THANJAVUR: Slew of measures announced by government to overcome economic slowdown will only help corporate companies, said K. Balakrishnan, state secretary of CPI(M) here on Sunday.
He told presspersons that already corporate companies are enjoying lot of concessions and benefits. “The sops given now will only help them further and not farmers, small and medium industries and small traders.”
“Tax payers’ money is given as sops to corporate sector. Now the government says that IRTC will issue railway tickets. This means fare will be decided by IRTC. We oppose the move of Central government to privatise railways. Privatisation has entered defence sector also. Niti Aayog officials have said that the country is facing an economic slowdown which is unprecedented in the last 70 years,” Balakrishnan said.
Regarding water release from Mettur, Balakrishnan said that desilting works are going on even after water had been released from Mettur dam. Due to this water has not reached tail end areas. “If only 20,000 cusecs is taken from Mettur dam and more water released into Cauvery, Vennar, Grand Anicut canal, water will reach tail-end areas. Now only 10,000 cusecs of water is released. This is not sufficient,” said Balakrishnan.
He also wondered why Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has not distributed his portfolios to other ministers during his proposed tour of UK and USA.
Normally Chief Ministers will delegate powers to other ministers when they are on foreign tour. But this action of Palaniswami showed that he did not have confidence in other ministers.
Regarding Jammu and Kashmir, Balakrishnan condemned sending back opposition leaders led by Mr. Rahul Gandhi, congress leader from Srinagar to New Delhi without allowing them to visit the city and valley. This showed that they have something to hide, he mused.
G. Neelamegam, CPI(M) district secretary, Manoharan, district committee member, V. Kannan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam were present on the occasion.
