CPM to kick off people's movement

Mangalore, January 19: Blaming the three main political parties in Karnataka led by the ruling BJP, principal opposition Congress and JD(S) of losing sense of political direction, state unit of CPM is working to emerge as the people's alternative.

The CPM that adopted 33 resolutions at its state conference held in Chikkaballpur recently, will kick off its people's movement with a protest against 'pankthi bedha' followed in 250-odd temples across Karnataka on January 26.

Holding the 'pankthi bedha' observed in Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi and other temples in the state as the 'genesis' of 'made made snana' practiced in Kukke Sri Subrahmanya Temple, G V Srirama Reddy, state CPM secretary told reporters here on Wednesday that the party will stage a protest at Udupi on January 26.

"The pankthi bedha is a form of discrimination that goes against basic tenets of the Constitution that advocates secularism," he said.

Likewise, CPM would support a call given by various central labour organisations for an All India general strike on February 28 to protest against price rise and corruption, Reddy said adding the party would also up the ante on its move to secure housing sites for the homeless poor under government housing schemes.

Noting that present housing plot dimension and cost per unit of house sanctioned under the housing schemes is not scientific, Reddy said the state government must take a relook at its housing policy and revise both the housing plot dimension and the cost per unit.

On Paramashivaiah Committee report aimed at providing permanent irrigation facility to eight districts, he said politicians from Congress and BJP are involved in spreading lies to keep their voter constituents happy.

It does not involve diversion of the Nethravathi as is being projected, but involves tapping good portion of around 57.1% rainfall that falls on land in Western Ghats - around 160 TMC and an additional 60 TMC from Krishna Basin.