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This is an archive article published on December 14, 2005

Mumbai & Delhi model for Kolkata: Buddhadeb

Days after CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told Assocham that his party had no “ideological problems” on airport privatisation...

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Days after CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told Assocham that his party had no “ideological problems” on airport privatisation, his party colleague and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee indicated as much.

During a break in the party politburo meeting, he told reporters that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told him that the “Delhi and Mumbai models” would be followed for airport projects in Kolkata and Chennai.

The Delhi and Mumbai models allow both private and foreign participation by those with proven international experience.

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Later, as he returned from the lunch break, the West Bengal CM said that the “best model would be selected on the issue of airport privatization.”

On the issue of FDI in retail—the PM told Asean yesterday that he hoped there would be a positive outcome soon—the party politburo rejected the idea but the matter will now be taken up by the central committee that meets later this week.

On the pension reform Bill, while the CPM has rejected the legislation in the present format, it appears willing to discuss changes that take note of its objections.

Party veteran Jyoti Basu said, “We are opposed to the Bill but we are talking to the government. Let’s see what comes out of the meetings.”

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One change the party is pushing for is having a PSU fund manager rather than private fund managers as provided in the Bill.

Asked about that, politburo member Sitaram Yechury said this could be discussed.

The four Left parties had earlier decided to write a joint letter to the government detailing their views on the PFRDA Bill, following a note handed over to them during the UPA-Left coordination meeting last month. But the CPM has now sent a note on its own.

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