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Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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CPI to focus on price rise, PDS

Special Correspondent

Danger to government still remains, says Bardhan; CPI takes out procession in Delhi

— Photo: V. Sudershan

Rallying for common man: CPI activists led by A. B. Bardhan and D. Raja staging a protest in support of their demands at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: After voicing its stiff opposition to the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal, the Left on Tuesday took up the issue of price rise and collapse of the Public Distribution System (PDS) that have hit the common people hard over the recent months.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leaders, including its general secretary A.B. Bardhan, national secretary and MP D. Raja, national secretariat member Amarjeet Kaur, and party workers held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar and courted arrest. The protest was against rising prices, continued hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities.

“The nuclear deal might have been pushed back, but the danger to the government still remains. Now the issue is of price rise which is affecting the common people. We might have to reconsider our decision to support the United Progressive Alliance if adequate steps are not taken in this regard,” Mr. Bardhan said while addressing the protesters.

“Our support is based on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which says that the PDS will be streamlined and also that prices would be kept in check but the CMP is not being followed,” he said.

Criticising the move to opening agri-retail segment to the big corporate houses and multi-national retail chains such as Wal-Mart, Mr. Bardhan said that some farmers might benefit in the beginning but everything would turn out to be a sham.

Mr. Bardhan said the Prime Minister had claimed that it was not an “one-issue” government but key issues such as price rise, food security, plight of unorganised workers have always been there.

“Though belatedly, good sense prevailed upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and what exactly will happen to the nuclear deal will be known on October 22 when UPA negotiators will talk to the Left parties,” the CPI general secretary later told reporters.

“The government claims it is the government of the aam admi, but in practice it is not taking adequate steps to control price rise,” said CPI leader D. Raja.

Major demands

The CPI demanded that the prices of vegetables, cooking oil, grains and medicines be controlled; farmers be paid adequate support price for their crops and special support price for grains; forward trading in grains and vegetables be stopped; strict measures be taken against hoarding and black-marketing; the PDS be streamlined; there should be no foreign direct investment in retail trade; and import of wheat at high prices be stopped.

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