NEW DELHI, 17 May 2005 — The apex policy-making body of the Congress Party, senior partner in India’s ruling coalition , held a meeting yesterday to assess the performance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government which completes a year in office on Sunday.
Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi said she was satisfied with the government’s achievements. But Left allies which support Manmohan’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) from outside, said the premier had failed to meet several promises set out in a composite policy document.
The Left allies also said they would not be joining in the government’s birthday celebrations.
Howsoever dissatisfied the left bloc may be with the UPA government, Sonia was the least affected by their decision to stay away from UPA’s first birthday bash.
When asked whether the left parties’ reported decision not to participate would in any way spoil the occasion, she replied: “I don’t think so.” She was speaking to reporters yesterday after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting reviewed the UPA government’s performance.
Referring to UPA-Left coordination committee meeting on May 18, Sonia said: “We are looking forward to exchanging views on everything.”
Briefing reporters on what was discussed during the CWC meeting, Sonia said: “The CWC met today, six days ahead of the UPA government completing one year in office. We discussed all the issues. Prime minister gave us details about the issues taken up during the period.”
Sonia also used the occasion to congratulate Manmohan and his colleagues in government for a “satisfactory” performance during a year of rule.
Apart from assessing the UPA government’s performance, the CWC also discussed strategy for assembly elections to be held in five states, early next year. This was CWC’s last meeting before a new panel takes over, following election of a new Congress president in an organizational shuffle.
Meanwhile, the left bloc leaders met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram yesterday expressing their opposition to any increase in petrol and diesel prices. They want the government to restructure duties.
“We have asked the government not to increase prices but consider other options,” CPI General Secretary D. Raja told reporters after the meeting.
Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was also present at the meeting.
The government should put in abeyance the increase in road cess and rollback hike in excise duties on petrol and diesel, CPI (M) Dipankar Mukherjee said.
Sonia said the UPA would celebrate its year in government on an austere note unlike the “India Shining” campaign of the previous government, headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Meanwhile, the CPI-M yesterday warned that the coalition should not take its support for granted. After assessing the Congress-led government’s performance for the last year in the party’s politburo, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said that the Left would not be attending programs to mark the first anniversary celebrations.
The CPI-M criticized the government for not reversing many policies of the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA), especially on the economy and foreign affairs. “The UPA government is not sufficiently concerned about the need to distance itself from the discredited policies of the past,” a statement after the CPI-M politburo meet said.
Karat, while appreciating some steps taken by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led government, said the Left parties would continue to insist on implementing the common minimum program, an agenda for governance agreed upon by the UPA partners. “We shall not remain satisfied or content with these negotiations with the government. We shall strongly mobilize people to see that the common minimum program is implemented,” Karat said.
Though the CPI-M expressed satisfaction with the abolition of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and “de-saffronization” of educational institutions, it said the agriculture sector had been neglected. “There has been no substantial increase in investments in agriculture. There has to be a step up in the flow of rural credit,” the statement said.
“The women’s reservation bill (to set a quota for women in Parliament and legislative assemblies) needs to be given priority. The UPA has to get all its partners to support it,” the statement said.
“It is true that the disruptive role of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led alliance has circumscribed the work of parliament. However the alacrity with which the government has moved legislation to push forward policies within the neo-liberal framework is in disquieting contrast with its failure to address the basic needs of the people,” it said.
