Kolkata: In a counter offensive, Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi today (July 21, 2004) dared CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechuri to withdraw support to the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government, while asserting that his party would strengthen its fight against Marxists in Left ruled States like West Bengal.

"We are not bothered about Yechuri's threat. Let the Marxists withdraw support the day they want to. Congress has not formed the Government at their mercy," Dasmunshi, the Union Water Resources Minister told a party rally in Kolkata.

Terming Yechuri, a CPM Politburo member, a 'self-proclaimed thinker', Damunshi said "his party should give a thought to how they could deal with people like Bal Thackerey or Narendra Modi on their own.

"It is CPM, which is riding on Congress' shoulder", he said and asked Yechuri to take a lesson from a 'wiser communist' Jyoti Basu, who had acknowledged the weakness of his party and necessity to follow Congress in fighting communal forces.

Referring to the Left opposition to Budget proposals on enhancing FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) limit in some sectors, he said, "the Government will not take any decision that will hurt the interest of the working class, be it in civil aviation or others."

Dasmunshi, addressing a 'Martyrs' Day' rally in memory of 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing here in 1993, asked the CPM to first set its own house in order.