Karat slams Manmohan, Chidambaram
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 03 2011:
Noting the stoic silence of both the Prime Minister and union Home Minister when people of Manipur suffered as a consequence of blockade and counterblockade, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the party condemns such indifferent attitude of the Central Government.
Speaking at a public meeting held today at GM Hall, Karat said inability of both the Congress-ruled Central and State Governments to open the National Highways inspite of a Supreme Court decree prohibiting bandhs or blockades is not only questionable but defies logic.
Noting that increase in prices of essential commodities, including petroleum products, triggered by the economic blockade is not in terms of a few rupees but in hundreds, the Communist leader rued that neither the Central Government stepped in nor did the state authorities demonstrate determination to mitigate suffering of the people.
Reacting to frequent hike in prices of petroleum products by the UPA Government, he said CPI (M) is strongly opposed to policy of the Central Government, which should be held responsible for the increase in prices of almost every essential items as a consequence of hike in petroleum products.
He alleged that contrary to suffering of the common people when prices increase individuals and political class close of the Government had been reaping the benefits.
On the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram claiming that there is or will be no paucity of development fund for the State, Prakash contended that despite adequate fund from the Centre, common people of Manipur are being deprived of all the benefits.
He also alleged that whatever amount the Central Government might be providing to the State the major share is split between the ruling political party members and high ranking bureaucrats.
Commenting on corruption, Prakash Karat asserted that corruption has been the hallmark of the UPA Government and strongly advocated that along with enacting the Lokpal Bill there is need for a mechanism to check rampant corruption.
Maintaining that BJP-ruled States are also not free from graft cases, he asserted that in Manipur corruption has been a common feature whenever there is fresh appointment or recruitment exercises.
Prakash suggested that there should be concerted campaign and movement by the CPI (M) to check the menace of corruption.
Speaking at the occasion, CPI (M) Central Committee member Nurul Huda said imprisonment of a number of politicians and high ranking officials testify that the present Congress Government in the Centre is corrupted.
He expressed similar remorse as Prakash Karat, that the Government had been indifferent to suffering of the people of Manipur due to imposition of economic blockade for over three months.
The public meeting was also attended by the party's State Committee secretary Sarat Salam along with its other functionaries such as Shanta and Meitram Shamu.
Prior to winding up the two-day visit Prakash Karat also addressed newspersons at Manipur Press Club this afternoon during which he affirmed that CPI (M) will field candidates for the ensuing Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, likely to be conducted early next year.
While confiding that CPI (M) Central Committee has already resolved to put up party nominees at the elections, he however conceded that decision is yet to be finalised on the number of candidates for the upcoming polls.
Functionaries of the CPI (M) State Committee were present at the media briefing.
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