CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy today expressed concern over the deteriorating economic and political situation, hikes in prices of petroleum products resulting in the rise of prices of essential commodities and growing unemployment problem among the people.
Speaking to the media at Ajoy Bhavan here today at the conclusion of the two-day National Executive meeting of the party held on June 3 & 4, Sudhakar Reddy alleged that the RSS controlled the Narendra Modi government and was deliberately trying to divert the attention of the people by all means. Despite continuous defeat of BJP candidates in bye-elections in various States, including Uttar Pradesh and BJP’s failure to cobble up a government through manipulations in Karnataka with the help of State Governor, they were trying all kinds of permutations and combinations as well as new mantras to somehow retain power in the States which will be going to polls soon as well as at the Centre in 2019. The CPI National Executive appealed to the people to remain vigilant and defeat the communalists’ game.
Sudhakar Reddy presented the report on economic and political developments since the 23rd Party Congress held at Kollam in April. He said the recent election results have clearly sounded the beginning of the fall of Modi government. If the forces committed to fight the RSS ideology will come together the RSS-BJP could be ousted from power in 2019.
Protest on June 20 against price hike
The massive jump in excise duty on petrol and high speed diesel helped the government to mop up nearly 40% of its indirect tax kitty from the two auto fuels in 2015-16, compared to 34% in the previous financial year. The National Executive gave a call to observe a Protest Day on June 20 against price hike of fuels demanding rolling back of all hikes of excise duty. Since Modi came to power, the duty has been hiked nine times and the massive jump in excise duty on petrol and high speed diesel alone helped the government to mop up nearly 40 per cent.
He called upon all party units to carry out an awareness campaign exposing the misdeeds of four-years of Modi government during the first fortnight of August. Units must ensure that public meetings, brochures, booklets, handouts etc, are printed and distributed in this regard. The party also decided to hold four jathas from four corners of the country under the slogan ‘Save the Constitution, Save the Nation’. There will also be sub-jathas in the states. The jathas will start from the middle of September and culminate in the first week of October.
CPI National Council Secretaries Dr. K. Narayana and D. Raja, M.P. were also present at the press conference. (NSS)