New Delhi: Aiming to corner the government
on price rise issue, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat
on Wednesday met JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda to discuss a proposed cut motion on the Finance Bill to press for rollback of hike in
prices of petro products and fertiliser.
"We are talking to all (opposition) political parties to
decide on how to go about the cut motion and finalise the
strategy in Parliament," Karat told reporters after an over
30-minute meeting with Gowda.
"We oppose the increase in duties on petrol and diesel
and increase in price of fertiliser. We have already decided
to have a nationwide general strike on April 27," Karat said
referring to the call given by 13 parties, including the Left.
Karat and his other party colleagues have been in touch
with their counterparts in other opposition parties over the
past few weeks.
The Left parties, meanwhile, would meet tomorrow to chalk
out their floor strategy with other parties in Parliament.
While CPI(M)`s Parliamentary Board would meet in the
morning, a joint meeting of the leaders of Left parties would
be held later in the day, Left sources said.
Issues like rise in prices of essential commodities, their
demand for a roll back in hike in prices of petro products and
fertilisers, the nuclear liability bill, foreign education
providers bill and Maoist violence are expected to be raised
by Left parties in Parliament.
The budget session is likely to resume on a tumultuous
note over Shashi Tharoor issue, with Left parties, along with
BJP, demanding his removal.
The 13 opposition parties CPI, CPI(M), Forward Bloc, RSP,
AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S and INLD have given
a call for a nationwide general strike on April 27 and planned
to jointly bring a cut motion in Lok Sabha on the price rise
issue.
A senior Left leader said plans were afoot to bring the
cut motion when the Finance Bill or the Demands for Grants
of Ministries of Agriculture and Petroleum are taken up for
consideration.
PTI
