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Left parties expand agenda |
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Pressing home the political advantage gained from the UPA agreeing to shelve the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left parties are now expanding their agenda to have their way on more issues.
The CPI(M) has questioned Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement that the Doha WTO talks on agriculture should proceed with remov¬al of trade barriers. The party said that any compromise or about turn on the issue of concessions by the developed world would be disastrous for crores of Indian farmers. CPI(M) polit¬buro member Sitaram Yechury, in an editorial in the party organ, People’s Democracy, said that it was difficult to understand the sudden about turn in India’s stand on agriculture in the WTO negotiations. He said the Prime Minister’s recent statement pushed the onus of further reduction of tariffs back on the developing countries.
Another issue the Left has started raising in a strident manner is rising prices. The CPI central secretariat which met in New Delhi last week accused the UPA Government of failing to contain the price rise and address concerns of the aam aadmi (common man). The CPI secretariat alleged that the Government had made no effort to strengthen the public distribution system. Attacking the government for deciding to import wheat, the party said farmers are not being paid remunerative prices for their produce.
CPI activists, led by party general secretary A.B. Bardhan and national secretary D. Raja, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Oct. 16 to focus attention on the issue of price rise and what they called the collapse of the public distribution system.
The CPI has also charged the Government with succumbing to pressure from powerful vested interests and the “tiger lobby” in not notifying the tribal land act. The Government is reported to have pressed the pause button on the legislation after the Con¬gress leadership including the party president expressed reserva¬tions over it. CPI’s D. Raja said the Government was defying Parliament by not notifying an Act passed nearly a year ago. Raja said, “most remarkable is the opposition to this Act from some individuals on grounds of wildlife conservation. It is extraordinary how a government that has weakened all environmen¬tal and social regulations for private companies, suddenly dis¬covers environmental values when it comes to the rights of the poor.”
The CPI(M) has opposed the logistics support agreement with the US. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said, “we have come to know that the agreement is ready, and only needs to be signed. But we will oppose it vehemently.”
CPI(M), CPI congratulate Chinese Communists
The Left parties have congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is holding its 17th National Congress to choose a new leadership, for that country’s economic growth and said that stronger ties with India would bring peace and stabil¬ity to the region.
The CPI(M) and the CPI, in separate messages, commended the Chinese government for “impressive economic advances” and the “tremendous achievements in various fields.”
The CPI(M) central committee took note of economic advances following the 1978 historic central committee plenary session when China launched its reforms ushering in socialist modernisa¬tion of that country. “The tremendous economic strides made by China during these three decades, unaffected by the worldwide capitalist recession, are receiving worldwide attention,” the CPI(M) observed.
The CPI(M) said the CPC Congress was taking place in a very complex international situation when “imperialism, led by the US, is utilising the post September 11, 2001 situation in launching fresh offensives to establish its hegemony worldwide.
CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan has sent a greeting to the CPC stressing that China has achieved big results in the progress of socialist modernisation.
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