Will oppose Bill on FDI in Rlys: Karat

Kuldeep Chauhan/Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 16

The CPM leaders today asserted that party would oppose the new Bill allowing cent percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Railways in the Rajya Sabha. “We will oppose the proposed Bill on the Railways that has opened flood gates for the FDI in country’s biggest service provider in the Rajya Sabha”, he asserted.

Addressing a rally at Sabji Mandi ground here prior to the state-level three-day CPM convention here today, CPM national general secretary Prakash Karat said, “The Modi government has brought Achhe Din for Adanis from Gujarat. His company’s fortune increased by Rs 25,000 crore in the past 11 months when the BJP declared Modi as prime ministerial candidate.”

“During its six-month rule, the BJP government has slashed MNREGA budget by Rs 3,000 crore for the rural poor. The government was out to scrap labour laws that ensure security for the labour and working class in the country,” he said.

“Finance Minister Arun Jaitley cut budget for MNREGA, a programme that ensures 100 days of work to the rural poor in the country, from Rs34,000 crore to Rs31,000 crore this year”, Karat charged.

Karat charged that the labour laws were being scrapped under pressure from corporates throwing to the winds social security of lakhs of workers in coal and other companies. Similarly, minimum support price was a casualty as Food Corporation of India (FCI) was being trifurcate on the plea that FCI would buy foodgrains from the market.

On the other hand, the big corporate have been given tax exemption to tune of Rs5 lakh crore, Karat claimed.

He said the insurance sector was being opened for the FDI. So was the case with the defence and pharmaceuticals. This was being done to please USA President Barack Obama, who would be chief guest at the January Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

Karat said the crude oil prices had decreased by 40 per cent in the international markets, but the Modi government had increased the duty on petrol and diesel.

Karat charged that the Modi government was running the RSS agenda and Nathuram Godse, who had assassinated Mahtma Gandhi, was being projected as a patriot. The non-Hindus were being considered second rated citizens.

CPM state secretary Rakesh Singha charged that the Congress government had jailed the striking students opposing fee hike and denied them council elections which had boomeranged on the government. It had strengthened the students’ movement.