Left asks govt to take hard decisions to contain inflation

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) Left parties today came down heavily on the government's failure to check high prices of essential commodities, introduce a legislation on unorganised workers, ensure food security and a move to privatise mines saying that it had not come up to the expectation of the people.

Referring to the government's report card on its four years in office, they reiterated that inflation could not be brought down by merely appealing to the cartels and cement manufacturers.

At a press conference after joint meeting of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, Left leaders Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan said the Left parties will meet again after May 28 to review the overall performance of the government including the functioning of the Planning Commission which they alleged had become a 'super power' in deciding about the modernising of the airports.

On the government's move to privatise mines, the Left leaders wanted to know why it was plundering country's big reservior of iron ore. ''This way we are just destroying our forest cover,'' Mr Bardhan added.

They also took the government to task for its allowing big MNCs in Retail sector, its defence links with Israel and its move to allow foreign universities in the education system.

While describing the introduction of the Women Reservation Bill as a good beginning, the Left parties asked the government to introduce a Bill also on unorganised workers in the coming Monsoon session of Parliament.

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