UPA-Left rift to widen: Karat

Kolkata, Apr 20 (UNI) CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said the rift between the UPA Government and Left parties would widen in near future.

''Our differences with the UPA Government will increase in the coming days over the issues of retail chain, independent foreign policy, relation with the US Government and education budget,'' he said while addressing an election rally in support of left candidates in the city today.

Mr Karat said the demand for increasing the area for Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and reservation of seats in Parliament for women were also two other issues on which the Left parties were going to confront the Government.

Describing West Bengal as the biggest forte of the Left, Mr Karat said the result of the state assembly elections would have a bearing on the national politics.

''If we fare well in this election it will be a booster for us to fight the UPA Government over a number of policies,'' he said.

UNI KDG PC KD KN2141