Reaching out to Left, PM calls up Karat, speaks to Buddha

This was their second meeting in the last two days. Bhattacharjee and Singh met in Kolkata on Sunday, a day after the largest union of the Great Eastern Hotel—the union owes allegiance to the Congress’ labour arm INTUC—announced its decision to accept the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS) proposed by the West Bengal government.

Commenting on today’s meeting, a senior Congress minister said: ‘‘The PM discussed both the Left’s decision to suspend coordination and also the BHEL disinvestment issue with Bhattacharjee.’’

On the PM’s call to Karat—UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, holidaying in Shimla, had asked Singh to contact the Left—CPI leader D Raja said: ‘‘It was more of a courtesy call and nothing tangible was discussed. The Prime Minister informed Prakash that he had received a copy of the letter that Left parties wrote to Sonia Gandhi.’’

Ahmed Patel, Gandhi’s political secretary, held consultations with Congress leaders and informed Karat and Raja that their ‘‘concerns would be addressed’’ once Gandhi returns from her holiday.

The Congress downplayed DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s support to the Left stand that the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) should be ‘‘strictly adhered to’’. Denying the Left charge that the Government had violated the CMP, Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said: ‘‘Absolutely no breach of the CMP has been committed by the Government.’’

AICC media department chief Ambika Soni told reporters: ‘‘I don’t think any problem is going to be so big enough to undermine the basic objective of the UPA to strengthen secular politics and fight communal forces.’’

In its letter to Sonia Gandhi, the Left which provides crucial outside support to the UPA, referred to repeated assertions by the Government that it would retain 51 per cent share in public sector enterprises which, it said, meant that it intended to sell off 49 per cent shares.

Meanwhile, the Left has decided to go ahead with tomorrow’s nationwide agitation against the recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel.