Understand our qualms on FDI: CPI

KOLKATA: The CPI on Wednesday said the UPA government at the Centre should understand the concern of Left parties on foreign direct investment and must make a departure from the policies pursued during the previous NDA regime and that followed in early ‘90s when Congress was in power.

"We are not opposed to economic reforms. We want reforms with a human face," CPI Secretary D Raja told PTI in an interview.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, he said, had both spoken of economic reforms with a human face.

"It is an admission that past reforms did not benefit the poor and the country. It means they cannot follow policies pursued by NDA and in the early ‘90s."

"Now it is a new situation. The demands of the situation are different. The balance of political forces are different. I think the Congress will have to understand this and take a rational position rather than a dogmatic one."

"CPI is saying that UPA government should adhere to the Common Minimum Programme. CPI is of the view that the focus of CMP should be on micro-level rural concerns which include the distribution of land, development of irrigation, generation of employment, providing drinking water, public health and education," Raja said.

FDI, he said, was not the only issue facing Indian economy. "On FDI the Left is very objective. We have said if FDI comes and it helps in growth of production, brings modern technology, generates employment, then in such areas FDI is welcome."

"We do not oppose FDI per se. We have objections to raising FDI cap in telecom and insurance sectors," Raja said.

The CPI leader said the Prime Minister himself had recently commented that concerns of the Left were close to his heart on the question of social equity and reforms process.

On India''s relations with the US, he said, "A pro-American foreign policy was pursued under Vajpayee''s leadership. Now we will have to revert to our independent foreign policy which is for non-alignment, anti-imperialsm and peace."

He claimed that US was continuing to "pressurise" India for supporting its own policies in Iraq. "There is no question of sending Indian troops to Iraq. There is no question of sending officials to Iraq for helping in election work."

He said because it was claimed that US was a super power, it did not mean India would have to accept its position.

"We want the UPA government to be stable and perform," he said.

Asked how the CPI, which was providing crucial outside support to the UPA government along with CPI-M and two other Left parties, rated its performance, he said, "It is a mix."

"On foreign policies, India-China talks, Indo-Pak talks, detoxification of the education system, food for work and rural employment, the government''s initiatives should be appreciated."

"But the Finance minister has called upon foreign banks to come forward and take over domestic private banks. We do not agree to such a move," he said.

Warning that BJP''s strength "should not be underestimated", the CPI leader said the main opposition party would once again resort to "communal" propaganda to try to regain ground.

"BJP is nothing but the political arm of RSS whose ideology is communal. Congress should realise this and should see that CMP is implemented in the larger interest of the people," he said.

BJP, he said, was "desperate" and it was not surprising that it was trying to "whip up Hinduvta plank".

While in power, he said, it wanted to project that it was a party with a difference by claiming to highlight the development plank.

He said "if there was any difference it was BJP''s ''political dishonesty’. Different slogans like ''Bharatiyata'' (Indianness) and nationalism were raised to hoodwink the people."