CPI toes Sonia’s line, says state not acting tough on hoarders

CPI toes Sonia’s line, says state not acting tough on hoarders

Express News Service

Posted online: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 0105 hrs IST

Kolkata, April 29
In sync with Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s assertion that the Left-Front government in West Bengal was not doing enough to tackle soaring prices, the CPI — a partner of the ruling Left Front — today said that the state government can also play a role in controlling the inflation.

“The state government can take action against hoarders. We are also not happy about the fact that the state could not reach its target for procurement of rice. We want the state government to put in more efforts so that more amount of rice is procured,” said CPI State Secretary Manju Kumar Majumdar today.

He was replying to a question at a Meet The Press programme organised by the Kolkata Press Club on the occasion of the forthcoming panchayat polls.

The leader pointed out several areas where they differed from big brother CPM and said they were in a constant dialogue with them on those issues.

“We want industries but we don’t want them to be set up on agricultural land. We also want the closed factories to be re-opened. We are also strongly opposed to the entry of real estates at the sites of closed factories,” the CPI functionary said.

Another issue on which CPI and CPM differ is entry of both national and foreign big houses into retail business. “Their entry into the retail trade will harm the interests of small and medium businessmen and farmers. The CPM is aware of our stand on these issues,” Majumdar said.

He, however, expressed hope that the unity of the Left Front would remain intact even after the emergence of these differences. “Differences within a Front is inevitable but we believe they will be amicably settled,” he added.

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CPI toes Sonia’s line, says state not acting tough on hoarders Express News Service Posted online: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 0105 hrs IST Kolkata, April 29 In sync with Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s assertion that the Left-Front government in West Bengal was not doing enough to tackle soaring prices, the CPI — a partner of the ruling Left Front — today said that the state government can also play a role in controlling the inflation. “The state government can take action against hoarders. We are also not happy about the fact that the state could not reach its target for procurement of rice. We want the state government to put in more efforts so that more amount of rice is procured,” said CPI State Secretary Manju Kumar Majumdar today. He was replying to a question at a Meet The Press programme organised by the Kolkata Press Club on the occasion of the forthcoming panchayat polls. The leader pointed out several areas where they differed from big brother CPM and said they were in a constant dialogue with them on those issues. “We want industries but we don’t want them to be set up on agricultural land. We also want the closed factories to be re-opened. We are also strongly opposed to the entry of real estates at the sites of closed factories,” the CPI functionary said. Another issue on which CPI and CPM differ is entry of both national and foreign big houses into retail business. “Their entry into the retail trade will harm the interests of small and medium businessmen and farmers. The CPM is aware of our stand on these issues,” Majumdar said. He, however, expressed hope that the unity of the Left Front would remain intact even after the emergence of these differences. “Differences within a Front is inevitable but we believe they will be amicably settled,” he added.