Centre failed to control prices of essential commodities: Brinda Karat

Expressing deep concern over the rise in prices of essential commodities, the CPI(M) on Monday demanded that the Centre should take effective steps to provide relief to the people from the crushing burden compounded by drought in various parts of the country.

“Relentless increase in prices of essential commodities has impacted the people, more so on account of severe drought, which, the Agriculture Minister says, is affecting 50 per cent of the districts. The Prime Minister’s speech notwithstanding, it is the signal failure of the Central government as there is no relief for the people,” the Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said.

Addressing a press conference here, the CPI(M) MP said while people wanted concrete steps, unfortunately the government was trying to shift the responsibility and blaming States.

Instead of providing drought relief, the Centre had slashed the over 70 per cent of allocation of Above Poverty Line foodgrains. On the sugar front, the Centre’s polices led to sharp hike in the prices with only sugar mills making profits while both sugarcane growers and people suffered. “It is a sugar scandal in the offing,” she said.

Ms. Karat said the government announced Rs. 81 a quintal for sugarcane instead of Rs. 125 recommended by the Agriculture Prices Commission, leading to a decline in production. It allowed exports by providing incentives and permitted duty-free import since January.

“Neither the consumers nor the farmers benefited from the government’s sugar policy while some big companies did,” she said. There were no estimates of the imported raw sugar stocks in the country being held by big firms, sweet-making or cola companies.

The CPI(M) leader said the proposed food security Act should universalise public distribution system, be delinked from Central government poverty estimates, provide 35 kg of foodgrains at Rs. 2 a kg per nuclear household, include provision of pulses, sugar, cooking oil and kerosene at subsidised rates, incorporate Central government’s food and nutrition schemes, and promote national self-sufficiency in production of foodgrains, pulses, sugarcane and oilseeds through public investment.

(The Hindu)

Republican Left Democratic Front launched; to contest in Maharashtra

he Republican Party of India (RPI - United) and the Left Democratic Front came together on Monday and announced their intention to contest all 288 Assembly seats in tandem in the forthcoming elections in Maharashtra.

RPI (United) leader Ramdas Athavale told the media that his party would now be part of a new front called the Republican Left Democratic Front (RLDF).Along with the RPI (United), the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP); the Communist Party of India (Marxist); (CPI-M); the Communist Party of India (CPI); the Samajwadi Party; the Janata Dal (Secular); Lok Bharati; the Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana led by Raju Shetty who was elected MP from Hatkanangale; Socialist Front; Lok Jan Shakti Party; Rashtriya Samaj Paksh; Samajwadi Jan Parishad; Socialist Front; Lok Bharati; and the Satyashodhak Communist Party are part of the new front.

The various factions of the RPI recently formed a united front in Maharashtra. It also took a decision not to ally with the Congress or the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The only major leader who is not part of this unity is Prakash Ambedkar of the Bharip Bahujan MahaSangh.

Mr. Athavale has been talking of an RPI unity since his defeat in the Shirdi Lok Sabha seat, which he believes was due to the Congress party's dirty politics. He also refused an offer of a Rajya Sabha seat from the Congress ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Mr. Athavale said the RLDF was secular and would represent all poor and backward sections.

In Maharashtra, the main focus would be on the development of the Scheduled Castes, Adivasis and farmers. He dispelled fears that he would be swayed by offers from the Congress or the NCP before the polls and said he would resist such moves.

In the past, Mr. Athavale has been an ally of the NCP and in the last Lok Sabha he was supported by the Congress. “I will not change my stand and stay loyal with the Third Front and will not ditch them,” he said.

The Congress and the NCP have headed a government that has led to price rise, load shedding, corruption, and other issues. The RLDF would address these issues and prepare a social and economic development programme for the State, he said. Seat-sharing among the RLDF allies will be decided at a later stage.

It will hold a rally on September 12 at the Shivaji Park to launch its election campaign. In the last Lok Sabha election, the third Front had contested 12 seats

(The Hindu)