Andhra Pradesh - Khammam   

Bardhan slams ‘mining mafia’

KHAMMAM: It is now well known that the “Bellary mining mafia”, deeply entrenched in politics, has been trying to dominate the politics in Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh, observed A. B Bardhan, general secretary of the CPI, here on Sunday.

Addressing a news conference, he pointed out that the Reddy brothers, who had become a menace for the BJP government in Karnataka, were in league with the Congress leadership in Andhra Pradesh. If the BJP government in Karnataka was destabilised, it would be mainly because of the Reddy brothers, the CPI leader said.

He said that democracy should be saved from the influence of the ‘mining mafia’ by containing the spread of the cancer of corruption. The mafia, which had been eating into the vitals of the various State-owned mines, would go all out if the mining rights were granted to them, thus adding to their money power in politics. The Bill on mining regulation, pending in Parliament, was intended to give away blocks of precious raw material deposits such as iron ore, coal, barytes and uranium for private mining.

This would have a far-reaching effect on both the economic and political scenario. The CPI would oppose the bill by all means in Parliament, he said.

He flayed the move for disinvestment by giving away government shares in equity to the “public”. Who are the public, he questioned. The CPI would oppose this bill which sought to make ten per cent sale of shares mandatory in all the profitable units. The public sector companies, including the Navratna companies, would be greatly affected. The disinvestment process would culminate in a grave situation for industry in the public sector.

Responding to the offensive launched by the government against the Maoists in some States, he opposed calling it a ‘hunt’ as the Maoists were also a section of the country’s population. The Maoist problem cannot be viewed entirely as a law and order one. It had a socio-economic dimension as well. Certain pockets in the country were still as backward as they were some 60 years ago. Are the Maoists responsible for this, he questioned.

Mr. Bardhan made it clear that he was not holding a brief for the Maoists. “We do not agree with their tactics of killings. Their violence had been giving a bad name to the Communist movement. On the need for a third front, he said that the CPI wanted the country to be free from the bi-polar system.

“We will continue to fight for food, land and jobs which were all necessary for the common man.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CPI State council meet begins
Photo exhibition on flood relief
Bardhan slams ‘mining mafia’

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu