The Hindu : National : CPI to agitate even if fuel prices are hiked marginally

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CPI to agitate even if fuel prices are hiked marginally

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Reiterating its opposition to even a marginal hike in fuel prices, the Communist Party of India has said the party would take to the streets and launch a country-wide agitation the moment the Centre effects hike in petro prices.

“Even if the hike is marginal, it will be the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back. It will have an impact on the other areas including the prices of essential commodities burdening the common man,” CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said.

Mr. Bardhan who was here in connection with the party’s all India symposium on “Socialism in the 21st century” said the “hypocrisy” of the Centre reflected in the fact that it never spoke about rising prices of essential commodities while making claims on checking inflation. Inflation calculated on the basis of wholesale prices would not reflect spiralling rise in the prices of essential commodities that had increased the household budget by 25 per cent.

The exponents of neo-liberal policies including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had been arguing in favour of “pampering” the corporate houses to maintain the fast growth witnessed. But, “unbridled and unrestrained” capitalism was pauperising the masses and giving rise to poverty and employment.

The Government was, however, keen on promoting foreign direct investment in the retail trade that would be “disastrous” as over 15 crore people were dependent either directly or indirectly in retail business in the country. The Left parties were, therefore, working on an alternative to the Congress and the BJP that did not differ much in the economic and foreign policies.

The CPI “sympathised” with the leaders of the third front, but there was still no clarity about the programmes and policies of these parties.

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