CPI candidates for Tamilnadu Assembly elections

Left to launch campaign against Power tariff hike in Andhra pradesh

The nine Left parties have decided to launch Statewide campaign to educate people about the increase in power tariff announced by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Representatives of the nine Left parties, who held discussions on the implications of the power tariff increase decided to call on Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy suggesting him about the alternatives steps that could be taken rather than increasing the power tariff.

This would be followed by seminars in areas under the jurisdiction of the four distribution companies besides a pamphlet campaign to educate people on the impact of the increase in tariff.

CPI State secretary K. Narayana chaired the meeting which was attended by CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu and representatives of the CPI (ML) New Democracy, All India Forward Block, Revolutionary Socialist Party, SUCI, CPI (ML) and MCPI (U).

Briefing reporters, Mr. Raghavulu and Dr. Narayana said the Left parties have decided to launch a campaign against the increase in power tariff and moves to privatise power utilities.

The parties would launch the campaign from the grassroots levels to expose the ‘hidden agenda' in the revised tariff structure.

Scams have prevented growth: Sitharam Yechury

People should elect the AIADMK-led front resoundingly not only to wipe out corruption but also bring a desirable change at the Centre by sending corrupt partners DMK and the Congress home and gear up economic growth and development, said CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

He was campaigning for AIADMK candidate R Viswanathan in Natham and CPI (M) candidate K. Balabarathi in Dindigul here on Sunday.

“Despite massive human and natural resources, we could not achieve what we desire and bring a change owing to unprecedented corruption,” he said.

Briefing on the impact of 2G spectrum scam, Mr Yechuri said the Central Government did not have Rs.80,000 crore for providing 35 kg rice to all people below and above poverty line and Rs.35,000 crore a year to provide quality education to all children aged between 5 and 14 years. If the 2G spectrum loot was prevented, all children would have got quality education by now and more schools could be constructed. “We could eliminate hunger from the country.”

“We have sufficient funds. But scams and looters prevented our growth and development. So throwing the DMK out of power was one way to stop mega corruption to make our nation powerful and strong,” he insisted.

They (Congress) made money in sports, communication and arms purchases. But I have learnt that the DMK was perfect even in making money in sand and stone.

They amassed wealth by destroying natural resources, he said.

Stating that petrol prices were increased seven times and gas price four times, Mr Sitaram said that sharp price rice of essential commodities owing to speculative and futures trading pushed four crore people to below poverty line.

At present, nine per cent of total youth who got higher education in the country has made a big change in global man power. If we take higher education to 25 per cent of youth, India would become the leader.

But massive corruption prevented India from becoming leader in the world, he said. “The country has more potential and power to achieve. We can achieve only by defeating DMK in this election. Establishing a good government led by AIADMK is important to achieve what we can and what we are capable of. Such a change will be a catalyst,” he said.

Mr. Yechuri also thanked Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for giving colour televisions to people. With that, people could understand about 2G Spectrum.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

CPIM to contest in two seats in Puducherry Assembly election

T K Gangadharan

C H Balamohanan

The CPIM will contest two seats in the April 13 Assembly elections in the union territory while it withdrew its other candidates in support of NR Congress and AIADMK.

  State CPI(M) Secretary V Perumal said the party would contest from Mahe and Lawspet. Party candidate C H Balamohanan would contest from Lawspet, even though the NR Congress candidate is there in the fray. In Mahe Com. T K Gangadharan will be the party candidate.

CPIM protest agianst hike in water tariff and privatization of water management in Himachal Pradesh

 The Shimla town committee of the Communist Party of India Marxist  strongly condemned and held protest dharna in front of  Shima Muncipal Corporation office on April 2 against the recent  unilateral decision of the Shimla MC to increase the water charges and for outsourcing the pumping and distribution of water to private entrepreneurs. They have strongly objected to this in the house and along-with the people has decided to oppose this decision on the streets as well. The CPIM demands immediate roll back of the hike in water tariff. This is 2^nd successive hike by 30% and 10% in the year 2010 and 2011 respectively.

 

The party also demands that the decision of outsourcing of water pumping and distribution be recalled. They are also of this view that MC should not fall into the footsteps of the state government and reverse the neo liberal offensive on the people. It is to understand that state and the common people are reeling under heavy pressure of double digit inflation, price rise and there is a growing demand of constrain in the economy because of the neo liberal policies. Further mounting pressure in the form of hike in water tariff and clandestine privatization of pumping and distribution would eventually mean further hike in the prices of such an essential item.

The CPIM has asked the MC Shimla to learn lessons from those Municipal Corporations and state governments who have implemented the agenda earlier. There has been a total collapse of such moves and the MCs and governments were forced to revert back to the earlier method of public supply and distribution of water. Com. Tikendar Panwar, Com. Sanjay Chauhan, CPIM District Secretary Vijendra Mehara spoke on the occassion

LF govt first implemented reservation for Muslims: Mohammed Salim

CPI-M Leader Mohammed Salim said that the ruling Left Front government in West Bengal was the first to implement recommendation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission. 

We were the first to declare ten per cent reservation for Muslims in education and government jobs whereas Congress-led UPA government and its ally Trinamool Congress are silent on the implementation of the recommendations," senior CPI-M leader Md Selim told at a press conference. 

"There was seven per cent reservation for Muslims and we made it 17 per cent. On the basis of their economic and social backwardness, we divided them into two parts," he said. "Starting from land reforms upto education which led to the increase of purchasing power of Muslims we have worked hard for the overall development of Muslims," the CPI-M MP said. "When the other states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam shied away from establishing Aligarh Muslim University, it was West Bengal and Kerala who took the initiative of developing the university campuses," Selim said. 

(Source : Indian Express )

Winds of change sweeping Tamil Nadu: Brinda Karat

The Election Commission should ensure that the “Thirumangalam formula,” exposed through the WikiLeaks (and published in The Hindu), does not get replicated in the Assembly elections, according to Brinda Karat, MP and Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

“It is not just sufficient that the poll observers keep a close watch on the public meetings of the parties but they should go to the bastis (slums) to check the distribution of money and liquor after 10 p.m.,” she said while canvassing support for the party candidate K. Balakrishnan at a public rally held here on Saturday. Ms. Karat further said that even if the ruling party cadres flood the State with money and liquor, as ordained in the Thirumangalam formula, the people were determined to end the DMK regime in the next 10 days.

She said that a vote was not a licence to loot, and, with a mission to end the plundering of public money by the current dispensation nine parties had come together in the AIADMK-led front. She discerned winds of change sweeping Tamil Nadu as the people had come to realise that the elections provided an opportunity to dislodge the corrupt rulers and to convey a distinct message to the Centre to change its anti-people policies.

She alleged that the Congress and the DMK were indulging in doublespeak, striking a totally different posture on the election platform (promising to contain inflation) from their docile acceptance of the Cabinet decision (to enhance taxes and prices of petroleum products).

Ms. Karat said that like the peels of the onion, scams relating to 2G spectrum, Common Wealth Games, Adarsh housing project in Maharashtra and the real estate deals in Chennai were surfacing one after another.

U. Vasuki, Central Committee member, translated her speech. Arunmozhi Thevan, sitting AIADMK MLA, K. Balakrishnan and others participated. She also addressed an election rally at Keezhvelur in Nagapattinam district.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Brinda Karat attends poll rally in Dekiajuli - Assam

CPIM protest power tarrif increase in orissa

Even as the High Court on Thursday slapped a stay on the proposed power tariff increase in the State from April 1, the Cuttak city unit of the CPI (M) on the day staged a massive protest against the tariff increase proposal and burnt an effigy of State Power Minister, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak here in front of the CESU office.

Hundreds of CPI (M) activists came in a rally from party office at Pilgrim Road holding lanterns in their hands and staged the protest meeting at Ranihat criticising the decision of the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) and the State government's apathy towards the plight of the power consumers.

Addressing the protest meeting, the speakers criticised the double standard of the State government on the issue. “While on one hand the State Power Minister announced in the Assembly of filing a review petition in the Commission over the power tariff inrease, the same Minister was seen advocating for the cause of the Commission outside the Assembly”, said the city CPI (M) leader Jayadev Jena.

In Berhampur separate demonstrations were held in the city against the proposed power tariff increase in the State by the activists of the CPI (M), Berhampur Workers' and Employees' Coordination Committee (BWECC) and Ganjam Bar Association.

The CPI (M) activists also protested this proposed increase in different parts of south Orissa like Digapahandi, Sorada, Ganjam town in Ganjam district, Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district and Malkangiri town.

Activists of the CPI (M) led by State secretariat member Ali Kishore Patnaik, city unit secretary Basanta Nanda and State president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Yudhisthira Behera held protest demonstration in front of the corporate headquarter of power distribution company Southco in the city.

They alleged that this power tariff increase by the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Council (OERC) is aimed at continuing the undue favours to Reliance Energy Limited (REL), which is a major player in power distribution in the State.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

National Leaders capaign for CPIM candidates in Assam

CPIM politburo member Brinda Karat on Tuesday urged the people to vote for the 17 party candidates contesting polls in Assam and give them a chance to serve the people, asking them to vote for honest candidates.

"We are not here to form a government but to serve the people. Do not go by parties but look at the integrity of the candidates who can serve you," Karat said at a public rally organised to campaign for party candidate Robin Tamuly.

CPI(M) candidates can bring about a change in the constituencies and people should vote for their integrity and honest intentions, she said.

"Corruption has become synonymous with Congress and the people of Assam have got its taste in the multi-crore North Cachar Hills funds diversion scam and it is time that honest candidates are elected," she said. She also alleged that there was no development or progress during the BJP rule. "Therefore, we urge the people not to go by the prospects of the parties but look at the individuals who can help them," Karat added. 

 Sitharam Yechury flays anti people policies of Congress Governments