Agartala: The CPI-M politburo member Prakash Karat on Friday asked the Indian government to refrain from “false prestige” and allow United Arab Emirates (UAE) to donate Rs 700 crore for flood-hit Kerala.
“The UAE has decided to give Rs 700 crore for the relief of flood-ravaged Kerala people, but the Indian government without consulting the state government declined to accept the donation,” The Communist Party of India-Marxist leader said.
Terming the Government of India’s decision as “uncalled for”, he said that when a foreign government on its own is keen to provide help to the people affected by the devastating natural calamity, “central government should not stand on the false prestige.”
“Kerala needs huge funds to deal with the massive devastation due to the colossal floods across the state. Central government must allow the UAE to release the amount,” he added.
Karat, a former General Secretary of the country’s biggest Left party CPI-M, said that thousands of Indians, 80 per cent of them from Kerala, have been working in the UAE.
“The Indian workers are engaged in many developmental works in UAE. Responding to the contributions of Indian workers, the UAE government wanted to donate the funds for the relief.”
The CPI-M leader along with party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury came to The Tripura capital on Thursday to attend the party’s two-day state committee meeting, which discussed various issues including “ongoing political violence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled state”.
Accusing the Modi government for its “misgovernance on the economic front”, Karat said that farmers, Dalits and unemployed people are the victims of the BJP-led NDA government.
“Sexual attacks on the minor girls are rampant in many BJP ruled states. Mob lynching in the name of cow slaughter, beef eating and child lifting has been going on. Despite the Supreme Court’s strong observations against the crime, mob lynching is going on in many parts of the country,” he said.
The CPI-M leader said that the BJP-RSS leaders and cadres are continuously campaigning against the minorities and Dalits creating a serious fear and hatred situation across the country.
He said that over two lakh farmers and workers would assemble in Delhi on September 5 to press for their demands, which include providing better wages, more jobs, better prices for farm produce, an end to privatisation and changes in labour laws, ending the contract labour system.
“The Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally’ would mark a new stage in the struggle of working people of India for a better life and just future,” Karat added.
