Friday, February 26, 2010

[Marxistindia] union budget 2010

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
February 26, 2010

Press Statement

Union Budget 2010: Pro-Rich and Anti-People
The Union Budget 2010 presented by the UPA Government will neither
stimulate growth nor bring down inflation. The Budget is premised upon a
flawed strategy to meet the budget deficit by increasing indirect taxes
across the board, especially on diesel and petrol, which will hit the
common people, primarily the poorer sections. In contrast, direct taxes on
the affluent sections have been reduced. This anti-people strategy will
further fuel inflation in the backdrop of an already high food inflation
rate of 20%.
As per the Finance Minister's own estimates, there will be a revenue loss
of Rs. 26000 crore in 2010-11 due to the direct tax concessions doled out
to high-income earners as well as real estate developers, hoteliers and
other commercial establishments. This comes in the backdrop of nearly Rs.
80000 crore tax concessions to corporates in 2009-10. In contrast, the
Finance Minister has proposed to raise an additional Rs. 60000 crore in
indirect taxes over the last year. The most objectionable aspect of the
increase in indirect taxes has come in the form of a 5% increase in
customs duty on crude petroleum along with a Re. 1 per litre increase in
central excise duty on petrol and diesel. Raising the prices of diesel and
petrol will further fuel all round inflation in the economy.
On the expenditure side, while there is a 15% increase in Central Plan
expenditure, the increase in Central Assistance for the States is merely
8%, which implies a squeeze in real terms (the nominal GDP growth rate is
12.2%). The Budget also incorporates the recommendations of the 13th
Finance Commission for only 32% share of the States in sharable central
taxes against the demand to allocate 50%. On elementary education the
paltry increase of Rs. 5000 crore falls far short of the requirement of
universalizing the Right to Education. The Central Plan outlays for
agriculture, irrigation and rural development shows stagnation in real
terms, reflecting the Government's waning commitment towards the rural
population.
It is also shocking that food subsidy has been reduced by over Rs. 400
crore despite the commitment to enact a food security legislation.
Fertiliser subsidy has also been cut by a whopping Rs. 3000 crore from
what was spent last year. These moves to reduce subsidies in the name of
targetting comes at a time when inflation is galloping and agricultural
output growth has become negative. The anti-people approach of the
Government in reducing subsidies was laid bare in the Economic survey,
which has prescribed the dismantling of the PDS and initiating a "coupon
system" for food and fertilisers.
The Finance Minister has announced a Rs. 40000 crore disinvestment
programme for 2010-11, following Rs 25000 crore disinvestment earnings in
2009-10. This has been justified in the Budget speech as "unlocking" the
value of the CPSEs. However, the latest Public Enterprises Survey 2008-09
clearly shows that the market capitalization of all listed CPSEs taken
together fell by 27.41% between 31st March 2008 and 31st March 2009. The
Finance Minister is therefore resorting to a specious defence of
disinvestment, which is solely meant to appease the stock market
speculators. The announcement that the RBI will issue bank licenses to
more private sector players including non-bank finance companies reflect
its intent towards further liberalisation of the financial sector.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) calls for the withdrawal of the indirect
tax proposals which will fuel inflation and adversely affect the people.
The increase in petrol and diesel prices to the tune of over Rs. 2.50 per
litre must be summarily rescinded. The cuts in food and fertiliser subsidy
also need to be reversed. The Polit Bureau calls upon all its Party units
to launch protest actions against the anti-people proposals of the Budget.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

[Marxistindia] rail budget 2010

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

February 24, 2010

Press Statement

Railway Budget 2010: Total Gimmickry

The Railway Budget presented in Parliament today exposed a sharp
deterioration in the performance of the Indian Railways. Far from
containing any vision for the future of the Indian Railways, the Budget
speech has sought to conceal gross failures through misleading
announcements and gimmicks aimed at the forthcoming Assembly elections in
West Bengal.

Over 120 railway accidents have taken place so far during this financial
year. In this backdrop it is inexplicable how the allocations for the
Railway Safety Fund has been cut by Rs. 579 crore from last year.
Moreover, the Minister has strangely tried to shift the blame for railway
accidents on to rail rokos and natural disasters! This shows the
Minister's distorted perspective on the crucial aspect of railway safety.

As per the Railway Ministry's own estimates, over 1.7 lakhs Railway posts
were lying vacant in 2009, out of which nearly 90000 were posts related to
railway safety. The Minister has kept completely silent on filling up
these vacancies, which can provide job opportunities to the youth.

The Railway's operating ratio (the ratio of total working expenses to the
earnings – a higher ratio implies deterioration), which was 90.5% in
2008-09 has risen to 94.7% in 2009-10. Such a sharp deterioration in just
one year reflects the gross mismanagement of Railway affairs by the
Minister. Gross Traffic Receipts in 2009-10 have fallen short of the
budgeted estimate by Rs. 63 crore. Moreover, plan investment in Railways
also fell short of the budgeted target of 2009-10 by Rs. 497 crore. This
clearly shows that the Railway Minister has not been able to implement the
tall promises that she made in the last Budget. In this context the
grandiose announcements of projects ranging from hospitals and diagnostic
centres, sports academies and musuems ring a trifle hollow.

By the Railway Minister's own admission, many of her project announcements
were made without the sanction of the Planning Commission. Their
implementation therefore is highly suspect. This is further borne out by
the fact that for 2010-11, plan investment in Railways is budgeted to
increase by only Rs. 1142 crore, which amounts to a drastic fall in plan
investment in real terms. While the Railway Minister has made tall claims
on laying 1000 kms of new railway lines, it is shocking that the actual
plan allocations for gauge conversion, doubling of railway lines and new
rolling stock like wagons and carriages have been cut in nominal terms.
This squeeze in public investment in the Railways is accompanied by an
unprecedented thrust towards privatisation in all areas in the name of
PPP: from modernisation of railway stations; new railway lines; freight
and passenger corridors; locomotive, wagon and container manufacturing;
rail axle factory; parking complexes and bottling plants. This wholesale
privatisation programme for the Railways, opening up the entire sector for
private profiteering, will be inimical to national interest. It appears as
if the entire decision-making in the Railway Ministry has been handed over
to the corporate sector.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) calls upon the people to protest against
these proposals, which are neither in the interest of the Railways nor in
the interests of providing relief and better travel and communication
facilities.


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Monday, February 15, 2010

[Marxistindia] Maoist Attack on Police Camp

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
February 16, 2010


Press Statement


The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

On Maoist Attack on Police Camp

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its
deep shock and condemnation of the Maoist attack on a police camp in
Shilda in West Midnapur district which resulted in the death of 24 persons
belonging to the Eastern Frontier Rifles. A student has also died in the
incident. This incident exposes the vicious violence indulged in by the
Maoists.

The Maoists have been on a rampage in the West Midnapur district for over
a year. The joint operations by the state police and the central
paramilitary forces were launched to curb the Maoist violence. It is
surprising that such an attack could be launched in daytime on a police
camp with such large casualties and arms and ammunition being taken away.

There is necessity for better coordination between the state police and
the Central paramilitary forces. The Central Government should ensure that
joint operations begin across the border in Jharkhand, without delay.

The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt sympathies to all the families of
the policemen and the civilian who has died in this brutal attack.

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Saturday, February 13, 2010

[Marxistindia] Terror bomb blast in Pune

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

February 14, 2010
Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement;

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the terror bomb blast in
Pune which has claimed the lives of nine people and grievously injured
another 40 or so.

Media reports on the prior warnings concerning a possible terror attack in
Pune are indeed disturbing as these attacks have taken place despite this.
It is imperative in the interests of the country's internal security that
such lapses be identified and rectified urgently.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon the Central Government to
provide all necessary assistance to the Maharashtra state law and order
machinery to jointly identify the culprits who perpetrated this heinous
attack and bring the guilty to book.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the
families of those who lost their lives in this attack and wishes those
injured a speedy recovery.

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Saturday, February 6, 2010

[Marxistindia] C C Communique

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news from the cpi(m)

Press Communiqué

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) met in Kolkata from February 4 to 6,
2010. It has issued the following statement:

Relentless Price Rise

The Central Committee strongly opposes the recommendation of the Parikh
Committee to decontrol petrol and diesel prices and link it to
international prices, as also its anti-people recommendation to increase
price of cooking gas by Rs. 100.00 per cylinder. It warns the Central
Government not to use these recommendation as an excuse to hike prices of
any of these items. Such a step will have a cascading impact on raising
prices of essential commodities which are already at an all time high and
will lead to a further burden on the people.

The CC condemns not only the utter failure of the Central Government to
control prices but reiterates that it is precisely the wrong policies of
the government which have led to this situation of high food inflation.
The redressals suggested are also misconceived. A major reason for price
rise is the severe weakening of the public distribution system by a
drastic cut in allocation for so-called above poverty line. Instead of at
least partial restoration of the cuts, given the buffer stocks available,
the government in the name of additional allocation is giving the states
10 kgs of foodgrains per family at double the price.

The CPI(M) demands restoration of the allocations at least at the APL
prices. The sugar shortage and subsequent high prices are a direct result
of the refusal of the government to maintain a buffer stock when there was
high sugarcane production and instead incentivised exports. The sugar
mills and sugar companies have made huge profits in this period while
farmers and consumers have had to suffer. The Central Government has
stubbornly refused to ban futures trading in essential commodities. In May
2009 it had lifted the earlier ban on wheat futures trade.

The CC demands that the government bring a food security legislation which
ensures a universal right to food, with a 35 kg family allocation of
foodgrains at Rs 2 a kilo. It also demands that more essential commodities
at subsidised prices should be included in the PDS through central
government subsidies.

The CC called upon its Party units to intensify the campaign against price
rise.

Disinvestment in PSUs

The Central Committee reiterated its strong opposition to the decision of
the Central Government to disinvest atleast 10 per cent of government
equity in all profitable public sector units. Already shares of NHPC, Oil
India and the NTPC have been sold. The government is planning to sell
shares in sixty central public sector undertakings that would be
short-listed in the stock market in the next two years. The deceptive
concept of "people's ownership" is being used to mislead public opinion
and conceal the true nature of disinvestment.

This aggressive disinvestment drive is being undertaken to bridge the
fiscal deficit which has reached nearly seven percent of the GDP. The
government is forgoing future income from dividends. Worse, it is
transferring State-owned assets to private hands. The NTPC shares are
being sold cheaply, showing how public assets are being plundered.

Rather than mobilizing more taxes from the private corporate sector by
doing away with tax exemptions, the Congress-led government is opting for
the irrational course of disinvestment which is only meant to benefit the
big financial players in the stock market.

The Central Committee decided to mobilize people against the
disinvestment. It will extend all support to the struggle of the trade
unions and the public sector employees against this step which is contrary
to national interests.

Andhra Pradesh Situation

The Central Committee discussed the situation which has developed in
Andhra Pradesh with the agitation for a separate Telengana state and the
counter-agitation for a united state. It is unfortunate that the Central
Government and the Congress leadership took the short-sighted step of
announcing the process of the creation of a separate state on December 9.
It is now for the Central Government to ensure that the stalemate is ended
and the solution found by taking into account the views of all political
parties and sections of the people. This process is to begin with the
setting up of the committee headed by retired Justice B N Sri Krishna.

The initial stand taken by the Central Government on Telengana gave a
fillip to demands for separate states in various other states. The Central
Committee reiterated its stand that the states which were linguistically
reorganized as part of the democratic restructuring of the State structure
should not be disturbed.

The Central Committee appealed to all sections of the people of Andhra
Pradesh to maintain peace and harmony. There are forces trying to provoke
further divisions among the people which is harmful to the overall
interests of the people.

Ranganath Mishra Commission Report

The Central Committee considered the report of the National Commission for
Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Ranganath Mishra.
The Central Committee welcomes the recommendations for providing
reservation for the minorities in government jobs. The CC urged the
Central Government to take necessary steps to implement the
recommendations.

West Bengal

The Central Committee heard a report on the situation in
West Bengal. The TMC combine on the one hand and the Maoists on the other
are continuing their campaign of violence against the CPI(M) and the Left.
Since the Lok Sabha elections, 167 members and supporters of the CPI(M)
and the Left have been killed. Thousands have had to leave their homes due
to the attacks. The Maoist gangs have killed over seventy of our comrades
in West Medinipur district alone. There is a deliberate and planned effort
to attack the CPI(M) and the Left to prevent them working among the
people. The Central Committee condemned the dubious links between the TMC
and the Maoists. The TMJC is in the Central Government whose declared
policy is to counter the Maoist violence.

The Central Committee is confident that the CPI(M) state unit and the Left
Front will successfully mobilize the people in defence of their rights and
livelihood while countering the anti-democratic assaults and violence.

Maharashtra: No Pandering to Chauvinism

The Central Committee condemned the chauvinistic forces who are targeting
non-Marathi speaking people in Mumbai and the state. The Shiv Sena and the
MNS are indulging in this disruptive game after having failed to mobilize
support for their platform in the recent assembly elections. The attempt
to intimidate film actors like Shahrukh Khan and other personalities for
speaking out their mind is highly condemnable.

The Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra is also pandering to
chauvinistic sentiments. The recent order on taxi drivers in Mumbai having
to speak and write Marathi with the 15 year domicile is one such step. The
CPI(M) calls upon all citizens in Maharashtra and the country to rebuff
the virulent chauvinistic politics which harms national unity.

Rectification Campaign

The Polit Bureau submitted its rectification report to the Central
Committee. As per the decision of the rectification campaign document
adopted in October 2009, the rectification process is to begin from the
Polit Bureau and the Central Committee. The report of the rectification of
the Central Committee will be taken up in the next meeting of the CC.

Party Congress

The Central Committee decided to hold the 20th Congress of the Party after
the assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala due in May 2011. The
schedule of the Party conferences will begin after this.

In the meantime, the Central Committee has decided to convene an extended
meeting of the Central Committee in early August 2010 to decide on the
political line to meet the current situation.

March 12 Left Rally

The Left parties have decided to hold an all India rally in Delhi on March
12. The rally is being organized to focus on the demands to curb price
rise, protection of the lands of the peasants and land reforms, employment
for all and against the attacks on democracy and violence against the Left
in West Bengal.

The Central Committee called upon all its units to mobilize people for the
rally and make it a big success.

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