Hundreds of Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadre staged protests across the district on Friday against the economic policies of the Central Government.
In a statement issued here, party district secretary V. Ramamurthy said that the Centre’s economic policies have led to high inflation, which was placing a huge burden on the economically weaker sections of the society.
The policies of economic liberalisation and globalisation followed by the government had led to a sharp spike in the prices of essential commodities and have also contributed to higher unemployment, both of which had hurt the common man.
The party also condemned the Government for the succession of scams in various fields ranging from 3G allocation, coal, and procurement of helicopters for VVIPs besides appointment of railway jobs.
Further, the cadre said that instead of spending Rs. 15,950 crore annually to safeguard the 665 lakh tonnes of rice stored in godowns across the country, the Government could adopt universal public distribution system rather than restricting the beneficiaries by dividing them to above and below poverty line categories.
The CPI (M) also demanded changes in the Food Safety Act, which was currently under the consideration of the Central Government and the introduction of stringent legal provisions to protect women from harassment.
Around 1,100 cadre protesting in various parts of the district were picked up by the police and released later in the day.