Monday, January 24 2005 21:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Warning that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government at the Centre could not take the support of the Left parties for granted, CPI (Communist Party of India) general secretary A B Bardhan today (Jan 24, 2005) said the Government had failed to fulfil the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in 'full letter and spirit'.

"While we do not want to topple the Government and give comfort to BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), we have also noticed that after eight months, the UPA Government has failed to carry out the promises made in the CMP in full letter and spirit."

"We will keep pressurising the Government to do so, if we are to remain part of the Government", Bardhan, who is in Panaji to attend the State conference of the party, told reporters.

"Our support is based on the CMP, and several of our suggestions like the Employment Guarantee Act, are not being followed. We had been stressing that unemployment is a huge factor in India, and after much pressure, the Government did introduce a Bill, but the Bill does not fulfil what was expected out of it. It has many shortcomings", he said.

Citing the demand for a Legislation for agricultural workers and raising the share of expenditure on healthcare and education from the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Bardhan said his party would launch a nationwide campaign to pressurise the UPA Government into bringing in these schemes.

"What we are demanding is for the welfare of the people of the country. If we improve their lot and increase their spending power, our industry will benefit and grow," he added.

The 19th All India Party Congress of CPI, to be held in Chandigarh in March, would discuss all these matters, he said.