Left parties hold nationwide protest against Modi govt over economic slowdown

The Left parties has denounced the central government saying unprecedented economic crisis was a result of its repeated economic blunders such as demonetisation, faulty implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the crony capitalism.

New Delhi: Left parties, including CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), RSP and Forward Bloc, on Wednesday held nationwide protests against the BJP-led NDA government’s economic policies that have triggered the current economic slowdown.

In the national capital, their leaders along with party cadres rallied on Parliament street while raising slogans against the government.

Addressing the protesters here, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the right-wing government has adopted devastating policies that are proving to be detrimental to the people.

“Nearly 20 lakh jobs have fallen in the automobile sector, about 30 lakh workers lost jobs in the textile sector and the unemployment rate is at a historic high today, but the government is only keen on bailing out rich corporates, instead of focusing on increasing the purchasing power of the people,” he said.

The unprecedented economic crisis is a result of repeated economic blunders of demonetisation, followed by a complex Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the crony capitalism of the BJP government, he charged.

The protesting Left parties demanded an increase in public investment to generate employment while providing unemployment allowance to the youth until then; to ensure a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month.

They asked the government to ensure the provision of monthly living wages for a large number of workers who have been terminated.

They also asked it to stop privatisation of the public sector and withdraw 100% FDI in defence and coal sectors.