UPA failed to implement CMP: Bardhan

Hyderabad, May 15 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary A B Bardhan today charged the Congress-led UPA Government with failure to implement the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) taking 'unilateral decisions' during its two-year rule in the country.

Addressing the press here, Mr Bardhan charged the UPA with taking some decisions without consulting the coalition partners.

The UPA had effected changes to foreign policy without following the CMP which enunciated an independent foreign policy, he noted.

Stating India's foreign policy should be non-aligned and the country improve relations with its neighbours besides strengthening its ties with the US, Mr Bardhan said 'the UPA had adopted the foreign policy dictated by the US without giving any thought.' Opposing the government's proposal of hiking prices of petroleum products, Mr Bardhan demanded the government to take immediate steps to reduce Excise and Custom duties on them to mitigate the impact of price increase which was 'unethical and unhealthy practice.' Demanding the government to introduce minimum wage and tribal rights protection in forests bills during the current Parliament session, Mr Bardhan said the standing committee on tribal protection has already studied the living standards of those displaced by various projects.

UNI AP MIR SSC1345