CPI (M) to discuss Ranganath Mishra report

KOLKATA: While the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has in principle welcomed the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission, the details of the report will be discussed at the three-day meeting of the party’s Central Committee beginning on Thursday. This was stated by Mohammed Salim, member of the party’s Central Committee, here on Wednesday.

“This is the first ever Commission set up to make recommendations on educational and economic opportunities for the development of minorities,” Mr. Salim said, adding that the decision to appoint the Commission was taken at the time the CPI (M) had extended outside support to the first UPA government at the Centre.

Re-affirming the need to tackle the problem of rising prices, Mr. Salim said while the second UPA government had said it would bring prices under control within the first 100 days of coming to power, nothing had been achieved so far.

Accusing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of “passing the buck”, Mr. Salim said that controlling prices was “a collective responsibility of the government” and could not be avoided by emphasising the role of the State.

Ms. Banerjee had recently spoken out against the Centre for not doing enough to control prices of essential commodities.

“When she is a part of the same government and a member of the [Union] Cabinet, she cannot shirk her responsibility,” he said.

Mr. Salim also accused Ms. Banerjee of being inconsistent in her stand on the issue of dealing with Maoist violence. “In Kolkata she says that if she comes to power she will drive the Maoists away, but when she visits areas that have a Maoist presence she is pleading with them to sit for discussions,” Mr. Salim said.