CPI(M) to continue to oppose airport privatisation

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Kolkata, May 27 (UNI) The CPI(M) Politbureau today decided to push through its opposition to airport privatisation and insisted that any task of modernisation must be done by the Airport Authority of India(AAI).

''We have made our stand clear to the government and we are not going to budge from that. Modernisation is 'yes' and privatisation is 'no'. Modernisation can be done by the AAI,'' party spokesman Sitaram Yechuri told reporters during a break in the two-day Politbureau meeting that began this morning.

Earlier, veteran leader Jyoti Basu also said the party would continue to oppose the UPA government's move to privatise airports.

''We have objected to the Centre's move to give the airports to private hands. The AAI has plenty of money. They can easily do the job of modernisation,'' he maintained.

However, their comments came close on the heels of West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen's observation that the state government was not in a position to block the Centre's move for privatisation.

His remarks are believed to be an echo of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, a staunch votary for airport modernisation.

The Party's highest policy making body meets over a host of other issues, including the two years' performance of the UPA government, the result of Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, the recent reservation policy and the party's relationship with other non-communal parties, including the Congress.

Except veteran leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet, all other Politbureau members, including Party General Secretary Prakash Karat, veteran leader Jyoti Basu, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his counterparts in Kerala and Tripura--Mr V S Achutanandan and Mr Manik Sarkar respectively--are attending the meeting.

To a question, Mr Yechuri ruled out the possibility of a third front saying the party would not go for any "cut and paste" job. But it would definitely look for building up a non-Congress and non-BJP third alternative in course of time based on the principles of anti-communalism and the issue of anti-people economic policies, he said.

''We do not want a cut and paste job. A third alternative has to be built on two basic issues--anti-communalism and anti-people economic policies. Parties willing to go for a sustained joint movement on this policy may constitute such a force. But it will take time,'' he said.

MORE UNI KDG PL KLC1455

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X