Fix responsibility for Pathankot terror attack: CPI to NDA

HYDERABAD: Hitting out at the NDA government for allegedly failing to foil the Pathankot terror strike that left 7 security men dead, CPI today demanded that responsibility "at the top" should be fixed for not deploying Army in the counter operation.

"There should be a thorough investigation to find out how the terrorists entered (Indian territory). Whose fault it is among top officials in refusing to use the Army. Our party demands that this should be determined. If necessary, such officials should be changed," CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told reporters here while briefing party's National Council meeting held at Guntur last week.

"It is a crime to protect such people," he said.

Talking about the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) issue, Reddy asked why the NDA government was shying away from a probe into the allegations of corruption against Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"He (Kirti Azad) was suspended (from BJP), saying Narendra Modi does not accept the allegations against Jaitley because he is his favourite. This is not first time. Sushma Swaraj was protected. Vasundhara Raje was protected. Similarly, Shivraj Chouhan and Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. They are not ready to order probe against them," he said.

Asked about reports that some CPI(M) leaders favoured a tie-up with Congress in the West Bengal polls, Reddy said no decision was taken in this regard.

"We cannot comment on media reports. We say if you want to defeat TMC, vote for Left," he said.

The NDA government is not ready to pass on the benefit by reducing oil prices to the customers when there is a fall in international crude prices, he alleged.

There should be a decrease of Rs 10 to Rs 15 per litre in oil prices, he demanded.

"An attack began on public sector. HMT is being closed down. They say workers agreed. Where?," he said.

Citing the report of an international survey agency, Reddy said 53 per cent of wealth in India is concentrated in the hands of one per cent people.

"Four per cent additional wealth is transferred into the hands of these rich sections after Modi came to power," he said.

The CPI leader also denied allegations that the Left was stalling Parliament.