“Even now, serious efforts must be made to oppose anti- people policies of the Congress government ignoring the CMP. I hope your organisation will play an important role along with other mass organisations and political parties in this context,’’ Basu said while inaugurating the 8th conference of  the CPM-backed All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).

Stating that the policies of the Centre were reducing job opportunities, he called upon the AIDWA members to question such policies.

“Given the class character of the Congress and its commitment to pursue economic policy of liberalisation, the  party CPM was not for joining a government, but we decided to support the Congress-led government so that the required numbers for a majority are ensured. It was our task to isolate and defeat the BJP,’’ he said.

Supporting the industrialisation moves in W Bengal, the CPM patriarch said the achievements in the agriculture sector would be in peril without a balanced growth of secondary and tertiary sectors through industrialisation.

“Only that can help release the growing burden of the work force dependent on agriculture and can ensure a more  sustainable growth of the primary sector by adding much-needed value to it, thereby increasing income and employment,’’ Basu said.

Expressing shock at the large number of sex determination tests and declining sex ratio in the country, he said: “I have learnt that in the most affluent and educated area of South Delhi, the sex ratio has declined to around 850 girls for 1000 boys in the 0-6 age group. We have to take up this issue as a national mission and prevent the misuse of technology.”