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CPI-M calls for nationwide protests against 'mounting burden

New Delhi, June 20 

The CPI-M on Monday called on its state party units to launch nationwide protests in July against what it said were "mounting burdens" on the people.

"In a situation where the burden on the people is relentlessly mounting, the CPI-M central committee has called on its units to observe nationwide protest action and focus on price rise and growing unemployment from July 11 to July 17," Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said here.

Briefing the media at the conclusion of the party's central committee meeting, which commenced on June 18, Yechury said there is little growth in reality in the country despite many attractive slogans like 'Make in India' and 'Stand Up India'.

"The prices of essential commodities, including food items, are skyrocketing. There is a six-year low for new jobs in eight labour-intensive industries. The last quarter of 2015 recorded virtually a negative growth in employment," Yechury said.

"There has been a marked slowdown, if not decline, in agriculture, industry and services, which collectively reflect the economic growth. In the last quarter of 2015-16, the industrial growth rate was recorded at 0.1 per cent. The manufacturing growth rate shrunk by -1.1 per cent," the Left leader added.

Yechury said the overall economic picture was dismal as the rural incomes have fallen to the lowest in the last few years and the minimum support price offered by the government or farm produce was much below the levels promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its 2014 general elections manifesto.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist also pledged support to a general strike announced by various central trade unions and federations on September 2.