No compromise on CMP, Left promises
R R Nair in New Delhi
The Left Front has asserted that it will not compromise on its
agenda while framing the economic policies for the United Front’s Common Minimum Programme.
The common manifesto which the parties -- the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc -- brought out is an indicator of the major role it would
play in rectifying the UF’s mistakes.
This is the first time the Left parties have come out
with a common manifesto.
The Left plank is: guaranteeing the secular-democratic basis of the Indian Republic and national unity, pro-people economic policies, advancing the struggle for a corruption-free government and system, and ensuring a stable UF government which will work for growth with equity.
The Left Front is the first to bring out an election manifesto.
"We are clear about our agenda," CPI-M general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet had remarked earlier, "The BJP and Congress are wondering as to what should be made election issues and that is the reason for the delay."
The manifesto hits out at the BJP right in the introduction: "The very forces which sought to divide and disrupt the struggle for Independence have once again reared their heads.’'
The next target is the Congress which has 'degenerated both politically and organisationally'.
'It is a party in decline, as it has pursued when in power economic policies which militate against the people: it betrayed the secular heritage by compromising with the communal forces and it is a party riddled with corruption,’ it reads.
The manifesto is dead against Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram’s avowed policies. However, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan refused to comment on this saying, ‘you can ask questions about the CMP when it is released'.
In one of its biggest sections -- titled 'For an alternative economy' -- the manifesto clearly states that 'economic reforms require a different orientation'.
'The policies ushered in in the name of economic
reforms since 1991 have only worsened the situation.'
'Liberalisation has meant a big bonanza for the big business houses, landlords, financial speculators and big traders who make super-profit and accumulate huge incomes,’ the manifesto reads.
The Left speaks of getting more money out of the rich to mobilise resources, 'broaden the direct base, instead of reducing taxes on the rich, raise the tax rates on the affluent sections (corporate tax, wealth tax, income tax etc) and ensure strict compliance…'
Disinvestment in the public sector is vehemently opposed, so is the privatisation of insurance companies. And the Left is cautious of foreign investment and import liberalisation.
The public distribution system would be strengthened by the inclusion of 14 essential commodities. Food grains would be supplied to those below the poverty line at 50 per cent the central issue price.
Further, the manifesto speaks about
Constitutional amendments to provide one-third reservation for women in legislatures, allocation of 10 per cent of the Union Budget and 30 per cent of the state budget for education.
Judicial activism would be curbed. A National Judicial Commission for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and high courts would be constituted.
Protection and encouragement of Urdu is one of the
many promises for the minorities.
Another Constitutional amendment promised is a central legislation for the agricultural workers. Land reforms is one of the important programmes
and the Left proudly proclaims that only they have effectively implemented reforms in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura.
The common manifesto would be valid only for this general election. For assembly elections, each state unit of the various constituents would have its own manifesto.
Tell us what you think of this report
|