CPI, CPI(M) to launch joint propaganda

Chennai, Oct 15 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu units of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CPI today announced a week-long joint propaganda movement, to press, among other things, early implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP).

Addressing a joint press conference here, CPI(M) State Secretary R Varadarajan and CPI State Secretary D Pandian said the movement would be held between October 20 and 25.

Accusing the communal forces of trying to stall the SSCP, the Left party leaders said that through public meetings, leaders of the two parties would educate the people to resist the move by the communal forces to stall the project.

''We will propagate that the project will bring fresh employment, help develop new ports and pave way for the overall economic development of the State'', Mr Varadarajan said.

Mr Pandian called upon the people to defeat the forces trying to delay the implementation of the project. The Centre should not have asked for three months' time for considering an alternative alignment, he said.

The leaders said the two parties would hold public meetings at about 1,000 centres across the State, highlighting the demands to be conceded by the DMK Government in the State and the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre.

The demands included scrapping of the Indo-US nuclear deal, containing prices of essential commodities, distribution of house site pattas to the poor and checking illegal sand mining.

Stating that the party's stand on the nuke deal was in the interest of the people and the country, Mr Varadarajan said even the nuclear scientists had appreciated the party's stand.

The leaders demanded that the State Government set up an all-party committee to oversee the distribution of house site pattas. More than 25 lakh people in the State were awaiting house site pattas, they said.

While supporting the DMK Government, they would not hesitate to condemn Government's acts in excess or against democratic norms, they warned.

UNI