Friday, August 26 2005 16:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Left parties should return to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Left Coordination Committee meetings immediately to clear their position on issues including economic reforms and inviting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) leader Jyoti Basu said today (Aug 26, 2005).

''The meetings have not been held for a long time. I think the Coordination Committee meeting between the UPA and Left parties should start immediately,'' Basu told reporters at the CPI(M) office in Kolkata.

Commenting on criticism of left parties adopting double standards on reforms and inviting FDI and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee favouring 100 per cent foreign investment in new airports and ports, Basu said these issues should be discussed at the Coordination Committee meetings by both UPA and left parties.

The CPI-M Politburo and Central Committee meeting next month would discuss Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comment praising the Buddhadev Bhattacharjee Government's stand and differences between communists in Kolkata and Delhi, he said.

Basu said that after Bhattacharjee's return here, the outcome of his visit to Singapore and Jakarta would be discussed at the party's state secretariat. This would also be the main agenda in the Politburo and Central Committee meeting of CPI-M scheduled next month, he said.

The CPI(M) and other left parties have been boycotting the Left-UPA Coordination Committee meetings demanding withdrawal of the move to dilute 10 per cent Government stake in public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

Despite the Government signing a memorandum of action with Indonesia-based Salim group for setting up an industrial economic zone and a township, Basu indicated that it would be put under a scanner.

Stating that farmers interests were involved, the veteran leader said that earlier talks were held with the party's South 24 Parganas district leadership and representatives of the Peasant's Front before Bhattacharjee's visit.

''But more discussion has to be held in the party on protection of farmers' interests,'' he said adding, ''We need industries, but not at the cost of farmers.''

Basu said that he was not aware of full details of the project for which the agreement was signed with the Salim group

''I am not aware as to when it will start and how long it will take. I have only read reports in papers,'' he said.