CPI (M) has decided to intensify the struggle against Price rise issue for a change Government’s overall neo economic policy. As part of this ongoing struggle, party decided to stage mass picketing campaign raising this issue in front of the central Government Offices across the Country on coming 15th may where a minimum 10 lakh people will participated. Though due to Panchayet election in west Bengal and assembly election in Karnataka on that period, these two district will out of the purview of such nationwide agitation program against UPA incumbent’s failure to check the price rise. After completing its first meeting, after CPI (M) 19th congress, today at Kolkata, party general secretary Prakash karat has informed this before press persons. Karat has categorically stated that ‘this is not only issue of price hike, the overall economic policy of this government also should be considered. This Government is failed to take any steps to check this price hike. We will demonstrate all over the country on 15th march, after that based on situation will talk also other parties to chalk out our next course of action”.
After 19th congress, CPI (M) first polit Bureau meeting today held at Kolkata party PC office Mujaffar Ahmad bhaban. All polit Bureau member and veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu also present in this meeting. M K pandhe has presided over this meeting.
And here after completing this meeting, Prakash Karat addressing press conference, has stated that mainly divition of our PBM’s responsibility and works was the main propaganda of this meeting. Apart this PB has prepared the proposals for the formation of the sub committees and other organizational measures after the Party Congress and these proposals will be placed before the Next Meeting.
Regarding upcoming panchayet poll in west Bengal, Prakash karat has stated that ‘all of anti-Marxist force mow merged against us in the name of so called “Mahajot’. But we are confident that the people of west Bengal will again support CPI (M) and Left Front defeating these all combines. At the same Prakash karat has stated that our polit Bureau also observed the situation that nowadays again so called Maoist goons started killing of our important cadres abd activists. Even just yesterday again our one party cadre brutally killed in west Midnapore. In this year itself 13 CPI (M) comrades have been targeted and killed by these force. Earlier from march 2006, till 2007, 19 of our comrades were killed by these elements who are acting as the agents of the forces of reaction. That’s why PB also appeals to all the Left parties to unitedly rebuff the anti-Left Mahajati.
Other hand regarding price rise issue, PB has expressed deep dissatisfactions in the way Central government tackling the problem. Prakash karat has firmly stated that so far UPA is failed to take effective measures to check the price rise. Even Few days ago four left parties also met Prime Minister, but still Government is seemed to callous on the suffering of common people. Karat also has added that ‘but we considered that it is not any isolated issue, union Government’s neo liberal economic policy shared to roots. That’s why we told Congress that if you allow to go Manmohan Singh Government on this way, people will not tolerate. Replying one question , karat has stated before press persons that there is not question of any benefit of BJP through this issue. It was BJP led NDA regime where the amendments of Essential Commodities Act took place.
The Polit Bureau has decided to call for a mass picketing campaign on that issue on 15th may in front of Central Government Office all over the Country which a minimum of 10 lakh people will participate except in West Bengal and Karnataka where elections are being held.
The Picketing will be organised around the five demands:
# strengthens the public Distribution system by universalizing it; restore the cut in food grain allocations to the states under the PDS; include 15 essential commodities including pulses, edible oil and sugar in the PDS.
# Put curbs on procurement of food grains from farmers by private companies and traders.
# Ban futures trading in 25 agricultural commodities as proposed by the Parliamentary standing committee of food, consumer affairs and Public Distribution.
# Cut customs, excise duties on oil, and reduce retail prices of petrol and diesel.
# Take stringent action against hoarding of essential commodities; strengthen the provisions of the Essential commodities Act to empower state Government to deal with hoarding and black-marketing.
