Left parties protest price hike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2011:
As a part of nationwide campaign of the Left parties on various issues a joint meeting attended by leaders and workers of CPI, CPI (M), forward Bloc and RSP was held at Keisham Leikai community hall, Keishampat Junction today.
The meeting related to All India Campaign of Left parties to save democracy, against price hike of petroleum products and essential commodities, for an effective Lokpal legislation, against corruption, for a national judiciary commission to curb corruption in the high judiciary, steps to unearth black money and repatriation of illegal money stashed abroad and implementation of electoral reforms including introduction of proportional representation system to check money power in election.
The campaign that began on July 1 will conclude tomorrow.
Speaking at the occasion CPI's Th surchand said decision to launch the campaign was taken at a high level meeting of Communist parties held at New Delhi on June 19 .
In addition to noting various problems besieging the common citizens meeting of the left parties took grim note of Trinamool Congress and Congress party activists systematically targeting democratic institutions and Communist party workers soon after coming to power in West bengal, Surchand said and alleged that police remained as muted spectators inspite of such violent acts.
He also informed that the meeting deliberated at length on numerous issues ranging from impact of price hike of petroleum products by the UPA Government, its fallout on the common citizens owing to consequent increase in prices of essential commodities as well as corruption in high places, effective implementation of anti-graft legislation, to exemplary punishment of those involved in various scandals.
In his address, CPI state Secretary L Sotinkumar said based on a joint statement issued on June 20 by top CPI, CPI (M), RSP and Forward Block leaders with regard to decisions taken at the meeting, State unit leaders on June 29 resolved to join the first phase nationwide campaign on July 6 and 7 which will be followed by a weeklong second phase democratic agitation from July 15 .
In addition to organising the campaigns in all the districts of Manipur, the second phase campaign with conclude with a massive public meeting at Imphal, he informed.
Former Member of Parliament and CPI (M) Central Committee Member Nurul Hood, who also addressed the gathering said intensity of discussion for tabling Lok Pal bill in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had been on the rise in the last many decades.
Expressing strong resentment that despite vociferous demands from the opposition parties Lok Pal Bill failed to be enacted as an Act in the past 60 years, he opined that there is need for mass participation in campaign against corruption and increase in prices of essential commodities in Manipur.