Congmen to protest Centre’s decision to cut subsidies

NAGPUR, MAY 1: Congressmen all over the State will be staging a day-long "dharna" at tehsil and district places on May 5, to protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Front Government’s decision to cut food subsidies.

The decision to stage "dharna" was taken by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) as a part of its programmes to protest against the Centre’s anti-poor and anti-farmer policies. According to a release issued by MPCC President Govindrao Adik, party workers including senior leaders, office bearers of tehsil and district-level office bears, present and past legislators and members of parliament and members of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis, office bearers of youth and Mahila wings, NSUI and Sewa Dal and members of INTUC, will participate in "dharna".

Adik alleged that the NDA government was following anti-poor and anti-farmer policies by withdrawing subsidies on foodgrains distributed through the PDS and on fertilisers. "The withdrawal of subsidies are bound to have its impact on the market and lead to pushing up of prices of essential commodities, thereby affecting the poor and also the salaried middle class", he said.

He also hit out at the NDA Government’s move to go ahead with its plans to implement the Sangh Parivar’s hidden communal agenda. "NDA government’s decision to review the constitution is nothing but an attack against the secular principles and the democratic set up", he alleged.