RSP continues its oppostion to SEZs

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) The Revolutionary Socialist Party(RSP), today put the UPA government in the dock over several counts including the setting up of the SEZs, failure to contain price rise and installing the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority despite strident opposition from the Left.

The RSP, at the conclusion of its three-day Central Committee meet, presided over by party General Secretary K Pankajakshan, said it would hold a National Convention against SEZs here on March 15 to protest against the government decision to give permission to set up as many as 432 SEZs in various parts of the country.

At a press conference, RSP leader and MP Abani Roy said these SEZs would be constructed at the cost of agricultural land. These would result in enormous loss in revenue collection by both the Union and state governments leading to further shrinking of spending on social sector.

The RSP has reportedly impressed upon the CPI(M) and the CPI that the Left should think about withdrawing support to the Manmohan Singh government on the plea that it has initiated anti-people policies and that the Left is unable to influence its decisions.

On the government's failure to contain price rise, the RSP said that the prices had sharply risen over a period of six months but it was ignored by the government.

The Left party demanded that the central and state governments take immediate steps to curb communal violence that was taking place in various parts of the country.

It also took strong objection to the government plan to install the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Fund to facilitate investment of the employees' hard earned money to the secondary market of different mutual funds." RSP is totally opposed to such moves," it said.

While it impressed upon the Manmohan Singh government to ensure that over 40 million subscribers of the EPF got at least 9.5 per cent rate of interest on their savings, it told the government to take immediate steps to recover NPAs of nationalised banks to the tune of Rs 1,40,000 lakh crores.

The Left party also asked the government to halt advancing inroad of FDI in retail sector.

UNI