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UPA-Left : Another confrontation building up |
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With a meeting of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee scheduled today, Nov. 21, the differences between the two are coming to the fore. The major issues on which a confrontation is building up are India’s likely response to Iran’s nuclear issue at the Nov. 24 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Government’s proposal to sell off its stake in profit making non-Navaratna public sector companies.
The Left leaders, after an hour-long meeting on Friday, Nov. 18, asked the Government to clarify its position on Iran’s nuclear programme. Briefing mediapersons later, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the Left parties’ stand vis-a-vis UPA coalition would be decided after the meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors at Vienna on Nov. 24. He said the Government would have to explain its stand in Parliament as also at UPA-Left coordination committee meeting.
On the controversy over the Volcker Committee findings, the CPI(M) leader demanded that oil contracts awarded during the NDA regime should also be brought within the ambit of the RS Pathak probe panel.
Earlier on Nov. 16, CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury is understood to have discussed the issue of India’s stand at the IAEA meeting with Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Yechury is also the leader of the CPI(M) in Parliament.
In a related development, the Left parties have given notices in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) seeking a discussion on the vote against Iran by India in the IAEA meeting on Sept. 24.
The Lok Sabha leaders of the CPI(M) Basudeb Acharia and CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, have submitted notices ahead of the winter session of Parliament scheduled to begin on Nov. 23.
“I have submitted a notice for a discussion under Rule 193,” Acharia said. The subject would come up when the Speaker holds a meeting of floor leaders. The relevant rule under which the CPI(M) is seeking a short duration discussion can be raised by any member on a matter of urgent public importance. Unlike Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, Rule 193 does not entail voting.
Another issue which may invite the Left’s displeasure is the Finance Minister’s announcement that some of the profit-making non-Navaratna public sector companies would be taken up for disinvestment of minority stakes by the end of the current financial year. Chidambaram told the Economic Editors’ Conference in New Delhi on Nov. 16 that there will be discussion with the Left parties on the issue. A day later on Thursday, Nov. 17, the Union Cabinet decided to hive off a 15 per cent stake in the profit-making Shipping Corporation of India. Union Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu said later that with the sell out, Government equity in the shipping company would come down to around 65 per cent.
Observers say that the Left parties are unlikely to take to the latest proposal enthusiastically. They have already said that they have not been consulted on the issue.
Left-Samajwadi Party gang up
A joint rally by the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party held in Lucknow on Sunday, Nov. 13, was the occasion to issue a warning to the Manmohan Singh Government on the Iran nuclear issue. CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat sought to put the UPA Government in the dock on the issue and said that it should rectify its stand or be prepared to face Left-Samajwadi Party onslaught in the coming parliamentary session. Using harsh language, he described the Government’s decision on Iran as disgraceful while keeping the attack focus on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Karat said if the Government does not listen to the Left, it will raise the issue in Parliament and force the Manmohan Singh Government to change its stand.
About the possibility of formation of a third front, the Left leaders said it is too early to predict such a move. But Prakash Karat said the possibility of the Left-Samajwadi Party and other like-minded parties joining hand and forming a political front could not be ruled out.
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