CPI(M) to protest against price rise in westbengal

The State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for a sustained month-long campaign across West Bengal in August to highlight its demand for the incorporation in the Centre’s proposed Food Security Bill provision for a universalised public distribution system that ensures a monthly allocation of at least 35 kg of foodgrains per family at the rate of Rs. 2 per kg.

Demands like remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, reducing the prices of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, and financial assistance for farmers who have committed suicide in the State are also being raised by the Left-backed peasant organisations during their on-going campaigns, the State Committee noted at its two-day meeting which concluded here on Sunday.

More than 60 farmers committed suicide because of agrarian distress ever since the Trinamool Congress-led government assumed power in the State in My 2011.

While the campaign on such matters would continue, more attention has to be paid on issues like the social security to those in the unorganised sector, the State Secretary of the CPI(M) Biman Bose pointed out at the meeting. The party would have to play a more active role in organising farmers as well as workers in other sectors, he said. The CPI(M) will organise law-violation programmes in the different districts on Monday and in Kolkata and Siliguri the next day to protest against the rise in prices of essential commodities and to highlight the need for protecting the democratic rights of the people, a statement issued by the party’s State Committee said.