BJP liable if PR imposed in Manipur: Left parties
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 13 2025: Noting failure of the BJP in naming its legislative leader after the resignation of chief minister N Biren, Left parties have asserted that BJP should be held accountable if President's Rule (PR) is imposed in the state.

Briefing the media flanked by representatives of Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Block at Irawat Bhawan; here, on Thursday CPI former state secretary Laishram Sotinkumar stated that BJP should be held responsible if the President's Rule is imposed in Manipur as legislators of the saffron party could not keep aside their differences in naming the chief ministerial candidate.

BJP liable if PR imposed in Manipur: Left parties

While stressing the need for conducting fresh election considering the prevailing political instability, he also announced that the Left parties will launch a week-long campaign by raising various demands including the unrest situation in Manipur in the budget session of the parliament.

The Left parties will demand humanitarian aids for the IDPs (PM's Special Package); IIT and AIIMS-status institutions in Manipur; Improvement of air, surface and rail connectivity; funds for Highway Protection Force; slashing air fares for Manipuri passengers; disturbed areas allowances for the central and state government employees in Manipur; special category status for Manipur, etc.

Moreover, the demand will include introducing a wealth tax of 4 per cent on the 200 billionaires (in dollar terms) in the country; increase tax ceilings on corporates; provide legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce and withdraw the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing; halt privatisation of public sector units and handing over of public assets to the private sector through the National Monetisation Pipeline; withdraw 10'0 per cent FDI in insurance sector; increase MNREGA allocation by 50 per cent; introduce urban employment guarantee Act; increase centre's provision for old-age pensions and other social security benefits; increase outlays for health to 3 per cent and education to 6 per cent of GDP; increase food subsidy to strengthen public distribution system; increase allocation for SC, ST sector and for women and child development substantially, including increased outlay for ICDS; increase central share of honorarium for scheme workers and increase transfers of funds to the states and funds for centrally-sponsored schemes substantially; and scrap cesses and surcharges on petroleum products which are not included in the divisible 'pool' for sharing with states.

He further said that the Left parties will campaign for the inclusion of the demands/proposals in the union budget before it is finally adopted through the Finance Bill.

To mobilise the people in support of these proposals, the Left parties will conduct a week-long mass campaign from February 14.The state units of the Left parties will chalk out the plans to conduct mass campaign and reach out to maximum number of people through door-to-door campaign, street corner meetings, demonstrations and rallies, he added.