Aiming to corner the government on the 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.
“We are talking to all (opposition) political parties to decide on how to go about the cut motion and finalise the strategy in Parliament,” Mr. Karat told reporters after a meeting with Mr. 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,” Mr. Karat said referring to the call given by 13 parties, including the Left.
Mr. 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 on Thursday to chalk out their floor strategy with other parties in Parliament.
While CPI(M)’s Parliamentary Board would meet on Thursday morning, a joint meeting of the leaders of the Left parties would be held in the afternoon, 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.
