Left gears up to explain why support to UPA was withdrawn

New Delhi, July 14 : As the date for the floor test of the United Progressive Alliance Government nears, the Left is going all out to highlight its failures through a nation-wide campaign.

Launching their campaign against the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal today, the Left charged the UPA Government with having failed to keep its promises as per the UPA-Left Common Minimum Program agreed upon when the offer of outside support was first offered in 2004. It also failed to keep its promises on the negotiations related to the US-India nuclear deal, it added.

Addressing a meeting here, top Left leaders cited UPA's failures, including rising prices, inflation, surrendering of national interest and the promises which were not kept by the Government regarding the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat said: "We have launched the campaign to tell people why we withdrew support and also about the Government's pro-American and anti-people policies."

He also said that the Left would also suggest an alternative to meet energy requirements for development contrary to what the Government wants to move ahead with.

Karat said the Government and the Congress wanted to fulfil their promise to US President George W Bush, which is their primary aim. They do not want to tackle inflation or price rise.

The Left has planned to field top leaders who would attend various public meetings and rallies organised in major towns in all states.

Karat said that the focus of the campaign would be the youths as they need to be educated on the ill effects of the nuclear deal and other problems facing the country.

Meetings will be organised at all major centres as well as in towns and villages. Pamphlets and handbills will be published, he added.

ANI