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CPI promises pro-people policies

SHIMLA: While taking the lead from other mainstream parties, the Communist Party of India after recommending the formation of a broader left unity in the hill State released its party manifesto here on Tuesday.

Rajya Sabha MP Aziz Pasha, while criticising both the BJP and the Congress, alleged that both the parties were neck deep in corruption and working with a sole agenda of grabbing power.

They had taken the State into an irretrievable financial mess. The State despite having tremendous resources was still called a backward state having almost a negligible infrastructure, he said.

Assistant Secretary of State CPI Rajiv Rai said the party was seeking votes on the issues of establishing agro-based small sector industries, building infrastructure, proper exploitation of tourism, giving 80 per cent jobs to locals, increasing subsidies to farmers and giving riparian rights to the people.

The party has also promised allotment of a minimum five bighas of land to all families, providing forest rights, increasing the daily wages to Rs 150 with an assured employment of 240 days, constructing a viable transfer policy for the State employees and saving them from political exploitation, implementing Gita Mukherjee recommendations and strictly executing labour laws in the State.

The Left party has also promised to strengthen the rural economy by checking the migration and supporting the Panchayati Raj system and reinforcing its autonomy. The party has appealed in the manifesto to establish a left and secular unity of all progressive

forces in the State.

Meanwhile, the State BJP spokesman Ashok Kapatia has reiterated that all anti-State conditions signed in various projects by the Virbhadra Government would be reviewed if the BJP is voted to power.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he alleged that the Centre had stopped aid to the State because of the self-centered attitude of Chief Minister. Despite the declaration of a financial package of Rs 4200 crore by the Prime Minister, Mr. Singh could only allot a pathetic sum of Rs 26 crore as aid and Rs 48 crore for starting various schemes in the State.

He said the Rs 800-crore World Bank aid which the Chief Minister announced was infact a soft loan taken for paying the earlier interests instead of initiating any new developmental projects.

He said that the debt on the State had increased four-fold during the Congress regime

Meanwhile, the State Congress on Tuesday formally expelled Bambhar Thakur from Bilaspur Sadar, Dharampal Thakur (Arki), Prem Kaushal (Mewa), Sanjay Rattan (Jawalaji), Jagdish Sipaiya (Thural), Dhanvir Thakur (Chopal)and Arvinder Kaur (Naduanta) for contesting elections against the official party candidates.

Kuldeep Singh Rathore, party state general secretary, said Natha Singh who is contesting as a rebel from Dharampur constituency in Mandi district had also been suspended but since he was an AICC member the Central leadership take a final decision.

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CPI promises pro-people policies

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