By IANS,
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday condemned the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) for their “virulent chauvinistic politics” and their attempt to intimidate film actors like Shah Rukh Khan and other personalities for speaking out their mind.
“The CPI-M central committee condemns the chauvinistic forces who are targeting non-Marathi speaking people in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena and the MNS are indulging in this disruptive game after having failed to mobilise support for their platform in the recent assembly elections,” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said.
The party also blamed the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra for pandering to the chauvinistic sentiments in the state.
“The recent order on taxi drivers in Mumbai having to speak and write Marathi with the 15-year domicile is one such step,” he said.
The CPI-M also called upon people in Maharashtra and the country to rebuff the disruptive forces that harm the national integrity.
Talking about the Ranganath Mishra Commission recommendations, Karat said: “We welcome the recommendations for providing reservation for the minorities in government jobs. The CPI-M central committee urges the Central government to take necessary steps to implement the recommendations.”
The party’s central committee also reiterated its strong opposition to the Central government’s decision to disinvest at least 10 percent of government equity in all profitable public sector units.
“Already shares of NHPC, Oil India and NTPC have been sold. The government is planning to sell shares in 60 central public sector undertakings that would be short-listed in the stock market in the next two years.
“The deceptive concept of ‘people’s ownership’ is being used to mislead public opinion and conceal the true nature of disinvestment,” a press communique issued by the party said.
Karat said that NTPC’s share prices have sharply dropped in the share market.
“There is going to be another scam,” he said.
The CPI-M central committee also decided to mobilise people against the disinvestment and said it would extend all support to the struggle of the trade unions and the public sector employees against this step which is contrary to national interests.