Forward Bloc calls for withdrawing support to UPA

Kolkata, Mar 20 (UNI) Criticising the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for its ''various failures'', the All India Forward Bloc has called upon other Left parties to think about continuing outside support.

'' We have discussed with the three other Left parties whether continuing support to the UPA Government is necessary,'' Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas today told reporters.

The party's Central Committee, which met in the city on March 17 to 18, decided to hold a plenum in Nagpur from November 29 to December 1 to review the present stand, he said.

Holding the UPA leadership reponsible for lack of political direction and anti-people economic policies, the Central Committee observed that this provided ample opportunities to communal forces to regain ground.

''It is time to think what the Left parties have gained by supporting this Government,'' Mr Biswas said.

The party also decided to oppose setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) throughout the country, including West Bengal. ''We consider that SEZs are foreign territory within the country and the national exhcequers will loss a large quantum of revenue,'' Mr.

Biswas alleged.

He said the party would make its stand clear during a meeting of Left parties with the Group of Ministers on SEZ to be held in Delhi on March 21.

In reply to a question, Mr Biswas admitted that it was a mistake on the part of the Left parties to support the enactment of the SEZ Bill last year. '' But this does not mean we have to continue with it,'' he said.

UNI