CPIM demands government intervention in Himachal truck operators strike

The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the Communist Party of India Marxist has strongly deplored the BJP government for its absolute smugness in the ongoing strike of truck operators in Darlaghat in Solan district. Since October 5, 2010’ all the truck operators are on strike demanding an increase in the freight charges. There have been no serious initiatives on the part of the BJP government to intervene and ensure an amicable settlement. The CPIM has stated, the Ambuja cements which now is being owned by Holcim Cements is continuing with its production from the other units in different parts of the county. Deliberately the company is buying time to break the patience of the operators especially the small ones so that it can dictate its own terms for the agreement.

The CPIM has stated, the freight formula needs to be rationalized so that the people who have lost their land for cement production can continue with their subsistence. The company intends to get rid off with the truck operators and bring big operators with large trawlers which only a few can afford. It is indeed shocking that another cement plant being owned by JP in the same district provides Rs 653 per tonne freight whereas in JP it is just Rs 478.00. The CPIM has learnt that in this period of last one month more than 3000 trucks have come to a halt. More than Rs 1 crore has been lost in this period to which both the government and the Ambuja cements owes an explanation.

The CPIM has asked for an immediate intervention from the government so that the demands of the truck operators could be met with.

Tikender Singh Panwar
Member State secretariat

Obama's visit to India only a business tour : Sitharam Yechury

CPI (M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri has termed U.S. President Barack Obama's forthcoming visit to India as a business tour, favorable only for the American economy.

Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatanam on Tuesday, Yechuri said: "Obama is coming to India with a business agenda. It has been outlined in a reported letter to the Prime Minister."

"President Obama is looking towards India to be a big source of investment in the United States so that they are able to get out of their economic crisis. But more importantly he has also mentioned that India must open up its domestic market for U.S.A. agricultural products. Now if that happens, that will mean the ruin of Indian agriculture," he added.

He also cautioned the Indian government about the proposed move to allow agricultural produce from U.S. to be sold in India.

Commenting on terrorism, he said that the matter relating to David Headly, a U.S. national linked with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case, was not handled properly by U.S. and important information was hidden from India.

"After David Headley's experience was not very good, India is also now suggesting that we should jointly fight terrorism. Yes, terrorism has to be fought globally, there is no doubt about it and there is no compromise on that. But we must be clear from where the threats to terrorism emerge and therefore on that basis India should decide," said Yechuri.

He asserted that since terrorism has emerged as one of the biggest threats in today's world, it is the need of the hour to fight it collectively.

He also accused the U.S. of being biased and selfish when it comes to sharing its scientific inventions and developed technologies with the developing nations.

"It (U.S.A.) will only share when it has some interest of its own to pursue otherwise it has never parted with technology," added Yechuri.

Demanding universalisation of PDS, Yechury said the UPA government at the Centre should have no hesitation in giving Rs90,000 crore for it when it relaxed indirect tax of Rs9.33 lakh crore for "capitalists" during the past two years.

He further said that CPI(M) would organise nation-wide agitation demanding universalisation of PDS.