CPI calls for political solutions to restore peace in Lanka

Puducherry, Jan 5 (UNI) Criticising Sri Lanka Government for its decision to withdraw the ceasefire agreement with the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam(LTTE), Communist Party of India(CPI), National Secretary, D Raja today said political solutions should be evolved to restore peace to the Island nation.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Raja said military exercises would never be a solution and since Tamils were demanding equality, efforts should be made for a joint Government in Sri Lanka.

On the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, he said the Centre should take steps to get the Supreme Court stay vacated to implement the project. The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) had made it a religious issue, he alleged.

The CPI leader said the project would only help to develop the economy of the nation and Tamil Nadu in particular.

Alleging that United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government at the Centre was not concerned about the the issues of common people in the coutry, Mr Raja said unemployment and poverty had gone up, since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were concerned with the swift Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth, which would only help the rich.

Stating that 78 per cent of the people in the country were earning less than Rs 25 a day, he said the Government should take steps to alleviate poverty.

The Government should withdraw the ban on employment and check the price rise, he said and added the Government should reconsider the Patent Act.

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