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Attack on Kashmir TRC: Two militants die

     Srinagar: Just a day ahead of the inaugural run of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, militants today attacked the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) here, where passengers for Thursday's bus journey had been lodged. During the firing, the centre building caught fire. Security forces have cordoned off the area. Two militants alleged to be involved in the attack were killed and some civilians have been injured. Passengers were kept at the TRC as a security precaution. The campus of the building had several government offices including State Road Transport Corporation (STCC) office, which was the nodal point of ticket distribution to the bus passengers. The militants threw grenades and fired gunshots at the building. However, according to media reports, all passengers who have to travel on the bus are safe but some have got minor injuries. Fire engines are working hard to douse the flames and security forces have launched searching operation.

     Meanwhile, the militant groups who had issued warning against the bus service have claimed the responsibility for the fidayeen attack. They have also threatened to carry out more attacks. Four militant outfits had issued a joint statement on March 30 warning the selected passengers "not to enter the coffin (bus) but if they do, they will find their names in the list of traitors". PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference President Omar Abdullah have reiterated that whatever comes in the way, the bus service will start as per plan and the militants will be given a befitting reply. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to flag off the historic bus service tomorrow.

CPI(M) to explore option of alternative Third Front (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The CPI(M) on Wednesday said that it would continue to explore the option of an alternative third front - a non-BJP, non-Congress front at the Centre, and acknowledged for the first time since the inception of the UPA coalition government in May 2004, that basic ideological differences existed between it and the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress party. These views were expressed on the first day of the five-day 18th Congress of the CPI (ML), which is meeting in the Indian capital. The meeting is expected to see a generational change in the party leadership, with politburo member Prakash Karat being the frontrunner to replace veteran leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet as general secretary of the party. The change of guard in the CPI(M) was apparent when Surjeet asked Karat to read his speech because of his failing health. But Surjeet had a tough message in his speech for the UPA government. He made it clear that the CPI(M) had basic differences with the Congress and the party would work for a third front in Indian politics. "There is no giving up on our basic agenda. We shall act as sentinels of the people we shall make independent assessments and decide our course of action," said Prakash Karat, CPI(M) leader. Senior CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu was equally forthright, insisting that the UPA's economic policies had only benefited a small section of the people. "We must chalk out a path of development which is founded on concern for vast masses," said Jyoti Basu. The CPI(M) clearly has one eye on next year's elections in the Marxist bastions of Kerala and West Bengal. At the same time, it continues to support the UPA at the Centre. Retaining the left identity in this paradoxical political situation is clearly a challenge which the party congress will have to grapple with.

UPA should review its liberalisation policies: Jyoti Basu (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M) today called upon the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to review its policies regarding liberalisation and privatisation. The veteran CPI (M) leader and politburo member, Jyoti Basu, said the policies of the Congress led UPA government were different from the promises it had made earlier. " The UPA led by Congress should introspect, can it continue with the same indiscriminate policies of liberalisation and privatisation. Will there be any difference between its policies and that of the BJP? People expect that the UPA government will fulfil its commitment that it's policies will be for the 'Aam Admi'. Because the present form of liberalisation and privatisation have helped only 10 per cent of the population only," said Jyoti Basu. He was addressing the party workers and politburo members at the 18th National Congress of CPM in the capital on Wednesday About 800 elected delegates form all over the country attended the inaugural session of the five-day meet, which began after paying homage to martyrs and hoisting of the red flag at the Talkatora Stadium here. As many as 56 foreign delegates of communist and workers parties from 27 countries also attended the Congress along with leaders of the CPI, Forward Bloc, RSP. Veteran CPI leader and General Secretary AB Bardhan present in the occasion reiterated his stand that the two socialist parties should take steps to improve their relations "We should strive towards a Left secular and democratic government. We should be the real content of the next alternative of the country," said Bardhan. The Party Congress, which is the highest policy-making body, would give a final shape to the political and organisational report of the Central Committee, revise and amend the party programme and Constitution and determine the line to be adopted in the current political situation. The five-day meet is expected to see a generational change in the party leadership, with politburo member Prakash Karat being considered to be the front-runner to replace veteran leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet as the General Secretary of the party.

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