CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu on Friday said that the scrapping of the Planning Commission by the NDA Government severely affected the development prospects of backward districts such as Anantapur and other drought-hit areas of the country.
Speaking at a meeting on ‘Reforms of the last 25 years and their effect on various groups’ here, Mr. Raghavulu said that the Planning Commission had an explicit goal of reaching out to the under-served regions of the country.
“The NITI Aayog lacks such an overarching vision,” he said.
Mr. Raghavulu said that the reforms, irrespective of whether it was the Congress, or the Congress-led UPA, or the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, only meant withdrawal of the State and its protection from as many avenues as possible and a corresponding takeover of resources and the profits thereon by the corporates.
“In the last two-and-a-half years, such reforms have only been expedited, putting the poor to a disadvantage,” he added.
Privatisation
“Both the State and Central governments are rushing to privatise as many departments and services as possible,” he said.
“By allowing the Finance Ministry to also present the budget of the Railways, the effort is to privatise railway stations and many such properties,” said Mr. Raghavulu.
“One needn’t be surprised if the police force too is privatised,” he added.
“Time has come for people of all walks of life to join hands and fight against the government and its policies in a concerted manner,” he said.
