People's Democracy

CPI(M) CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING

'Corruption: PM Should

Own Up Responsibility'

Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THE CPI(M) has demanded that prime minister Manmohan Singh must own up responsibility for the unprecedented scams taking place in the UPA-2 government.  It questioned the prime minister for not acting on any written documents submitted, warning about the scams (from 2G to KG) to prevent the scams.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata on August 7, 2011 after the conclusion of the two day Central Committee meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat made this demand. Asked by reporters whether it meant the CPI(M) was demanding the resignation of the prime minister, Karat said “As he is an honourable man, we hope he will come to the conclusion that he is presiding over the most corrupt government in independent India and consequently own up responsibility”.

There was corruption in the earlier governments; the NDA government was also most corrupt. But this UPA-2 government has beaten all records as far as corruption was concerned, felt Karat. The CAG was indicting the government at various levels in various scams. He said prime minister's personal integrity was not the issue but the fact that he is presiding over the most corrupt government is the main issue. Karat felt that normally with the indictment by CAG, it was expected that the Delhi chief minister would resign. But that has not happened.

Regarding the resignation of BJP chief minister in Karnataka, B S Yedyurappa, Karat said it was not sufficient and all those involved in the loot of mineral resources in the state must be prosecuted.

PRICE RISE:

Karat criticised the government's response to the raging inflation in the country, particularly the finance minister's expression of helplessness in the debate on the issue in parliament. He explained why the Left did not agree to the resolution on price rise in parliament that had both the government and the main opposition party agreeing on the same content. He said the resolution avoided indicting the government as also not fixing the responsibility for the price rise. Therefore the Left voted against the resolution in the parliament.

BENGAL VIOLENCE:

Post assembly elections, 30 CPI(M) activists have been killed, hundreds of Party offices captured while thousands have been forced to flee from their homes. Karat said now the attempt seems to be to target panchayats. Many elected panchayat functionaries are not being allowed to attend to duties. Despite drawing attention of the chief minister to these happenings, the state government is ignoring it. “These attacks constitute a deliberate attempt to suppress the rights and functioning of the opposition in the state, particularly the CPI(M). This is a threat to democracy in general in the country. We have campaigned against these attacks all over the country. But since the attacks continue to happen, the CC has decided to continue our nationwide solidarity campaign”, said Karat.

As part of this campaign, on August 25, there would be demonstrations in all state capitals protesting the attacks and expressing solidarity. The central leaders will participate in the dharna in New Delhi on that day. There would be a central demonstration in Kolkata also on August 12.

PARTY CONGRESS:

The CC has finalised the dates of the 20^th Party Congress to be held in Kozhikode from April 4-9, 2012. It has also decided on the number of delegates to the Congress. The political resolution of the congress would be released by January of next year, he said.