The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Cash in on political vacuum: ex-MP

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Monday, Nov 19, 2007
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Cash in on political vacuum: ex-MP

Staff Reporter

Calls for forging like-minded forces to fight against ‘anti-people’ policies

Cadres should strive to make Left parties a major pressure group
State urged to increase daily wage under NREGP

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Taking stock: CPI (M) leader and former MP Sivaji Patnaik addressing the 11th district conference of the party in Berhampur on Sunday. —

BERHAMPUR: Left parties in the State are yet to cash in on the political vacuum that exists, opines veteran CPI(M) leader and former MP Sivaji Patnaik.

Addressing the party cadres at the inaugural session of the 11th Ganjam district conference of the party on Sunday, Mr. Patnaik advised them to keep alive the party’s ideals among the common masses as Left movement was being revived throughout the world.

Speaking about the political situation in the State, he said:

“Although people are disgusted with the anti-people policies of Naveen Patnaik-led government in the State, they think there is no other alternative to opt for. Voters have no faith in the Congress.

And the Left parties are not in a position to fill this void.”

According to him, though the CPI(M) was taking up major issues problems facing the people, efforts should be made to bring together all major like-minded forces fighting against the anti-people policies separately onto one platform.

He called upon the party cadres to make efforts to make Left parties a major political pressure group in the State, which could not be ignored by any ruling party.

Frustrating trend

“People are frustrated with the recent trend of capitalism in the name of industrialisation in the State and we need to reach them to become their voices,” he said.

The inaugural session was addressed by State Secretariat members – Ali Kishore Patnaik and Jagananth Mishra – district general secretary Kalu Panda and Kailash Sadangi.

After discussion on the lacunae in the implementation of the NREGP in Ganjam district, the party cadres decided to pass a resolution demanding that the government increase the daily wage under the programme to at least Rs. 100.

They also wanted strict legal action against officials and other persons who were involved in corrupt practices in the NREGP works taken up in rural areas.

They alleged that as per a survey, a landless labourer of Ganjam district received only 13 days of work on an average instead of the guaranteed 100 days.

They also wanted the government to increase its health and education allocation as it was quite less in comparison to other States.

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