The Hindu : National : Soaring prices most serious issue, says A.B. Bardhan

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Soaring prices most serious issue, says A.B. Bardhan

Vinay Kumar

“Economic reforms have aggravated disparities among people”

CPI leader invites
CPI(M) to join agitation
against price rise
“Left should ensure that BJP is not allowed to come to power”

COIMBATORE: The soaring prices of essential commodities are the cause for distress among the poor and the middle class, Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan said on Saturday.

As a specially invited guest speaker during the inaugural session of the 19th Congress of the CPI(M) which began here, Mr. Bardhan said the Left parties had suggested several measures to curb price rise but to no avail. “We have, therefore, called for a wide-ranging militant struggle on this burning question beginning on April 17 and 18,” he said inviting the CPI(M) to join the agitation.

Dwelling upon the common opposition of both parties to the neo-liberal policies of the UPA government, Mr. Bardhan said the so-called economic reforms had sharply aggravated disparities among people.

Economic slowdown

Mr. Bardhan cited the sharp rise in inflation and prices of food items, the fall in the growth rate of the key core sectors and the meltdown in the financial sector as indicators of the economic slowdown.

“This shows that the earlier fast economic growth is not sustainable, especially after the recession in the U.S. It will deepen the crisis in our economy and result in massive job losses. What is needed is a new strategy of growth — a growth with equity and justice. It must mean growth in employment and satisfying the basic needs of the people.”

Agreeing with his CPI(M) counterpart, Prakash Karat, Mr. Bardhan termed the crisis in agriculture “chronic and deep.” Observing that the scheme of loan waiver could benefit only a small section of small and marginal farmers, he said it would fail to provide a permanent solution.

In this scenario of high inflation and agrarian crisis, the BJP was waiting in the wings to exploit the failings of the UPA government and make a bid for power, he said.

Attacking the BJP for being a right reactionary communal party, Mr. Bardhan said it had gone back to its old Hindutva agenda.

“It has seized upon the Sethu project and given it a communal colour. It is instigating communal disharmony and wants to repeat Gujarat in other States such as Karnataka. Communalism, contempt for democratic norms and violence are an integral part of its policies and practices. The most vicious instance is the attack that it mounted on offices of the CPI(M) at various places,” he said.

Mr. Bardhan said the Left had to take all steps to keep the communal forces at bay and ensure that the BJP was not allowed to come to power.

“The Left has to hold high the banner of anti-communalism and secular unity.”

Favouring all attempts to build a Left and democratic alternative to Congress and BJP rule, he said it could emerge only through common struggles on people’s issues. “There are other parties which are also looking for an alternative. We have to interact with them,” he said.

The CPI(M) and the CPI had to strive together with other Left parties for building a third alternative, Mr. Bardhan said.

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