Left returns to UPA talks table

CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said a letter mentioning the Left’s decision will be sent to Sonia Gandhi by tomorrow.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters that “The Prime Minister has already given an assurance on the navratnas.” He was referring to the meeting he and CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan had with the PM and Sonia Gandhi on the sidelines of the National Integration Council meeting, where they were assured that the government will not proceed with the navratna disinvestment.

“The Prime Minister had earlier informed that the government does not intend to sell the shares of the BHEL and other navratna companies,” a joint statement issued after the meeting said.

Bardhan said, “We went out on the BHEL issue. We cannot be raising new issues now.”

However, the Left is likely to take up new issues—FDI in retail, disinvestment in profit-making PSUs, WTO issues and Indo-US defence pact— when the coordination panel meets.

Yechury said, “We have been talking about adherence to the Common Minimum Programme since the beginning. We will continue to take up issues where we feel there has been a deviation.”

The Left’s decision has come when it prepares for a national campaign on India’s vote against Iran on the IAEA. The Left wants India to reverse its stand before the IAEA board meeting in November.

RSP leader Abani Roy said the coordination panel meetings should have definite agendas. He said he had pointed out today that there was no hurry to return to the coordination committee meetings, as there were many issues, especially those pertaining to labour and farmers, to be settled.