New Delhi, May 14
The two-day Politburo meeting of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) began here today with party leaders taking a critical review of the performance of the UPA government, which it has been supporting from outside, on the eve of the first anniversary.
The Politburo criticised the Congress-led government on several counts, in particular for introducing the Pension Fund, Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2005, the Special Economic Zones Bill, 2005, besides failure to bringing legislation on Women’s Reservation Bill.
The Politburo was of the view that the Banking Regulation Amendment Bill would facilitate the takeover of Indian private banks by foreign banks and the party would oppose the Bill on the floor of the House whenever it came up for consideration.
The party was of the view that the Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, which was before the Standing Committee, was a diluted version of what was originally envisaged.
The Tribal and Forest Dwellers (Regulation of Rights) Bill was not taken up by the Union Cabinet for the presentation of the Bill in Parliament. This was seen as a failure to live up to the commitment made in the CMP to the tribal people and for their rights of access to the
forest.
The Politburo was of the view that work undertaken under the food for work programme should be reviewed as about Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore had been provided in each district, depending on the size of the population for the
programme.
The party meeting discussed whether it would participate in the government deliberations on its first anniversary on May 22. However, it did not come to any conclusion on this issue.
The members, however, complimented the Manmohan Singh government for improvement of relations with China and Pakistan. ‘’These are positive developments”, they said but expressed concern over what they termed as attempts to strengthen strategic ties with the US.
The Politburo meeting assumes special significance as this is the first meeting of the party’s newly elected highest decision making body after the party congress held here between April 6-11.
All 18 Politburo members barring Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Mr Sitaram Yechury, who are not well and are
hospitalised at AIIMS, are attending the meeting being held at the party headquarters- A K Gopalan Bhawan.
Among others, former West Bengal Chief Minister and veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu, present incumbent Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, first woman Politburo member Brinda Karat and Manik Sarkar are attending it.
