Lefts, VCK protest LPG price hike, railway job cuts in Chennai

He further accused the Union government of failing to pass on the benefits of falling crude oil prices to the public when international crude prices dropped from 112 dollars to 44 dollars in 2012. He also criticised the withdrawal of LPG subsidies and demanded subsidies for essential commodities used by the public.

On railway jobs, Shanmugam alleged that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, 4.25 lakh railway jobs and four lakh Union government jobs had been abolished. He said the Railways had now ordered the removal of another 30,000 posts this year. Instead of reducing jobs, the government should create new posts in line with the growth of the railway sector and technological advancement, he said.

CPI State secretary M Veerapandian alleged that crude oil imported by India was being handed over to private players, who were deciding prices, resulting in repeated price hikes. He blamed both the United States and the Union government for the increase in crude oil prices and called for stronger regulation of corporate entities and greater support for local industries to tackle unemployment.

VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan accused the BJP-led Union government of implementing policies against working people. He said commercial LPG price hikes were pushing the country backwards and alleged that petroleum prices had never been reduced even when crude oil prices fell globally.

He described the reduction of jobs as a “subtle political strategy” and called for greater political awareness among the people to resist injustice. “That is the difference between electoral politics and progressive politics,” he said.