PM should ensure that Maran quits Union Cabinet: Bardhan

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Stating that the continuance of Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran was “untenable”, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan on Monday demanded that the Prime Minister ascertain that the former was made to quit his post.

“Maran’s continuance in the Union Cabinet is no longer justified. He must resign. The Prime Minister should see to it that the minister — facing fresh allegations in the 2G spectrum scandal — goes. Hope the Prime Minister will take action and not wait till it is too late,” Bardhan told a press conference at the CPI state headquarters Maqdoom Bhavan here on Monday.

The general secretary pointed out that as more and more the 2G spectrum was investigated, more and more ministers' involvement was being revealed. “The probe into the 2G scandal should take into account the decisions taken during the erstwhile NDA regime as well since the first-come-first-serve policy was introduced during that period,” he added.

Bardhan also slammed the UPA government for overlooking the political parties in the drafting of the Jan Lokpal Bill. “The government doesn't seem to have a policy. Yes, civil society is alright. But an amorphous civil society doesn’t pass laws. The government should remember that the Bill has to be passed in Parliament. We don’t know about the discussions in the drafting committee,” he said.

He found fault with the UPA government for suddenly involving the political parties in the (Bill drafting) process and seeking their opinion.

“But, all political parties should strongly rebuff the government. It has sent us an objective-type question paper seeking answers. Is this the casual way in which you treat political parties,” Bardhan questioned.

The CPI leader demanded that the draft Jan Lokpal Bill be tabled in the next session of Parliament so that it could be “discussed, processed and enacted” as law.

“We want the Prime Minister's office and the judiciary brought under the Lokpal’s purview. We will give reasons for it in Parliament,” Bardhan added.

Lashing out at the government over the way in which it treated social activist Anna Hazare and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the CPI general secretary noted that five representatives from the civil society were included in the drafting committee but were subjected to attacks subsequently.

“The UPA government and the Congress have been attacking and belittling Anna Hazare and others by hurling slanderous allegations. Is this the way the government should behave? The Congress party even published a pamphlet against Anna,” he pointed out.

After first rolling out a red carpet, the government cracked down on Baba Ramdev. “It was a dark deed done in darkness of night. Is this the way the government treats any agitation? It can’t treat people like that,” Bardhan asserted.

Referring to Baba Ramdev, the CPI chief said it was good that the former ended his fast. However, he took exception to the campaign that people were now carrying forward the issues raised by the Yoga guru.

“People are not carrying forward the issues raised by him. They were raised long ago. They are people’s issues. In fact, it was the CPI MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy who first raised in Parliament the issue of black money and put the figure at76 lakh crores. The government remained mum. Another CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta followed it up but the Union finance minister is yet to reply to this though the issue is pending before Parliament for about three years now,” Bardhan recalled.

Asserting that the people would continue to fight on the issues of corruption and black money, Bardhan said the Left parties too would continue their “relentless struggle”.

CPI deputy general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, state secretary K. Narayana and others were also present at the press meet.