New Delhi, The central trade unions affiliated to the Left parties would go on a general strike against the price rise and the anti-poor economic policies of the UPA government. The Communist Party of India has extended its full support to the strike.

The National Council of the CPI, which concluded its three-day meeting here on Tuesday, took a decision in this connection. "The NC has extended its full support to the August 20 general strike called by the Central Trade Unions and federations," announced CPI general secretary A B Bardhan while briefing news persons about the deliberations of the meeting that discussed the current political scenario in the aftermath of Left's withdrawal of support from the UPA government.

Bardhan said the NC called upon the people to fight against the anti people economic policies of the Congress-led UPA government, against imperialism and communalism and above all the rightward shift being sought by the Congress. The NC adopted several resolutions including on current agitation in Jammu on allotment of land to Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board and on recent serial bomb blasts.

On the rightward shift of the government Bardhan said the Congress and UPA government have betrayed the nation and the people by their determined efforts and declarations to align with US imperialism. "Since the Left withdrew the support, the Congress with its new allies Samajwadi Party and corporate houses, has launched a rightward offensive in the domestic policies, particularly in economic policies, which is reflected in the foreign policies also. It undermines parliament and other democratic institutions. There is a tendency of authoritarianism in the functions of the government," the NC political resolution emphasized.

It further said the unethical methods adopted by the Congress and SP to win trust vote in parliament have brought immeasurable disrepute to our democracy and to the very democratic institution of the parliament adding that the NC pointed out that the Left will have to play an active role in mobilizing all secular and democratic forces.

On Jammu agitation the NC expressed serious concern and condemned the brutal repression resorted by the police and paramilitary forces. It also condemns the efforts of the local authorities to gag local media." The CPI is of the firm opinion that a solution to the problem has to be found that is acceptable to the people of all regions and religions in the state. On serial bomb blasts, Bardhan said the central government must see there is proper coordination and cooperation between central and state intelligence agencies.

Referring to agrarian situation the NC said continuation of negligence of agrarian issues would lead to less production and productivity, resulting the danger of our food security. The CPI extended full support to farmer's issues and demands the UPA government to implement the NCF recommendations. The NC strongly criticized the recent decision of the government after winning trust vote and said while spontaneous increase in the price of essential commodities, all-time high in 13 years, touching the peak of 12 per cent on the basis of wholesale price index led by galloping rise in the prices of all food articles remains unattended, in fact government is overlooking the basic human problem by only resorting to nominal monetary measures, is hell bent on initiating economic programmes that benefit only the high rise corporate houses totally undermining the interest of the common people bulldozing the process of privatization, globalization and liberalization.

CPI's deputy general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy who presented the report on political developments demanded the government to strengthen public distribution system. He lamented the recent decision of the government to appoint private fund managers including Reliance Capital for handling Employees Provident Fund and said the hard earned savings of the working masses deposited in the PF account has begun the process of privatization of the largest social security scheme of the country.

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