Kochi, Thursday 22 April 2010: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said that an alternative force that is emerging against the “anti-people” policies of the UPA government will demonstrate its strength on the hartal day on April 27 called by the Left parties against price rise.

Speaking at the T. K. Ramakrishnan memorial programme organised to mark the fourth death anniversary of the CPM leader from Thripunithura on Wednesday evening, Karat said the Congress has been isolated after its 11-month rule at the Centre because of its policies.

The parties that had supported the Congress at the time of formation of the government are now indifferent to it. The Congress is struggling to get the right numbers to get the Finance Bill passed in Parliament, Karat said. This has happened because of misrule.

The people’s anger against the government is being reflected in many States where major parties have decided to come together with the Left in observing the hartal. The protest programme has found support from some ruling and Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, UP and Bihar, said Karat.

He said it was ironic that the Congress in Kerala was blaming the LDF government for the price rise since it is a national phenomenon. In fact, the LDF government should be congratulated on implementing welfare measures to protect the people against price rise, he said.

Karat added that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) should be constituted to inquire into the India Premier League (IPL) controversy. ‘The government has to come forward with a reliable agency and a JPC is welcome,’ said Karat. He said that Kerala has come to realise that cricket based on IPL model is not the need of the hour.

Stating that the IPL ‘is not a sport’, Karat said it is a platform where ‘unaccounted money is flowing in’.