Inflation: Act now, Left to tell PM
The Left has announced that it will meet the prime minister on Friday to demand immediate steps to rein in prices.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: There is a competition of sorts on for being the harshest critic of the Manmohan Singh government. On a day when the NDA organised a human chain around Parliament to highlight the plight of the aam aadmi in the face of runaway inflation, the Left announced that it will meet the prime minister on Friday to demand immediate steps to rein in prices.
At the meeting, the Left leaders will reiterate their demands to ban futures trading in all 25 essential commodities, strengthening of the Public Distribution System, changing the taxation structure of petroleum products and strengthening the essential commodities law. While experts in the government are divided over banning of futures trading, the government is just not ready to act on the other three demands of the Left.
The first phase of their week-long joint campaign along with the UNPA ended on April 23. The CPI is planning to rope in other Left and UNPA parties to participate in a gherao of foodgrain godowns. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat met his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan on Thursday night to discuss agitational programmes.
The Left���s campaign will only make things worse for the Congress at a time when it is facing a crucial election in Karnataka. The BJP will drive home the point that not just Opposition but the Congress��� own allies have taken to the streets against the economic policies of the government.
The Left���s campaign is indicative of a fear in its ranks that its association with the Centre could hurt its image and also its prospects in the coming elections. By taking a strident anti-Centre position, it hopes to overcome the negatives associated with its status as a supporter of the Union government. As a matter of fact, the Left-ruled states have already been put in the agitation mode.
At the meeting, the Left leaders will reiterate their demands to ban futures trading in all 25 essential commodities, strengthening of the Public Distribution System, changing the taxation structure of petroleum products and strengthening the essential commodities law. While experts in the government are divided over banning of futures trading, the government is just not ready to act on the other three demands of the Left.
The first phase of their week-long joint campaign along with the UNPA ended on April 23. The CPI is planning to rope in other Left and UNPA parties to participate in a gherao of foodgrain godowns. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat met his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan on Thursday night to discuss agitational programmes.
The Left���s campaign will only make things worse for the Congress at a time when it is facing a crucial election in Karnataka. The BJP will drive home the point that not just Opposition but the Congress��� own allies have taken to the streets against the economic policies of the government.
The Left���s campaign is indicative of a fear in its ranks that its association with the Centre could hurt its image and also its prospects in the coming elections. By taking a strident anti-Centre position, it hopes to overcome the negatives associated with its status as a supporter of the Union government. As a matter of fact, the Left-ruled states have already been put in the agitation mode.
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