Suravaram asks Jaipal to apologise and rollback Petrol Price

Communist Party of India (CPI) national general secretary Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy has demanded that Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas S. Jaipal Reddy apologize to the Nation and roll back petrol price hike, as he had claimed that hike was part of populist policy.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Sudhakara Reddy wanted the Centre to reduce taxes and slash the Sales Tax from 33 percent to 15 percent on petroleum products across the country. He also demanded the Centre to stop the petrol exports by the Reliance Company and sell the petroleum products within the country.

Sudhakar Reddy alleged that the Prime Minister was trying to escape from Coalgate scandal saying he was innocent. He charged the Prime Minister with being responsible for allotment of coal blocks to private firms. He also demanded that the Prime Minister give explanation to the nation on the coal gate scheme. He said that the UPA government at the Centre would create history as it was the most corrupt regime in the country.

The CPI leader alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee were trying to implement economic reforms by slashing subsides to the poor in the country. He also alleged that the government was trying to hike price of petrol, diesel, LPG, fertilizers, pesticides and essential commodities.

He demanded that the Centre convene special Parliament Session to discuss about withdraw Rs 5.22 lakh crores allotted to the corporate sector. He alleged that the Centre was trying to protect the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by failing to reveal accounts of those who stashed away money in Swiss Banks. He also demanded that the Centre make changes in the Food Security Bill and introduce it in the next Parliament session. He alleged that the Centre was delaying introduction of Land Acquisition Bill to protect the interests of MNCs. He said that they would launch agitation against anti-people polices of the government from July 1 to 30 across the country. The CPI along with other Left parties would organize dharnas from July 30 to August 5 in front of Parliament at New Delhi, he added.

Asked about Presidential elections, he said that the Left parties have decided to support widely acceptable non-Congress candidate. He also said that they would declare their support after the ruling party announced their candidate for Presidency.

Asked to comment about the CBI investigation into YSR Congress Party president Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s assets, he said that the ruling party was always using the CBI as a weapon against political opponents in the yesteryears and now. (NSS)