The Hindu : National : "UPA should strictly adhere to CMP"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006

National

National

"UPA should strictly adhere to CMP"

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: National secretary of the Communist Party of India D.Raja on Monday said that the Left parties' support to the United Progressive Alliance Government cannot be taken for granted and its longevity and stability depends on UPA's strict adherence to the common minimum programme (CMP).

Addressing a press conference, the CPI leader said the left parties would be presenting a detailed note on two years' performance of the UPA Government at the next coordination meeting.

Refuting the charge that the left parties were not serious in their action, Mr. Raja said they had been warning the UPA time and again, whenever it violated the CMP. In the past, whenever prices of petroleum products were increased, kerosene and cooking gas were spared. This was because of the left parties' strong opposition to the hike.

Mr. Raja said that the petroleum price increase could have been avoided if the Centre had accepted the suggestions of the left parties, which included reduction in excise duty on petroleum products and conversion of oil cess into price stabilisation fund. The same suggestion was mooted by the Parliamentary Committee on Petroleum Products and Natural Gas also.

Mr. Raja said the claims being made by the UPA government on increase in GDP had failed to reflect on life of agriculturists in the country, whose living conditions continued to be pathetic.

Criticising the UPA for making Planning Commission irrelevant, Mr. Raja said the left parties were extremely concerned about the growing influence of multi-national companies on the country's economy. Privatisation of airports, entry of foreign firms in retail trade and move for indiscriminate disinvestment of public sector companies were areas ofconcern. Sustained attempts were being made to weaken public sector companies, insurance and banking sectors. As these measures would severely affect the country's sovereignty and economy, left parties would not allow these things to happen, he added.

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