haratiya Janata Party (BJP) Government faced flak from the left on Sunday for its alleged doublespeak on the issue of providing relief to flood-affected people in Uttarakhand while at the same time ignoring the demands of oustees displaced by dams in the state.
Speaking at Neelam Park where Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists are sitting on a five-day long dharna, Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) state secretariat member Sandhya Shaily said, “On one hand, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claims that his Government will save every single family trapped in the flood-hit Uttarakhand, but on the other hand, his government shows no concern towards thousands of families who are knocking at his door in capital city and whose homes and lands have been forcefully drowned in Narmada.”
Shaily alleged that the Government has displayed double-standards of the highest order in ignoring Narmada dam oustees. She also criticized the Centre for ignoring its responsibilities towards the common people and said that both, the BJP and Congress, are only interested in making and implementing pro-corporate policies.
Communist Party of India (CPI) State Spokesperson Shailendra Kumar also expressed the support of CPI to the demands of dam oustees and pledged unity with the struggle of NBA. The spokesperson has also stated that the party will include in its election manifesto all the demands raised by dam oustees sitting on dharna in the State capital.
Members of state unit of CPI and its front organizations are actively involved in the NBA dharna.