Tuesday, May 17 2005 19:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The CPI today (May 17, 2005) joined CPM in criticising the performance of the UPA Government at the Centre on the economic front saying issues relating to the poor have not been addressed seriously during the first year of its rule.

"We feel most of the achievements of the Government do not relate to the poor. Issues concerning the poor have not been given the attention they deserve," CPI (Communist Party of India) general secretary A B Bardhan told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the Left parties.

Bardhan charged the Government with not taking any initiative for bringing legislations for the benefit of the unorganised sector, agriculture workers and women's reservation.

He accused Congress of not exerting the pressure it should have in the case of the Employment Guarantee Bill which he felt had been "diluted".

Bardhan's remark comes a day after CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) came out with a similar critical assessment of the Government's performance on the economic front.

The CPI leader said the Left parties would convey their views at tomorrow's meeting of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Coordination Committee.

To a question, Bardhan said the Left parties would not attend the May 22 celebrations of the ruling alliance's B-day bash saying it was a UPA affair and the Left was only giving outside support.