The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc have issued the following statement on June 22.

THE Modi government has embarked upon a merciless destruction of people’s livelihood which has already been severely assaulted both by the pandemic and the unplanned, unilaterally announced and totally mismanaged nationwide lockdown.

The prices of petrol and diesel have been hiked everyday for the last fifteen days. Cumulatively, petrol prices have been hiked by Rs 7.97 and diesel by Rs 8.88. This is further crippling the lives of crores of our people.

The Left parties demand that the central government sharply reduce its excise duties on petroleum products, which are amongst the highest in the world today, and provide relief to the people.

Oil marketing companies are making super profits at the expense of people. At the same time the central government is earning super revenues. This is criminal.
Instead of attending to the problems of survival of the people, the Modi government is mounting further assaults. In this context, the Left parties have decided to organise an all India protest on the following demands:

1. Immediately slash duties on petroleum products and reduce prices.
2. Immediately transfer Rs 7,500 per month for coming six months to all families not in the income tax paying bracket.
3. Distribute free 10 kg of foodgrains per individual to all the needy.

The Left parties extend their support to the strike call from July 2 to 4 of coal workers against the Modi government’s decision for privatisation of coal mining.

The Left parties extend their full support and solidarity to the central trade unions for their all India protest call, on a charter of demands, on July 3, 2020.

The Left parties, in consultation with other secular opposition parties, will announce a date for this all India protest.