DMK sings Left tune on PF rate cut

The CPI has said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government should not take its allies for granted.

The party was reacting to the Dravida Munne-tra Kazahgham's (DMK) Left-leaning position on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) interest rate cut, sale of sick public sector units (PSUs) and foreign direct investment.

The DMK passed these resolutions at a special party meet in Salem over the weekend.

"It is good news that the DMK agrees with us," said D Raja, CPI national secretary. "The government has to consult all its allies, those supporting it from within and outside, before taking decisions," he said.

The Left parties are meeting today to discuss the agenda for the UPA-Left meeting on August 25.

Finance Minster P Chidambaram was likely to attend the meeting where primarily the foreign direct investment cap and the EPF rate cut would be discussed, sources said.

Manipur issue is unlikely to be brought up in a big way at the meeting, since it was discussed at length at the UPA coordination meeting on August 18.

While the DMK, has accepted "limited FDI" in employment generating areas where domestic capital is inadequate, the party has opposed foreign direct investment in the defence sector and in the print media.

The party also passed a resolution opposing the sale of loss-making public sector units, demanding their restructuring so that their "public character" was not lost.

The DMK's decision to take a public stance on these issues is likely to be seen as a message to the UPA that party's views must be factored into the functioning of the government.