The Hindu : Kerala News : Bardhan for change in foreign trade policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Bardhan for change in foreign trade policy

By Our Staff Reporter

KASARAGOD, SEPT. 14. The national general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), A.B. Bardhan, has said that the UPA Government at the Centre should make amendments in its recently-announced foreign trade policy.

Addressing a press conference here today, the CPI leader said, "we have expressed our serious concern to the UPA Government for having released such an important document unilaterally without consulting the Left parties."

Exim policy

He said the Exim policy would affect all sectors, including small-scale, agriculture, cottage and traditional sectors. "Having released the document, we would demand amendments," he said.

Mr. Bardhan said the Left parties had also expressed its displeasure with regard to the induction of foreign experts in the Planning Commission. He said the Left parties would resist the pumping in of more foreign capital in sectors such as telecom and airports. "We are not against more FDI cap per se. But, we would resist any further increase in the foreign capital in select and sensitive sectors. We would not allow any misinterpretation of the Common Minimum Programme," Mr. Bardhan said.

Demand for meeting

"We have demanded the convening of the meeting of the Coordination Committee by the end of September after the Prime Minister returns from his trip abroad. We hope to sort out most of the contentious issues at the meeting. We have also demanded that the committee meet every month," he said.

Mr. Bardhan was in town to lay the foundation stone of the Dr. Subba Rao Memorial building and to inaugurate a public meeting held at Hosangadi, near Manjeswaram, to commemorate the first death anniversary of the CPI leader and former MP, A. Subba Rao.

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