CPI demands rollback; Front to hold meeting on June 23

Kolkata, Jun 5 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary A B Bardhan today warned the UPA Government of paying a heavy price if it did not roll back fuel price hike and said the Left Front would hold its meeting on June 23.

Addressing newsmen here, Mr Bardhan reiterated that the agitational programme would continue until and unless the hike was rolled back.

'' We have been pursuing the Centre for the past two to three years for some alternative proposals. Though earlier under the Front pressure, prices were brought down to some extent, the hike this time will only pave the way for the private companies like that of Reliance Industries to make more and more profits, '' he asserted.

To a query on withdrawing support to the UPA Government, he said, '' Even if we withdraw support to the UPA on this issue, it will hardly make any difference as the hike is unlikely to be rolled back. But on the issue of Nuke deal with the USA, we may consider withdrawing support as the UPA will then be reduced to minority and it will not be passed in Parliament.

'' The Front will hold a meeting on June 23 and several important issues, including oil price hike and Nuke deal, will figure in that meeting, '' he informed.

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