Another downgrade from S&P but this time: Sangh Parivar

Their objective: to press the Government to stop its ‘‘anti-people, anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-small industry policies.’’

Making a joint announcement of the campaign plan, SJM convenor Muralidhar Rao, BMS president Hasmukh Dave and BKS president Kunwarjibhai Jadhav said: ‘‘The time has come to go to people not only to educate them, but also to organise them.’’

‘‘It is a step forward,’’ Rao said, when asked how the latest plan was different from its earlier ones. ‘‘You cannot expect organisations to always maintain a high pitch. We are progressively sharpening the debate. The NDA’s performance on the economic front has been very poor and disappointing.’’

When asked if the three Sangh Parivar organisations would support the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, Rao said, ‘‘Swadeshi will be the main agenda of the next general elections. Persons known for credibility and objectivity will replace people interested in FDI to achieve growth.’’

As for their opposition to the BJP, he said, ‘‘We will decide at an appropriate time. However, we will not offer space to the Congress because we believe that it played a big role in globalisation.’’

Asked whether he was attacking the Government or referring to bureaucrats N K Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Rao said: ‘‘What else does it mean when we mention the Government?…It implies Vajpayeeji and Advaniji, the persons in whose name the mandate was obtained from people are responsible.’’

Rao alleged that the ‘‘Government is led by people whose interests are doubtful.’’ Elaborating, he maintained that ‘‘When reports are formulated, they are interested only in foreign investment.’’

He claimed that these people cited the examples of Chile, Brazil and Botswana to lobby for FDI. Their argument was that a domestic disinvestment of PSUs implied only a diversion of money from one end to another, while foreign investment meant an inflow of money to the country. However, ‘‘all these countries are not known for handling their economies in a remarkable way,’’ he added.

Rao, as also Dave and Jadhav, made a scathing attack on the Disinvestment Ministry and said that it was targeting only PSUs as the criterion for its efficiency. ‘‘They have created private monoplies,’’ the three leaders said in unison, pointing at Modern Foods.

Rao questioned the very need for a Disinvestment Ministry, while Dave demanded the constitution of tripartite committees on disinvestment comprising representatives of trade unions, employers and the Government.

Dave demanded the removal of ceiling on bonus while opposing any move to further reduce the interest on provident fund. Jadhav claimed that while subsidies were being reduced in India, they were on the rise in the US. ‘‘Those who ignore the interests of the farmers will have to suffer the consequences,’’ he said.