20 lakh to form CPM protest wall today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than 20 lakh people will take part in the ‘people’s protest wall’ to be raised by CPM on August 11 against the “anti-people” policies of the state and central governments.

The 1000-kilometre-long human wall of protest will be formed between Manjeshwaram Taluk Office and Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

CPM national general secretary Sitaram Yechury will join the end point at Raj Bhavan while politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai will be present at the starting point at Manjeshwaram. The protest will begin at 4 pm and participants will take the pledge at 4.50 pm.

The human wall is being organised as part of the CPM's nationwide agitation programme from August 1 to 14.

According to party leadership, the agriculture sector is facing a deep crisis with growth rate dropping drastically and farmer suicides increasing by 26 per cent.

Prices of rubber and copra have fallen drastically due to the flawed import policy.

It said labour laws are being changed at will to suit corporate houses and privatisation of PSUs is being carried out vigorously.

The CPM said the central and state governments have failed to check the unprecedented hike in prices of essential commodities.

On the one hand, the government is paving the way for plunder of fish wealth by corporates, the fishermen community is being displaced from coastal areas on the other.

It said solar scam, bar bribe, Kadakampally-Kalamassery land scam, gold smuggling and nursing recruitment fraud have turned the state into a den of corruption.

But in order to divert the attention of people from such corrupt deals, the ruling party is trying to woo caste and communal organisations.