|
CPI(M) for “detached” engagement with UPA |
 |
The CPI(M) says that it is not for a review of the Left parties’ support to the UPA as it feels that such a move would mean bringing down the Government. The statement came last week in the wake of suggestions from the CPI and other Left parties for review of the support given to the UPA.
A report adopted by the CPI(M) central committee at its June 24-26 meeting, which was released in New Delhi on July 9, said : “At this juncture, a review would be counter-productive and the resultant crisis will only help the BJP and the right wing forces. As against this, we should take positions on issues when they come up.” The report said that the party should be more assertive on policy matters both inside and outside Parliament. The report noted that even the UPA-Left coordination committee had not met since November last year.
The central committee said that it had noted at its earlier meetings the erosion of the support base of the Congress and the UPA which reflected people’s discontent with Government’s po¬licies following steep rise in the prices of essential commodi¬ties.
The central committee said it did not subscribe to the idea of third front floated by regional outfits. However, the party was for maintaining contact with the Samajwadi Party and the Telugu Desam Party. The statement said that the CPI(M)’s discus¬sions with the two parties on the Presidential election were helpful as the Third Front decided not to support Bhairon Singh Shekhawat since he belonged to the BJP.
Observers say that while the CPI(M) hinted at a ‘detached engagement’, the party has a record of backing the UPA on all crucial issues. Observers say that while the CPI(M)’s stance may be discomforting for the Congress in the long run, in the short as well as medium term, the CPI(M)’s indifference towards a third alliance is certain to be a welcome development.
Left opposes Foreign Universities Bill
In a related development, the Left has opposed the pro¬posed Bill to regulate the entry of foreign universities. Faced with the Left’s opposition, the Government has asked the Human Resource Development Ministry to rework the Bill provisions, since in its present form, the Bill goes against the principle of social equity enshrined in the Common Minimum Programme. The Left did not allow the Foreign University (Entry and Operation) Bill to be tabled in the last session of Parliament. Sources in the Government say that the Bill in its present form is un¬likely to be tabled in the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The CPI(M) has opposed Indian participation in joint naval exercises with the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore. The party views the wargames as part of the UPA Government’s attempt to forge closer strategic military cooperation with the United Sates which it said was harmful for India’s strategic interests.
USS Nimitz and another American aircraft carrier, Kitty Hawk, will be participating in the five-national naval combat exercises to be held in the Bay of Bengal in September. As many as 20 warships from India, US, Japan. Australia and Singapore will be taking part in the exercise which is being dubbed the biggest ever foreign wargames in which he Indian Navy would be participating.
|
