Karat calls for enhanced unity among Left factions, denies merger reports

Coimbatore, June 18 (ANI): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) General Secretary Prakash Karat has said that his party would work for closer co-ordination with Communist Party of India to strengthen the unity of the Left parties in the prevailing political circumstances.

"Reports are there in the media about some proposed merger between the CPI-M and the CPI. Our central committee recently met in Hyderabad. We have not discussed this in our party. Our stand is that this is the time for strengthening the Left unity. The Left parties must work unitedly," Karat told reporters.

"We must be politically united. Also we must take up all the political issues with a common political understanding and conduct joint struggles on the people's issues and demands," he added.

Claiming that the government was not serious about the Lokpal Bill, he said that the government should take the consent of all political parties and place it in Parliament for passage.

"It seems the UPA government is not serious about tackling corruption. How this Lokpal (Ombudsman) Bill issue is being discussed and the government does not show any seriousness about bringing this measure. We have demanded that the government prepare a draft of the Lokpal Bill and consult political parties if required and bring it in the forthcoming session of Parliament," added Karat.

Karat said that the CPI-M had already made it clear that the draft of the bill, should bring the Prime Minister under its purview

"As far as the issue of the Prime minister is concerned we have always held that the Lokpal bill should bring the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal," added Karat.

He also said CPI-M wanted the government to create a separate National Judicial Commission, without bringing judiciary under the Lokpal, which could have the authority to appoint Judges and take up the cases against the Judges.

Karat urged the government to take measures to provide relief to the people from price rise.

"So, far the government has not taken any steps to curb inflation or cost of food items. In this context again we are telling the government not to increase the prices of petroleum products further. They are still thinking of increasing the price of diesel, cooking gas, etc. this can not be done and measures must be taken immediately to provide relief to the people from price rise," he said (ANI)