PM urges people to vote for change in Bengal

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged people to vote for change in West Bengal lagging behind because of the communist parties’ outdated policies and give Congress-Trinamool alliance a chance to form the government so that they could bring prosperity in the state.

“Their (Left’s) stand on a lot of issues has not kept pace with time. I advise them to change their thoughts to remain on par with the needs of the time,” the prime minister said Friday during an election rally in Dumurjala (Kolkata) advising Left to bring change in its outlook.

‘The policies pursuing by Left parties are outdated and lacking vision and this will lead to price rise, foreign investments will stop… their foreign policies are also outdated,’ said Dr. Singh, who was sharing the dais with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

Singh also said the Left was helping the Bharatiya Janata Party knowingly or unknowingly to come to power by dividing the secular votes.

“From some point of view, they are helping the BJP in these elections by dividing the secular votes,” said Singh recalling the Left voted along with the BJP against the trust motion last year.

Lashing out at the Third Front formed with a sole purpose to grasp the power at the Centre, the prime minister said the Third Front has no chance to come to power.

“The Third Front parties do not have any programmes. They do not have any long-term vision for the country’s development,” said Dr. Singh and quipped, their single programme is to oppose every work done by the Congress.

He refuted the Left’s charge that Congress-led UPA government overlooked the state’s development, and said, “I have personally taken interest in Bengal’s development programmes. I came to Bengal seven times during my tenure. I regularly reviewed development work in the state and wholeheartedly helped the state government whenever they sough help.”

The prime minister also said the threat to our security has increased. A strong and stable central government could tackle the problem and the Congress is competent enough to fight terrorism and give a terror-free regime.