Paradip: Vehemently opposing the proposed Posco steel plant in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, CPI demanded immediate shifting of the project elsewhere asking the state government to refrain from repressive moves.
"There is an attempt to set up Posco plant in the area forcibly. We demand its immediate shifting", CPI general secretary AB Bardhan and party leaders D Raja told a meeting at Patana under Dhinkia panchyat near here last evening.
Demanding immediate release of arrested anti-Posco movement leader Abhaya Sahu from jail, Bardhan alleged he was implicated in false charges. Asking Odisha government to refrain from repressive measures against anti-Posco movement leaders, the CPI leaders said the issue would be raised by their party in Parliament.
Because of people's resistance, Odisha government had not been able to enter the Posco site for last six years. Now, in view of the coming panchayat elections, the government had arrested Sahu, they claimed. In its three-day ongoing state executive meeting at Paradip, CPI adopted a political resolution condemning the Centre's decision to allow FDI in retail sector.
Over 1.6 crore retail shops in the country providing direct or indirect employment to over four crore people and over 16 crore people depending on it would suffer. The party also supported the Bharat Bandh call given by retailers against FDI on December one. (PTI)