Communists unveil list of demands

While the CPI has decided to stay out of government and instead support Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's coalition from outside, its membership of the coalition remains important for the government to survive.

Should it pull its 10 MPs from the coalition and take the 43 fellow leftist MPs from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) along with it, Gandhi's government would likely collapse.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Follows are the policy initiatives listed by CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan at a news conference Monday:

-- Top priority should be given to rural and agriculture; process of land reforms should be completed; investments should be made in the farm sector to help farmers.

-- No question of reducing subsidies. In fact, they should be enhanced wherever possible.

-- If possible free power should be given to farmers or at a subsidised rate.

-- No unscientific, unauthorised, unwarranted talk of linking of river waters.

-- No increase in the price of kerosene and if possible, prices should be brought down.

-- Quantitative Restrictions (QRs) on farm products should be removed and customs duties on these products reviewed.

-- Privatisation of profit-making public companies should be halted and reversed. For other public companies, efforts should be made for a turnaround. The ministry of disinvestment is an anachronism, it should go, it has no function.

-- Labour laws should be revised. Right to strike should be given back.

-- School textbooks that were distorted by the government should be corrected by a review committee.

-- Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) should be repealed. Those held under POTA and against whom no charges have been filed for six months should be released.

-- On foreign policy, friendship with all countries but no special relationship with the United States. No subservience to US imperialism and aggression.

-- Support of the cause of the Palestinian people.