The Hindu : National : Manmohan allays fears of CPI

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Saturday, Jul 16, 2005

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National

Manmohan allays fears of CPI

Special Correspondent

Assurance before visit to U.S.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday assured the Communist Party of India that the Government had no plans to offer opening up of retail trade to foreign direct investment, during his visit to Washington and would take into consideration concerns expressed by the Left parties.

In a meeting with CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and national secretary D. Raja, on the eve of his first official visit to the United States, the Prime Minister said the issue of civilian nuclear cooperation and joint research in agriculture and bio-diversity were on top of the agenda.

The two CPI leaders said the Prime Minister should not agree to open the market for U.S. seeds but look for technical-level cooperation. They also sought to know the Government approach on FDI in retail trade, which the party had strongly opposed. The Prime Minister told them the Government was not planning anything on it, Mr. Raja said.

They said the Government should pursue an independent foreign policy and not succumb to any pressure that Washington may seek to bring upon it. Dr. Singh told the leaders that he would keep in mind concerns expressed by the Left leaders to which Mr. Raja remarked that these were concerns of the Government too.

The CPI leaders also took the opportunity to seek clarifications on the recently-signed Indo-U.S. defence framework agreement.

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