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State clearly the status of 123 agreement: CPI (M)

Special Correspondent

`We get news of its progress from the U.S. but not from our government'

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday demanded that the Manmohan Singh Government state clearly what was being negotiated with the United States under the 123 agreement.

"As usual we come to know through the United States that 90 per cent of the agreement is through. Our Government has not told us. [The] Prime Minister should tell us what has been done," party general secretary Prakash Karat said at a press conference.

At the end of its two-day meeting, the Polit Bureau said it has already strongly criticised the letter written by seven U.S. Congressmen to the Prime Minister demanding that India terminate cooperation with Iran in the energy and military spheres as conditions for concluding the nuclear cooperation agreement.

In this connection, the Polit Bureau emphasised that the Hyde Act adopted by the U.S. Congress has set out unacceptable terms on how India should conduct itself with regard to Iran and other foreign policy issues.

The Polit Bureau reiterated that the 123 agreement should not be negotiated without the United States clarifying all the issues, which were raised in the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament in August 2006.

The Polit Bureau accused the United Progressive Alliance Government of "utter failure" to control prices.

It said the year on year inflation rate for non-manual urban employees during April 2006-07 was as high as 7.7 per cent and even more revealing, the food and beverages index shows a whopping 10.5 per cent increase over that of last year. There would be a similar rise for other consumer price index for rural and industrial workers.

"The unacceptable huge burden due to price rise of essential commodities on the working classes and employees makes a mockery of the assurance of food security in the Common Minimum Programme. The Finance Minister has, in fact, argued in a most callous manner that `some inflation is a price for growth', thus justifying the present pattern of exclusive for corporates growth pattern," the Polit Bureau said in a statement.

The party warned the Government and UPA that this understanding, an echo of the National Democratic Alliance's `Shining India' argument, will cost the government dearly. It suggested that the following steps be taken on a priority basis: (1) Ban futures trading in all essential commodities as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee; (2) Since there is no check on interstate movement of wheat, the Centre must set central stock limits for wheat and ensure raids against suspected hoarders; (3) Immediately expand percentage of BPL lists eligible for subsidised foodgrains and bring one crore more people with specific priority to tribals in the Antyodaya system; and (4) Expand commodities for APL. These are interim measures towards universalisation of the public distribution system.

Procurement

The party also expressed its concern about the dismal record of official procurement which is not even two-thirds of the already low target of 150 lakh tonnes and demanded that the Government ensure self-sufficiency in foodgrains by making every effort to step up procurement.

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