Table women8217;s Bill 8212; CPM

8220;It is unfortunate that PM A B Vajpayee ignored mentioning the much desired women8217;s reservation Bill in his address to the nation yesterday,8221; he said.

Karat asked the PM to make a statement on signing the CTBT. Stating that American President Bill Clinton8217;s visit to India had been approved, based on the previous BJP government8217;s commitment to signing the CTBT, he cautioned against thrusting the move on the country in the wake of amilitary regime assuming power in Pakistan.

Deploring the hike in diesel prices and proposals to increase the prices of kerosene, LPG and rice supplied through the Public Distribution System, Karat said the Left parties would oppose the move.

Instead of closing the public sector units PSUs and selling shares of the profitable PSUs in the name of 8220;curtailing fiscal deficit8221;, the Finance Ministry should consider reallocation of non-performing assets in all the nationalised banks which can generate resources to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore, the CPM leader pointed out.