Centre has to accept Left proposals on price rise : Basu

Kolkata, Mar 9 (UNI) Observing that a ''terrible situation'' was prevailing in the country, veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu today asserted that the Centre must accept the alternative proposals of the Left parties to control the runaway prices of essential commodities.

''There is a terrible situation throughout the country. The Centre must accept our alternative proposals and bring down the prices of essential commodities,'' he told reporters after attending the party's State Secretariat meeting.

Mr Basu's remark came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced in both Houses of Parliament that his government was determined to rein in inflation.

Mr Basu alleged that the UPA Government was not listening to the alternative proposals submitted by the Left Coordination Committee to bring down the prices.

However, in reply to a question, the non-agenarian leader said he was happy that the Prime Minister had some words of praise about West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for his move towards rapid industrialisation.

''This is the programme that we have. We are busy with industrialisation. There is still some confusion among the people who are yet to understand what we are up to,'' he said.

Mr Basu, however, said there was still some confusion among a section of people who were yet to understand what the Left Government wanted to do. ''But I believe they will be convinced after the Chief Minister and the Industry Minister clarify everything in reply to queries in the Budget session of the state Assembly,'' he said.

Yesterday, replying to the debate on the motion of thanks in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said the Bengal Chief Minister had a point in suggesting that the only long-term solution for the country was to wean workers away from agriculture towards manufacturing.

''I sincrely believe that my friend Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is right when he says that time has come in the country to work steadfastly to rapidly industrialise the economy,'' he said.

UNI