Uttaranchal govt shielding Ramdev: Karat

Dehra Dun, Apr 4 (UNI) Communist leader Brinda Karat today accused the Congress government in Uttaranchal of covering up the labour issue in Yoga Guru Ramdev's Divya Yoga Pharmacy at Hardwar.

The CPI (M) Polit Bureau member told reporters that ''the workers were still on strike'', and the government apathy was sending negative message to the public that laws in the country are made only for the weaker sections.

Ms Karat further said that the Bill pertaining to the forests which was under discussion by a Parliamentary Committee did not include even a single problem relating to the non-tribal forest dwellers of Uttaranchal.

She demanded that a separate Bill be brought in to look into the rights and welfare of these people.

''Surprisingly, not a single MP from Uttaranchal has raised voice on the issue,'' she said, blaming both the Congress government and the opposition BJP in the state for ignoring the vital issue.

On the problems caused due to the Tehri Dam, Ms Karat said Pratap Nagar which is facing transportation problems due to submergence of the bridge, should be provided subsidy by the Centre to overcome the problem till an alternative bridge was constructed.

Lambasting the Congress government, she said that land areas at Udhhamsingh Nagar marked for the refugees were still under land mafias and the government had totally failed to reclaim them.

''Further, the state government has not been able to initiate a single project under Rural Employment Guarantee Act,'' she said.

''Looking at the Tiwari government falling flat on all the fronts, it was a mistake on the Centre's part not to accept his willingness to quit his post,'' she said.

Ms Karat also said her party supported the Bank strike adding that "the employees resort to strike only when a dialogue fails".

UNI/LPT JN HT1635