Centre weak in implementing CMP: Basu

Kolkata, Aug 11 (UNI) Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu today alleged that the Congress led UPA government at the Centre was weak in implementing the Common Minimum Programme.

''The government is definitely weak ... It is not implementing what was promised in the CMP, '' he told reporters in reply to a question on the government's role in the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Natwar Singh affair in connection with the Iraq oil-for-food scam.

''Leaders of our party and other Left parties who are in the Co-ordination Committee are pursuing the issue,'' he said.

Mr Basu who chose to evade the main question by giving reply on a different line, however, avoided any direct reference against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is often described by the BJP as the ''weakest PM''.

'' What should I say,'' was his reply when he was specifically asked whether he considered Mr Singh 'weak'.

In reply to a question on the letter sent by BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Mr Basu said '' the letter does not make any sense''.

UNI KDG-AKM KK YA ND1426