Date:14/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/14/stories/2006121401450400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`UPA Government not adhering to common minimum programme'

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Former Minister and MLA P.G.R. Sindhia, CPI (M) State secretary G.N. Nagaraj, CPI State secretariat member H.V. Anantha Subba Rao and working president of Sarvodaya Karnataka K.S. Puttannaiah told presspersons here on Tuesday that the all-India strike would have a considerable impact in the State too as the people were upset with the difficulties that they had to face.

Spiralling prices

The spiralling prices of essential commodities which had affected large sections of the people, particularly the middle class and those of the lower strata of society, was one of the chief reasons for the strike.

The leaders said that the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre was not strictly adhering to the common minimum programme (CMP). It was following "neo-liberal economic policies" which was against the interests of the working class.