Left finds UPA Govt's performance wanting

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Charging the UPA government with turning the Planning Commission into a hub of pushing" anti-people" economic policies, the supporting Left parties today said the Centre had also failed in containing agrarian crisis, reviewing the taxation structure for petroleum products and re-introducing long term capital tax gains tax to contain yet another Stock Exchange Scam.

In an assessment how the government implemented the CMP and faced challenges of the times, the CPI(M),CPI,RSP and Forward Bloc accused the Centre of" surrendering" the independent foreign policy to the pressure of the US which was directly asking for further liberalising the financial sector and services and infrastructure development.

The Left parties, however complimented the Congress-led coalition for certain" positive" achievements- mainly, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act and the abolition of POTA, ST( Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, legislation on domestic violence and property rights for women among other things.

In a four-page joint statement, they said," The left parties would soon sit together, further discuss the government's role and chalk out an appropriate course of action which can strengthen the secular and democratic forces in the country." Referring to the unabated suicides by farmers in various parts of the country, they said," Farmers suicides continue at a disturbing rate and rural unemployment is increasing. The allocations for agriculture lag behind what is required. The policy on agriculture is flawed with foodgrains production not increasing." More UNI KSA RP DB1901