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NDA a collection of opportunists: Somnath Chatterjee
August 18, 2003 15:04 IST
Last Updated: August 18, 2003 15:24 IST
Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Somnath Chatterjee, participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government, said in the Lok Sabha on Monday that corruption has increased during the tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.
Complete coverage of the no-confidence motion debate
"I support this motion fully on behalf of my party. It is our duty to get rid of this anti-people government," he said.
He called the NDA a weird combination and said its constituents are opportunists who have come together not for the welfare of the people, but for their own selfish gains.
"They do not have any common objective. Their only objective is to remain in power by hook or crook," he said.
He severely criticised the Prevention of Terrorism Act and called it a draconian law.
NDA partner and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko, who has been booked under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and is languishing in a Tamil Nadu jail, might be brought to Parliament to vote against the motion, he said, adding Vaiko would win his freedom the day the government was booted out.
"Is not POTA being misused for their political benefit?" he asked.
He also charged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with following Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh charter rather than following the Constitution.
The veteran leader panned the government over its economic policy. "The country's economic interests have been sold off."
"Education system has been chosen by this government." he said, adding this was done to communalise it.
He said the BJP had not given up on its demands -- "demand of a Ram temple; repeal of Article 370; demand for Uniform Civil Code; demand for ban on cow slaughter and so many other demands".
"The government came to power on the basis of what is called NDA manifesto. Sometimes they are a collection of jokes."