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Stalemate at UPA-Left meeting

	November 20, 2006

Barring an agreement on the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Tribal Bill, a meeting of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee on Monday, Nov. 13, ended in a stalemate on all issues. A consensus eluded the UPA and the Left on issues such as the Pension Bill, the Banking Bill and the roll-back of petrol and diesel prices. There was also no agreement on amending the Special Economic Zones Act.



The Left parties reasserted their opposition to any government move allowing private players to manage pension funds, and insisted that employees get guaranteed returns. When the United Progressive Alliance broached the issue of Pension Bill, which the Manmohan Singh Government wants passed in the winter session of Parliament, the Left leaders shot down the government proposal that the public sector Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of India be allowed to mange the pension funds for the first three years. Parking these funds in the stock market was also opposed.



The Left parties suggested that the employees be given minimum assured returns like 50 per cent of the last salary drawn. They asked the Government to study the pattern in other countries, where a specific contribution is being made to social security.



Sources in the UPA said the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, saw some “forward” movement. There was a possibility of another round of consultations on the Pension Bill with the Left leaders ahead of the winter session.



Left leaders - including the CPI(M)’s Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s A.B. Bardhan - went for the meeting with the agenda that the Government reduce petrol and diesel prices by Rs. 4 and Rs. 2 respectively, following the decline in global crude prices. They also demanded amendments to the SEZ Act so that it caps the land allotted and increases the compensation paid to farmers.



No decision was taken on the first issue. As for the second, the Left which believes SEZs are turning out to be a land-grab operation, will forward their suggestions to the Group of Ministers for consideration.



The only thing the two sides agreed to at the meeting was on bringing the tribal and women’s reservation bills in the Winter session.



CPI(M) politburo concerned over rising prices



The CPI(M) politburo at its two-day meeting in New Delhi on Nov. 14-15 expressed concern over the continuing high prices of essential commodities. It charged the UPA Government with not taking the follow up action on the Left parties suggestions to bring down the price level. The politburo demanded that petrol and diesel prices should be reduced as the international prices had declined to $ 57 to 58 a barrel.



Briefing newspersons on Nov. 15, party general secretary Prakash Karat said reduction in petrol and diesel prices will bring relief to the people and that the party will launch a campaign against price rise. Karat opposed the decision to open franchise postal outlets throughout the country and said that it is nothing but privatization of postal services. He said, the move is against the letter and spirit of the National Common Minimum Programme.



On the Chinese Ambassador’s statement regarding Arunachal Pradesh being Chinese territory, Karat said Arunachal Pradesh is part of India and the India-China joint working group is dealing with the boundary dispute. He said the CPI(M) would not want to interfere in the dialogue process between the two countries on the border dispute.





Tap common political ground : Sonia Gandhi’s call



Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called upon all political parties to explore the vast common ground existing between them to make India a global force. Speaking at the Fourth Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Nov. 17, she said, “political competition is intense in our country, but my view is that amidst this competition, there is a vast common ground which must be pursued.”



Both Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also addressed the leadership summit, saw India emerging as a global force for peace, progress and prosperity that plays by the rules without hegemonic designs based on military might. Dr. Manmohan Singh said the very notion of superpower will undergo a change as nations become more inter-dependent.



Sonia Gandhi expressed disapproval of undue obsession with faster GDP growth rate and acquiring super-power status. She drew attention to what she called the country’s other realities and said that despite the country’s economic prosperity, it remains a country of dehumanising poverty where a decent standard of living continues to elude large sections of society.



UPA sources said Sonia Gandhi had voiced her concern in private in recent months over the Centre’s constant talk of growth rates and fears that the UPA Government was going down the same path as the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose “India Shining” campaign chose to focus on urban India’s economic performance while glossing over the plight of the disadvantaged sections.



CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, in his speech at the leadership summit said that the Left was not against reforms. But he said the question is the direction and content of the reforms. “This will be decided politically and that is the way it should be done.” he said.