MYSORE: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will stage a mammoth rally in Bangalore in September to protest against the State Government's “administrative failure on all fronts and its inability to distribute ration cards to the poor”.
This was decided at the State Secretariat meeting of the party, which concluded here on Friday. CPI(M) State Secretary V.J.K. Nair told presspersons that the party would mobilise lakhs of people to participate in the rally, which would underline the growing resentment of the economically weaker section of society towards the Government. He said the Bangalore rally is part of the ongoing agitation against the Government's anti-people policies.
Mr. Nair said even though the Centre was responsible for the increase in prices of essential commodities, the State Government had failed to bail out the common man by way of subsidies, but had no compunction in releasing funds to maths. The BJP Government in the State had increased the prices of milk, water, bus fares and it was reluctant to reduce its cess on petrol and diesel to minimise the impact of hike in petroleum prices, Mr. Nair added.
He pointed out that the State Government had failed to make good its promises of distributing 35 kg of rice at Rs. 2 per kg and free power supply to farmers.
Corporate subsidies
The CPI(M) said subsidy to the poor could be garnered by reducing the subsidy to industries and the corporate world. About 1,500 companies had received subsidies of about Rs. 5 lakh crore, he said, adding that if this was cut down, it could help subsidise food for the poor.
Mr. Nair said farmers received a pittance as compensation in lieu of land from the Government.
Tax relief
Lampooning the Rs. 400 crore tax relief announced by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday, he said this only favoured the rich and the higher-middle class as most of the relief was for the aviation industry, construction, etc.
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