CPI takes potshots at PM, Pranab

Ludhiana, July 7 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (CPI) launched a fresh attack on the Congress party on Saturday, with the CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy taking digs at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Reddy said the Prime Minister's decision to take charge of the Finance Ministry would not yield any miracles, adding that neither Mukherjee, as Finance Minister could do any good to the nation, nor should one expect the PM to wield a magic wand.

Reddy, here to address a three- day public rally organised by the CPI, criticized the economic policies of the government, including the Centre's decision to expand the purview of Service Tax.

He also took on the government on issues of naxalism and food inflation.

Further, Reddy added that the Left parties had deliberately opted out of the presidential poll, since they did not want to extend their support to neither the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), nor the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Meanwhile, senior CPI member of Punjab, Joginder dayal urged the Election Commission to conduct the Dasua by-elections under the supervision of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), before adding that the decision to conduct an Operation Blue Star memorial at Harmandir Sahib was a conscious one by the ruling Akali Dal. By- Karan Kapoor (ANI)