People's Democracy

DELHI

CPI(M) Protests Against Prices

ANGRY men women and children under the banner of the CPI(M) Delhi state committee demanded an end to price rise and ration for all needy. People assembled at the Bhagat Singh Park on September 17 and marched towards ITO chowk and blocked the road for nearly half an hour to vent their anger and distress due to price rise.

At Bhagat Singh Park, agitated people were addressed by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP Sitaram Yechury. He criticised the UPA government for pleading helplessness over spiraling prices. The government�s attitude is nothing but a mask for its refusal to crack down on private profiteering. Demanding an end to futures trading, he called for a proper procurement policy based on fair remuneration for the farmers by the government.

Sitaram Yechury severely criticised the prime minister for urging the state governments to reduce nearly 11 crore 30 lakh BPL ration cards operational today, to 5.91 crore. This would mean halving the BPL cards in times of backbreaking price rise. He said that the BPL categorisation at the earning of Rs.2017 per month is already a sham, which needs to be revised. Different ministries of the union government have different BPL estimates, with the planning commission which decides PDS issues, having the most conservative estimate.

He also said that the proposed Food Security Act which seeks to eliminate all APL from the ration system and give 25 kg food grains at Rs 3 Per kg would amount to a further withdrawal in the public distribution system. State governments like Kerala had taken a lead in providing subsidised  food items to the people and that example should be followed all over the country. He warned the government that if it does not provide relief to the people, the CPI(M) would further strengthen the movement against anti-people policies of the UPA government.

Vijender Sharma, secretariat member and state committee member Albeena Shakil spoke about the situation in Delhi where nearly 500 ration shops have been cancelled. They criticised the proposal of the chief minister Sheila Dikshit to close down all ration shops in Delhi and hand over Rs 1100 to each BPL family. They said that it is impossible to obtain 25 kg wheat, 10 kg rice, 6 kg sugar and 22 litres of Kerosene oil at market rates within this amount.