It's better if YS Jagan, Naidu team up to fight against BJP: Brinda

Visakhapatnam: CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his bete noire Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, to join hands to fight against the 'anti-people' policies of BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre.

"Prime Minister Narenda Modi is misusing the mandate given to him in 2019 by destroying the pillars of democracy and handing over Central Public Sector Enterprises and Life Insurance Corporation of India to the corporates. Instead of fighting alone, they should jointly fight against privatisation of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Reddy and Naidu should also raise their voice against dictatorial policies of Modi," the firebrand leader said at meeting organised at Andhra University Convocation Hall.

She said an all India strike had been called by several trade unions and farmers' organisations on September 27 to register their protest against the economic policies of the NDA Government. She said though the farmers are on agitation for the past nine months, the government has not shown any interest to address the concerns raised by them.

Karat said several attempts have been made to snatch away the rights of the trade unions. The government at the Centre is only interested in serving Ambanis and Adanis, she alleged and called for a united fight against the BJP to bring down the government in the next elections.

She said the Centre had ignored its promises to grant Special Category Status to AP, form South Coastal Railway Zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam and allot lion's share of GST to the States. In practice, it has ignored all its promises, she added.

CPI (M) city council president B Ganga Rao presided. CPI (M) State Secretariat member Ch Narsinga Rao, CPI State assistant secretary JV Satyanarayana Murthy and CPI-ML (New Democracy) leader Y Kondaiah, were present.