by Political Correspondent

Nationwide strike call on 11th The people's action against the disastrous economic policies of the BJP Govt Strike Demands Strike call demands, charter and action

The BJP Government at the Centre has been ruthlessly pursuing the policy of liberalisation unmindful of the sufferings of common people. The policy was introduced in the country by the Congress in 1991 but the party was thrown out of power in the 1996 Lok Sabha election. The United Front which had a short stint at the Centre was also no exception as it continued with the same policy of reforms failed to provide any worthwhile relief to the common man. The BJP-led Government at the Centre which assumed power only eight months ago put the country’s economy in doldrums giving as much concession as the private sector demands on the dictates of the World Bank and the IMF. Even then industries are languishing particularly the public sector ones where lakhs of workers have either been thrown out of employment or are counting days for being offered the notice of termination of jobs. The BJP-led Government has already announced decision to close down two dozen of public sector industries and is moving fast to either outright sell profit-making public sector industries or disinvest them offering the shares to the private industrialists.

The crushing defeat of the BJP in the November polls in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has not made the BJP leaders wiser either. They do not agree that the unprecedented price rise of essential commodities and onion and vegetables, the brunt of which was borne by the common man, has had any bearing on the outcome of the elections. Obviously, the party leaders cannot admit in public that the BJP has made a mess of the economy in the name of reforms. On the contrary, they are after rushing the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill and the amendment to the Patents Act in Parliament with intention of appeasing the foreign investors. The throwing open of the insurance sector will further complicate financial management which is defying BJP's 'swadeshi' solutions.

Not only the overall economy and the industry as a whole are in a shambles, the country’s foreign policy is taking a tilt to the west with the BJP Government, virtually agreeing to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty throwing to the winds its own stance. Successive Governments have made it clear that India would sign the CTBT or the NPT only after nuclear powers destroyed their nuclear arsenals. The acts of commissions and omissions are endless. Even after BJP’s rout in the hustings in three States and loss of almost all seats in the by-elections to the State Assemblies in several States, the party wants to continue in power at the Centre .The people’s verdict is loud and clear.

From 1991 onwards there has been a shortfall in foodgrains production and the overall agricultural production has been failing to keep pace with the growth of population. This is because subsuidy on fertilizer and other inputs have been withdrawn. Despite tall talks about foreign investment, the pace of such investments is slow in India compared to that in other developed countries. Even the largest chunk of 1500 crores of foreign investment made in India has been in the speculative markets, buying shares of existing companies and very little of it has been in the development of infrastructure which India needs most now. Despite claim by the BJP leaders that the Pokhran II nuclear blasts would not affect the inflow of foreign funds , the sanctions imposed on India have adversely affected the country’s foreign trade. Exports in the first three months of the current financial year have been 8% less compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. On the other hand, imports have registered a 3.75% rise putting a strain on the foreign exchange reserve. Import of even non -essential items have been allowed.

That the BJP will not deviate from the path of reforms is amply clear from the BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Bajpayee's assurance to foreign and Indian industrialists that the process of economic reforms would be carried on .

So for the people it is time to protest in whatever forms necessary, against the BJP-led Government’s ‘destructive’ policies. They have to participate in the countrywide strike called by the 56 mass organisations of left and secular parties on December 11. The demands are clear: withdrawal of the present economic and industrial policies, scrapping of reforms touted by the IMF and the World Bank, doing away with the privatisation of the public sector, checking price rise and inflation, amendment of the Essential Commodities Act giving it more teeth to take action against profiteers and blackmarketers, undertaking land reforms and strengthening the public distribution system and making foodgrains available to the poorer section of the society at reduced prices. The people will have to force the BJP to concede the 24-point charter of demands immediately.

Meanwhile preparations are going on apace with the CPI(M),other left Front parties and their mass organisations holding meetings ,demonstrations and conventions throughout West Bengal in support of the strike on both the days. Reports received from the districts say that workers, employees, men and women from all walks of life have evinced keen interest in recording their protest against non-performance of the BJP Government . In Delhi too, the CPI(M) politburo has stated that the BJP has lost political and moral legitimacy to govern after the crushing defeat it has sustained in the recent elections .