UPA govt's performance disappointing: AIFB

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 25: All India Forward Block (AIFB) General Secretary Devarajan today described the performance of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government as ''quite disappointing.'' Talking to mediapersons here, he alleged the UPA Government failed to implement many of the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

Though the Congress had committed itself to various issues like Womens Reservation Bill, welfare measures for the unorganised sector, schemes for agriculture sector and distribution of land to tribals in the CMP, it had not acted on the issues, he alleged.

Claiming the Left Parties supported the Congress from outside to keep the BJP away from power, he warned they would not hesitate to withdraw support if the Congress continued with its ''anti-people'' policies, particularly in the agriculture sector.

Pointing out that 37 per cent of workforce was from unorganised sector, he said the UPA Government failed to bring in a comprehensive Central legislation to provide them with social security.

On the Women's Reservation Bill, he alleged the delay in passing the Bill showed the Congress' ''political bankruptcy'' on the issue.

Though the Congress had taken decision on various issues independently, on the Women Reservation Bill issue, it wanted the opinion from the UPA partners.

If the government opted for support from political parties for a consensus on the issue, the Bill would not be passed in the near future as many political parties had different opinions in this regard, he added.

On the misuse of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Forward Block leader suggested amendment of the SEZ rules which in the present form only encouraged real estate business.

UNI