Monday, June 27 2005 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jun 27, 2005) had a telephonic conversation with Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) general secretary Prakash Karat and has assured him of discussion.

In the wake of Left parties announcement of suspension of participation in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left Coordination Committee meetings, Prime Minister had a telephonic conversation with Prakash Karat and is understood to have assured him of discussion on the issues raised by them.

The Prime Minister is understood to have told Karat that the issues would be further discussed after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi returns to Delhi from Shimla after her five-day sojourn.

Singh was sent a copy of the letter Left parties had written to Sonia protesting BHEL disinvestment, which they termed as the "first serious violation" of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

The letter by the Left, which provides crucial outside support of 61 Lok Sabha Members to the UPA government, referred to repeated assertions by the Government that it will retain 51 per cent share in Public Sector Enterprises, which it said meant that it intended to sell off 49 per cent shares.

The Left has also decided to go ahead with the June 28 nationwide agitation against the recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel.