Surjeet doubts Gujral's integrity
George Iype in New Delhi
More than three weeks after Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral resigned, some of his close friends in the United Front coalition have begun doubting his integrity.
One of Gujral's close advisors and the Communist Party of India- Marxist general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet has apparently turned against him, criticising the prime minister for "not playing a proper role to fight the United Front's detractors."
Surjeet's sharp criticism of the prime minister appears in the latest issue of the CPI-M's official weekly, People's Democracy.
According to the CPI-M general secretary, the prime minister is not "properly and diligently" leading the UF constituents in their fight against the anti-Front and communal forces.
"It is most unfortunate that, in the fight against anti-UF forces, the prime minister has failed to fulfil his role,'' said Surjeet.
The pointed attack comes alongside Surjeet's criticism of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Congress president Sitaram Kesri and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik.
Surjeet is the second top Left leader who has publicly criticised the prime minister in the last two weeks. Earlier, the Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan had said in a television interview that Gujral "lacked the killer instinct" to tackle the UF crises.
Surjeet could not be contacted for his comments as he is away in Calcutta to attend the CPI-M central committee meeting. But Left sources said the CPI-M leader's harsh comments on the prime minister have been triggered by Gujral's 'hobnobbing' with the Akali Dal and Laloo Yadav's RJD.
Several Left leaders, led by Surjeet, have expressed strong reservations against the Akali Dal offer to Gujral -- the party had asked the prime minister to contest from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency with their support. Gujral has publicly welcomed the Akali offer, praising its leadership.
The Left is particularly unhappy as the the Akali Dal has an electoral alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "It is regrettable that the prime minister is sending out wrong signals at a time when the UF is gearing up to fight the saffron brigade," a senior Left leader pointed out.
The Left is equally upset with the prime minister's public display of affection for a 'tainted' leader like Laloo Yadav. Gujral has so far refused to drop the three RJD ministers from his ministry, ignoring the demands of his colleagues in the UF.
Sources said the Left leaders will soon ask the prime minister to clarify his position with regard to Laloo Yadav and the Akali Dal.
Coming as it does from the CPI-M general secretary, the criticism is presumed to be official. The CPI-M central committee will discuss the issue and determine the party's approach to the UF.
EARLIER REPORTS:
Gujral caught in JD-RJD crossfire
JD asks PM to drop RJD ministers
Laloo vows to ruin JD
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