'Desperate' BJP trying to polarise nation on communal lines--- D. Raja

New Delhi, July 9 : Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over media reports that it may announce Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate by the end of July, saying it reflects the weakness of the saffron outfit that cannot project any policy and programme.
Raja alleged that the BJP is trying to do is undermine the political system in the country.
"We do not elect Prime Minister directly, it is not our system. Even we do not elect the President directly. Whichever party gets adequate number to form the government, whichever coalition gets adequate number to form the government after elections; it is their prerogative to choose the leader," said Raja.
"But choosing the leader before election itself shows the weakness of that party. It cannot project any policy, it cannot project any programme. It wants to project a personality who is very controversial personality in the country," he added.
Raja further alleged that it shows the desperation on the BJP's part.
"I do not think there is a wave for Modi. I do not know in which world the BJP is living, but it shows the big desperation on the part of the BJP. The BJP is extremely desperate; somehow it wants to come to power and wants to win the elections," said Raja.
"So, the BJP tries all tricks and BJP wants to communalise the situation, it wants to polarise the people on the communal lines. It can go to any extent to divide the people, polarise the people which is not in the interest of democracy," he added.

Chinese General's warning to India is unwarranted and provocative: D. Raja

Guwahati, July 5 : Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Friday described the Chinese General's warning to India against stirring up a 'new trouble' in a long-running border dispute as unwarranted and provocative, and said Major General Luo Yuan should maintain restraint and not make such provoking statements at a time when Defence Minister A.K. Antony is on an official visit to Beijing.
"If the Chinese Army Chief has made such a statement, it is unwarranted and provocative. At a time when Defence Minister of India A.K. Antony is on a visit to China, the resolution of border dispute between India and China is at higher level at the level of political leadership of both the countries, both India and China," Raja told the media here
"When the Chinese Premier came to India, he made it very clear China wants a handshake of friendship with India. If that is the spirit, the Chinese Army Chief must restraint, he should not make such provocative statements particularly at the time when our own Defence Minister A.K. Antony is on a official visit to China," he added.
Major General Luo Yuan has warned India against provoking 'new trouble' by increasing its military deployment at the border.
Major General Luo Yuan, who was talking to the foreign media in Beijing, said 'there is no denying that there are tensions and problems between China and India particularly at the border areas'.
"There is still problem of 90,000 sq km of territory still occupied by the Indian side. These are the problems left over from history and we should look at it with cool head," he said.
Major General Luo Yuan, who was responding to a question about People's Liberation Army's (PLA) views on India-China relations in the backdrop of Antony's visit, said: "The Indian side should not provoke new problems and increase the military deployment at the border areas and start new trouble."
Antony is the first Indian Defence Minister in seven years to visit China. He will have formal talks with his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan during his four-day official visit to Beijing.
The recent border incursion by Chinese troops, finalisation of the Border Defence Coordination Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace at the disputed borders as well as resumption of bilateral military exercises is on the top priority of Antony's agenda for talks with the Chinese leadership.
He is also expected to call on Premier Li Keqiang, besides visiting a military installation and command centre.
Antony's visit to China comes just days after the 16th round of border talks between National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi here during which the two sides had a threadbare discussion on mutual concerns, especially the incursion of China's People's Liberation Army troops into the Depsang Valley on April 15.