LF has no moral right to criticise Centre about hikes: Provash

Kolkata, Apr 5 (UNI) The Socialist Unity Centre of India(SUCI) today said the Left Front government in West Bengal has no moral right to criticise the Centre for the hike in the price of essential commodities.

Talking to newspersons here, SUCI State Secretary Provash Ghosh alleged the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance(UPA) government at the Centre had been alloting huge amounts of foodgrains to the state government but the latter failed to properly utilise it and accused the Centre for shortage of supplies.

He pointed out that the Centre did not bear the sole responsibility for the spiralling price rise, but the CPI(M)-led LF and BJP-ruled states were equally responsible, since all were protecting the interests of the capitalists of the US and blackmarketeers.

''The (State) Government should immediately arrest the blackmarketeers and take stern action against them, ''Mr Ghosh demanded adding, ''Public Distribution System should also be conducted peacefully.'' Condemning yesterday's bus accident, he said that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh should be paid to the victims and the driver should be severly punished and his licence cancelled.

The SUCI announced they would campaign against the forceful acquisition of agricultural land in Singur and Nandigram for setting up industries in the coming Panchayat elections, he said.

Responding to a query on the Bangla Bandh due on April 21, he said, ''There is no way that the 12-hour Bandh will be withdrawn.'' UNI AKM LL SBC RN1749