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Karat: grant State Assembly for Andamans

Ramya Kannan

CPI(M) for strengthening federal system of administration
He promises to campaign for setting up of colleges
in the islands

PORT BLAIR: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday supported the local party leaders’ demand to grant State Legislative Assembly for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Speaking at a public meeting at Tiranga Park in Port Blair, Mr. Karat said his party was in favour of strengthening the federal system of administration, and devolution of powers to the panchayats.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands should have a Vidan Soudha, he said, and promised to lobby with other parties and State governments in the mainland for this demand. It was unfair that there was not a single engineering or medical college in the south eastern archipelago. It was a shame that while the government was starting institutes of higher learning and research in the mainland, the islands should be completely ignored. He also promised to campaign for setting up such colleges in the islands.

He came down heavily on the United Progressive Alliance government for not adopting pro-poor policies. The policies of the government had brought upon the country acute agricultural and food crises, leading to a lot of distress for farmers and the working class. The prices of essential commodities had skyrocketed, compelling people to spend more on food. The public health distribution system too was failing to serve the poor.

The Central government was promoting multinationals and large firms. It allowed them to procure the produce directly from the farmers. These firms were also putting small farmers and traders out of business, he said.

Mr. Karat also voiced the party’s opposition to the India-U.S. nuclear agreement. America would begin to dictate terms to India and the latter would soon become a “junior partner” he said, adding that the CPI (M) would never allow that to happen.

Mr.Karat was in Port Blair to inaugurate the party’s new office, “Shaheed Bhavan.”

The CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Biman Basu said Pondicherry, another Union Territory had a State Assembly. Why should the Andamans be denied its own Assembly, he asked.

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