Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told newspersons on Saturday that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the CPI(M) would continue their protest on issues like the rising prices of essential commodities, the recent fuel price hike and farmers' problems.

The two leaders had an hour-long breakfast meeting at the Chief Minister's 5, Kalidas Marg official residence here. Mr. Karat had arrived here on Friday to preside over the State committee meeting of the CPI(M).

Mr. Karat said he disagreed with the Centre's proposal asking State Governments to reduce sales tax on petrol and diesel. The CPI(M) would ask States governed by it to cut taxes only after the Central Government reduced fuel prices.

It was the Centre's duty to control fuel prices, he said. The Samajwadi Party and the CPI(M) had staged a joint agitation against the oil prices on June 13. The joint struggle would continue until the prices of fuel and other essentials were reduced.

Mr. Karat said his party was working towards the formation of a third front. The CPI(M) had extended support to the Congress at the Centre for keeping "communal forces" out of power. Mr. Yadav said the Left had always supported the SP on issues affecting the common man.

On the support extended to the UPA Government, Mr. Karat said the Left parties would discuss the issue next month.

The CPI(M) leader questioned the Centre's decision to import 35 lakh tonnes of wheat at Rs. 1,000 a quintal when domestic wheat growers were not getting remunerative prices for their produce. Mr. Karat said the Left parties and the SP opposed the UPA's `anti-farmer' policy.

The State committee of the CPI(M) planned to highlight shortcomings in implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme

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