Monday, May 29 2006 09:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Boosted by their landslide victories in Kerala and in West Bengal, the CPI(M) today said the Left will be more aggressive against the UPA Government on various economic issues including the proposed hike in prices of petroleum products.

Opposing the UPA Government's move to hike fuel prices, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the CPI(M) and other Left parties would build up a nation-wide protest involving non-Congress and non-NDA parties on the issue.

"We are not for a negotiated increase in the prices of petroleum products. The hike will have a cascading effect on the prices of essential commodities. We are against price rise. We are confident that all political parties will join us for a powerful movement against the hike," he said, but did not name the Left hopes to rope in.

"The CPI(M) is also opposed to any move for privatisation of airports including Kolkata and Chennai," he said.

Karat told reporters after a two-day meeting of CPI(M) Politburo that the left parties, giving crucial outside support to the government at the Centre, would meet in Delhi on June one to decide on issues to be taken up with the UPA government.

"On a number of issues we have to discuss with the UPA government. There are certain issues on which we have not been able to come to a common understanding and we have differences," he said, but refused to divulge details.

"I am not in a position to disclose them till we discuss." he said.