This was stated by Prof Asghar Ali Engineer, during a panel discussion on ``Agenda for 1999 elections: Globalisation or Communalism'' organised by the Institute for Development (IDC) and Communication, here today. The other two panelists included IDC Director Dr Pramod Kumar and Dr Randhir Singh, political analyst from Delhi University.

Prof Asghar Ali said that the policies of globalisation had widened the gap between the rich and the poor, resulting in a lot of frustration among the deprived classes. He stated that the frustration made the masses vulnerable to exploitation in the name of religion. Dr Kumar, while initiating the discussion, stated that the recent controversy over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins was an example of how politicians skirt the real issues.

Dr Singh stated that the agenda for elections since 1947 was set by the ruling classes. ``Globalisation is the strategic position of the ruling classes pursued through their different political formations,'' he remarked.