Monday, August 28 2006 11:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Reacting strongly to Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi's comments that they were free to withdraw support to the Government, the Left parties yesterday (Aug 27, 2006) said the UPA should not forget that their backing was based on the coalition adhering to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

"As a political party, we take political decisions. We are fully aware of our responsibilities. We take appropriate decisions at an appropriate time," CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury told sources from Ranchi.

He said, "Our support to the government is based only on the CMP which it should strictly follow."

CPI national secretary D Raja said, "The Left knows how to play its role. We have been asking the government to strictly adhere to the CMP and perform in the interests of the people."

Both Yechury and Raja said Dasmunshi had made the comments in the context of a debate with West Bengal Minister Manab Mukherjee, who had said the UPA should follow the Left's economic model.

Raja said, "It was mere rhetoric and not a political statement." RSP leader Abani Roy said the ruling coalition should never forget that our support is based on the pro-people commitments made in the CMP".

"The Left parties have been keeping the government in check on several issues and opposing it wherever it has gone beyond the CMP," Roy added.