'Das government playing into Centre's hands'

JAMSHEDPUR: CPM politburo member Brinda Karat on Sunday criticised the Jharkhand government for "playing into the hands of the BJP and RSS". Karat, who is on a four-day visit to Jharkhand, said the Narendra Modi-led government's "unpopular policies" are being pursued by the state government in the larger interest of capitalists.
"Workers employed at Tata Motors' ancillaries in Adityapur are paid less than Rs 100 per day, which is less than the minimum wage fixed by the Centre," she said, accusing the state government of grossly violating Jharkhand's labour laws.
"Chief minister Raghubar Das is touring different states to attract investors when Tayo Rolls has suspended operations in Adityapur. What has he (Das) done to prevent its closure?," she said.
Karat also weighed in on the state government's proposed ordinance seeking amendments to the tenancy laws, saying, "Land losers are still running from pillar to post to get compensation after handing over their land for industrial development," she said.
She added, "Amendments to the tenancy laws will only benefit capitalists and industrialists, while land losers will be forced to fend for themselves."
Karat also charged the Union government of pursuing neo-economic policies that aim to benefit industrialists and capitalists.
Karat said the Centre's industrial policy has benefited industrialists at the cost of labourers and farmers. The senior CPM leader also criticised the Narendra Modi-led government for "failing to check growing unemployment and disenchantment among the working class."
"The BJP and RSS are trying to politicise the character of public institutions by appointing people to reputed academic institutions that swore allegiance to them," she said. While talking about Mohd Shahabuddin's release from jail on Saturday, she said the BJP should not criticise the Bihar government's decision. "There was no protest when those who killed the cattle traders in Latehar in March came out of the jail on bail?," she said.