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CPI warns of ‘tough decisions’
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NewsByte on 11 May, 2008 04:50:44
 
By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, May 11: The Communist Party of India has said that the Left parties
will take a strong decision on continuing its support to the UPA government on
May 23 if the government fails to bring the rising prices under control.
The CPI, a key constituent of the Left Front, will submit a petition signed by
a crore people demanding the government take effective measures to check the
increasing prices of essential commodities to the Lok Sabha Speaker on Monday.
The two-day meeting of the national executive, which concluded on Sunday, took
stock of price rise, current political situation and the Indo-US civilian
nuclear deal. The party asked the government to extend the ban on futures
trading on 25 items. It accused the government of not taking strong measures to
control the rising inflation.
Briefing mediapersons about the deliberations of the meeting, party general
secretary A.B. Bardhan, S. Sudhakar Reddy and MP D. Raja said the four Left
parties will meet on May 23 to access the political scenario, particularly the
issue of price rise, adding that if the government continues to ignore the
suggestions of the Left parties to bring inflation under control, the Left might
take some tough decisions.
Refusing to elaborate on the "tough decisions", Mr Bardhan said the Left
parties have to convert the sentiments of their cadres about continued support
to the UPA government, which has "failed on all fronts", into account. He said
the Left parties will carry forward their agitation against price rise. "The
reports we have received about our ongoing agitation suggest that it has been
successful. During the campaign, over 100 meetings have been held across the
country and we have decided to continue this campaign to mount pressure on the
government," Mr Bardhan said. The CPI leader said the measures taken by the
government are not sufficient to check price rise and suggested that four
measures have to be taken together to make an impact. "The measures are ban on
forward trading, ensure government procurement does not allow private parties to
purchase foodgrains, withdrawal of amendment in the Essential Commodities Act
and revise duty of diesel, petrol and edible oil and universalisation of public
distribution system," Mr Bardhan said. He informed that the trade unions
affiliated to the Left parties will meet on May 13.