Date:09/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/09/stories/2005110904341400.htm

National

Left to launch anti-WTO campaign

Special Correspondent

United political action and countrywide rallies planned

NEW DELHI: The Left parties, increasing their pressure on the Government ahead of the next month's World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Hong Kong, have decided to organise a campaign on the basis of a note they had submitted to the Government.

The parties said they would cooperate with other parties and organisations having a similar stand and try to organise united action in the form of a national and State-level conventions, campaigns among the people and country-wide rallies and demonstrations on December 13 when the WTO conference begins.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of four Left parties at Ajoy Bhavan here. CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and its national secretary D. Raja, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member S. Ramachandran Pillai, RSP Central Committee member Abani Roy and AIFB secretary, G. Devarajan were present.

"The Government should not compromise on sectors like health and education and not throw them open to the WTO," Mr. Devarajan said.

The Government should insist on restoration of Quantitative Restrictions on some agriculture/non-agriculture items in order to protect the farm sector.