PM tries to allay Left fears

The 19-page ‘‘Status of Implementation of NCMP (May 2005)’’ reads like the Government’s action taken report on social sector aspects of the programme. It is a report which is obviously meant to appease the Left at a time when the four-party bloc is sounding more and more critical of the Government’s ignorance of their economic prescriptions. In fact, on Saturday, the CPI(M) politburo is going to begin a two-day evaluation of the UPA Government’s first year in power.

In the party organ of the CPI, New Age, general secretary A.B. Bardhan has expressed his disenchantment with the UPA’s economic direction. Smaller Left partners like RSP are losing no opportunity to lash out at the UPA leadership for not meeting their policy formulations.

The subjects dealt with under 18 sections covers everything in the social sector from ‘‘education, minorities, women and child development, communal harmony’’ to ‘‘industries, ex-servicemen’s welfare, POTA and Classical Language’’.

When contacted, Abani Roy of RSP said, ‘‘There is hardly anything new in what the Government is saying. Crucial issues have been ignored.’’ Yet, the UPA does mention its resolve regarding implementation of the National Employment Guarantee Act. The Government says with seeming sincerity, ‘‘The Bill is under examination by the Standing Committee in Parliament.’’

Left leaders will attend a UPA meet on May 18 to decide how it would tom-tom its achievements but it is still unclear if it would take part in the celebrations on May 22.