CPI opposes privatisation move of Mayawati government

Lucknow, July 24 (UNI) The Communist Party of India(CPI) today strongly opposed the ''privatisation move'' by the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh and urged the Bahujan Samaj Party government to scrap its proposal to hand over Anpar C power project and sugar mills to the private sector.

The party also demanded renaming of Amausi airport as Begam Hazratmahal International Airport to honour the freedom fighters on the 150th anniversary of the 1857 movement.

The CPI state unit, during its state council meeting, here adopted resolutions which included renaming of the Amausi Airport, opposition to privatisation and demand for adequate price of wheat for the farmers.

The council meeting was attended by party's general secretary A B Bardhan. Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Bardhan said the party will oppose any effort by the BSP government to hand over the power projects and sugar mills to the private sector.

'' The Government should immediately shelve its move to give Anpara C thermal power project to a private Lanco Kodapalli company and to sell off 33 sugar mills of the public and cooperative sector''.

'' Efforts should be made to end the miseries of the farmers so that they don't commit suicides,'' he said, adding that the BSP government should also fulfill its commitment that criminals would not be allowed to hold positions in the government.

Though appreciating the Mayawati government for registering cases of the past three years, raising the minimum wages of labourer to Rs 100 and setting up of a Special Investigation team(SIT) to probe into the scams of the previous government, Mr Bardhan said the party still opposed the hi-tech cities project mooted by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government.

'' As the present BSP government is only two months old, the CPI is expecting much from a politically stable government,'' he said.

However, the CPI leader said the issues related to Ambedkar Stadium controversy have earned a bad name for the government.

Meanwhile, the CPI state council had chalked out a detailed statewide agitational programme. On August 24, demonstrations will be held at all district headquarters on irregularities in the Public Distribution System(PDS). A nineday padyatras will be organised at all the districts from October two to review and monitor the PDS, mid-day meal programme and other rural development schemes. On November 19, a Dalit Adhikar Rally will be held in Lucknow.

UNI