Left parties to stage protests on Oct 16 in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Leaders of various Left parties expressed concern over the economic slowdown, closure of industries, job losses and rising unemployment under the present government at the Centre. The leaders of Left parties demanded that the government to stop pursuing 'anti-people's policies.

The leaders of CPM, CPI, MCPI, RSP and other parties spoke at a meeting organised at the MBVK Bhavan here on Sunday. They decided to stage protests in the state on October 16 opposing the anti-people and anti-worker policies of the Central government.

CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said the unemployment rate reached peak level in the country in the past few years. He said four lakh workers lost jobs in the automobile sector and many other sectors were also facing crisis due to the impact of the demonetisation and subsequent introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said manufacturing sector was affected badly and employees and workers were in deep distress due to falling of manufacturing in the country. CPM state secretary P Madhu said the purchasing power of the consumers has been falling drastically, which was further aggravating the economic problems. He demanded that the Union government invest money for the development of infrastructure facilities and creation of jobs to increase the purchasing power.

Madhu said there was crisis in banking sector too and decisions like merger of banks were creating more confusion among people. He said waiving of NPAs (non-performing assets) was a big loss to the country and demanded that the government immediately stop the pro corporate policies.

He said the government had waived Rs 2.38 lakh crore and again Rs 1.96 lakh crore recently. Criticising the cut in corporate tax rate, he expressed suspicions that the government would increase taxes to recover that money from the public.

He appealed to the people to participate in the protests on October 16 in the state opposing the policies of the Union government. He also demanded that the government withdraw decision allowing 100 per cent FDI in some sectors.