Roll back 'anti-people' measures or go: CPI (M) to govt

Launching a frontal attack on the Manmohan Singh government, CPI(M) today said it had no right to continue in office if it did not roll back its decisions like allowing FDI in retail and hiking diesel prices.

Launching a frontal attack on the Manmohan Singh government, CPI(M) today said it had no right to continue in office if it did not roll back its decisions like allowing FDI in retail and hiking diesel prices.

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A day after Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TC) announced its decision to quit the UPA and the government over these issues, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said, "The Congress-led UPA government does not have the mandate or the right to push ahead with these policies.

"Unless the Manmohan Singh government rolls back these anti-people measures, it has no right to continue in office," he said, adding that the government did not have any mandate across the political spectrum, even from its alliance partners, on all these issues.

He said that eight parties, including four Left parties, Samajwadi Party, TDP, BJD and JD(S), have called for a nationwide protest day and strike tomorrow on these and other issues. They were also supported by simultaneous strike calls by motor transport and traders' organisations.

Asked whether CPI(M) would move a no-confidence motion against the government, Karat said, "We will review and consult with other parties after tomorrow's protest action and then take a decision."

He indicated that there were several options, saying BJP has also demanded a special session and asked the government to seek a vote of confidence.

While the UPA government has been plunged into a crisis after the announcement by TMC withdrawing from the government and UPA, he said, "After TMC withdraws its Ministers on Friday, certain things will follow. So don't jump to conclusions.... We will take a decision in a few days."