CPI to strike against price hike on Oct 21
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2011: SPF coalition partner CPI is planning a State-wide agitation all over Manipur against price hike and criminalisation of politics on October 21 .

The party has also instructed its Minister to urge the Government to take a definite resolution on the protracted issue of Sadar Hills district at the earliest.

Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan here today, CPI State Council Secretary Dr M Nara stated that the Central Government deployed its military forces and opened all highways when there was blockade for just four days in Jammu and Kashmir.

However in the case of Manipur, New Delhi has been acting mute and blind even though the blockade has crossed 70 days.

The CPI State Council held a meeting on October 9 during which all the pressing, current issues were deliberated at length.

While the people have been enduring untold misery because of the twin blockade, the State Government is seemingly helpless to find any solution.

On the other hand, the Central Government has been refusing to intervene in the most callous manner, Dr Nara observed.

The State Council meeting resolved that the Central Government should deploy Highway Protection Force along the two National Highways leading to Imphal so as to neutralise the chronic problem of highway blockades.

The State Government too should insist for deployment of Highway Protection Force, he asserted.

Observing that the announcement of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to meet the Chief Minister on the issue of Sadar Hills district is too late, Dr Nara informed that a massive agitation would be staged in all district headquarters on October 21 demanding reduction in prices of all commodities including petroleum products.

The agitation would also demand the Government to prevent election-related gun culture, punishment of criminal minded politicians and checking corruption.

Though elections are not very near, there were instances when rival political workers exchanged gun fire recently.

This was unprecedented, Dr Nara remarked.

Observing that there were violent incidents at election-related meetings, Dr Nara said that the party's meeting strongly condemned the failure of police to check such violent clashes.

Noting the abnormally high level of corruption in the State and the many high-profile corruption cases at the Centre, the meeting decided in favour of passing a strong Lokpal Bill in the coming winter session of Parliament so as to check corruption cases in the country.

Claiming that the time for Congress to form government on its own either in the State or the Centre has gone, Dr Nara remarked that the recent tirade made by the Chief Minister against opposition Members smacked of immaturity.

Clarifying that CPI has no objection in granting district status to Sadar Hills, Dr Nara conveyed that the party has instructed its Minister in the SPF Government to expedite the district boundary re-organisation and settle the issue of Sadar Hills at the earliest.

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