UPA must reassure people on eco policies: Left

New Delhi, May 21: A day before the UPA government completes three years in office, the Left parties today made a strong case for a mid-course correction in regard to its ''anti- people'' economic policies failing which the future of the ruling coalition appeared ''bleak.''

Left leaders told UNI that the move would not only benefit the Congress and the UPA but also reassure the 'Aam Aadmi' of the country, who, they said, was reeling under the great impact of inflation and price rise.

The Left leaders' observations assume significance in the wake of senior Congress leader and Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar expressing virtually similar viewpoint in an interview to CNN-IBN in the programme 'Devil's Advocate'.

Mr Aiyar, who did not mince words about the benefits of the economic policies going to the elite classes, said, ''I fear that a government that is attempting to have an economic policy for the 'Aam Aadmi' may not get his endorsement.'' Earlier Mr Aiyar, who is also the Minister for Sports and the North East, expressed similar views at a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) .

CPI(M) senior leader and party Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim said, the Left, since the UPA came into power, had been stressing the need for the course correction, particularly in the economic policies. ''The third anniversary is an opportunity for the leaders of the government and the Congress party to reconsider its economic policies,'' the Left leader said.

The government should assess the cost benefit and analysis of its economic policies, he added.

The move would not only benefit the Congress and the UPA but also reassure the poor people of the country, the Left leader said.

CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said Mr Aiyar, calling for a mid-course correction, had come up with a realistic solution.

''The Left had been demanding that the UPA should adhere to the National Common Minimum Programme(NCMP). Unfortunately some ministries, particularly the Finance and the Commerce Ministry's insistance on carrying forward the new economic policies, has isolated the government from the 'Aam Aadmi','' Mr Faizi, who is also the editor of the party mouthpiece New Age, said.

The CPI leader stressed that with the completion of the government's three years in office, the countdown had started for the 2009 general elections.''If the UPA government fails to make course correction and return to the policy document, the NCMP, its future appears to be bleak ,'' he added.

He also emphasised that the Left could not remain a silent spectator to the disastrous course that the ruling coalition had chosen and that it is bound to review the basis of its support to the government.

UNI

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