Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan on Sunday said the Left parties would move an adjournment motion in the winter session of Parliament on the price rise issue because “despite all the confident statements made by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, the economic situation is really serious and the consequences of double digit food inflation are before us.”
Speaking to journalists after the two-day meeting of the party's National Executive Committee, he said: “There is a move to bring an adjournment motion in Parliament on the price rise issue. The Left itself will bring the motion. There is no relief to the common man and no steps from the government despite Parliament passing a unanimous resolution.
“The situation is really serious. Recession is catching up with us. The manufacturing sector has shown a growth rate of just one per cent. Perhaps this is the lowest in a few decades. Gone are the days when our Finance Minister talked about 8.5 per cent and 9 per cent growth, now the utmost they expect is seven per cent.” Mr. Bardhan said besides price rise, the party's priorities during the winter session would be to get the Lokpal and a modified Food Security Bill passed.
He warned of an agitation if a “strong” Lokpal Bill was not passed and mid-way through the session, the CPI would observe Food Security Day on December 15. Activists will hold rallies and demonstrations throughout the country calling for a universal PDS and ban on cash transfers.
Opposing the frequent hike in petrol prices, Mr. Bardhan said the government must reverse deregulation and decontrol of fuel prices in the interests of the common man.
Accusing the government of “drifting,” he cited the Telangana issue as a prime example and said “one doesn't know at what stage are the consultations which the government keeps on pleading are taking time. Telangana is a serious problem. The entire state of Andhra Pradesh was paralysed for over a month.”
Another example he gave was the blockading of Manipur for over 100 days with the government doing “nothing” to clear the National Highway lifelines to the State. “Are we in a war-like situation where essentials are not reaching the people and the government is sitting quietly? What are these talks with the Nagas that have gone on for 20 years and are shrouded in mystery,” he asked.
The CPI, Mr. Bardhan said, opposed any move to set up a Naga “supra-state'' which was unconstitutional, a dangerous idea and a source of great concern to Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
He also demanded the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from “quieter” areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
