Sunday, August 28 2005 14:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thrissur: Seizing on All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi's assertion that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre had taken steps to strengthen the public sector, Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat wanted the UPA Government to carry out her promise on the Public Sector Units (PSUs).

Addressing a public meeting here last evening, Karat said he expected that the UPA Government would take into account what Sonia Gandhi had said in her address to party workers in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday (Aug 27, 2005).

"The CPI-M would not allow privatisation of PSUs under any circumstance. The argument that the public sector sell-off was meant for raising funds to meet commitment in health and education sectors was not acceptable," he said.

Karat said his party had put forward alternative proposals like launching a drive for collection of tax arrears and bank dues from big monopolies to finance the funds required for social sector schemes.

He claimed the enactment of the rural employment guarantee legislation was the result of the pressure from Left parties.

He said the forthcoming local body and assembly elections in Kerala was an opportunity for the LDF to ensure that the 'phenomenon called United Democratic Front (UDF) was coming to its end'.