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Indrajit Gupta non-committal on supporting Congress

Former home minister and senior Communist Party of India leader Indrajit Gupta today remained non-committal on his party extending support to a Congress-led government at the Centre if the Vajpayee regime collapsed.

Replying to press persons' queries after a visit to the riot-hit areas in the old city of Hyderabad, Gupta said, ''Why should I say (anything on the issue) at this stage? I don't want to jump miles ahead. Besides, they (Congress) are not insisting and I don't see any chance of their forming the government''.

He accused the Congress of indulging in random corruption while in power and of pulling down the United Front government and offering power to the BJP on a ''platter''.

''I am not saying that we consider the Congress untouchable... Let things develop, then we will see what happens,'' he added.

Gupta said he did not foresee any threat to the Vajpayee government. ''This government will not collapse so easily. If it falls, where will the allies like Jayalalitha (AIADMK) go?'' he asked.

He said the biggest tragedy was the assumption of power by the BJP. ''Nothing could be worse than this for the country'', he added.

When told that West Bengal Chief Minister Jyothi Basu had already made it clear that the CPI-M would extend issue- based support to a Congress government at the Centre, he said, ''What can I do....Go and interview Jyoti Basu''.

Referring to the relief amount paid to the victims of the recent communal riots in the old city, he said his party would demand that the Andhra Pradesh government increase the compensation amount.

Earlier, Gupta visited the places of worship and the homes of the victims which were damaged in the riots.

UNI

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