Left often on wrong side of history: PM

Kochi, Apr 11 (PTI) Needling the Communists in their
bastion, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said
the Left parties have often been on the "wrong side" of
history by refusing to participate in the Quit India movement,
Green and IT revolutions and to back the nuclear deal with the
US.

In a veiled attack on the coming together of parties in
the Third Front led by the Left, he asked the people to choose
between the stability of the Congress and the coalition of
parties which have come together only by the "glue of
government" in which there is a continuous struggle for power.

"The Left that rules the state has unfortunately often
been on the wrong side of history. When Mahatma Gandhi started
Quit India movement the Left did not participate in it. When
India became Independent, they said this independence is not
for real," he said addressing an election meeting here, the
first after his recovery from the heart bypass surgery.

Singh said in 1960s when the then Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi ushered in Green Revolution, the Left opposed it saying
it was only for the benefit of foreign seed companies.
Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi started communications revolution
they opposed it saying it will take away jobs.

"When our government started nuclear deal with the US to
end India's nuclear isolation and to provide the much-needed
energy for development, the Left opposed and walked out of our
government. Time will prove the wisdom of our decision," the
prime minister said.

The prime minister said the people of Kerala would choose
the Congress candidates with a thumping majority and not
support those who play on the emotions for narrow partisan
political ends.

He said the Left Front or the so called Third Front can
never form a government at the Centre. They can only divide
secular votes which will help the BJP.

The Left Front has been using ideology as a cover for
opportunity and the people of Kerala will recognise this
hypocrisy, he said.

Singh launched a scathing attack on the Left Front in
Kerala contending that the "unfriendly" policies of the state
government have kept people away from development.

He accused the Left Front government of "squandering and
wasting" opportunities for development by pursuing
"restrictive policies" and suggested that several districts
bordering Kerala have emerged as investment destinations.

Why districts bordering Kerala are seen as investment
destinations and why have Kanyakumari, Coimbatore and
Mangalore have become boom towns, Singh wondered.

Singh claimed that the Left Front had even tried to
obstruct development efforts of the government at the Centre
and Kerala was the only state where projects to build highways
was facing stiff opposition.

Singh said that the unfriendly investment climate and
"restrictive" policies of the state have been obstructing
investments in the state.

"The approach of the LDF government is not favourable to
investments," the prime minister said adding that the youth of
Kerala have not given their due. PTI SKU
SAK
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