Karnataka

CPI to demand White Paper on Railways’ employment potential

CHIKMAGALUR: S. Sudhakar Reddy, MP, and national secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), said here on Saturday that his party would demand that the Railway Ministry publish a White Paper on the employment potential during the last 10 years and State-wise details of those employed.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Reddy reiterated that the issue was relevant. He said there was growing feeling in various parts of the country that people from one State were getting priority in the Railways.

Calling for clarity and transparency in the recruitment process, he wanted to know why local people were not able to pass the examination. He said fair chance should be given to people of all regions.

The CPI leader said his party condemned the decision of the Union Government to increase the prices of petrol and diesel. Pointing out that the prices of all commodities would increase leading to inflation, he said the economy of the middle class would be adversely affected.

Stating that a reduction in customs duty would have been a better solution to the problem posed by rise in global petroleum prices, he said this would have caused a drop in revenue to the Centre but prevented a burden on the common man.

Mr. Reddy criticised those who had spread the disinformation that the Government had held consultations with the Left parties before announcing the hike.

He called upon the people to come out on the streets to protest against the price hike.

Expressing satisfaction that the United Progressive Alliance Government had decided to enforce the Forest Rights Act, he said this Act would ensure that tribal people and others living in the forests would get their justifiable rights.

Pointing out that the appointment of representatives of small coffee growers to the Coffee Board had been pending for the last four years, he demanded that a full fledged Coffee Board be constituted immediately.

Refusing to accept the reasons behind the merger of all subsidiary State Banks into the State Bank of India, he said regional banks were better equipped to cater to needs of the region. He said no bank from India, however big, could compete in the global market.

Mr. Reddy, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Labour, said the Centre had been urged to create social security for unorganised labour.

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