Jyoti Basu

KOLKATA: The Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Jyoti Basu, criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government here on Friday for its "failure" to ensure proper implementation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The Left parties should take up the matter with the UPA, he said.

The Left parties had been boycotting the coordination committee meetings with the UPA over the issue of disinvestment of shares in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, he said. "We have to meet [to sort out outstanding issues]."

Mr. Basu ridiculed the allegation by certain Opposition parties that the Left parties were adopting "double standards" by supporting the UPA Government and at the same time criticising its economic policies and by supporting the nationwide strike called by Left trade unions on Thursday.

"This is why we are lending support to the UPA Government only from outside and only on the basis of the CMP," Mr. Basu said. "We are supporting the UPA on the basis of issues and want it to pursue the CMP, which it is failing to do", he said.

Mr. Basu said it was imperative for West Bengal ministers to ensure that central funds were utilised properly and on time.

Earlier, the CPI(M) State leadership met party ministers to discuss issues including review of progress made in the implementation of policies and disbursement of funds for various projects. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was present at the meeting.

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