CPM politburo discusses Buddha’s IT line

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee’s plan to accord public utility service status to the IT sector and ensure that IT s...

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee’s plan to accord public utility service status to the IT sector and ensure that IT services are not affected by strikes was discussed at length in the CPM politburo meeting here today. The issue is likely to be debated again tomorrow.

At the end of today’s meeting, party general secretary Prakash Karat said, ‘‘Discussions are not over. We need to clarify our views on a number of factors before coming to a decision.’’

Politburo member and CITU president M K Pandhe, the main opponent of the West Bengal CM’s proposal, said earlier in the day that IT services were money-making and not essential services. When asked how wide were his differences with Bhattacharjee, he said, “When we decide, there will be no differences.”

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Evidently, the party is trying to walk the middle path, acceptable to both sides. Karat said a statement on the party’s stand on IT services and whether they could be exempted from strikes will be made tomorrow.

While it was also Bihar polls and other matters, the issues confronting West Bengal seemed to have dominated the proceedings.

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