Massive Dharna Against Price Rise, Corruption by Left , Non-NDA Non-UPA Parties

Nine secular democratic non-NDA and non-UPA opposition parties organised a protest rally-cum-dharna against rising food prices and corruption at Parliament Street in the Capital on February 9, 2011. The nine parties came together on a common platform to wage a united fight against corruption and rising inflation.Thousands of workers belonging to CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, AIADMK, TDP, JD(S), RLD and BJD staged a sit-in near the Parliament Street Police station shouting anti-government slogans and demanding urgent steps to curb rising prices and to end rampant corruption at high levels. The protesters displayed placards, held banners and buntings lampooning the UPA government for not controlling and checking the twin issues of corruption and price rise. Prominent leaders who addressed the huge gathering were CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, All India Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas, RSP general secretary Abani Roy, AIADMK member of Parliament Thambithurai, TDP president Nara Chandrababu Naidu, former Prime Minister and JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda, Ajit Singh and Jayant Choudhary both president and secretary respectively of RLD. Several other leaders, who participated include CPI Rajya Sabha member D Raja, CPI national council secretary Amerjeet Kaur, CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechuri and Brinda Karat. Speakers after speakers reiterated their demand for the JPC probe into the 2G Spectrum scam. They also demanded a proper investigation into various other scams.
The ‘wrong policies’ of the UPA were responsible for the rise in food prices, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said while accusing the government of weakening the PDS. Karat said prices of food items had soared considerably. “Prices of all food items have skyrocketed. The wrong policies of the government are responsible for this,” and added further, “the price of petrol had gone up seven times since June last year.” No steps have been taken by the government to arrest the price rise or to stop corruption by their own people. Unorganised workers lack food security and the proposed bill for food security has been thrown to dustbins. “No steps are being taken to stop speculative trading. In whose interest is the UPA government functioning?” he asked. He said the PDS should have been strengthened and rice, wheat, sugar and other items should be made available at reasonable price. “The government has weakened PDS,” he alleged.

GJM Violence In Darjeeling

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, spearheading the movement for separate Gorkhaland has again resorted to large scale violence in the hills and Doors, in Japauguri. On 8^th February, there was trouble in Shibchu in Japaiguri-Darjeeling border. Morcha established the camps of GLP, so-called Gorkhaland Police, in some schools and government premises. Morcha activists tried to break prohibitory orders and enter Japaiguri. They also blocked roads by felling trees. When police intervened, Morcha activists attacked police, first with stones and then with sharp weapons. One woman constable was seriously injured and many policemen sustained injuries. To control the situation, police first resorted to tear gas and then fired some rounds. One person died in the clash. A woman was also killed in the melee. There after Morcha activists indulged in large scale violence in the hills. They have torched cars, police vans, Darjeeling Tourist Lodge, telephone exchange, forest offices. However, their effort to create ethnic violence have been prevented by the administration. 

Left Front Chairman Biman Basu has condemned the violence, let loose by Morcha. In a statement, Basu alleged that Morcha has assured the Union Home Minister that they would withdraw bandh and chaos-creating movement in the hills. But, they have again resorted to same anarchy. Morcha has issued warning for students to prevent them from attending schools. More alarming is their attempt to enter Japaiguri and Siliguri and instigate ethnic clash. Basu alleged that Congress, Trinamool Congress and BJP are trying to make situation worse. Left Front has demanded that the Centre had to take responsibility to prevent Morcha from resorting to violence as the tripartite discussion was on. Union Home Minster should intervene.

Left Front has appealed to the people of West Bengal to maintain peace, harmony and integrity of the state and thwart any attempt of anarchy.

13th Finance Commission's wrong decisions created financial crisis in Himachal Pradesh

Press Statement

The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the CPI (M) has asked the chief minister of the state to hold an all party meeting on the fiscal situation in the state particularly after the fallout of the 13th Finance Commission (13thFC) recommendations. It is pertinent here to mention that the state government has asked for a loan of Rs 180 crores from the centre to meet up is expenditure, already the total loan has surpassed Rs 23000 crores. The CPI (M) has the stated; the 13th Finance Commission has been most blunt towards Himachal Pradesh. Where as the other states have got 126% more fiscal grant from the 13th FC in relation to 12th FC, the state of Himachal has got just 50% more. The reasons being (a) incorrect  ‘normative approach’  of the 13th FC has thrown the state into a limbo and  (b) severe conditions  imposed by the 13th FC will hunt the state and the people for long.  

(a)As far as the incorrect estimation of the 13th FC is concerned, its report itself speaks about the “normative approach” methodology. In Chapter 7 of the 13th FC under (A)  Assessment of  ‘revenue and Expenditure’ it states, quote, “Assessing  the finances of states  is a challenging  task… Keeping in mind this diversity, we have followed a ‘normative approach’…..” Unquote. this normative approach has robbed the state with over Rs 2307.70 crores. The 13th FC in comparison to the 12th FC has approved  a grant of Rs 7,888 crores which was Rs 10, 202 crores during the 12th FC. The 13th FC has dismally lowly estimated the non plan  expenditure i.e. salary, pensions, interests liabilities etc because of which our central revenue loss deficit grant has been curtailed. This has happened because of the wrong estimations of the 13th FC. The loss for 2010-11 has been Rs 2307.79 crores. 

(b) As far as the severe conditionalities are concerned , the CPIM has stated, is due to the neo liberal outlook of the government and the 13th FC. According to the 13th FC report page 98 it categorically states, quote “ FC-XIII had recommended that states, should follow a recruitment policy such that salary expenditure does not exceed 35% of revenue expenditure net of the interest payments and pensions…. ”Unquote. This will have a cascading and sequential effect in the state. Already the revenue expenditure on this component i.e. salary, pensions interest etc is 56% in 2010-11. This condition is far from reality in the hilly state where this sector has developed in large proportions.

Further, the CPIM has stated, the condition to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3.5% in 2010-11 and 3% subsequently for 2011-15 will severely cut the plan expenditure of the state thereby harshly affecting developmental schemes howsoever little they may be.

Finally even the ration quota for the state has been drastically cut despite the fact that the state is a food grain deficit state and has to import both rice and wheat in large quantities to meet up its demand. 

The CPIM has stated, this is a real crisis in the offing in which the state would be badly engulfed. Through the all party meeting a vociferous voice needs to be generated to ensure that the state gets its due of a special category status and should not be penalized just because it has only 4 MPs in Lok Sabha and is a peaceful state.

Tikender Singh Panwar/Member State Secretariat, CPIM