[Marxistindia] Left Parties Joint Statement

[news from the cpi(m)]

June 13, 2021

Joint Statement by Left Parties


All India Protest Fortnight - June 16-30, 2021
Roll Back Petrol Price Hikes
Control Prices of Essential Commodities & Drugs

More assaults on people’s livelihood are being mounted by this  
relentless rise in prices of all essential commodities. Instead of  
helping people to combat the ravages of the Covid health catastrophe,  
the Modi government hiked the prices of petroleum products by at least  
21 times after the announcement of results of the recent assembly  
elections on May 2, 2021. This is leading to a cascading inflationary  
spiral with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rising to a eleven year  
high.

The prices of food articles have risen by nearly 5 per cent in April.  
Primary commodities saw a rise of 10.16 per cent  and manufactured  
products have risen by 9.01 per cent. By the time these commodities  
reach the retail markets, the consumers are charged much more.

This is happening while the economy is witnessing a deep recession,  
galloping unemployment, collapsing purchasing power and rising levels  
of hunger.

Clearly, unscrupulous black-marketing and hoarding is taking place  
under state patronage. Modi government must strictly crackdown on such  
black-marketing especially of essential drugs, vital for people’s  
survival.

Modi government must immediately give direct cash transfers of Rs.  
7500/- per month for six months to all families not in the income tax  
paying bracket .

The provisions announced by PM Modi regarding extension of PMGKAY till  
Diwali of 5kgs of foodgrains is completely inadequate and does not  
cover the most needy. 10 kg foodgrains per month to all individuals  
including a food kit with pulses, edible oil, sugar, spices, tea etc.  
must be distributed free.

Given the Covid conditions and the necessity to strictly adhere to the  
precautions and protocol, the Left parties call upon their state units  
to conduct these protests in the concrete conditions obtaining in  
their states during this fortnight.


sd/-
Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist)
D Raja, General Secretary, Communist Party of India
Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, All India Forward Bloc
Manoj Bhattacharya, General Secretary, Revolutionary Socialist Party
Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, Communist Party of India  
(Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation