Left Front leaders assure credit for India being able to weather economic meltdown

New Delhi, Mar 25 (ANI): 'Left Front' leaders have said that India averted economic meltdown as a result of the Communists applying brakes on the liberalization policies and reforms initiated by the Congress party-led ruling coalition.

The impact of global recession was minimal on India as its economy remained largely shielded, 'Left Front' leaders said.

"The Left parties had worked together and presented a common stand and position on all issues of national importance including how we deal with the UPA Government at the centre," said Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (M).

AB Bardhan, General Secretary of Communist Party of India, said: "Congress should accept that the country is not reeling in a bad financial shape when compared to other countries. This credit should go to the Left parties."

The CPI (M) and smaller Left parties helped in giving the Congress party-led coalition, a majority in Parliament from 2004 to 2008, but they blocked many economic reforms such as privatisation.

Left-Congress pact split last year over the civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

The Left Front has joined hands with smaller and "secular" regional parties to take on the Congress-led coalition and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ensuing elections. (ANI)