CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statements on August 1

 DRAWING a wrong interpretation from the Supreme Court decision, the gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam have been closed. The Supreme Court decision had clearly stated that only after proper rehabilitation of the dam-affected was done and after the affected had been given compensation, could they be removed after July 31.

Arrangements for more than 40,000 families of the affected have not been completed. Peasants have not got any compensation. No provision at all has been made for compensation to agricultural workers, shopkeepers, fishermen and potters.

It is clear that due to political pressure and the compulsions of the Gujarat assembly elections, 40,000 families are being sacrificed.

The CPI(M) expresses solidarity with the struggle of the dam-affected people led by Medha Patkar. The CPI(M) demands that until the conditions of rehabilitation and compensation are not met with, no one must be displaced and the gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam must be kept open.

Withdraw the Hike in Cooking Gas Prices

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the decision of the government to raise the price of cooking gas cylinders by Rs 4 per month till a time when the entire subsidy on gas cylinders is wiped out.

This decision runs totally against the high profile “Give it up” campaign conducted by the prime minister to persuade families that can afford gas cylinders without subsidy to give up their subsidy so that these can be given to the poor.

Further, this is happening when the international prices of oil are sharply declining. Clearly, this government is fleecing the people in order to augment its revenue collections, when the prices of petroleum products should actually decline in line with the international trend.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands the immediate withdrawal of this harsh burden being imposed on the vast majority of the people of our country.