The government was unwilling to supply foodgrains to all the deserving people in our country in the name of 'excessive subsidies' but it does not mind providing 'incentives' to the rich in our country, the leaders said at a five-day long dharna by Left parties here.
"The true character of the UPA-II government, which masquerades under the slogan of 'aam aadmi' has been exposed as, it is giving incentives ,to rich under the garb of tax concessions," they said.
"These tax concessions are nearly to the tune of Rs 5,28,000 crores according to the official statistics mentioned in the union budget as revenue foregone.
"If this amount was used to provide food security, strengthen the public distribution system, subsidise fertilisers, provide seeds, minimum support price for the produce, it would have benefited crores of peasants and agricultural labourers who are reeling under severe agrarian duress," they said.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, Atul Kumar Anjaan CPI National Secretary, Manohar Tirkey -- a RSP MP and AIFB leader Jasbir Singh addressed the protesters along with CITU general secretary Tapan Sen.
Peasants, agricultural workers and people from Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh participated on the fourth day of the five-day long dharna, which is to end tomorrow.