Stick to CMP, Basu warns UPA

Former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu sounded a warning note for the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government at the Centre today. Claiming that the UPA...

Former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu sounded a warning note for the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government at the Centre today. Claiming that the UPA was not giving due weightage to Left parties8217; views, he warned that pro-Left mass organisations have the right to launch movements against the Congress-led government if it does not adhere to the Common Minimum Programme CMP.

8216;8216;The Congress is not listening to us properly and the discrepancies in their words and deeds are prominent in many ways,8217;8217; said Basu, while addressing a rally of different Left trade unions and mass organisation here.

At the same rally, Basu gave a Re 1 coin to Kali Ghosh, state CITU secretary, as his contribution towards the fund for Left Front chairman Biman Bose.

Bose had hit the streets on Polia Baisakh to collect Re-1 from the public for funding his case in the Supreme Court against the High Court8217;s decision against him in a contempt of court case.

The High Court had sentenced Bose to 3-days simple imprisonment and fined him Rs 10,000 for his remarks against Justice Amitava Lala, who had banned public rallies in the city during working hours. Bose was quoted as saying, 8216;8216;Amitava Lala, Bangla chere pala Amitava Lala, quit Bengal.8217;8217;

8216;8216;Biman Bose is facing problems from the judiciary for a comment he made to uphold the rights of the people. The people of Bengal have come forward with their contribution of one rupee each. Today Jyoti Babu is coming forward with his own contribution,8217;8217; said Shyamal Chakrabarthy, state CITU president.

Meanwhile, the CPM cadre hit the streets all over the State today with 8216;8216;the begging bowl8217;8217; for Bose.

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Addressing the gathering, Basu warned: 8216;8216;We are vey frustrated. We will go to the people. For it is the people who make history. If the UPA faces pressure from the people, it will have to abide by the CMP.8217;8217;

8216;8216;We have the right to express our differences. In areas where the Congress-led government is not implementing the CMP, we will launch a movement,8217;8217; said Basu, calling upon workers of Left organisations to launch an awareness campaign on the issue.

Continuing his criticism, the veteran Marxist leader said the Congress was not doing any 8216;8216;self-introspection8217;8217; to find out why it remained 8216;8216;isolated8217;8217; from the people. 8216;8216;They should do self-criticism as far as economic policies are concerned,8217;8217; he said.

The forum of the different Left organisations adopted a resolution containing a 10-point charter of demands which would be submitted before the UPA government.