Fourth Day of Left Parties Dharna on Food Security

Peasants, agricultural workers and common people from Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh participated in thousands on the fourth day of the Left parties dharna on 2nd August. Leaders of the four Left parties criticised the government for its biased policies that are favouring the rich.

The central leadership of the four Left parties exposed the true character of the UPA – II government, which masquerades under the slogan of aam aadmi. They pointed out the fact that while the government is unwilling to supply food grains to all the deserving people in our country in the name of 'excessive subsidies', it does not mind providing 'incentives' to the rich in our country. These incentives, they pointed out, are in fact nothing but subsidies to the rich, given under the garb of tax concessions. These tax concessions are nearly to the tune of 5,28,000 crores according to the official statistics mentioned in the union budget as revenue foregone. Left leaders brought to the notice of the people that if this amount was used to provide food security, strengthen the PDS, subsidise fertilizers, provide seeds, MSP for the produce of the peasants and such activities, it would have benefited crores of our peasants and agricultural labourers who are reeling under severe agrarian duress. That the government is not ready to implement such measures itself shows the vacuous nature of their slogan 'aam aadmi'. Today being Rakshabandhan, many women participants tied the Rakhi to the Red Flag stating that this is the best `brother’ today to protect them and their interests.

Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the CPI (M), Atul Kumar Anjaan National Secretary of CPI, Manohar Tirkey, Member of Parliament of RSP, Jasbir Singh of AIFB addressed the protesters along with the state leaders of the four Left parties. Tapan Sen, General Secretary of the CITU, too addressed the gathering. Cultural troops of IPTA, Jan Natya Manch performed plays, while the participants sang progressive songs.

Centre subsidies for corporates, not for poor: Brinda

CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat today alleged that the Centre was extending subsidy to the corporate sector, but denying it to the common man for proper food security. Comrade Brinda Karat was attending a massive dharna in Agartala organised by Left front to protest against price rise and to oppose the proposed food security bill.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh always says that subsidy should be reduced. His government cannot give subsidy for food security of people but can provide different kinds of subsidy to the corporate houses. All these are the results of new liberal economic policy," Karat told.  She said that the proposed Food Security Bill is inadequate for people, and that her party demanded division of BPL and APL category in the proposed Bill be abolishedbecause poor people in the country were not given BPL cards.

"65 per cent Dalits and 55 per cent tribals in the country are still deprived of BPL cards, so we demand abolition of the division of BPL and APL in Public Distribution System (PDS)," she said. Karat said the central government had stocked eight crore tonnes of food granules as buffer stock, but according to rules only three crore tonnes were enough. "We have demanded that the rest five crore tonne granules be distributed to people at subsidised rate."\

Alleging that India was exporting food granules to foreign countries for feeding animals, she demanded to stop export of food and distribute them to the poor through PDS. The central government should follow Tripura which made an example in the country by giving rice to poor people at Rs two per kg, she said.

Appeal for Donation in Fund Raising for Ganashakti

For last 14 months Ganashakti has been facing fierce attack of the ruling parties of West Bengal. From urban belt to rural belt the attacks were everywhere. The attacks were initiated all over the state just after the declaration of result of the Assembly election. To stop the selling and circulation of Ganashakti the ruling party started threatening and also initiated attack. Several boards of Ganashakti were dismantled by the anti-socials. Still the circulation and sell of Ganashakti continued under difficult situation. Readers’ increasing interest toward Ganashakti is also evident. Beside the physical attack the state Government in a completely illegal move has stopped issuing advertisement to Ganashakti. Even the institutions who are issuing advertisement to Ganashakti are facing direct or indirect threat from the ruling party. So Ganashakti has been facing huge financial loss for last one year. Moreover, the devaluation of the rupee in comparison to dollar has resulted into a steep increase in price of newsprint. Allied expenditures have also increased. Ganashakti has been playing its role even amidst these multidimensional attacks Ganashakti has been playing its role. Only Ganashakti has been regularly taking initiatives to protect the interests of poor people including the workers and peasants and also unveiling the attacks on democracy. Through its news, features, articles and special contributions Ganashakti has been instrumental to reveal the undemocratic face of the state Government.
Ganashakti has been resolutely continuing fight against the anti-people policies of the Central Government. It has been operating as the only alternative newspaper when almost all business newspaper groups are playing anti-left role and eulogizer of TMC and Congress. Daily newspapers and other organs of Communist Party always have tried to intimate the real picture of the society to the largest possible reach. Ganashakti has the rich inheritance of Janajudhha and Swadhinata. Common people have always extended assistance in publication and management of the organs of the Communist Party. The people of West Bengal protected Ganashakti during Emergency. In those dark days many people had to take life risk to render support for Ganashakti. The support of the readers helped Ganashakti to overcome stiff hurdles. We appeal to all the workers, sympathizers of Left force, common people and above all the readers of Ganashakti to stand by Ganashakti in this adverse situation. Fund raising to support Ganashakti will be organized in the entire month of August. I hope we will get your support in this appeal. We further believe, Ganashakti will play stronger role to bolster the right to freedom of expression of the democratic people of West Bengal in the future.

Biman Bose

Secretary,
Communist Party of India (Marxist),
West Bengal State Committe