TWENTY-five years of unbridled reforms have adversely effected our political system and agriculture, finance and industrial sectors and heightened inequalities in the society, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said while delivering a lecture on ‘25 Years of Liberalisation and its Experiences’, organised by M Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram and Prajasakti Book House, in Vijayawada on April 17. He said the real tribute to Basavapunnaiah would be to strive for a socialist alternative in our country. India has witnessed an adverse change since the implementation of neo-liberal economic policies in 1991 which made the rich richer and the poor poorer and widened the economic disparity. He blamed the Congress and the BJP for implementing the same kind of policies because, he said, the ruling class in India has accepted these reforms. Global capitalist forces and the present BJP-led government were going hand-in-hand and posing a threat to the country. Earlier, there used to be State capitalism in vogue but now the State itself is taking away lands from farmers and tribal population to hand them over to foreign companies, he said. On the Union Budget 2016-17, Karat said the BJP government has given away Rs 6 lakh crores to the big corporates. Even natural resources like land and minerals were being given to the big corporates at throwaway prices. Agriculture was the worst hit due to deleterious impact of reforms. Public investment in agriculture has been going down over the years. Our agricultural products have been at the receiving end due to indiscriminate imports of the same products from other countries, he said. On industrial front too, the picture is not rosy as it is badly affected due to inflow of capital from other countries and Indian companies are losing their productive capacity. Basic services like supply of drinking water and public health are being privatised. Instead of serving the poor, the government is privatising the basic services thus depriving the poor, he said. Karat said the impact of neo-liberal policies on the political sphere could be explicitly seen in the rise in election expenditure in southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The global finance capital has invaded the political system, further corroding the parliamentary system. Barring the Left parties, the independent role once played by the regional parties like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is no more there, he said. Other dominant regional political parties like the DMK are also sailing in the same boat. It is difficult to comprehend whether it is politics in business or business in politics, he said. The people cannot expect anything better from these politicians whose interests were in business and their interests drive and shape government policies. The Congress and the BJP are on the same page in implementing neo-liberal policies and encouraging corporate firms. Only the CPI(M) and the Left parties were consistent fighters against the neo-liberal policies. The forces that yearn for democracy including the Left parties should take this as a challenge and work with proper conviction in opposing discredited neo-liberal economic reforms. Karat underlined the need for social transformation in the country at a time the saffron forces, abetted by ruling BJP, have been attacking dalits and women in the country. He expressed concern over attempts by Hindutva forces to take control of the country and said it must be stalled by all means. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B V Raghavulu released two books written by Makineni Basavapunnaiah. He said Basavapunnaiah extensively wrote books and articles on politics, economic issues and farmers’ issues from people’s perspective by analysing their lives. His sharp analysis and criticism came in for accolades by all. Had he been alive for another 20 years, he would have written wonderful books on the impact of neo-liberal reforms on the people, Raghavulu said. Raghavulu said a political situation typical of bourgeoisie parties was prevailing in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – TDP leaders are crossing over to TRS in Telangana while YSR Congress MLAs are switching loyalties to TDP in Andhra Pradesh. Both the TDP and the YSR Congress cry foul over the developments. TDP welcomes YSRC legislators in AP and opposes TDP members joining TRS in Telangana. The legislators claim that they were impressed by the good governance and policies of the government and join TDP for the welfare of people and development of constituency. “But people know the facts,” he quipped. Politics has become a saleable commodity and it is the consequence of the neo-liberal policies, he said. Prajasakti editor Paturi Ramaiah presided over the seminar. CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh state secretary P Madhu and Prajasakti executive editor S Venkatarao were present in the seminar.