Left parties to hold nationwide protests on July 20 over corruption issue

Jaipur: Left parties will hold countrywide protests on July 20 against the alleged corruption in BJP-ruled Centre and states, demanding action against the "tainted" chief ministers and ministers.

"Left parties have decided to organise countrywide strong protests on July 20, a day before the Parliament session begins, against corruption and we will demand action against the tainted chief ministers and ministers of BJP," CPI National Secretary D Raja said here.

He said that the corruption cases of the state governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are now in public domain and the leaders involved have no moral right to continue in government positions.

"There is total misrule in Rajasthan. It has become the first state to bring draconian anti-labour legislation. There is no protection for immigrant labourers in the state," Raja said.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has neither uttered a single word on cases of corruption in the states nor has he taken action against tainted leaders, which raises suspicion.

"To highlight all these issues, we will hold protests in different parts of the country on July 20," he said.

Calling Vasundhara Raje-led government in Rajasthan as one of the most corrupt governments in the country, the CPI leader said that she should have been asked to step down by this time but it was very unfortunate that she was continuing as the chief minister.

"Rajasthan is one of the worst administered states in the country and there is a complete misrule in the state under the governance of Vasundhara Raje, who stands accused in one of the mega corruption scam," Raja said at a press conference here.

"There are adequate facts available in public domain that Raje and her family corroborated in money laundering, acquiring government property as private property with Lalit Modi," Raja said.

"Raje's position has become indefensible and untenable. If BJP believes credibility in public life, BJP by this time should have asked her to step down because she cannot remain in office despite all such revelations," he said.

The CPI secretary said its not only Rajasthan government, but corruption cases have also taken place in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.