Sunday, May 22 2005 17:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: After being formally invited to attend the function to mark the completion of one year of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) rule, Left party leaders today (May 22, 2005) sent individual letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying they would not attend the event but they would continue to cooperate with his Government.

Thanking the Prime Minister for the invitation, the leaders of the four Left parties said they looked forward to the Government to implement the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) keeping in mind national interest and also that of the poor and the toiling people.

CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat wished Singh all success in the coming period for implementation of the CMP and meeting the people's aspirations.

In line with him, veteran Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet and his party colleague Sitaram Yechury assured the Government of "our continued cooperation in this endeavour".

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan and secretary D Raja said "we discussed in depth the performance of the Government and also some of the issues on which we have some reservations on May 18 (UPA-Left meeting). We look forward to the UPA Government to implement the CMP specially keeping in mind the interest of poor and toiling people and of the country".

In his letter, RSP (Republican Socialist Party) leader Abani Roy said, "I am confident that you and your Government would take decisions in the interests of the country and the downtrodden", while Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas said he hoped the Government would "give more attention to implement the CMP with utmost sincerity".

Left sources said while the UPA wanted to highlight their achievements, the four Left parties have already made public their views that major people-oriented initiatives laid down in the CMP were yet to be taken up by the Government.