The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “CPI (M) backing UPA despite its wrong policies”

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Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“CPI (M) backing UPA despite its wrong policies”

Seeks steps to control prices of essential commodities, PDS upgradation

— Photo: R. Ragu

breaking THE BArRICADE: CPI (M) members staging a protest against the Union Government’s policies, in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Thousands of Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers, including the party’s State secretary N.Varadarajan and party MLAs, were arrested on Tuesday when they attempted to stage a dharna in different parts of the State in support of the party’s demands.

The demands included steps to control the prices of essential commodities, upgradation of the public distribution system and implementation of promises made by United Progressive Alliance under the common minimum programme.

The dharna was staged in front of Central Government offices in 200 cities and towns in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Mr. Varadarajan led the demonstration in Madurai, while central executive members T.K.Rengarajan and U.Vasuki led the dharnas in Cuddalore and Tiruvottiyur.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Varadarajan said the CPI(M) had been supporting the UPA Government, despite its wrong economic policies, only to keep communal forces away from power. However, the party could not compromise on the country’s sovereignty by allowing the nuclear deal with the U.S.

“Our party is not opposing India’s foreign policies. But we cannot agree with the 123 agreement, through which the U.S. wants to make India its slave,” Mr. Varadarajan said.

Criticising the “intellectuals” of the country who favoured the agreement for India’s future power requirements, Mr. Varadarajan claimed that it would take care of only 7 per cent of the country’s power needs and hence could be given up to protect “India’s sovereignty.”

The UPA had promised to protect the public sector. But it had failed to do so by allowing foreign direct investment in insurance, bank and other areas. Besides, it had committed a wrong by allowing multinationals and domestic giants in retail sector.

Joint exercise opposed

Opposing the joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, in which several warships from the US, Australia, Japan and India would participate, Mr. Varadarajan said the party would organise a public meeting in Chennai on September 4. On September 5, party general secretary Prakash Karat would begin a protest campaign in Chennai that would culminate at Vishakapatinam.

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