CPI(M) national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Sitaram Yechury, who was in city on Monday to attend birth centenary celebrations of former CPM leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet at Michael John Auditorium said that the Union Government’s decision to take back land Acquisition Ordinance was to woo farmers ahead of Bihar assembly elections.
However, the Government cannot wash its hand of distress faced by farmers and poor in the country. He said that the farmers are all well aware of the policies of the Government and they will never accept it.
Attacking the Narendra Modi-led Union Government, the CPM leader said: “I would like to share UN data which says out of every five death due to malnutrition children three are from India. The suicide rates of farmers have also increased by 26 per cent. The Government must act before it is too late,” said Yechury.
He went on to add that under the BJP-led Government is working for anti-poor economic policies, communalism, to violate Parliament system.
Speaking about Bihar election, Yechury said that all leftist parties will fight the election on a common platform maintaining distance from both NDA and the JD-U-led alliance.
Speaking about Jharkhand, the CPM leader said that lack of vision in domicile policy was affecting employment opportunities.
He further said that September 2 industrial strike has taken the shape of general strike notwithstanding the last minute withdrawal of Sangh Parivar-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
“Sangh Parivar had put pressure on it to withdraw from the strike. However, the strike has taken the shape of a ‘jan andolan’ and would be a form of general strike with not only industrial unions but also farmers, retail associations and students union extending their support to the agitation,” said Yechury while speaking to media on the sidelines of the function.
The CPM politburo member said that despite having a majority in the Parliament it was the ‘jan andolan’ by the opposition and farmers that forced government to take back land Acquisition Ordinance and the September 2 strike will also force government to re-think on its anti-worker policies.
It may be mentioned that the strike on September 2 will be the 16th called by central trade unions since 1991. The last strike was in February 2013, when trade unions had made many demands, including containing inflation, minimum wages and universal social security.
“This strike will act as a strong warning to the BJP-led Government that the working class of the country is not going to let these attacks pass. In its fight against the attacks on its basic rights, the working class has to seek and gain the support of all sections of the people,” noted the senior leader.