CPM blames it on lack of communication

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The CPI(M) today clarified that the scuffle which broke out between members of the Left parties and the DMK on in the Lok Sabha over the introduction of Indian Maritime University Bill, 2007, occurred due to a ''lack of communication''.

However, it denied to buy the arguement of Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi that he was caught ''unawares'' about the Left stand over the issue.

''Our leaders in the Lok Sabha have regretted the incident, as it occurred for lack of communication,'' CPI(M) Parliamentary Group leader Sitaram Yechury said at an unscheduled press conference.

Party Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia said he was surprised over Mr Dasmunsi's remark as only this morning as many as five party MPs had given a written notice to the latter in the Speaker's Chamber opposing the Bill. Party Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim and MPs Amitabh Nandi, Sujan Chakraborty, Anil Bose, Samik Lahiri were also present at the news conference.

The Left leaders said the introduction of the Bill without prior consultations caused the confusion. ''This government cannot depend on the Cabinet decisions only. It needs the support from outside also,'' he said.

They Left leaders said it had been agreed that all major bills would be brought only after discussions as had been the practice.

They, however, parried all questions relating to fixing the responsibility for the incident, saying nothing but ''It is true that passions were raised...this is something we are not happy about.'' On the alleged violation by CPI(M) MPs of the parliamentary norms and the code, Mr Yechury quipped, ''This is why we have offered our regrets and we are a little upset too. But note that we never allowed the proceedings of the House to be disrupted.'' In reply to a specific query, whether the DMK had greater influence on the Manmohan Singh government, Mr Yechury said it could be so as the his party ''is part of the government''.

''We have been extending an outside support to the government. We have our difference and that is why we have not joined it,'' the senior Leftist leader said.

Reacting to the Leader of the Opposition L K Advani's remark that it was a violation of the coalition dharma which brought to the fore the internal dissesions in the UPA, Mr Yechury countered saying that the dharma was also valid for those ''within the coalition''.

The CPI(M) leaders empahsised that they were not against the creation of a new Maritime University in Chennai.

''What we are pressing for is that the Kolkata Institute should be upgraded to the rank of a University as it was the most well equipped and qualified for the purpose. It is the only Institute in in Asia, where live hull of the ship is used for training, while all others use simulators,'' the CPI(M) leaders said.

The Left members had tried to prevent Minister for Surface Transport T R Baalu from introducing the Indian Maritime University Bill, 2007 which proposes to set up a maritime research and studies centre of the national level in Tamil Nadu instead of Kolkata. One Left member even tried to snatch a copy of the Bill from the Minister.

UNI