CPI warns against any move to topple Bihar Govt

Describing the attempt to invoke Article 356 to destabilise the Rabri Devi Government as politically motivated to please BJP’s coalition partners at the Centre, the CPI in a resolution called upon all Left and democratic forces in the country to oppose any such move.

The party’s position has consistently been against dislodging any democratically elected government. However, in the event of total collapse of law and order machinery in a State or of anti-national activities that cannot be contained by the State law-enforcement apparatus, Article 356 can be used, and therefore, the CPI opposed scrapping of Article 356 from the Constitution,it was argued.

A resolution on price rise expressed concern at the “double digit inflation that caused unprecedented distress to the common people,” characterised by steep rise in the prices of all essential commodities. Blaming the 1998-99 Budget, the CPI was of the view that heavy indirect taxation, increase in railway freight and prices of petroleum products, indiscriminate imports and widening budgetary gap were some of the factors that were responsible for the inflationary trend.

The CPI regretted that in an environment of industrial stagnation and economic slowdown, wage freeze and downsizing of labour force have added to the misery of the working class, and demanded, in this context, action against hoarders and speculators by invoking the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.