Tuesday, March 22 2005 22:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) today (Mar 22, 2005) said it was putting pressure on the Government not to hike the prices of petroleum products.

CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the party was putting pressure on the Government not to hike the prices because "we are of the view that the petroleum companies should absorb the increase and should not pass on the burden to the people."

"If necessary, we'll take to the streets to oppose any increase in prices of petrol and diesel. We have extended support to the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government but we have not surrendered before it," Yechury said.

"We are functioning like a watchdog as far as the UPA Government is concerned," he said adding the CPM was trying to help the Government to follow the right path.

Despite the party's differences with Congress, Yechury said it had found Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "responsive to the issues raised by us."

While issuing a warning to the UPA Government not to go against the interests of the people, he said the CPM's intention was to ensure that the UPA Government completed its full five-year term in office.

Yechury said though the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) had said it was prepared to sit in the Opposition, the party leaders were "now dreaming of coming back to power. But we will not allow it to happen."