Left parties on Sunday said the 'Bharat bandh' to protest against price rise should serve as a warning to the government not to heap burden on the people, like it did with its decision on de-controlling the price of petrol. In a statement, CPI(M) Politburo appealed to the people to join the all India 'hartal' on July 5 and make it a big success.
"This powerful all India protest action should serve as a warning to the government not to heap burdens on the people and to withdraw the price hike measures," it said.
In a joint appeal, the four Left parties said they along with other secular democratic parties and opposition have called for the countrywide 'hartal' to fight against the menace of price rise and government's "inaction" to tackle the issue.
In their appeal, General Secretaries Prakash Karat (CPI-M), A B Bardhan (CPI), T J Chandrachoodan (RSP) and Debabrata Biswas (Forward Bloc) appealed to workers, students, teachers and workers to join the strike. Essential services like milk/water suppliers, hospitals would not be affected due to the bandh, they said.
"We hope that the success of the hartal will give a message to the government to reverse its policies, roll back the de-control of fuel and stop any moves for further de-control," the Left leaders said.
The CPI(M) Politburo condemned the refusal of the UPA government to reconsider the decision to increase the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas and the steps being taken to de-regulate the prices of petrol and diesel.
"By these steps, the Congress-led government is directly responsible for the spiraling price rise of food items and essential commodities. The de-regulation of prices is meant to help private oil companies and put the people at the mercy of a market-controlled by the oil MNCs and the domestic corporates," it alleged. PTI
