'AITUC rally warning for UPA's pro-rich policies'

Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: CPI leader and All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta today said the November 23 rally by AITUC will be a warning for the UPA government for pursuing pro-rich policies adopted by the previous NDA government.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Dasgupta said if the UPA government did not change its pro-rich policies, the trade unions would launch 'rasta roko', 'rail roko' and 'jail bharao' agitation to force the government to mend its policies.

The CPI leader, who was here to mobilise support of the trade unions for the November 23 rally, came down heavily on the UPA government for encouraging the FDI and the five star shopping mall when the nation had been pushed to agriculture crisis.

He said the party would demand an amendment to the SEZ law in Parliament and raise the price rise, farmers problem, mineral policy and decline in the food production.

The CPI leader reiterated that under no circumstances the irrigated agriculture land should be spared for the SEZ purpose. The SEZ concept, he said would further compound the regional disparities and increase social tension.

Mr Dasgupta criticised the BJD government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for its failure to curb the price rise of essential commodities and check corruption.

He also accused the state government of allowing the private players to indulge in forward trading while ignoring the plea of the farmers.

UNI