Senior CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat said that the fall in GDP growth rate noted for the financial year 2016-17 was actually an underestimate.
Mr. Karat said a key reason for the fall was the adverse impact of demonetisation. “It will have an adverse impact on jobs and economic growth in the country. Its impact is going to be felt in the coming days,” said the Polit bureau member on the sidelines of the party’s two-day State committee meeting which started in Coimbatore on Thursday.
Terming the new cattle trade rules as “unconstitutional and anti-federal”, Mr. Karat said that the party has articulated its views on the issue.
“The restrictions imposed are anti-democratic. The Kerala Government has highlighted the party’s stand on the issue. As far as the party is concerned, all efforts will be taken to nullify the order,” said Mr. Karat.
Talking to press persons on the party’'s plans for the Presidential election, he said that opposition parties were waiting for the ruling party to announce its candidate.
Focus on T.N.
Mr. Karat said that deliberations in the State committee meeting would cover the current political situation in T.N. and issues that were of immediate importance to the people of the State.
The party’s State General Secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that the three-year rule by the BJP-led Central Government was a failure and decisions taken on various issues, especially on hydrocarbon project at Neduvasal and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, were against the welfare of the State.
