Monday, May 16 2005 18:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM), a key outside supporter of ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), today (May 16, 2005) strongly opposed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail trading and said it would launch "movements and struggle" to ensure implementation of pro-people measures listed in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

A change in the lifestyle of the ordinary people "is not visible as per our assessment. Government should fulfil their expectations," CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said, while briefing reporters on the outcome of the party's two-day Politburo meeting In New Delhi yesterday (May 15, 2005).

Observing that CPM was striving to "reverse the harmful policies" of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre, Karat said that the party would "track down" the Manmohan Singh Ministry if it went out of the purview of the CPM. "Certain steps taken by the Government are positive but much more needs to be done to fulfil expectations of the people.

"Measures taken with regard to the social sector and Anganwadi workers are good but the Government has been lagging behind in sectors relating to agriculture and rural credit," the CPM leader said.

Opposing FDI in retail trading, Karat said that the sector involved seven per cent of the country's work force and FDI would lead to large-scale displacement of workers and unemployment.

"But Government seems to be determined to go ahead," he said adding that CPM wanted opening up of the financial sector including banking and insurance. "We will be discussing these issues with the Government at the coordination committee meeting on May 18".

"We will not remain satisfied with just negotiation. We will actively mobilise people and launch movements and struggle to ensure that pro-people measures in the CPM are implemented," Karan said.