PM takes Left on a soothing Cuba trip

NEW DELHI: The impending Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Cuba has given Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the perfect occasion to mollify the Left, which fumes at his alleged pro-US tilt and urges him to pursue an ‘independent’ foreign policy.

The PM, who has by now learnt to have his way with the Communists, has ensured that a good number of comrades are included in his team when he sets off for Havana on September 10 to address the summit.

The list of invitees includes CPI(M) politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury, CPI national secretary D Raja, and the editors of CPI(M) dailies Ganashakti (Bengali) and Deshabhimani (Malayalam), and Vishal Andhra, the CPI mouthpiece published from Hyderabad.

While the CPI office confirmed the PM’s invitation, a source said the party is yet to decide who will go with the delegation.

The comrades will, no doubt, be happy to be in the Caribbean  island and catch a glimpse of the legendary Fidel Castro, the world’s longest-serving political leader.

A CPI(M) source confirmed that Yechury has been invited, but his  participation is in doubt.