CPI-M to start countrywide campaign against UPA

"Food security and price rise, land and house sites, employment, education and health and fight against corruption will be the focus of the jathas," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said at the conclusion of the party's three-day central committee meeting here.

The four jathas will begin from Kanyakumari, Kolkata, Mumbai and Amritsar and head to Delhi.

The jathas will be headed by party leaders R.C. Pillai, Karat, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat respectively.

The CPI-M leader was critical of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government accusing it of allowing business houses to accumulate profits at the cost of the common people.

"Under the UPA regime, the country faced multiple problems. In fact, the UPA has taken the attack to the common people by burdening them with its policies but is shamelessly allowing corporate and foreign capital to reap huge profits," said Karat.

Karat also lambasted the government for its decision to deregulate diesel prices and increase railways fare and initiating cash transfer scheme.

"Cash transfer is actually meant to cut subsidies as cash transferred will not cover increased cost of the same amount of subsidised foodgrains or fertilizers. It will dismantle public distribution system," said Karat.

"On the one hand, the centre has postponed the implementation of GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rule) and on the other, it is mulling deregulation of pharmaceutical pricing. These are being done deliberately to provide huge profits to corporates," he Karat.

He also said the CPI-M was against dilution of government's role in the proposed Land Acquisition bill.

"We do not agree with those who say the government must not participate in land acquisition. Otherwise, who will ensure rehabilitation and compensation to the landlosers? To ensure justice, the government's role is must," he said.