Left Often On Wrong Side Of History: Manmohan Singh

Kochi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday once again took a dig at the Third Front, of which the Left parties are a constituent, saying it cannot form a government at the Centre and is only dividing the secular votes.
The PM was speaking at a rally in Kochi, his first in the current Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Needling the Communists in their bastion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 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.

Commenting on the terror issue Dr Singh said that terrorism today has international and inter-state dimensions, adding that the country needs a government which has a pluralistic character. Only Congress party can give such leadership, he said further.

Meanwhile, in a bid to woo voters in Kerala, the PM emphasised on the development projects started or announced by the Central government.

Dr Singh said that the Congress has always worked for Kerala and he himself has special affection towards the Keralites.

The PM further said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi too is attached to the people of Kerala and is very keen on making the state more developed.

Citing the example of Sabarimala project the PM said that the Union government has fulfilled its promise to clear 12.65 hectares of land in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala for the development of road and providing infrastructure facilities for pilgrims visiting Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple.

Hitting at the ruling state government Dr Singh said that if the state government had taken adequate measures Kerala would have gone ahead in terms of development.

Tags: Left Often, Manmohan Singh, Side Of History