Kolkata, Feb 11 (IANS): Calling for a countrywide stir to force the central government to change its "anti-poor" policies, former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday said the Manmohan Singh regime cared little for people.

"Our country has 50-55 industrialists who are so rich that the whole world knows them. On the other hand, we top in the largest number of poor, unemployed and illiterate people in the world," Bhattacharjee said at a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) rally here.

He said the central government was following policies which cared little for the common people. "They only believe in market forces. Those with purchasing power will get food, others won't."

"Unless there is a countryside stir, we cannot defeat the policies of the central government. If they (the government) is not forced to change their policies, people will not survive," he said.

The CPI-M politburo member said prices of essentials were going through the roof. "But these government says it cannot give subsidy for diesel and kerosene. We are asking for subsidies. We have undertaken a signature campaign against the UPA government's anti-poor policies."

"We will go to Delhi and submit our demands along with millions of signatures to the prime minister. We want a subsidised universal public distribution system," he said.