New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jun 17, 2004) began consultations with the Left parties, who are supporting his UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government from outside, on the General Budget that will be presented in Parliament on July 8.

Senior CPI (Communist Party of India) and CPM (Communist Party Marxist) leaders will present before the Prime Minister their demands for inclusion in the Budget.

Prominent among the demands likely to figure at the meeting include the hike in LPG prices and rate of interest on small savings.