Non-Cong parties unite on strike call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 18, 2012: Non-Congress political organisations and trade union bodies nave decided to unitedly enforce the proposed 12 hour general strike on September 20 in the State.

The general strike is being called to protest the UPA Government's recent decision to hike price of diesel fuel, reduce yearly provision of LPG refill by a domestic consumer and allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector.

Speaking to newspersons at the Irawat Bhavan today, CPI Manipur State secretariat member L Sotinkumar informed that a joint meeting of CPI Manipur State Council, CPI (M), Janata Dai (Secular), All India Forward Bloc, JD (United), MPP, National People's Party (NPP) and RSP unanimously resolved to enforce the dawn to dusk strike call of September 20. Terming the September 14 decision of the UPA Government to hike diesel price by Rs 5, slash LPG provision and allow FDI in retail sectors as a 'darkest chapter of the Dr Manmohan Singh rule, Sotinkumar expressed that the decisions will have severe impact on the working class citizens.

Stating that the impact would most severely affect people of the North East region, who mostly depend on road transport for foodgrains supply as well as conveyance due to absence of rail network, Sotinkumar regretted that the UPA's anti-people decision amounts to additional burden upon the marginalised section of the society.

With the All India Motor Transport Congress also announcing 15 percent increase in freight charge consequent to the UPA's decision prices of essential commodities also escalating is inevitable, said the communist party leader.

Reacting against the deduction in subsidised LPG refills, Sotinkumar remarked that the UPA's decision is akin to murdering the common people and encouraging the black-marketers.

Similarly, approving FDI in the retail sector is certain to hurt the common people as multi-brand companies would be dictating terms on various consumer items, he maintained while contending that Chief Minister 0 Ibobi Singh and some Congress-ruled States have endorsed UPA's decision on FDI.

In fact, opposition parties had voiced concern in the Parliament on the UPA Cabinet's November 24, 2011 decision to allow FDI in retail sector but persistence by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister P Chidambaram ultimately resulted in allowing FDI in the retail sector, highlighted the CPI leader who expressed strong resentment that the decision would deliver a crippling blow to Indian traders.

Expressing that such anti-people policies of the UPA Government need to be vehemently protested, Sotinkumar sought the support of the masses in making the September 20 movement an effective antidote against the UPA Government.

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