'Jumlas' and slogans don't fill stomach: Yechury slams Centre

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday castigated the Centre for ruining the economy of the nation.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury cornered the government and said that nation's GDP has reached its lowest in the last three years, and that the economy is sinking with very high balance of account deficits.

"There is retrenchment and unemployment. Demonetisation and GST put together have virtually ruined the informal economy," Yechury told ANI.

The CPM leader also highlighted the agrarian distress and added in that the rise in prices, especially the hike in fuel prices is "the worst criminal act this government has committed."

"International price have fallen by 85 % they have increased the excise by 125%," Yechury alleged.

"The net result is, this government is banking on their Jumlas, (and) their slogans. Everyday a new slogan is invented but that doesn't fill the stomach of the people," he added.

Yechury also criticised the Centre's policy of encouraging big corporate companies.

"Instead of investing in infrastructure that can generate jobs by lakhs , they are giving more loans to corporate who are busy expanding their profits while people don't have money to buy, and the economy is continuously sinking," said Yechury.

Responding to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav's statement that the party is ready to talk to all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir without pre-conditions, the CPM leader quipped, "Who is stopping you?"

"The fact that they are not doing makes it clear that you (BJP) want to use Kashmir situation for your communal polarization," he added.

Agreeing with the Supreme Court's move to ask for compliance report in connection with cow vigilantism cases by all states, Yechury also opined that the matter can only solve if Central government puts a national ban on cow vigilantes.

"Court should also direct the central government to nationally ban these private armies who are targeting Muslims and Dalits and murdering them," Yechury said.