CPI-M opposed to Telengana, says Karat
December 20, 2009 20:25 IST
The Communist Party of India-Marxist said it was opposed to creation of Telangana out of the present Andhra Pradesh and it would be against the spirit of federalism and the party's advocacy for stronger states.
The CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said in Guwahati that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government took a 'hasty decision' to create Telangana under pressure from the leaders of Telangana movement and without caring to take opinions of other political parties over the issue.
The CPI-M leader said, "The party firmly believes that Andhra Pradesh should remain one state for the greater interests of all the people in the state. Creation of separate state is not going to solve problems of backward Telengana region. The remedy lies in rapid socio-economic development of the region. Creation of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has hardly benefitted the tribal people in those mineral rich states," the CPI-M leader said.
He said Centre's Telengana proposal had already stoked demands for statehood in different corners of the country which is being threatened to be broken up into smaller pieces. He, however, favoured more autonomy to tribal communities for their rapid socio-economic development. He said creation of smaller states would mean a very powerful Centre that would have stranglehold on the states and that was not a situation wanted by the CPI-M in the country for the greater interests of uniform socio-economic development of all communities.
The CPI-M leaders expressing grave concern over the spiraling prices of food items and other essentials in the country called upon the UPA government to bar MNCs from indulging if 'futures trading in commodity' which the party views as the key reason behind spiraling prices.It calls for strengthening of PDS system and demands ration cards for every citizen to enable them to procure food items in reasonable prices.
The Left parties are meeting in New Delhi on December 24 to chalk out a joint strategy to launch country-wide movement against sky-rocketing prices of essentials during the Budget Session of the Parliament.
K Anurag in Guwahati
