Prakash Karat blames Centre for failure to curb price rise

The CPI(M) today slammed the UPA government's 'failure' to curb the price rise of essential commodities and accused it of passing the buck to state governments instead of taking measures.

"The Central Committee of our party feels that the failure lies in policies of the Central government," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference at the end of the party's three-day central committee meeting here.

Stating that the Centre has not seriously addressed the problem and was trying to put the blame on state governments, he said, "There has been 18% food inflation which is the highest in the world. India ranks among the top three countries in food inflation. The Centre has not taken any measure."

The Centre which had 'failed' to take measures to build up buffer stocks of foodgrain, had cut foodgrain allocation to states by 15% which had led to a crisis, he claimed.

Criticising the Centre for the abnormal hike in the price of sugar, Karat alleged that the government's 'wrong' policies led to huge profits for sugar mill owners at the cost of farmers and consumers.    

On the Kirit Parikh Committee report recommending decontrol of prices of petrol, diesel, LPG, Karat said "we would like to warn the Centre against using this report. This will add fuel to fire and have a cascading effect on economy."

Alleging that BPL cards had not reached the poorer sections of society, Karat said "We ask the Centre to streamline the public distribution system."

The CPI(M) general secretary said that his party would like to ask the Centre to ensure food security for all. 

"Right to food is everybody's right," he said, adding that state governments were finding it difficult to run the PDS.

Karat said that the Central Committee has decided to organise mass movements with secular and democratic parties.

Karat said that the Central Committee welcomed the recommendations for reservation for minorities in government
jobs and urged the Centre to take steps to implement the recommendations.

The Ranganath Mishra panel had suggested 10% reservation for Muslims and five per cent for other minorities, he said.

"They made a case to show that they can be brought under socially economically backward class. We want the government to study this and see how it can be implemented." 

"Let there be a discussion. We think there is a case for Muslims who are socially and educationally backward. Let the Centre take steps," the CPI(M) general secretary said. 

The Central committee also discussed implementation of a document adopted at the last meeting to initiate a campaign in the party to remove wrong trends and shortcomings at the political, organisational and ideological levels.

"We are trying to rectify ourselves at the party's politburo. We have prepared a rectification report discussed in our politburo. We have tried to set a way how to rectify.

All politburo members have submitted notes for rectification and on critical self appraisal," Karat said. 

"All Central Committee members will now submit their reports. Most of them have done it. The report of the rectification of the Central Committee will be taken up in its next meeting," he added.

Explaining the reason behind deciding to hold an extended central committee meeting, Karat said when the party Congress was held in April 2008, the political situation was different. 

"We were supporting the UPA government. Three months after that that situation has changed. We withdrew support," he said.

Stating that a new tactical line had to be formulated to meet the current situation, he said, "We cannot afford to wait for one or two years. The Central Committee will have to finalise how to meet the current situation."

On the Andhra Pradesh situation, he said the CPI(M) wanted to the Centre to ensure that the stalemate ended and a solution was found by taking into account views of all political parties and sections of the people.