CPI (M) opposes dismissal of UP government

New Delhi, Feb 17: The CPI (M) today opposed any move by the UPA government to dismiss the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh and charged the ruling coalition at the Centre with failure to contain runaway inflation.

The two-day Polit Bureau meeting which began here today, however, appreciated the government's ''positive policy initiatives'' in foreign affairs, particularly in Iran and Iraq.

Briefing mediapersons senior Polit Bureau member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury said his party has been consistent in its approach towards imposition of Article 356. ''Our position is clear that whether a government is in minority or majority should be tested on the floor of the House.'' When asked about the opinion of the Constitution experts that the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was ''illegal'' in the wake of disqualification of 10 MLAs of the BSP breakaway group by the Supreme Court, Mr Yechury said, ''This is not a question of legality...How far the experts are right or wrong is not important at this juncture.'' The senior leftist stressed that his party has maintained since 1959, when the EMS Nambudripad government in Kerala was dismissed, the view that the floor of the House was the right place to determine the strength of a government.

''Why they have been supporting the government all these years?,'' Mr Yechury wondered in reply to a query that the Congress was demanding President's rule in Uttar Pradesh on ''legal'' grounds.

Barring CPI(M) veterans H S Surjeet and Jyoti Basu, all other members of the Polit Bureau are attending the meeting.

Mr Yechury held the government responsible for rising inflation, which reach a two-year high at 6.73 per cent. Forward trading of commodities must be stopped to check the trend, he said. The Left, however, was happy that the government had acceded to its demand to further reduce the prices of petrol and diesel. ''But unfortunately this alone is not sufficient. The poor, the downtrodden and lower middle class are reeling under the impact of sky-rocketing prices of essential commodties.'' On the issue of land acquisition for industrial purposes, the CPI(M) leader reiterated his party's demand to amend the SEZ Act.

''We have already told the GOM about our suggestions in four areas -- rehabilitation policy, judicious land use, stopping a plethora of tax exemptions to the corporates and the real estate agents and violation of labour laws.'' Specifically on the Nandigram and Singur issues, the CPI(M) leader admitted that there were ''differences'' within Left partners on the issue. ''Our West Bengal unit has also sent its report to us.

But we have not discussed the issue today. But we will do it.'' On strengthening of relations with ''friendly'' countries, he said the visits of foreign ministers of China and Russia was quite ''encouraging''.

The party urged the government to play its due role in improving situation in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as political developments there had a ''direct bearing on our country'', he said.

The party took a serious view of spurt in communal incidents in the eastern UP, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. ''This has to be contained to prevent the communal forces from regaining the political space.'' On the media reports regarding the CPI(M) plan for Muslim welfare, he said the party favoured welfare measures for the minority community on the pattern of special plan for the Northeast.

UNI