The CPI(M) is readying to rally the entire Left forces in a country-wide protest against the ?UPA government?s neo-liberal agenda in the first 100 days? soon after the festival season. This will be set in motion with the ?human chain protest? in Kerala on October 2, according to CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat. Since agriculture is a state subject, those states, which are most affected by the flux of agricultural imports will be brought together in the Left protest rally. ?This would mean Maharashtra, which takes the Asean FTA blow on its cotton farms, will be equally involved in the protests as the cash-crop exporting Kerala?, Brinda Karat said.

This will cover a host of issues from price rise in essential goods to UPA government taking the initiative in troubleshooting inDoha round.

?Manmohan Singh government?s initiative in easing the impasse in Doha round is at US?s behest,? Brinda Karat charged, at an interaction with media persons here.

Price-rise is a plank on which Left parties ? the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB and RSP ? are in unison about mobilising countrywide protest. The key demands include supply of dal and edible oil at subsidised rates through the public distribution system (PDS), revamp of the PDS by expanding the below poverty line (BPL) category and restore the allocation for the above poverty line (APL) categories as an interim measure towards universalisation of PDS, scraping the increase in petrol and diesel prices and prohibiting futures trading in all food related items. The PDS debate revolved over the ill-targeted food subsidy. ?For instance, it?s a cruel joke that only a person earning below Rs 11.80 per day is defined as BPL,? she pointed out.

The CPI(M) Politburo member did not hesitate to cock a snook at Congress when asked to comment on the ruling party?s austerity drive. The CPI(M), according to Brinda Karat, had brought out an austerity document as early as 1996 and does annual performance reviews on this norm. ?All our chief ministers have always been economy class air passengers. So austerity drive is nothing new to the CPI(M)? she quipped.