CPI-M slams PM's statement on regional parties

Addressing an election meeting in support of Pattali Makkal Katchi candidate for Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency M Ramadoss, Karat said, "It is exceedingly unfortunate that the Prime Minister has stated that regional parties have no national vision on national development."

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre had the support of the regional parties, Karat said. "There would have been no UPA government at all without the support of regional parties. These regional parties were running state governments and are alive to the issues of the people. It is unfortunate that Manmohan Singh had made this comment," Karat said.

Karat asked the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to make its stand clear on the Prime Minister's comments. He alleged that the UPA government had "failed during the last five years of its rule in tackling agrarian crisis, unemployment problem caused due to the impact of global economic crisis and the problem of continued price rise of essential commodities."

"The parties constituting the Third Front have come together to work for a firm defence of secular principles, independent foreign policy, social justice through a new compact government at the Centre," Karat added.