Veteran Parliamentarian and noted Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta has warned the Union government that the Left parties could resort to more strikes in the future if it 'does not mend its ways and continues to follow the pro-rich policies'

Dasgupta was addressing a press conference in Parliament House on Thursday.

To celebrate what he called a successful all-India bandh, Dasgupta asked for sweets to be distributed to the media.

"There is a complete bandh in West Bengal and Kerala [Images]. We have similar reports coming in from states like Assam as well. We have got support from almost all political parties - Rashtriya Janata Dal, Telugu Desam Party, Assom Gana Parishad, Samajwadi Party and Biju Janata Dal to name some," he said.

Talking about why the Left parties, who are part of the United Progressive Alliance government, have decided to oppose its own partner, Dasgupta said that the government was violating the common minimum programme agreed between the Congress and the alliance partners.

When asked why the Left does not withdraw support from the government if it feels so humiliated or cheated, Dasgupta said that they are not in favour of mid-term poll as it would allow the Bharatiya Janata Party to come into power.

"We do not want BJP, a communal outfit, in power at any cost," he said.

The BJP is trying to divide the country on the issues of Afzal Guru and Sachhar report, he added.

"We have a finance minister who talks about 9 percent growth at the cost of the growing prices. He is not doing anything for the poor. The policies followed by the present government are not giving desired results. Hence we say that there could be more strikes in future as well. The Left front is going to be the future of the country," he claimed.