[Marxistindia] Left Parties call for protest action against price rise

[news from the cpi(m)]

                                                           July 25, 2009


Press Statement


The Left Parties, the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB and RSP have issued the
following statement:



              Call for Protest Actions Against Price Rise


The increase in the prices of essential commodities particularly of food
items has become unbearable for the people. The prices of all pulses
(dal) have shot up to such an extent, with some varieties priced between
Rs. 80 and 100 per kg, that the common people cannot afford them any
more. The prices of edible oil, vegetables, rice, wheat and other food
items have also been increasing without respite.


The price rise has also been fuelled by the callous decision of the UPA
government to increase the prices of petrol and diesel. The prospects of
drought in many states due to deficient monsoon will further put
pressure on the prices of food items.


The Left parties have decided to jointly conduct an anti-price rise
agitation to demand that the government take immediate and effective
steps to curb price rise of essential commodities. 


The Left parties are instructing their party units to jointly conduct
the agitation in the states to mobilise the people against price rise.
The major demands are:


1. Provide dal and edible oil at subsidised rates through the public
distribution system.

2. Revamp the public distribution system by expanding the BPL category
and restore the allocation for the APL categories as an interim measure
towards universalisation of PDS

3. Scrap the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel.

4. Prohibit futures trading in all food related items.


Sd/-

Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPI(M) 

A.B. Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI

Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, AIFB 

T. J. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, RSP