The Secular Progressive Alliance has sharpened its attack on the All India N.R. Congress for its silence on the demand for Statehood.

In a joint election campaign by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and State Secretary of Communist Party of India R. Mutharasan in Puducherry, the leaders attacked the AINRC, Bharatiya Janata Party and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for not including the Statehood demand for the U.T. in their respective manifestos.

Addressing a gathering before taking out a two-wheeler rally, the Chief Minister said the Congress party had assured to give Statehood for the U.T. in its manifesto. The party had made it a commitment to the voters, he added. Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi had put hurdles in implementing welfare measures, including distribution of free rice to ration card holders, he alleged. He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for its anti-minority stance.

Mr. Mutharasan said the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP had disturbed the federal structure of our Constitution.

Anti-democratic style

The anti-democratic style functioning of the Central government was very much evident in the way the Ms. Bedi functioned in the past two and a half years, he said.

Questioning the alliance of the AINRC with the BJP, he said the principal Opposition party was silent on the demand for Statehood.

The BJP has not included the Statehood demand in its manifesto, he added.