The Hindu Business Line : CPI (M) seeks probe into Balco divestment

There was gross undervaluation of assets in the divestment of Balco, as pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, and therefore a CBI probe should be instituted to bring out the facts and punish the guilty, according to Mr Sitaram Yechuri, a member of the Rajya Sabha and a politbureau member of the CPI (M).

At a meet-the-press programme organised by the Vizag journalists' forum here on Sunday, he came down heavily on the economic policies of the UPA Government and said they were at variance with the common minimum programme. "However, in order to keep the communal forces at bay, we are supporting the Congress-led coalition, but we shall strive to bring about the desired changes in their policies," he said.

He said the Left parties were also seriously opposing the special economic zones (SEZs) being set up all over the country. "There is no justification in allotting huge tracts of agricultural land to the SEZs. In Haryana, for instance, the Government has allocated 25,000 acres of farm land for SEZ. At a time when we are importing wheat, such policies will have serious repercussions on our agricultural production," he said.

On the demand for creating a separate state of Telangana, he said the CPI (M) was firmly opposed to breaking up linguistic States and would vote against the bill for separate Telangana if the UPA Government introduced it in Parliament. "We already have 31 States. There are demands for 29 more states and, if Telangana is formed, we will be opening the Pandora's box. There is no end to it. It is not good for country's unity," he explained.

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