Left to put Centre in dock over reservation, Women's Bill

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) The Left parties will seek to put the Manmohan Singh government in the dock over the controversial reservation issue, its delaying tactics on the Women's Reservation Bill and attempts to usher in flexible labour laws, among other things, when the extended Budget Session opens on May 10.

Talking to UNI, the Left leaders said they would also ask the government to explain the under-sale of agricultural products, particularly onions, the handing over of the airports to private companies, the Tribals Bill, ''mismanagement'' of food economy and questions relating to the National Rural Development scheme.

The CPI(M), CPI and Forward Bloc, however, remained non-committal on RJD chief Lalu Prasad's suggestion for giving 5 to 10 per cent reservation to upper castes, saying they were for affirmative action for the oppressed and the abolition of the caste system itself.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, ''Parliament will be seized with the office of profit issue, which led to its abrupt end in March. Now the political parties have arrived at a consensus on what the issue means and which are the offices of profits which have to be exempted, with restrospective effect.'' Mr Bardhan, a veteran Communist and freedom fighter, said the government had already asked the political parties to end their differences so that a proper legislation can be brought during the 13-day extended Budget session.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Rajya Sabha MP Brinda Karat said, ''We expect the government to bring in the Tribals Bill, based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee and make its position clear on the Women's Reservation Bill in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance on the floor of the Rajya Sabha.'' She said the Left would also raise other issues including the import of wheat, cutting down of the Public Distribution system and 'mismanagement' of food economy which are matters of great concern.

CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said they would also ''force'' the government to retreat on issues like further opening up of the retail trade to MNCs, total handing over of the airports to a private company, abandoning of the Pension Bill and the lowering of the interest rate on EPF and seek an assurance not to usher in flexible labour laws.

Mr Faizi said the National Rural Employment scheme had thrown up several questions about the Minimum Wages and the funding of the Centre. ''The Left will also force the Manmohan Singh government to come out clearly on the matter of foreign policy, particularly the Iran issue and, the killing of Suryanarayana in Afghanistan,'' the CPI leader added.

''We would like the UPA government to correct itself and desist from supporting any resolution to refer the Iran issue to the UN Security Council.'' The CPI leader said the Left would also pressurise the government to withdraw all personnel from Afghanistan till the 'occupation forces' were withdrawn from there.

CPI parliamentary Group leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta said the reservations for OBCs, announced by HRD minister Arjun Singh was also likely to come up in a big way as it was an embarrassment for all political parties who had unanimously voted for constitutional amendment providing reservations in private educational institutions as well.

''It is unfortunate that the Congress-led coalition is not moving in the right direction, taking arbitrary and unilateral policy decisions and not caring about the views of the supporting parties.

It will pose a danger to its stability,'' Mr Dasgupta said, adding that his party would also raise the issue of so-called banking reforms.

CPI(M) Parlimanetary Group Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim said the Left would put all possible pressure on the Government so that it implements the CMP in letter and spirit on all fronts--domostic, foreign and economic. It will have to ensure improvement in the quality of life in the rural pockets all over the country.

On the ongoing controversy about reservations, Mr Salim said, ''We have to take steps which unite the society and not break it up.'' Forward Bloc General Secretary and MP Debabrata Biswas said they would raise several issues, in particular FDI in retail trade, communal tension in Gujarat, militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Indo-US nuclear deal, and the government proposal to hike prices of petrol and diesel among other things. ''These are very serious issues,'' he said.

UNI KSA MSJ AT RK1130