The CPI(M) termed as 'drama' the resignation of Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister, saying the episode reflected badly on the functioning of UPA and his party Trinamool Congress.
The CPI(M) on Monday termed as 'drama' the resignation of Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister, saying the episode reflected badly on the functioning of UPA and his party Trinamool Congress.
Alleging that the Union Budget will result in all-round price rise and imposition of greater burdens on the working people, the party asked its units to protest against these new burdens imposed by the budget and mobilise people to demand that such provisions be scrapped.
"The drama of the resignation of Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister after the presentation of the Railway Budget reflects badly on the Trinamool Congress and the functioning of the UPA government.
"What is of least concern for the TMC leader, who was herself the railway minister ten months ago, is the perilous state of the railways which is in a financial mess and where safety aspects are being neglected," the party said in a statement after a meeting of its Central Committee.
The three-day meeting of the Central Committee, which ended here today, also finalised the Political-Organisational Report to be presented at the Party Congress which reviews the political and organisational work of the Party since the 19th party Congress.
On the Union budget, the party said, the proposals contained in the Budget will result in all-round price rise and the imposition of greater burdens on the working people.
"The increase in excise duties and service taxes across the board will impose an additional burden of Rs 45,940 crore. The cut in fuel subsidy of Rs 25,000 crore will lead to further hikes in fuel prices. The cut in subsidies to fertilisers by Rs 6,000 crore will add to the already high prices of fertilisers and affect the livelihood of millions of farmers," it said.
In the Railway Budget, the CPI-M said, there is a hike in passenger fares for all classes and the rise in fares of second class and sleeper class was "particularly onerous". The party called for the reversal of this decision.
On Sri Lanka, the party said, it was concerned about the lack of progress in investigating the killings of civilians and serious human rights violations in the last phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
Neither has the Sri Lankan government taken any substantive steps towards arriving at a political settlement for devolution of powers and autonomy to the Tamil-speaking areas. In this connection, the government of India should demand that the Sri Lankan government take up the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission in the UNHRC.
"It is necessary to have a credible and independent investigation into the charges of atrocities and all those responsible should be held accountable," it said.
The Central Committee criticized the UPA government’s vote in the UN Security Council against Syria in February, saying this resolution would have opened the way for intervention like in Libya was vetoed by Russia and China.
"The US administration is mounting pressure on India to cut back its oil purchases from Iran and to stop trade with that country. Notwithstanding the official stance of the government that it will continue to buy oil from Iran, there has been substantial reduction in oil imports from that country in the current year.
"The UPA government should maintain its trade relations with Iran and resist American pressures which are against the vital interests of the country," the statement added.
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