Govt must cut needless expenses, say Left parties
Monday, 27/10/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141027/punjab.htm#5
Chandigarh : The Left has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to immediately cut unproductive expenditure to revive the state’s ailing economy. These parties have also asked the Centre to waive the state’s loan and announce a special package for it.
“We have launched marches from four historical places such as Khatkar Kalan, Sunam, Hussainiwala and Jillianwala Bagh to mobilise people against drug, sand and land mafia,” said CPI leader Bant Brar and Dr Joginder Dayal. They said they would continue to hold protest marches till October 30 and then next month organise a rally in Ludhiana.
Bant said the leaders of four Left parties - the CPI, the CPM, the CPM (Punjab) and the CPI (ML-Liberation) - were jointly taking part in the rallies. “We have planned to address 200 rallies,” he said.
Among the demands being raised by Left parties are the implementation of the Swaminathan report as promised in the Lok Sabha elections by all major parties; fixing the minimum wage for industrial workers at Rs 15,000 per month; setting up Rs 3,000 per month pension for all persons above 60 years of age; and the abolition of “black law” that puts curbs on holding demonstration, rallies and protests in public.
They said the SAD-BJP Government had failed to deliver on all fronts. Farmers were committing suicides, but the state government failed to act.
The law and order situation was poor. Unemployment level had gone up and the youths were frustrated, they said.
“The SAD-BJP government should pressure the Central Government into giving financial assistance to the state,” said Dr Joginder Dayal.
