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CPI(M) calls for nationwide protest against price rise

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: The Communist Party of India(Marxist) has called for a nation-wide demonstration in front of all Central government offices on May 15 to protest against the government’s failure to curb price rise, general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Wednesday.

Pointing out that the CPI(M) had suggested strengthening of the public distribution system and increasing foodgrains allocation to States, Mr. Karat said the government, on the contrary, was weakening the PDS, which was run properly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Nor did it heed a Parliamentary Standing Committee suggestion to stop futures trading in 25 agricultural essential commodities. It was banned only in four of them — wheat, rice, urad and tur dal.

Another suggestion to rein in prices was restructuring of taxation on oil products. Since a price-based taxation policy led to a further rise in retail prices, Mr. Karat said tax should be based on the quantity of oil products.

Mr. Karat said the CPI(M) did not want Governors who, like Viceroys, were representatives of the Centre alone. He said many parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had different views on the role of Governors.

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