Country needs change in policy, not government: Yechury

Thane: CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said the country needs a change in policies and not the government. "By just changing the government the problems will not be solved. What is needed is change in the policies that can go a long way in the interest of the country and its people," Yechury said, after addressing a tribals' rally in Talasari taluka of Thane district.

The country is presently facing a "precarious situation" on account of the economic policy that is not in the interest of the citizens and there is a dire need to change it, he said. By changing or replacing the government, the purpose will not be served, he said, adding that the Opposition was "no better" than the present Congress-led government at the Centre.

The BJP is no better than other parties and is embroiled in its own problems, he said. Presently the country faces three-fold problems - the gap between the rich and poor, faulty economic policy and high degree of uncertainty - besides others, he said.

He also said the recent allegations levelled by India Against Corruption member Arvind Kejriwal against Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra were not new as those things were known earlier. Demanding a "full House" debate on all issues, he said the Central government cannot excuse itself from it by citing the forthcoming elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

"We want a full House debate on all the issues," he said. To a question, Yechury said his party would contest a couple of seats in the Himachal Pradesh elections scheduled in November. Earlier, addressing the rally where tribals from various parts of the Thane district had converged, Yechury said the government's policies were "hazardous" for the down trodden.

He also said efforts are being made to bring together like-minded parties of the Leftist origin. He claimed that the Congress party will have to pay a very heavy price in the next elections on account of the present issues of corruption, scams and others. Yechury said the CPI(M) will launch agitation in the coming months in Maharashtra on various issues relating to the comman man and tribals of the state.