Saturday, November 19 2005 20:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stepping up its pressure on the Iran vote issue, the Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) has said the Left parties would put the Government 'in the dock' if it votes against Tehran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting.

"If there is an adverse vote in the IAEA, a resolution against Iran and India takes a similar position to September 24, we will definitely take up this matter for discussion in Parliament", CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said.

"We will put the government in the dock for taking such a stand. If the stand is okay, then it will be fine and there will be no problem", he told NDTV in an interview.

Asked whether the Left would seek a discussion on the Iran issue under the rule which entailed voting, he said, "I can't say now. It will depend on a number of factors like what the IAEA Board decides at its meeting in Vienna or what stand other countries takes".

He said the Left parties had submitted a note to the Government on the issue and "We have said the least they can do is abstain if there is a resolution going against Iran".

Observing that Iran was an important country for India for its energy requirements and the two nations have had very good relations, Karat said, "We want to know whether the government will act in the national interest and not line up with those countries who want to take a stand or action against Iran".

Replying to questions on economic issues, the CPI(M) leader said the Government proposed to sell shares in some profit-making PSUs which were not 'navaratna' companies.

"We too have some proposals about how to mobilize resources. We will discuss these", he said.

Asked whether they have agreed to anything in this regard, Karat said, "We are not committed to anything yet, but are open to discussion".

To a specific question on the proposal to sell stakes in Shipping Corporation of India, he said Finance Minister P Chidambaram would 'come to us with proposals. We will look at them first'.

Karat said the trade unions must be consulted by the Government before doing anything on the pension issue so as to arrive at some understanding.

On labor rights in the IT sector, Karat said the CPI(M) was of the 'unanimous view' that labor laws should be applicable to the sector and the employees there should have the right to form unions.

"The right (to form unions) is given under the existing laws, but it was for the IT employees to decide about forming unions", he said.

Karat said West Bengal Government had declared IT sector as a public utility service, which granted the inherent right to form unions and collective bargaining.