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Secular veneer of NDA allies exposed: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 17 . The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said the reaction of the NDA constituents to the massive mandate secured by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat had torn apart the "secular veneer" of some of them.

Referring to the reaction of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Trinamool Congress, hailing the victory, the CPI(M) Parliamentary Party leader, Somnath Chatterjee, said: "All secular parties for the sake of enjoying the spoils of power are surrendering. The veneer of (their) secular character has been ripped open".

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Chatterjee said the BJP no longer bothered about its allies who fall at its feet to get a share of power. "Politics of principles has been replaced by politics of give and take."

The BJP, with liberal help from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, had come to power in Gujarat on the basis of religious fanaticism and on the plank of communalism. "This is a serious development about which all right-thinking people should be concerned."

Viewing the VHP leader, Praveen Togadia's statement that after Gujarat, within two years the country would be converted into a "Hindu Rashtra" as "provocative", Mr. Chatterjee wondered whatever happened to the Prime Minister's "sense of shame" and advice to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, to follow "Raj Dharma".

The Congress, as the major Opposition party, was expected to lead a coordinated effort in Gujarat. The CPI(M) did not approve of the "soft Hindutva" strategy adopted by the Congress in Gujarat either, Mr. Chatterjee said adding that the Opposition parties would continue to have floor coordination during the last week of Parliament session and efforts would be made to raise the Tehelka issue again.

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