THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM on Thursday released its manifesto in Delhi promising to scrap the controversial Gadgil and Kasturirrangan reports besides attacking the UPA Government for price rise and Narendra Modi for his dangerous mix of patronage for big business and rabid communalism.
The CPM has promised to set up fresh committees to study the ecology and protection of the Western Ghats which would also take the local people into confidence before finalising its reports. The party has given an assurance to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone Act and bring in minimum wages of rupees 10,000.
The LDF has fielded a legal adviser, Joyce George, to the High Range Samrakshana Samithi, in the Idukki Lok Sabha seat. However, the UDF believes that the CPM manifesto will have no impact. “A party like the CPM can make any number of claims since it is doubly sure that it is not going to govern the country. This is going to be the worst electi-ons for the party since 1952,’’ said Planning Board Member C.P.John.
He said the CPM was adopting double standard on the issue. “Former chief minister V.S.Achuthanandan is in favour of the Gadgil report while the party is opposed to it. Let it first put its house in order”, he said adding that the promise was a ploy to hoodwink Christian voters.
Dr K.N.Harilal of the Centre for Development Studies here said the CPM manifesto reflected its political programme. “The CPM is not against conservation of the Western Ghats.They want authorities to involve local people in these activities and also ensure that their means of livelihood, their agriculture, plantation and habitation are not affected in anyway,’’ he added.
The Manifesto highlights are:
Striking failure of UPA, its inability to check unrelenting rise in prices of food and other essential commodities.
Employment has been less than 1 per cent annually and one in every three graduates in the age group of 15-29 remains unemployed.
Modi model a dangerous mix of patronage for the big business and corporates combined with communalism.
Enactment of a central legislation for SCP for scheduled castes and for the tribal sub plan.
A sub plan for Muslim minorities on the lines of tribal sub plan in order to implement Sachar committee recommendations.
Six percent of GDP for education.
Minimum wage rupees 10,000 per month linked to consumer price index.
Amending and strengthening the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Lok Pal Act.
Amend section 377 of the IPC so that it does not criminalize adult consensual relationships irrespective of sexual orientation.
Amendment to IPC and other statutes to remove the death penalty from the statues.
