Left, Mamata slam FDI hike in telecom

For once, the CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress appeared united in their opposition of the UPA decision to hike FDI in the telecom sector from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. The Left Front and the Trinamool Congress are planning to oppose the UPA on the grounds that allowing more FDI in this core sector would threaten the national security.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose said on Friday that the Left parties would never accept the FDI hike and that they would launch a state-wide demonstration. CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu also warned the UPA that its Government would not last the full term even ‘‘if we support them’’. ‘‘The UPA Government will fall if they continue in this fashion,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee also slammed the UPA Government and the Left parties for raising the FDI limit to 74 per cent in the telecom sector. Mamata said: ‘‘Telecom is a core sector and the nation’s security is at stake if the FDI is raised to this extent.’’

Banerjee also said that the UPA should understand that the Left parties are trying to sell out the nation. On the issue of hiking the interest on PF, the TMC leader said the UPA Government should not take credit for it, as the NDA government was mulling such a hike before the general elections last year.