Shubhalakshmi
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RD)

Udupi, Apr 13: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Udupi district committee staged a protest near Service Bus Stand on Thursday April 12, on the basis of a statewide call given by the state committee to oppose both the union and state budgets that have not addressed the key issues of the common man.

The protesters alleged that the union budget has reduced the interest rate of PF from 9.5 percent to 8.25 percent, while FDI has been announced in retail trade. They added that the budget was causing inflation of food grains to reach about 20 percent and the budget aims to sell the shares of PSUs with a goal to accumulate Rs 30,000 crore, to award 100 percent defense contract to private enterprises, to grant cash instead of subsidy on LPG on an experimental basis in Mysore district of Karnataka, burden the common man by hiking service tax from 10 percent to 12 percent; thereby causing further rise in prices of essential commodities, and consequences on agricultural produce.  

CPI (M) alleged that the state budget has disregarded agricultural labourers, the agricultural sphere has become unprofitable owing to which rural labourers are migrating to cities and towns, NREG project has been exploited by middlemen, with a little scope for farm labouers to get steady employment.