expects the UPA Government to take fresh initiatives to restore the political dialogue, which can help to rally all the democratic and secular forces. The aspirations of the people for maximum autonomy must be kept in mind.’’ By reiterating this demand, the CPM has shown that it wants Home Minister Shivraj Patil to start acting in this respect. The central committee also paid a lot of attention to the UPA’s foreign policy initiative, especially on Israel. The statement requested the UPA not to go by the argument ‘‘based on realpolitik that strategic cooperation with Israel is in our national interest’’.On Israel, Karat said the UPA should not follow in the BJP’s footsteps. He said it was but ‘‘natural for BJP to share an ideological affinity with the Zionists’’. The central committee reiterated its opposition on key economic issues such as proposed offloading of PSU shares and permitting foreign banks to buy shares in Indian banks.
