Left no to disinvestment in PSUs, rising prices

New Delhi, July 2: The Left leaders today indicated that they can "re-think" about their support to the UPA government if it did not abandon its "chosen policy" to disinvest the profit-making PSUs and failed to contain the spiralling prices of essential commodities.

Talking to UNI, they said the Left parties at their joint meeting here on Tuesday, July 4, will finalise the launching of a countrywide "militant action" including reviewing the basis of their outside support to the Congress- led coalition.

The leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and RSP said they are greatly upset with the growing islolation of the government from the 'aam aadmi,' common man, whose backbone, they said, had been broken by the government decisions- the hike in prices of petrol and diesel, disinvesting three profit- making PSUs and the failure to contain price rise among others. Besides the farmers suicides continue unabated.

Refuting the government's argument that the price rise was "seasonal," CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi remarked that," Seasonal prices rise do take place, but they never assume such proportions.. surprisingly the prices of all essential commodities are sky-rocketing... this is the one single issue, which will ultimately destroy the credibility of the Congress-led coalition."

CPI(M) senior leader and party Floor leader in the Lok Sabha, Basudev Acharia, said the Left would pursue the nationwide campaign against the Government's anti- people economic policies" more vigorously both in and outside the Parliament." CPM Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim said," the Government's response on our nine-page note on the Government's two-year performance is expected."

Mr Salim said the Left support was based on the CMP." The assessment is a continuous process. We have to see how far the Government has implemented the policy document. It will be better to respond when the Government gives its version on the issue."

CPI leaders stressed that merely expressing concern on the price rise would neither satisfy the people nor it would solve the problem. The Left had suggested several measures to the Centre- the stopping of forward trading and extending bank credit to the wholesale dealers, launching of de-hoarding drive under the Essential Commodities Act and strengthening of the PDS, but it chose to brush it aside.

The speeding up of the arrival of vegetables and ensuring the remunerative prices of agricultural products, implementation of the Task Force set up by the government itself were among other demands the Left had put forwarded to the government.

On disinvesting the profit-making PSUs, Mr Bardhan, the veteran Communist and octogenarian, said the issue had already led to a strike. Orissa had witnessed a general strike on June 30, Tamil Nadu will see an indefinite strike in the Neveili Lignite Corporation on July 4.

The National Minerals Development Corporation has called for a strike on July 7, Mr Bardhan, said adding that " these actions are likely to further intensify." Mr Faizi, the CPI national Secretary and party weekly 'New Age' editor, said the Left could not take lightly the government's insistance on disinvestment spree as" a policy matter".

Besides continuing the present price rise, the government had to work out procurement policy for the farmers for coming crops to ensure remunerative prices of agricultural produce.

On the implementation of the CMP by the Manmohan Singh government, the CPI leader said the government continued to drift away from the CMP and was eroding the very basis on which the Left had extended the support to the government.

" If the trend continues, the Left has to review the basis of its support.. In July 4 meeting, we can think about deciding on an issue-based support." Mr Faizi added.

RSP Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy emphasied the" review" about the support to the Manmohan Singh government had become paramount as" confrontation between the Left and the government will further intensify in the coming days because the two years performance of the government should leave no one in doubt which way it want to tread on." " The growing distance between the government and the Aam Aadmi is on the increase. In such a situation, the image of the Left will also be affected," Mr Roy added.

Forward Bloc national Secretary G Devrajan asserted that politically they had to fight against the Congress as the UPA led by it, in its two years' performance at the Centre had made it amply clear that it is adamant about pursuing the economic agenda of the World Bank, IMF and MNCs.

Mr Devrajan said in view of the government's clear violation of the CMP, which is the basis of their support, the Left parties would have now to re-assess the issue.

UNI