CPM launches protest against UPA in Tripura

Agartala, Jul 15: The CPI(M) Tripura state committee today launched a week-long protest across the state, as part of the party's nationwide agitation programme against the Indo-US nuclear deal, price rise and non-compliance of Common Minimum Programme(CMP).

A party statement said the Left workers organised protest rallies and public meetings in several parts of the state despite incessant rain, adding the programme would be continued at various levels to motivate people against the alleged anti-people activity of the UPA government.

Addressing a party rally in Dharmanagar in North Tripura yesterday, CPI(M) Polit burea member and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar apprehended that the signing of the nuclear deal posed a threat to India's sovereignty and the Left parties could not allow it.

''Our country has huge natural resources like coal and gas from which power can be generated and the rivers flowing in the country's north eastern part bear a huge potential for the generation of hydroelectricity. Altogether, they can substantiate about one-third of the country's power demand,'' Mr Sarkar added.

He also said the Left parties would expose and oppose the efforts of the BJP and its allies to incite communal polarisation in the country for gaining political and electoral support.

''The Congress is trying to sell the country to the imperialist forces,'' the chief minister alleged.

Meanwhile, in another meeting in South Tripura, CPI(M) central committee member and state Finance Minister Badal Choudhury said, ''The Manmohan Singh government is going ahead with the nuke deal without the support of parliament, people of the country as well as a large number of nuclear scientists, because Dr Singh has become subservient to the US and its President George W Bush.''

UNI