KOLKATA: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu has taken exception to the Centre not adhering to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), despite frequent reminders. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will express its reservations on the matter through its representatives in Parliament, he said here on Friday.

"We have said again and again that the Centre is not implementing the provisions of the CMP, which they ought to. We will raise the matter in Parliament so that the people can get to understand the differences that exist between us [and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance]," Mr. Basu said, emerging from a meeting of the party's State secretariat. The CPI(M) has been particularly critical of the Centre's economic policies and the rise in prices of essential commodities, which has resulted in growing disenchantment with the Congress. CPI(M) leaders have also pointed out that the Bharatiya Janata Party had been gaining ground due to the anti-people policies of the UPA Government. The question of reconsidering ties with the UPA, however, had not arisen as yet, Mr. Basu said.

On Nandigram

On the troubled Nandigram area, he said, "Peace will return but it will take some time."

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