02 January 2006

Press Release

The Left Parties met on January 2, 2006.  The meeting decided as follows:

1.  The Left Parties decided to organise a widespread campaign against the US policies in connection with President Bush’s visit to India.  The campaign will culminate in big protest actions during his visit. 

2.  The Left Parties discussed proposals on resource mobilisation that can be undertaken by the UPA government.  The proposals, when finalised, will be submitted to the UPA government-Left Coordination Committee. In this connection, the Left Parties opined that disinvestment of  shares of  profitable public sector units is not the proper way to raise resources.

3.  The Left Parties reiterated that privatisation of  pension funds is not acceptable and, therefore, they are opposed to the  PFRDA Bill.

4.  The Left Parties discussed the  Delhi and Mumbai Airport privatisation plan.  It decided to take up the matter of airport modernisation at the next meeting of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee.

5.  The Left Parties discussed the outcome of the Hong Kong ministerial meeting on WTO. It was decided that the next meeting of the Left Parties will discuss a paper which will put forward the positions that should be taken on the issues concerning India and the developing countries in the forthcoming negotiations.