The Hindu Business Line : Left not to support no-confidence motion

BREATHING EASY: The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, with the Minister of State, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, briefing the media after attending the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting, at the Prime Minister's residence in the Capital on Monday. At the 90-minute long meeting, the Left parties ruled out moving or supporting any no-confidence motion against the UPA Government . - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Feb. 13

DESPITE disagreement on several issues, the Left parties have ruled out supporting any no-confidence motion against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in the Lok Sabha while voicing its deep concern for voting against Iran in the IAEA meeting.

In the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting held here on Monday, the Left parties made it clear to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, that they will hold discussions with non-BJP parties on Iran and FDI in retail and raise them inside and outside Parliament.

The CPI (M) General Secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, told reporters after the meeting that there was no question of moving or supporting any no-confidence motion against the Government, which the Samajwadi Party has threatened to table.

"Before March 6, we will discuss. After that we will decide," Mr Karat said.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, said, "The Left leaders have made it clear that they are not contemplating either moving or joining anything resembling a no-confidence motion in Parliament."

The CPI General Secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, said a notice has been given in Parliament for a discussion on Iran.

Mr Karat said the Left parties had submitted 19 written notes to the coordination committee on a whole range of issues.

"Overall assessment is that the exercise is not as productive as it should have been," he said.

On the modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports, Mr Karat said that the Government decided to hand over the two airports to private companies and added that there are serious questions about the way the bidding process had been vitiated. He added that the Government had decided to allow 51 per cent FDI for single brand category, despite the opposition of the Left.