Expressing dissatisfaction with the Government's measures to control spiralling prices of essential goods, its key outside supporter CPI(M) said it would go ahead with its proposed nationwide agitation with Left and other parties."These measures are half-hearted and not fruitful. They haven't taken any concrete steps to check prices. We are discussing with other parties and will organise the protest actions jointly," Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai told reporters here.Among the urgent measures the party has demanded are a ban on futures trading in all essential commodities, withdrawal of a legislation which would allow FDI into the commodities market, universalising public distribution system, changing the petro-products taxation structure and carryingout dehoarding drives, he said.His remarks came a day after the government announced a fresh set of measures including ban on export of non-basmati rice and slashing of import duties on edible oils and maize to check inflation.Responding to questions on the 6th Pay Commission, he said the party Congress had adopted a resolution asking the government not to accept the recommendations to abolish the Group D posts "which means elimination of about 12 lakh postsin the central services itself".He said CPI(M) also wanted the government not to accept the pay panel's recommendation on corporatisation of the railways and defence establishments.Through the resolution, the party wants the Centre to bear 50 per cent of the expenditure of all states in implementing the pay hike for state government employees. This should be 90 per cent in case of the Northeastern special category states, he said.The 19th Congress also adopted a resolution demanding immediate implementation of the Forest Rights Act and include it under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution to protect tribal interests.
