The Hindu : Yechury sees early Lok Sabha polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 19, 2003

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Yechury sees early Lok Sabha polls

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY July 18. Accusing the U.S. of having `hijacked' the United Nations, the CPI(M) politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, said today that the country's prestige lay in its independent foreign policy and it was good that it did not "bow" to the U.S. pressure for sending its troops for peacekeeping in Iraq.

Mr. Yechury, who is attending a five-day State-level conference of the State unit of the CPI(M) which began at Hospet, told presspersons that India's decision not to send troops was a positive one and a victory for all political parties. ``The country should consider sending its troops only if peacekeeping in Iraq came under U.N. control," he said in reply to a question.

Mr. Yechury anticipated early Lok Sabha elections in the wake of the "severe economic crisis."

This could be before the next budget. Foodgrain production had fallen by about 14 per cent in just one year and the per capita availability was less than what was provided for during the World War. Also, the Government had not used "a paisa" from the disinvestment of public sector units for the welfare of the people as promised.

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