CPI opposes Mayawati's reform moves

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has strongly opposed the privatisation move by the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh and urged the Bahujan Samaj Party government to shed its proposal to hand over 1,000 Mw Anpara C thermal power project and sugar mills to the private sector.

The BSP government soon after taking office on May 13 had announced to privatize 61 sugar mills and seven distilleries.

The CPI also demanded renaming of Amausi airport as Begam Hazrat Mahal International Airport to honour the freedom fighters on the 150th anniversary of the 1857 mutiny.

The CPI state unit during its state council meeting here today adopted resolutions which included renaming of the Amausi airport, opposition to privatisation, and adequate price of wheat for the farmers.

The council meeting was attended by party's general secretary AB Bardhan. Later talking to media persons, Bardhan said that the party will oppose any effort by the BSP government to hand over the power projects and sugar mills to the private sector.

"Government should immediately stop its move to give Anpara C thermal power project to a private Lanco Kodapalli company and to sell off 61 sugar mills of the public and cooperative sector. Efforts should be made to end the miseries of the farmers so that they don't commit suicides", he said adding that the BSP government should also ensure its commitment that criminals are not holding top position in the government.

Though appreciating the Mayawati government for registering cases of past three years, raising the minimum wages of labourer to Rs 100 and setting up of a Special Investigation team(SIT) to probe into different scams of the previous government, Bardhan said the party still opposes the hi-tech cities project mooted by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government.

"As the present BSP government is only two months old, CPI is expecting much from a politically stable government", he said.

However, the CPI leader said that the issues related to Ambedkar Stadium controversy has earned a bad name for the government.

Meanwhile the CPI state council had chalked out a detail statewide agitational programme. On August 24, demonstrations will be held at all district headquarters on irregularities in the Public Distribution System (PDS).

A nine day padyatra will be organised at all the districts from October 2 to review and monitor the PDS, mid-day meal programme and other rural development schemes. Lastly on November 19, a Dalit Adhikar Rally will be held in Lucknow.