Wednesday, February 23 2005 19:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Malappuram (Ker): The CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) today (Feb 23, 2005) said it would ask the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government to make adequate allotment in the Union Budget to implement several "pro-people" measures as agreed in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

"Issues relating to people's welfare like rural development, employment and education as agreed in the CMP will have to be met in the Budget allocation," CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters in Malappuram.

Stating that CPM would press these demands during tomorrow's coordination committee meeting of UPA and Left parties in Delhi to discuss the Budget proposals, he said a sum of Rs 50,000 crore would be required in the Budget to fulfil the assurances made in the CMP.

The CPM was opposing the Congress only because the latter was not strictly adhering to the CMP, Yechury said, adding his party would take the issue to the people if the UPA continued with its present policies.

Referring to the party's State conference, which concluded in Malappuram yesterday, he said the ideological differences within the party had been discussed in detail. "It is a closed chapter. No one will be allowed to reopen it again," he said.

Claiming that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its allies would suffer defeat in the Bihar and Jharkand polls, Yechuri said the communal forces would continue to face "political rout in the days ahead."