06-16-2006, 04:40 AM
Left: check price rise
Special Correspondent
Keep communal forces at bay
# Offers suggestions on peace process in J&K
# Situation in North-east discussed
# Oil price hike not discussed
NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Thursday emphasised the need to increase political intervention in attending to problems in Jammu and Kashmir and offered their views on how to carry forward the process initiated by the United Progressive Alliance Government.
The Left leaders suggested measures to move ahead on the dialogue process with both separatists and those in the mainstream of politics. The bottom line was Jammu and Kashmir was a national issue and there should be complete understanding between the UPA and the Left on it.
Taking part in a coordination committee meeting here, the Left leaders also discussed the communal situation in the country and the situation in the northeast, and expressed concern over the rise in the prices of essential commodities. The recent hike in the prices of petrol and diesel did not figure in the discussions.
Much of the discussion centred round Jammu and Kashmir with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh briefing the leaders on the outcome of the first and second round-table conferences and the progress of the dialogue process.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil spoke about the situation on the ground, the drop in infiltration, new methods of attacks, the strategy of targeting the minority community and security-related issues.
"There is the need to carry on dialogue with the separatist organisations and also hold talks with parties that are represented in the Assemblies and in the political mainstream," a senior Left leader said.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has a position on maximum autonomy within the framework of the Constitution.
On the communal situation, the Left leaders felt that the UPA as a political entity was not attacking the problem. They said that besides in Gujarat, the minorities were under attack in all States where the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power.
The Congress and the allies in the UPA should be in the forefront of countering communal forces. As a Left leader put it, "<span style='color:red'>The Left has extended support to the UPA to keep communal forces away. They should work towards it."</span>
Gujarat happenings
The Left leaders said the Centre should take special note of the happenings in Gujarat, where about 100 persons were still detained under the now repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act, despite the recommendations by the review committee.
The upward spiral in the prices of essential commodities, especially pulses, was discussed elaborately, with the Left parties emphasising that the Government should control the trend.
Dr. Singh said free market benefited farmers too and sought suggestions on how to act in such a market regime. He defended the move to import wheat.
Union Minister Prithviraj Chavan, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary Ahmed Patel were present. The Left leaders who participated were Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A.B. Bardhan (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (AIFB) and Abani Roy (RSP).