Sunday, December 18 2005 09:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: With the Left asserting that it would not support the Pension Bill in its present form and calling upon the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to re-work it to address the issues concerning the interests of the working class, Defense minister Pranab Mukherjee has said the Center was talking with the Left parties so that a decision could be reached on the issue through discussions.

"We are trying to arrive at a decision in the matter (Pension Bill) through dialogue. We have been talking with them (Left leaders). Talks have already been held with Prakash Karat Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) General Secretary as well with their floor (Parliament) leaders. Efforts are on to resolve the issue," Mukherjee told PTI here yesterday (Dec 17,2005). He did not elaborate.

He said that there was also a co-ordination committee of the UPA and Left parties where discussions were held on various issues.

The Left parties have opposed any move to privatize the Pension Fund.

Briefing the media on his party's three-day Central Committee meeting Karat had declared on December 16 that the Left would not support the Pension Bill in its current form and asked the Government to 'rework' the legislation.

"The Bill in its present form is not acceptable. We have told the Government not to privatize the Pension Fund and not to abandon its responsibilities towards the working class and the common people. The Bill also does not assure any minimum return," he said, adding that the Government should rework the legislation to address these issues.