Guwahati: Criticising NDA government for its alleged “reversal” of many people-centric policies, Opposition CPI (M) today termed the overall economic situation of the country as “bleak”.
The party's politburo member Sitaram Yechury said his party along with other left and secular forces will continue to oppose the anti-people policies by the BJP-led government inside the Parliament.
“The overall economic situation of India is very bleak. Many of the previously decided policies or schemes for the poor have been watered down or reversed, which is not acceptable to us. Greater miseries of people are compensated (glossed over) by the communal agenda of BJP,” Yechury told reporters here.
The Rajya Sabha MP cited examples of reducing assistance to MGNREGA scheme, suspension of new proposals under Northeast Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, raising of excise duties on petrol and diesel even as global prices are coming down and falling industrial growth among others.
Yechury said all these steps are being taken to encourage the foreign companies at the cost of domestic industry, which is clearly visible from the government data released yesterday that industrial production saw the sharpest contraction in three years of 4.2 per cent in October.
“The Narendra Modi government is saying inflation is also falling. But it is falling because people are not purchasing as there is no money. During the festive season, sale of all consumer goods were down,” he said.
Besides, the cultivable agricultural land in the country has shrunk for the first time in 15 years, Yechury said. He said falling in Index for Industrial Output (IIP) resulted job losses and the negative sentiment among common people is being diverted into communal passion, leading to rise in riots.
“Recently we have seen number of BJP MPs making extreme hate statements. They were forced to withdraw and apologise. This phenomenon clearly shows the mindset of the government. As they failed on any substantial developmental work, they want to divert attention by communal propaganda,” he said.
Expressing concern over a recent incident of conversion, Yechury said, “How are you going to decide which caste will he go into? The Muslims are offered reservations, which mean you are converted into Dalits or other lower castes. The recent conversion took place under the influence of money,” he added. “Now mass conversions are going on. During Christmas, huge conversions are planned for Christian people. This is a very serious issue. It is being done only for vote bank politics,” he said.
Yechury also expressed concern over doing away with the tradition in Parliament that before introducing any new bill, it has to be sent to respective Standing Committees for its recommendations.
“Standing Committee is like a mini Parliament, where all parties have representatives. Its recommendations are very important as it thoroughly examines any new bill. It is an old tradition, but the Modi government has reversed it. It is very dangerous and an expression of arrogance,” he added.
The CPI(M) member cited example of passing of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill yesterday by a voice vote in Lok Sabha after the government did not accept the opposition demand for sending it to Parliamentary Standing Committee for scrutiny and said the Left will oppose passage of the Bill in Rajya Sabha.
