'CMP 'Lakshmanrekha' for support to UPA'
Bhopal, June 24 : Taking strong exception to the disinvestment of profit-making public sector units, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury today said the Centre's decision ''violating'' the Common Minimum Programme has strained the relationship between the Congress and Left parties.
''We want alternative solutions instead of tense relationship.
The CMP is the 'Lakshmanrekha' for our support to the UPA Government and its violation would be strongly opposed,'' Mr Yechury told reporters here.
He said though the Centre claimed that disinvestment would fetch funds required for social sector, there was neither economic wisdom nor common sense in the disinvestment of Neyveli Lignite Corporation and National Aluminium Company (NALCO) -- both non-Navratna PSUs.
The CPI(M) leader said the Left Parties will finalise its strategy for future after hearing the government views on the economic liberalisation policies affecting the common man in the July meeting of the UPA Coordination Committee.
Asked whether the influence and pressure of the Left parties on the UPA Government had reduced, Mr Yechury said, ''Pressure is on both the sides. The question is not of withdrawing support, as our motto in supporting the Congress-led Government is to keep communal forces away from power.'' He expressed the hope that the UPA Government would not override the CMP.
''Though the government had defended disinvestment on the plea of raising resources for the social sector, it is our suggestion that more than double the amount could be collected by recovering at least one-fourth of the corporate tax and income tax arrears amounting to Rs 1,17,000 crore,'' the CPI(M) leader said.
He asked the Centre to revoke its recent decision to impose service tax on postal services saying it was improper as this step has put financial burden on several crores of people, who depend on 'money order' economy.
UNI