Monday, May 16 2005 18:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Just a week ahead of the first anniversary of UPA rule which it props up from outside, the CPM today (May 16, 2005) came out with a hard-hitting appraisal of its economic performance and decided to stay away from the May 22 celebrations of the alliance's B-day bash saying it does not want to be part of Government "stock-taking."

Criticising its economic policies mainly its approach to FDI in sensitive areas like banking, retail trade and mining, the party said the Government is eager to work for foreign finance capital and big business while "unwilling" to address issues concerning toiling masses.

Addressing a press conference on the two-day meeting of the party's politburo which ended yesterday, CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the party strongly condemned the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) for its boycott of Parliament and accused it of "unable to comer to terms" with Lok Sabha poll defeat and indulging in "confrontationist tactics."

About post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, the party demanded that six serious cases pending before the Supreme Court be referred to CBI which should expedite the inquiry into them.

Describing Government's approach to FDI as a "major" area of concern, Karat said such measures "erode national sovereignty and in the case of retail trade would cause big loss of employment adversely affecting millions of traders and shopkeepers.

"But the Government seems to be determined to go ahead...," Karat said adding CPM was against opening up of the financial sector including banking and insurance.

Declaring that the party would not compromise on the basic interests of the working people, he said it would take up these issues with the Government at the coordination committee meeting on May 18.

He said the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government was not sufficiently concerned on the need to distance itself from the "discredited" policies of the past, warning that CPM would contest this approach and continue to put forward alternate policies.

"Hardly any legislation which addresses the needs of vast masses of the poorer sections of our country has been moved in Parliament in this one year by the UPA Government....However, the alacrity with which the Government has moved legislations to push forward policies within the neo-liberal framework is in disquietening contrast," Karat said.

He said the party would 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".