CPI(M) plea for extending ceasefire with ULFA

CPI(M) on Monday asked the Centre to extend the ceasefire for achieving lasting peace in trouble-torn Assam.

Expressing its displeasure over the Government's decision to end its six-week-old truce with the ULFA, the CPI(M) on Monday asked the Centre to extend the ceasefire for achieving lasting peace in trouble-torn Assam.

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The Left party also disagreed with the Government view that peace had not been established as violence continued unabated.

The Congress-led UPA coalition had called off its six-week-long truce with the ULFA on Sunday and directed the Army to launch a massive operation against the outfit.

Addressing mediapersons on the second day of the three-day party Central Committee meeting, CPI (M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the 85-member committee, besides taking up the organisational review, was also deliberating on its poll strategy for the coming Assembly polls, Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and their impact, among other things.

Party General Secretary Prakash Karat, senior leaders Brinda Karat, MK Pandhe, Floor leaders in the Lok Sabha Basudev Acharya and Salim Mohammad besides Chief Ministers Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (West Bengal) and VS Achuthanandan (Kerala) are attending the meeting.

When reminded that the CPI had decided to take the side of VP Singh's Jan Morcha in the state, the CPI(M) leader stressed that his party was of the view that Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party had been in the forefront against the communal forces. "The SP has upheld the secular traditions. We have to keep this in our mind, but we also don't want the Bihar experience to be repeated," he added.