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UPA Government : Left angry over petrol price hike |
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The Left parties, which are supporting the United Progressive Alliance Government from outside, have sharply criticised the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel and cooking gas. They accused the Government of ignoring the interests of the common man and demanded roll-back of the hike. Former West Bengal Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu has threatened to launch a countrywide agitation against the hike. He said the hike was effected against the wishes of the Left parties.
The trade union wing of the CPI(M), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said the decision was aimed at raising the bottomline of a private refinery. The Left parties say that the profits of the oil companies have soared and there is no justification for increasing the prices of petroleum products. If at all any action was needed, customs and excise duties on petroleum products should have been cut, but the common man should have been spared.
The Left parties have also opposed other economic policies of the Manmohan Singh Government. The CPI national council which discussed the matter at a two-day meeting criticised the tilt in the UPA in favour of foreign direct investment (FDI) and said there is a need to make the common minimum programme more people-friendly. The party was particularly peeved at the UPA government’s decision to allow foreign banks to take over Indian private banks and demanded a review of this policy. The CPI national council asked the Government to expeditiously take up pro-poor programmes such as those related to food, agriculture and irrigation. The CPI said that the Left parties should be consulted more frequently on policy matters.
The CPI(M) has also criticised the UPA policies and said that it does not accept the idea that the Government should carry on with its core liberalisation policies while the Left will only raise issues of employment and education. Politburo member Prakash Karat said that the CPI(M) is opposed to UPA policies with regard to FDI in telecommunication and insurance, disinvestment of public sector companies, reduction of the provident fund interest rate and giving concessions to foreign banks.
On foreign policy also, the CPI(M) has expressed its unhappiness with the Prime Minister’s assertion that his government will continue the engagement with the United States on the strength of shared values and common interests. The party said that calls for strategic operation should have waited for the policy stance of the second Bush Administration. The CPI(M) politburo said the re-election of President George Bush means a continuation of the aggressive and unilateral US approach to international relations. The Politburo said the United States under Bush had shown contempt for the United Nations and international law.
Cabinet reshuffle plan hits roadblocks
The Prime Minister and his key cabinet colleagues are going on a string of overseas visits in the coming few weeks. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee is in Poland while the Prime Minister will be going this week to The Hague for the European Union summit and on his return, go to Kashmir. The plan to reshuffle the Union Cabinet may have to wait for the visits to end.
The Prime Minister had a full meeting with his Council of Ministers on Nov. 1 to find out how far the promises made to the people have been kept and also to think of steps to tone up the Government functioning. There are reports that some Ministers who are not comfortable with their portfolios want a reshuffle to come at the earliest. There are also ministerial hopefuls who are waiting for their turn. Regional imbalances in the Cabinet need to be addressed. There are several states like Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Orissa which have no representation in the Cabinet.
In another development, several junior ministers are said to have complained to the Prime Minister that they have hardly any work to do. Almost every Minister of State at the meeting of the Council of Ministers said that he is prepared to put in more work if given a chance. Dr. Manmohan Singh may keep this aspect in mind while reconstituting his Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister also had a meeting with Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories last week. He asked them to ensure transparency and honesty in bureaucratic functioning and pointedly said that the delivery system in sectors such as agriculture, drinking water, infrastructure, education and health needs to be improved.
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