Congress owes apology to nation over Bhopal issue: Brinda Karat

Raising the heat on the Congress over the Bhopal gas issue, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Monday demanded that the party tender an apology to the country for allegedly providing safe passage to Warren Anderson in the aftermath of the disaster.

“The Congress should tender an apology to the nation for giving safe passage to Warren Anderson,” Ms. Karat, a Rajya Sabha MP, said at a public rally here.

At a function in Bangalore, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday said it was improper to let Anderson leave the country, but refused to blame any Congress leader at this stage.

Ms. Karat also demanded a comprehensive and independent inquiry in the matter saying the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up by the UPA government would not be able to probe the failure on the part of the government, judiciary and other agencies following the gas disaster in 1984.

“The UPA government has devised a tool in the form of GoM to put sensitive issues on the back burner,” Ms. Karat said.

Ms. Karat also accused the NDA regime of serving the interests of landlords by refusing to implement recommendations of the D. Bandyopadhyay Commission on land reforms in Bihar.

Addressing a rally taken out by the All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agricultural Workers Union, the CPI(M) politburo member alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had announced that Bandyopadhyay Commission recommendations would not be implemented as he was under pressure from big landlords.

After becoming chief minister in 2005, Kumar had set up the Land Reforms Commission under D. Bandyopadhyay, credited as a key architect of land reforms in West Bengal. The commission submitted its report to the government in 2008.

Ms. Karat asked her party members to launch a movement demanding implementation of the commission’s recommendations.

Fight UPA's policies : CITU 12th Andhra Pradesh State Conference Begins

Castigating the anti-labour policies of the UPA government, divestment in public sector units and corruption, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan called for struggles against the wrong economic decisions of the State and Central governments in collaboration with different sectors of people.

Addressing a public meeting here on Sunday organised to mark the three-day 12th AP State conference of CITU, he assailed corruption stating that around Rs.20,000 crore was involved in the 2G spectrum deal that was concluded by Union Minister A. Raja and this was only the tip of the iceberg. The Kerala Chief Minister who delivered his speech in Malayalam, which was translated into Telugu by a CPI(M) leader, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not do anything as the UPA government was at the mercy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

LDF implementing pro-poor programmes

Comparing the performance of the Congress and the BJP governments in various States with that of the LDF Government in Kerala, its Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan gave a detailed account of the welfare measures being implemented there highlighting the difference in policies.He said 1,500 farmers who committed suicide had been given Rs.50,000 as ex gratia, loans taken from co-operatives were waived and interest-free advanced provided.

An impressive rally was taken out from the Railway Grounds to the old Jail Road, the venue of the public meeting. The paddy support price was increased from Rs.7 a kg to Rs.12. While other government were closing down PSUs, in Kerala PSUs were run and brought into the green.

In the power deficient State, MPs, MLAs and sarpanches parted with a part of their allowance and with contribution from the electricity board energised the entire Palakkad district, Mr.Achuthanandan said. By the time the government completed its term, the entire State would get electricity.

Also land was distributed among 4.3 lakh persons during the last four years under a scheme named after stalwart EMS Namboodiripad. Land at the Munnar tourist centre was recovered from corporates.

House-sites were given and two lakh houses constructed for the poor and another three lakh would be constructed. As many as 38 lakh families were being provided rice at Rs.2 a kg. Also treatment up to a cost of Rs.75,000 was being provided free in hospitals.

Motive force

Stating that the experiences of Telangana struggle were a motive force in organising the peasants and workers in Kerala, Mr. Achuthanandan said at the same time he had participated in the legendary Punnapra-Vayalar resistance in Kerala.

CITU all-India President A.K. Padmanabhan said when CITU began fighting the liberalisation policies two decades ago few were with it. After 12 national strikes, others joined it and since September last nine central trade unions came together to fight on major issues like price rise, unemployment, protection of trade union rights and social security of unorganised sector.

CITU State president S.Veeraiah said irrespective of who the Chief Minister was the pro-rich and anti-people and anti-labour policies of the Congress were continuing in the State.

Vice-President S.Punyavathi said the CITU had gained strength over the last few decades with significant presence in all sectors. CITU all-India general secretary Tapan Sen, secretary K. Hemalatha, MLC M.V.S. Sarma, Reception Committee Chairman Ch.Narsinga Rao, CITU vice-presidents P. Roja and A. Ajay Sarma, general secretary R.Sudhabhaskar and former MLA Paturu Ramaiah participated.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)